The prophethood of Prophet Muhammad PBUH is one of the most prominent events in the history of Islam. The event served as a foundation for the pivotal point for Islam and marked the transformative effect of the religion on the masses.
This blog will discuss in detail how Muhammad PBUH became a prophet, his journey through prophethood, and the obstacles he faced along the way.
Cave Hira & Prophet Muhammad PBUH
It was common for the Prophet PBUH to retreat to a cave named Hira in the desert. This cave was situated near Makkah in Jabal al-Nour (the Mountain of Light). It was Ramadan in 610 CE, and as usual, Prophet PBUH was in Hira when he suddenly heard a voice. Angel Jibreel AS appeared before him and said ‘’read’’. Since the Prophet PBUH didn’t know how to read, he said, ‘I do not know how to read.’
Hearing his response, Jibreel AS pressed the Prophet PBUH with such force that he was unable to bear it. After a while, he released him and said a second time, ‘read.’ Again, the Prophet PBUH replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ Again, Jibreel AS pressed the Prophet PBUH so hard that he was unable to bear it. He released the Prophet PBUH and said a third time, ‘read.’ Again, the Prophet PBUH replied, ‘I do not know how to read (or what shall I read?).’ Again, Jibreel AS pressed the Prophet PBUH, then released him and said,
“Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth, createth man from a clot.
Read: And thy Lord is the Most Bounteous.” [Surah Al-Alaq, Verses 1-3]
You Are A Prophet
Therefore, the first word that was revealed to the Prophet PBUH at the age of 40 was ‘Iqra’, which means ‘read.’ After this happened, the Prophet PBUH walked out of the cave on the hillside and heard the same voice of Jibreel AS, which said, ‘O Muhammad, you are the messenger of Allah, and I am Jibreel.’ Hearing this, the Prophet PBUH raised his eyes and saw Jibreel AS in the form of a man standing above the horizon. Again, Jibreel AS said, ‘O Muhammad, you are the messenger of Allah and I am Jibreel.’ Hearing this, the Prophet PBUH stood still and turned his face away from the brightness of the scene before him. But wherever he looked, he saw Jibreel AS standing.
The Discussion With Khadijah RA
After Jibreel AS vanished, the Prophet PBUH became quite distressed and went to his wife, Khadija RA. When he reached her, he described everything that had happened in the cave and said, ‘I feared for myself.’ Hearing this, Khadijah RA did her best to calm him down and said that,
“By Allah, rest assured that Allah will always support you because you value family connections, assist those in need, show kindness to your guests, give to charity, and provide help to those facing hardships.”
When Prophet PBUH and Khadijah RA returned to Makkah, Khadijah RA took him to her cousin, Waraqa ibn Nawfal, a very old man who was familiar with the scriptures of the Christians and the Jews. Waraqa ibn Nawfal declared his belief that the angel who came to Mosa AS had come to the Prophet PBUH and that he had been chosen as the Prophet of his people.
He also told the Prophet PBUH to be patient, as some people would be against the message of Islam and would try to persecute him.
Muhammad PBUH was now a prophet, and it became his duty to guide the people to the right path. He undertook a tremendous responsibility and began preaching Islam to the masses.
Evidence Of Muhammad’s Prophethood
When the Prophet PBUH declared himself a prophet of Allah, many people doubted him, and some even outright denied his prophecy. However, many miracles established Islam as the right religion, proving that the Prophet PBUH was a prophet.
The Quran
The greatest miracle during the time of the Prophet PBUH was the Quran. This was one of the clearest signs because the Quran contained miracles in both its style and content. The Quran was so unique that no mankind could ever imitate or even match it. This was proven by the various statements from the most eloquent Arabs, who were completely unable to match the Quran in its uniqueness.
The Splitting Of The Moon
The splitting of the moon occurs before the migration to Madinah. When the polytheists demanded proof of Muhammad’s prophethood and said, “If you are indeed a Prophet chosen by Allah, then prove it by splitting the moon in two; let one half be visible above Mount Abu Qubais and the other half above Mount Quayqian.” Hearing this, the Prophet PBUH asked them, ‘If I split the moon in half, will you all become Muslims?’ The polytheists replied that they would all revert to Islam. Therefore, they witnessed the splitting of the moon in half, each half over one mountain. Seeing this, they said that it was magic and that the Prophet PBUH had cast a spell.
Foretold In The Torah And Gospel
Prophet Muhammad’s PBUH arrival was predicted in the Torah and the Gospel, and some members of the People of the Book believed these prophecies fully applied to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), prompting them to revert to Islam. There are still verses in both the Old and New Testaments, recognized by the People of the Book, explicitly mentioning the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH).
The Previous Prophets And Muhammad PBUH
The Quran confirmed the previous books and prophethood when Allah sent Prophet Muhammad PBUH with the same message as the Prophets before him (i.e., to call people to Allah). So when the people of the book disbelieved and rejected the Prophet PBUH and the Quran, it meant that they disbelieved in their own messengers and books. Therefore, the Quran confirmed that it was less likely to be fabricated and came from Allah, as the others before him.