Muslims mark prophet’s birthday

On Thursday, Muslims around the world observed the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. The way individual Muslims acknowledge this occasion varies from fasting the day, to reading about his life and reflecting on his teachings, to reading the Quran, the Muslim Holy Book that was revealed to Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago.

Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, a city in present-day Saudi Arabia, on the 12th of Rabbi’ Awwal, 570 Common Era. His father died before his birth and his mother passed away when he was 6 years old. Muhammad’s grandfather took care of him and loved him dearly. Two years later, his grandfather died and Muhammad moved once again to live under his uncle’s care. He lived with his cousins and worked as a merchant, for people of that time traded goods in order to make a living. Muhammad was known for his truthfulness and honesty among the Meccan community. It was Muhammad’s noble nature, fairness and humbleness that earned him the respect of every one who knew him.

At age 40, Muhammad started receiving God’s revelation, the Quran, through the angel Gabriel. After this, he proceeded to tell his close family and friends about this new religion, Islam, and instructed them to cease idol-worshipping and to worship the true God, Allah. When the Meccan elite felt their status and power threatened, they naturally opposed Muhammad and his followers, opting to persecute them. Muhammad stayed in Mecca for thirteen years after the initial revelation, patiently enduring hardship and suffering while still preaching Islam. Muhammad and his companions migrated to Medina, a city about 200 miles north of Mecca, in 623 C.E.

To the contrary of the Meccans, the people of Medina warmly welcomed the prophet and his companions and generously shared their houses and businesses with them. As more and more people had a chance to meet and listen to the Prophet, Islam spread further and further.

Muhammad performed his first pilgrimage to Mecca, called the Farewell Pilgrimage, in 632 C.E. He received the last chapter of the Quran during this pilgrimage: “When God’s support comes as well as victory, and you see mankind entering God’s religion in droves, then hymn your Lord’s praise and beg Him for forgiveness, since He is so Relenting.” (Chapter 110: 1-3) Shortly after his return to Medina, Muhammad felt ill and died in 633 C.E, at the age of 63. He was buried in his mosque in Medina, which is now one of the three Muslim holy shrines.

Muhammad was a man and a messenger of Allah, the one God. He is the last of the prophets sent to guide mankind to the right path.

The Quran mentions some prophets’ names and their revealed scriptures: “Say [O Muhammad] we believe in God and what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, and what was given Moses and Jesus, and what was given the other prophets by their Lord, we do not discriminate against any one of them and we submit to Him.” (Chapter 2, verse 140) Muhammad is greatly respected and whenever Muslims mention his name they add “peace be upon him.”

X Randa Shabayek is a member of the Masjid Al-Khair mosque in Youngstown.