دعاء لهداية الضالين من العالمين

​بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيم

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ نبينا مُحَمَّد…
نَبِيِّ الرَّحْمَة وَسِرَاجِ التَّائِهِين …
وَأُنْسِ المُنْكَسِرِينَ …
وَشَفِيعِ المُذْنِبِينَ…
وَمَنْ أَرْسَلْتَهُ نُورًا فِي زَمَنِ الظُّلُمَات…
وَبَابًا لِمَنْ ضَاقَتْ بِهِ الدُّنْيَا…
وَحَبْلًا لِمَنْ أَثْقَلَتْهُمُ الذُّنُوب…
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ…
الَّذِينَ حَفِظْتَ بِهِمْ نُورَ الهِدَايَة…
وَجَعَلْتَ فِي ذِكْرِهِمْ سَكِينَةً لِلْقُلُوب…
وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ قَلْبٍ أَحَبَّهُ صَادِقًا…
وَتَعَلَّقَ بِنُورِهِ…
وَسَارَ عَلَىٰ هَدْيِهِ…
وَرَجَا رَحْمَتَكَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الدِّين…

يَا اللَّه…
هَا نَحْنُ نَقِفُ عَلَىٰ بَابِكَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى…
بِقُلُوبٍ أَتْعَبَتهَا الذَّنْوب…
وَلَمْ تَجِدْ لَهَا مَلْجَأً إِلَّا أَنْت…

اللَّهُمَّ يَا هَادِيَ الضَّالِّين…
وَيَا رَاحِمَ التَّائِهِين…
وَيَا دَلِيلَ الحَائِرِينَ…
وَيَا نُورَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ أَجْمَعِينَ…

نَسْأَلُكَ هِدَايَةً لَا تُطْفَأ…
وَنُورًا لَا يَخْبُو…
وَرَحْمَةً لَا تَنْتَهِي…
وَفَتْحًا لِقُلُوبٍ أَغْلَقَهَا الخَوْفُ وَالهَوَى…
وَغَسْلًا لِصُدُورٍ أَظْلَمَهَا البُعْدُ وَالجَفَا…

يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ…
اهْدِ الضَّالِّينَ مِنَ العَالَمِينَ…
مَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْكَ وَهُوَ يَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ يَعْرِفُ الطَّرِيق…
وَمَنْ بَعُدَ عَنْكَ وَهُوَ يَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ قَرِيب…
وَمَنْ جَرَى خَلْفَ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى نَسِيَ أَنَّهُ سَيَرْحَل…
وَمَنْ ضَحِكَ كَثِيرًا وَقَلْبُهُ فِي الدَّاخِلِ قَتِيل…

يَا اللَّه…
اهْدِ مَنْ كَانَ قَلْبُهُ قَاسِيًا…
فَإِنَّكَ أَلَنْتَ الحَجَرَ لِمَاءِ عَيْنٍ…
وَفَجَّرْتَ مِنَ الصَّخْرِ عُيُونًا…
وَأَخْرَجْتَ مِنَ الظُّلْمَةِ نُورًا…
وَمِنَ الضِّيقِ فَتْحًا…
وَمِنَ الحَيْرَةِ يَقِينًا…

اهْدِ مَنْ غَرَّهُ عِلْمُهُ…
وَمَنْ خَدَعَهُ مَالُهُ…
وَمَنْ أَسْكَرَتْهُ شَهْوَتُهُ…
وَمَنْ أَغْرَقَتْهُ شُهْرَتُهُ…
وَمَنْ قَالَ: أَنَا…
حَتَّى نَسِيَ أَنْ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِكَ…

يَا لَطِيف…
الطُفْ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ بِغَيْرِ قَصْد…
وَبِمَنْ ضَلَّ بِجُرْحٍ قَدِيم…
وَبِمَنْ ضَلَّ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَجِدْ مَنْ يَدُلُّهُ عَلَيْكَ بِرِفْق…
وَبِمَنْ ضَلَّ لِأَنَّهُ رَأَى الدِّينَ فِي أَيْدِي القَاسِينَ…
فَظَنَّ أَنَّ بَابَكَ مِثْلُ أَبْوَابِهِمْ…
وَحَاشَاكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ…

اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لَهُمْ بَابًا مِنْ بَابِكَ…
لَا يَحْرُسُهُ حَارِس…
وَلَا يَرُدُّهُ قَاسٍ…
وَلَا يُغْلِقُهُ ذَنْب…
وَلَا يَمْنَعُهُ مَاضٍ…
بَابًا إِذَا دَخَلُوهُ…
وَجَدُوا فِيهِ رَحْمَتَكَ أَوْسَعَ مِنْ خَوْفِهِمْ…
وَعَفْوَكَ أَقْرَبَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِمْ…
وَنُورَكَ أَصْدَقَ مِنْ ظَنِّهِمْ…

يَا نُور…
أَضِئْ لَهُمْ دَاخِلَهُمْ…
قَبْلَ أَنْ تُضِيءَ طَرِيقَهُمْ…
وَأَصْلِحْ لَهُمْ قُلُوبَهُمْ…
قَبْلَ أَنْ تُصْلِحَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ…
وَأَيْقِظْ فِيهِمْ السُّؤَالَ الصَّادِق…
وَالحَنِينَ الخَافِت…
وَالخَوْفَ النَّبِيل…
وَالرَّجَاءَ الجَمِيل…

يَا رَب…
مَنْ ضَلَّ فِي الإِلْحَاد…
فَأَرِهِ آيَاتِكَ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَفِي الآفَاق…
وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فِي الشَّهَوَات…
فَذَوِّقْهُ حَلَاوَةَ العِفَّةِ وَالإِشْرَاق…
وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فِي الكِبْر…
فَرُدَّهُ إِلَيْكَ رَدًّا جَمِيلًا بِلَا إِذْلَالٍ وَلَا إِحْرَاق…
وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فِي الغَضَب…
فَاسْكُبْ عَلَىٰ صَدْرِهِ سَكِينَةً تَمْحُو مَا فِيهِ مِنَ اخْتِنَاق…

يَا هَادِي…
اهْدِ مَنْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُ…
وَمَنْ ظَلَمَ أَهْلَهُ…
وَمَنْ ظَلَمَ عِبَادَكَ…
وَمَنْ ظَلَمَ بِكَلِمَة…
وَمَنْ ظَلَمَ بِسُلْطَة…
وَمَنْ ظَلَمَ بِصَمْت…
وَمَنْ ظَلَمَ وَهُوَ يَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ حَق…

لَا تَتْرُكْهُمْ لِظُلْمَاتِهِمْ…
وَلَا تَكِلْهُمْ إِلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ…
وَلَا تَجْعَلِ الضَّلَالَ آخِرَ قِصَّتِهِمْ…
وَلَا تَجْعَلِ الذَّنْبَ آخِرَ عَهْدِهِمْ…
وَلَا تَجْعَلِ الغَفْلَةَ خَاتِمَةَ أَيَّامِهِمْ…

اللَّهُمَّ كَمَا هَدَيْتَ السَّحَرَةَ بَعْدَ طُولِ جُحُود…
فَخَرُّوا سُجَّدًا فِي لَحْظَةِ نُور…
اهْدِ قُلُوبًا كَانَتْ تُحَارِبُ الحَقَّ…
ثُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا تَبْكِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ بِحُبٍّ وَحُضُور…

وَكَمَا رَدَدْتَ يُوسُفَ إِلَىٰ أَبِيهِ بَعْدَ الجُبِّ وَالفِرَاق…
فَرُدَّ كُلَّ ضَالٍّ إِلَىٰ نُورِكَ…
بَعْدَ جُبِّ الذَّنْبِ…
وَفِرَاقِ الرُّوح…
وَوَحْشَةِ الطَّرِيق…

وَكَمَا أَخْرَجْتَ يُونُسَ مِنْ بَطْنِ الحُوت…
بِسُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ…
فَأَخْرِجِ الضَّالِّينَ مِنْ بُطُونِ ظُلُمَاتِهِمْ…
وَعَلِّمْهُمْ أَنْ يَقُولُوا…
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا…
فَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا…
لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الخَاسِرِينَ…

وَكَمَا جَعَلْتَ النَّارَ بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيم…
فَاجْعَلْ نَارَ الشَّهَوَةِ بَرْدًا…
وَنَارَ الشُّبْهَةِ سَلَامًا…
وَنَارَ الغَضَبِ رَمَادًا…
وَنَارَ القَسْوَةِ نُورًا وَسَلامًا…

وَكَمَا قُلْتَ لِنُوحٍ أَنْ يَصْنَعَ الفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِكَ…
فَاصْنَعْ لِكُلِّ ضَالٍّ فُلْكًا مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ…
يَرْكَبُ فِيهِ مِنْ طُوفَانِ نَفْسِهِ…
وَمِنْ مَوْجِ هَوَاهُ…
وَمِنْ ظُلْمَةِ لَيْلِهِ…
حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ عَلَىٰ جُودِيِّ الهِدَايَة…
وَيَقُولَ: الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي نَجَّانِي…

يَا اللَّه…
اهْدِ الآبَاءَ الضَّالِّين…
لِئَلَّا يُضِلُّوا أَبْنَاءَهُمْ…
وَاهْدِ الأُمَّهَاتِ الحَائِرَات…
لِئَلَّا تَنْكَسِرَ البُيُوتُ بِحُزْنِهِنَّ…
وَاهْدِ الشَّبَابَ الضَّائِعِينَ…
قَبْلَ أَنْ تَسْرِقَهُمُ الطُّرُقَات…
وَاهْدِ البَنَاتِ المُتْعَبَات…
قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبِعْنَ قُلُوبَهُنَّ لِمَنْ لَا يَرْحَم…
وَاهْدِ الأَغْنِيَاءَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَظُنُّوا أَنَّ المَالَ يَحْمِيهِم…
وَاهْدِ الفُقَرَاءَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَظُنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ مَنْسِيُّون…
وَاهْدِ المَرْضَى قَبْلَ أَنْ يَيْأَسُوا…
وَاهْدِ الأَصِحَّاءَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغْتَرُّوا…

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ مَنْ ضَلَّ فِي بِلَادِ الشَّرْقِ وَالغَرْب…
وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فِي بُيُوتِ الغِنَى وَبُيُوتِ الفَقْر…
وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فِي المَسَاجِدِ وَهُوَ غَافِل…
وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فِي الأَسْوَاقِ وَهُوَ مُنْشَغِل…
وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فِي الجَامِعَاتِ وَهُوَ مُعْجَب…
وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فِي الشَّاشَاتِ وَهُوَ مُسْتَلَب…
وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَهُوَ وَحِيد…
وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فِي النَّهَارِ وَهُوَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَرِيد…

يَا رَب…
لَا نَدْعُو عَلَيْهِمْ بِالهَلَاك…
بَلْ نَدْعُو لَهُمْ بِالإِفَاقَة…
لَا نَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُبْعِدَهُمْ…
بَلْ نَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُقَرِّبَهُمْ…
لَا نَفْرَحُ بِضَيَاعِهِمْ…
بَلْ نَرْجُو رُجُوعَهُمْ…
فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ…
وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ بِهِمْ مِنَّا…
وَأَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَسَرَهُمْ…
وَأَعْلَمُ بِمَا أَغْرَاهُمْ…
وَأَعْلَمُ بِمَا أَبْعَدَهُمْ…
وَأَقْدَرُ عَلَىٰ أَنْ تَرُدَّهُمْ…

يَا مَنْ لَا يَضِيقُ عَنْ عَاصٍ…
وَلَا يَمَلُّ مِنْ تَائِب…
وَلَا يَغْلِبُهُ ذَنْبٌ عَلَىٰ رَحْمَتِهِ…
وَلَا تَحْجُبُهُ ظُلْمَةٌ عَنْ عَبْدِهِ…
ارْحَمْهُمْ…
ثُمَّ ارْحَمْهُمْ…
ثُمَّ ارْحَمْنَا مَعَهُمْ…

فَكَمْ مِنْ ضَالٍّ كُنَّا نَحْسَبُهُ بَعِيدًا…
فَإِذَا بِكَ تَجْعَلُهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ القُرْب…
وَكَمْ مِنْ قَاسٍ كُنَّا نَحْسَبُهُ مَيْتًا…
فَإِذَا بِكَ تُحْيِيهِ بِدَمْعَةٍ فِي اللَّيْل…
وَكَمْ مِنْ مُسْرِفٍ ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحِقُّ العَوْدَة…
فَإِذَا بِكَ تَقُولُ لَهُ: لَا تَقْنَطْ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّه…

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ صَوْتًا خَفِيًّا يَقُولُ: ارْجِعُوا…
وَفِي عُيُونِهِمْ دَمْعًا صَادِقًا يَقُولُ: تُوبُوا…
وَفِي خَلَوَاتِهِمْ نُورًا لَطِيفًا يَقُولُ: لَا تَيْأَسُوا…
وَفِي طَرِيقِهِمْ عَبْدًا صَالِحًا يَقُولُ: هَذَا هُوَ البَاب…
وَفِي قُلُوبِهِمْ قُرْآنًا يَقُولُ: إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٌ مُجِيب…

يَا غَفَّار…
اغْفِرْ لَهُمْ مَا مَضَى…
وَيَا تَوَّاب…
تُبْ عَلَيْهِمْ فِيمَا بَقِي…
وَيَا جَبَّار…
اجْبُرْ كُلَّ كَسْرٍ صَارَ سَبَبًا لِضَلَالِهِمْ…
وَيَا حَكِيم…
افْتَحْ لَهُمْ مِنَ الفَهْمِ مَا يَقُودُهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُورِكَ…
وَيَا وَدُود…
ذَوِّقْهُمْ مِنْ حُبِّكَ مَا يُنْسِيهِمْ حُبَّ المَعْصِيَة…
وَيَا سَلَام…
أَسْكِنْ رَوْعَهُمْ…
وَيَا مُؤْمِن…
آمِنْ خَوْفَهُمْ…
وَيَا عَزِيز…
أَعِزَّهُمْ بِالطَّاعَةِ بَعْدَ ذُلِّ الهَوَى…

اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْنَا نَنْظُرُ إِلَىٰ الضَّالِّينَ بِعَيْنِ الكِبْر…
فَكَمْ مِنْ مَعْصِيَةٍ سَتَرْتَهَا عَلَيْنَا…
وَكَمْ مِنْ زَلَّةٍ أَنْقَذْتَنَا مِنْهَا…
وَكَمْ مِنْ بَابِ ضَلَالٍ كُنَّا قَرِيبِينَ مِنْهُ…
فَصَرَفْتَنَا عَنْهُ بِلُطْفٍ لَا نَعْلَمُه…
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا دُعَاةَ رَحْمَة…
لَا دُعَاةَ قَسْوَة…
وَاجْعَلْنَا أَدِلَّاءَ نُور…
لَا أَبْوَابَ نُفُور…
وَاجْعَلْ كَلَامَنَا جِسْرًا إِلَيْكَ…
لَا سِدًّا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَكَ…

يَا رَبَّ الهِدَايَة…
اهْدِ الضَّالِّينَ ثُمَّ اهْدِنَا…
وَأَصْلِحِ الحَائِرِينَ ثُمَّ أَصْلِحْنَا…
وَارْحَمِ البَعِيدِينَ ثُمَّ ارْحَمْنَا…
فَلَا أَمَانَ لَنَا إِلَّا بِكَ…
وَلَا ثَبَاتَ لَنَا إِلَّا مِنْكَ…
وَلَا نُورَ لَنَا إِلَّا بِنُورِكَ…
وَلَا نَجَاةَ لَنَا إِلَّا بِرَحْمَتِكَ…

إِلَهِي…
إِنْ كَانَ فِي العَالَمِينَ مَنْ يَقُولُ: لَنْ أَرْجِع…
فَاجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِهِ لَحْظَةَ صِدْق…
وَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ: لَا أَسْتَطِيع…
فَاجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ قُوَّةَ عَوْدَة…
وَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ: لَا أُحِبُّ الطَّرِيق…
فَحَبِّبْ إِلَيْهِ جَمَالَ القُرْب…
وَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ: لَا يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لِي…
فَافْتَحْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ اسْمِكَ الغَفُور…
وَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ: أَنَا بَعِيد…
فَأَسْمِعْهُ نِدَاءَكَ: فَإِنِّي قَرِيب…

اللَّهُمَّ رُدَّ الضَّالِّينَ إِلَيْكَ رَدًّا جَمِيلًا…
وَخُذْ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْذًا لَطِيفًا…
وَافْتَحْ لَهُمْ فَتْحًا مُبِينًا…
وَاجْعَلْ آخِرَ ضَيَاعِهِمْ بَدَايَةَ هِدَايَة…
وَآخِرَ بُعْدِهِمْ بَدَايَةَ وِلَايَة…
وَآخِرَ دَمْعَتِهِمْ بَدَايَةَ نَجَاة…
وَآخِرَ لَيْلِهِمْ فَجْرًا لَا يَزُول…

إِلَهِي…
اجْعَلْ مَا ذَرَفْنَاهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ…
نُورًا يَوْمَ نَلْقَاك…
وَإِنْ غَفَلْنَا…
فَأَيْقِظْنَا بِلُطْفِكَ…
وَإِنْ ضَعُفْنَا…
فَاحْمِلْنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ…
وَإِنْ سَقَطْنَا…
فَارْفَعْنَا بِجُودِكَ…

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِمَنْ دَعَا…
وَلِمَنْ اسْتَمَع…
وَلِمَنْ أَمَّنَ فِي صَمْت…
وَلِمَنْ كَانَ بَعِيدًا عَنْكَ…
ثُمَّ هَزَّهُ الحَنِينُ إِلَيْك…

يَا لَطِيف…
الطُفْ بِنَا فِيمَا جَرَتْ بِهِ المَقَادِير…
وَيَا جَبَّار…
اجْبُرْ كُلَّ كَسْرٍ لَا يَرَاهُ النَّاس…
وَيَا غَفَّار…
اغْفِرْ لَنَا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنَّا وَمَا خَفِي…
وَلَا تَكِلْنَا إِلَىٰ أَنْفُسِنَا طَرْفَةَ عَيْن…

وَاخْتِمْ لَنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ…
وَارْزُقْنَا قُلُوبًا تَذْكُرُكَ…
وَأَلْسِنَةً تَحْمَدُكَ…
وَدُمُوعًا صَادِقَةً تُقَرِّبُنَا إِلَيْك…

اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَدَعْ لَنَا فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ…
ذَنْبًا إِلَّا غَفَرْتَه…
وَلَا هَمًّا إِلَّا فَرَّجْتَه…
وَلَا مَكْسُورًا إِلَّا جَبَرْتَه…
وَلَا تَائِهًا إِلَّا هَدَيْتَه…
وَلَا مُبْتَلًى إِلَّا رَحِمْتَه…
وَلَا مَيِّتًا مِنْ مَوْتَانَا وَمَوْتَى المُسْلِمِينَ إِلَّا نَوَّرْتَ قَبْرَهُ وَوَسَّعْتَ مُدْخَلَه…

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا لَا نَعْلَمُ مَنْ مِنَّا سَيَكُونُ آخِرَ عَهْدِهِ بِهَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا…
فَاخْتِمْ لَنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ…
وَلَا تَقْبِضْ أَرْوَاحَنَا إِلَّا وَأَنْتَ رَاضٍ عَنَّا…

وَإِذَا جَاءَتْ لَيْلَةٌ لَا نَقُومُ فِيهَا لِلدُّعَاءِ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى…
فَاجْعَلْ هَذِهِ الكَلِمَاتِ شَاهِدَةً لَنَا لَا عَلَيْنَا…
وَاغْفِرْ لِمَنْ سَمِع…
وَلِمَنْ بَكَى…
وَلِمَنْ أَمَّنَ فِي صَمْت…
وَلِمَنْ كَانَ يُحَاوِلُ الرُّجُوعَ إِلَيْكَ وَلَمْ يَجِدِ الطَّرِيق…

بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ…
وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّد…
وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ..

Who is Muhammad?

Disclaimer: This is a summarized version of Muhammad’s life just to get a general idea of who Muhammad is. Notice all the adversities and opposition that Muhammad had to overcome to spread the message of Islam. 

Muhammad (570-632 AD) is the last of many prophets who preceded him, including Adam, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jesus Christ --All whom preached the common message of worshiping one God (Allah).

Muhammad was born in 570 AD in the city of Mecca. Muhammad’s father died before he was born, and his mother Aminah died when he was 6 years old. Muhammad was born as a member of the umbrella tribe of Quraish under the clan of Hashim. He was raised by his uncle Abu Talib who was the leader of Hashim clan. Other uncles were Abu Lahab and Abu Jahl who have significance in Muhammad’s journey (more on this below). Muhammad was known in Mecca for his integrity while working as a merchant, to the extent that his nickname was “Al-Sadiq Al-Amin” (The truthful and trustworthy). 

Prophethood: Muhammad has spent a great deal of time in solitude praying to God in a cave called “Hira” located in the mountain of Noor (Light), near Mecca. One day in 610 AD, when Muhammad was 40 years old, angel Gabriel came down to him with the first part of the Quran (the literal word of Allah sent to Muhammad and humanity as a whole). Gabriel taught Muhammad the opening verses of Surah 96 of the Quran: “Recite in the name of your Lord who creates / creates man from a clot! / Recite for your lord is most generous….” Muhammad was extremely frightened, so he ran down the mountain in terror. The voice called after him, "O Muhammad, you are the messenger of God, and I am the angel Gabriel." Muhammad arrived home to Khadija. She calmed him down then took him to Waraqa who was a Christian convert. Waraqa asked Muhammad about what he saw. When he told him, Waraqa said, “That is the same angel whom Allah sent to the Prophet Moses. Should I live till you receive the Divine Message, I will support you strongly.”

Muhammad started spreading the message among his family and close friends secretly for three years in Mecca, where the worship of Allah there has become dominated by polytheism and idolatry. Muhammad continued to receive Quranic revelations by Allah through Gabriel. Then he began preaching openly but met ferocious adversities and rejection from the Meccans (They wrongfully adopted the practice of worshiping man-made idols, and rejected the idea that Muhammad was a messenger of Allah). They rejected the notion that the Quran is the word of Allah, and accused Muhammad of being a magician or a poet (the Quran is a linguistic miracle —Linguistically, it is far too advanced for any human being to write and Muhammad did not even learn to read or write).

Hardships in Mecca: Abu Lahab and Abu Jahl were Muhammad’s uncles. They were also two prominent and influential men in Mecca who rejected Muhammad’s message and were his worst enemies. They showed the highest level of brutality, hostility and enmity towards their nephew Muhammad and his message, while Abu Talib who raised Muhammad, protected and backed him. They did this out of arrogance and resentment that the chosen prophet was not one of their own descendants. Once, Quraish tribe leaders threatened to break between Abu Talib’s clan Hashim, and the rest of Quraish tribes. This distressed Abu Talib who was aware of the high cost this would have on them. Abu Talib told Muhammad: "Spare me and yourself and don’t put a burden on me that I can’t bear". Muhammad thought that his uncle would let him down and would no longer support and protect him, so he replied: "O uncle! I swear by Allah, if they put the SUN IN MY RIGHT HAND AND THE MOON IN MY LEFT HAND on the condition that I abandon this message until Allah has made me victorious, or I perish therein, I would not abandon it."(1)

Disbelievers went to all lengths from torturing Muslims to several attempts to kill their nephew Muhammad himself. Once, Muhammad was kneeling in his prayer near Kaaba (House of God, where Muslims face during their prayers. Abu Jahl threw a sheep's uterus mixed with blood and excrement over Muhammad’s back while he was praying. (2)

Muhammad was met with much resistance from the Meccans over the first 13 year of his prophethood, although he did manage to gather a few converts, they were only estimated to be less than 100 over the course of those 13 years! Over the years, Muhammad tried to spread his message to the trading caravans that visited Mecca, but his enemies prevented him by first warning the caravan leaders about Muhammad upon entering Mecca and accusing him of sorcery and insanity. However, Muhammad managed to deliver the message of Islam to the people of Yathrib (currently named Madinah). 

Hijra (Immigration): When his uncle Abu Talib died in 619 AD (same year Muhammad’s wife Khadija died), and Abu Talib’s leadership position in the clan was taken by Abu Lahab, and Muhammad was completely vulnerable to hostility. At this point, Muhammad’s position in Mecca became futile and the persecution became unbearable. So, he and his (about 70) followers immigrated to Yathrib (Medina), located 280 miles north Mecca, in 622 AD. He had been invited to assume a leadership role in Medina by city leaders to adjudicate disputes between Arab and Jewish clans from which the city suffered.

Muhammad's Hijra from Mecca marks the beginning of a new stage for the advancement of Islam. For the first time in Arabia members of a community were bound together by a common believe of recognizing the one true God, Allah, and not by the ties of clan or tribe. Years later, the importance of the date of the immigration was recognized as such and was used as the foundation of the Hijri Calendar, that is still commonly used today in the Muslim world.

Between 624 and 628, the Muslims were involved in a series of battles for their survival. In the final major confrontation, The Battle of the Trench and Siege of Medina, Muhammad and his followers prevailed, and a treaty was signed. The treaty was broken by the Meccan allies a year later. By now, Muhammad had plenty of forces and the balance of power had shifted away from the Meccan leaders to him. In 630, the Muslim army marched into Mecca, taking the city with minimum casualties. Muhammad gave amnesty to many of the Meccan leaders who had opposed him and pardoned many others. Most of the Meccan population converted to Islam. (many for political motives). Muhammad and his followers then proceeded to destroy all the statues of pagan gods in and around the Kaaba. (3)

Muhammad was able to unite the Arabs under the banner of Islam, and his message expanded and was the bedrock of an empire that was inherited by his successors. His empire then spread beyond the borders of Arabia, and teachings of Islam also spread through conquest at first then through trade and missionary work.

Death: By the time of his death in 632 AD, Muhammad was the most powerful political leader in the whole of Arabia. Most of the tribes had converted to Islam, although most of these conversions had political motivation rather than spiritual. Muhammad died in his own house with his youngest wife, Aisha, by his side. Some say that he was poisoned, which is debatable, and difficult to prove either way.

Conclusion: Muhammad was a man of exceptional vision and administrative talent who also commanded armies in battle with incredible skill and charisma without any prior experience. He endured a great deal of hardship to spread his message, which he must have believed was the truth given to him by God, especially since forsaking his path would have meant rewards beyond his wildest dreams, as the Meccans had promised early on when they were trying to silence him.

As was the norm of his time, Muhammad married multiple women, after the death of his first wife. These marriages were mostly meant to cement tribal alliances, and Muhammad treated his wives with utmost respect and love. Polygamy may seem unsuitable in the modern era, but we cannot object to people living according to the norms of their time. Muhammad, though he had no surviving sons (which was considered necessary for one to be remembered and for which he was severely mocked in his time) has nevertheless not been forgotten. Muhammad’s name remains to this day one of the most popular Muslim names worldwide, and his message has reached an unprecedented number of believers.

Although non-Muslims object to the Muslim insistence that Muhammad is not rendered in any image, this is important to Muslims who believe that such images equate with the kind of idolatry Muhammad objected to. Not having a visual image of Muhammad allows one to interpret the Prophet in his or her own way and this allows for a more intimate connection with the founder of the faith. Whenever Muslims in the present day hear, speak, read, or write his name, they add “peace be upon him”, as a sign of respect for all he sacrificed in his life to preach the religion of peace.(4)

_________________________________________________

1.       Source

2.       To read more about assassination attempts (click here).

3.       As written by Biography.com Editors, published in Biography.com

4.       As written by Syed Muhammad Khan, published in ancient.eu