Qalam Seerah: Life of the Prophet (pbuh)

Episode 6: History of Zamzam

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Two significant incidents occurred in the life of the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), Abdul-Muttalib. The digging up of the well of Zam Zam and the invasion of the army of elephants both preceded the momentous birth of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

In multiple dreams, Abdul Muttalib was told to dig up the well of Zam Zam. Drinking Zam Zam has the virtue of being an act of worship, as it is part of the Sunnah in Umrah and Hajj. Zam Zam serves whatever purpose it is drank for. The etiquettes of drinking it include: facing the Kaba, saying ‘Bismillah’ at the start, drinking it in parts by pausing to take three breaths, drinking to your fill, and ending by thanking Allah.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was born in the same year as the invasion of the army of the elephants. Abraha, a ruler of Yemen, wanted to divert people away from the Kaba at Makkah, and thus built a church in Yemen. A man from the Arab tribe of Banu Kinanah defiled the church disrespectfully. This enraged Abraha, who vowed to destroy the Kaba. He gathered 60,000 troops and marched to Makkah. Further details are explored in Episode 7.

Episode 5: Monotheism Before Islam

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Although idol worship was rampant in Pre-Islamic Arabic, there remained a few people who followed the religion of Prophet Ibrahim- the ‘Hunafa’, and these individuals are explored. The singular form ‘Haneef’ means to ‘focus constantly’. Two notable personalities include:

1. Zaid bin Amr bin Nufayl: he travelled outside Arabia in search of the true message. He strongly denied idolatry and its associated practices, as well as saving newborn girls from being buried alive. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is narrated to have said that he will be resurrected as an Ummah by himself between the Prophet Muhammed (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and Isa bin Maryam (alaihissalam).

2. Waraqa bin Nawfal: he also travelled with Zaid bin Amr bin Nufayl to explore the truth, and converted to Christianity. A cousin of Khadija, the wife of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), Waraqa was the person consulted after the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) received the first revelation. He proclaimed his belief, but died soon after.

The lineage of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is explored back to Prophet Adam (alaihissalam).

Episode 4: Pre-Islamic Society Pt 2

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

In this episode, the religion of Pre-Islamic Arabia is explored. In surah Yasin, it is mentioned that Prophet Muhammed (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was sent to warn the people.

‘That you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are unaware.’ (V36:6)

Guidance had not been sent for a long time: the message of monotheism had been brought by previous prophets. Over time, the message had been diluted and corrupted. Christianity and Judaism were practiced by the fringes of society.

Notably, idol worship was introduced to the area by a leader named Amr bin Luhayy. Although Allah was accepted as the supreme God, the idols were considered to have their own levels of influence as intermediaries. In each area, mini sanctuaries similar to the Kaba in Makkah were established with idols at their centre. Ultimately, the idols became the ends and not the means of worship.

Lack of religious guidance gave rise to the practices of superstition, belief in evil omens, and the use of gambling and divination by shooting arrows, watching the directions of flight of birds, and astrology. The minor remnants of the practices of past prophets were that the Kaba in Makkah was seen as a sacred place and that the idols were accountable to the higher authority of Allah. However, innovations far from the practices of past prophets also crept in, like doing tawaaf naked, whilst clapping and whistling. Religious practice was amended to suit the people, for example, with the rearranging of sacred months during times of warfare.

Episode 3: Pre-Islamic Society Pt 1

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

To understand the Seerah, it important to appreciate the circumstances at that time in Arabia: this gives perspective as to why the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was sent to this region.

The origins of the word ‘Arab’, as well as the geographic, political and economic background of Pre-Islamic Arabia are explored. Essentially, the area was a tribal-dominated system, with deep traditions of culture and language. In some respects, it was insulated from the outside world by the natural barriers of immense bodies of surrounding water and expanses of arid desert areas. Conversely, being bordered by the Persian and Roman empires and sea routes made it a natural epicenter for trade.

Culturally, there were positives and negatives to life in Arabia. Privileges were enjoyed according to social standing: high-society controlled the political situation, and was immune from justice and accountability. Those unfortunate enough to belong to lower social classes were treated unjustly, and in some cases worse than animals. Family life was revered in some cases, with the institution of marriage respected. In contrast, immoralities like infidelity and promiscuity were also rampant. Positive characteristics of the Arab people themselves included their renowned hospitality, being true to their word, having a great respect for genealogy, and giving great weight to knowledge being passed on via oral traditions.

The lack of unifying governance, economy and religion made pre-Islamic Arabia a prime area to receive divine guidance as a fresh start.

Episode 2: Introduction Pt 2

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Further discussion is pursued about the benefits of studying the Seerah: it aids our understanding of the Quran, as the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) makes the Quran come to life.

His (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) perfect example gives us the ultimate role model to emulate in our interactions with all demographics of society: children, youth, women, non-Muslims, students and family members to name a few. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) juggled all this, on top of the epic responsibility of being the Messenger of God.

No human being’s life has been documented like his. Reports are so detailed as to describe physical features, like the light tan colour of his skin, his broad, welcoming face and his dark, almost black eyes, to his perfect conduct and character e.g. he was always concerned about the condition of the people, he did not talk unnecessarily, but was always the first to give salaam, and when conversing, he would turn his body fully to face people.

This section also covers resources to supplement the study of the Seerah, including Ibn Ishaq’s ‘Sirat Rasul Allah’ (The Life of Muhammad), Ibn Kathir’s ‘Al Bidayah Wa Al Nihayah’ (The Beginning and the End), Martin Lings’ ‘Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources’, ‘Fiqh Us-Seerah’ by Muhammad Al-Ghazali, and ‘The Sealed Nectar’ by Safiur Rahman Mubarukpuri.

Episode 1: Introduction Pt 1

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

So what is ‘Seerah’? The word linguistically means ‘a path’, ‘to walk in a particular direction’. More figuratively, it refers to someone’s life biography. Specifically, Seerah refers to the Prophetic biography. It includes everything from the occurrences in the life the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), from his daily practices, attributes, physical characteristics, mannerisms, expeditions, to family life.

Why study Seerah? It goes hand-in-hand with the study of the Quran. The Quran itself states that there is not a better example than the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) himself:

There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often. (Quran 33:21)

This series hopes to be different from dry, factual studies, or ‘superhero-tales’, which we may feel we cannot ever aspire to: it aims to humanise the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)  and provide eternal practical lessons for every-day life, as well as engender love for the best of humankind. How can you possibly love someone you do not know?