Sep 16
Birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Monday 12 Rabi Al Awwal, 1446
Sep 16
Monday 12 Rabi Al Awwal, 1446
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the last messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, who completed the religion of Islam for Muslims. His life is a guiding light for Muslims all over the world. His birth is one of the most significant moments of Islamic history. He was destined to complete the revelation from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and be the last Prophet (ﷺ). His birth was foreseen by those who were looking for guidance and reforms, as there was a moral decline at that time.
The arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was a turning point for the people of Makkah. He was a ray of hope, mercy, and unity for them. For Muslims, it marked the beginning of a new chapter that united everyone in faith, compassion, and peace. His birth marks the foundation of the Islamic faith and carries great importance, rather than just a historical event.
Arab was a harsh place before the birth of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in many ways. Tribes lived in constant rivalry, and disputes could drag on for years over the smallest of issues. There was no central law, no common authority, only loyalty to one’s clan. Religion was scattered, too. Most people followed polytheism, filling the Kaaba with idols, while a few still followed older monotheistic traditions like Judaism, Christianity, or the Hanif belief in one God.
It was a time remembered as Jahiliyyah, known as “the Age of Ignorance.” Not because the people lacked intelligence, but there was no moral guidance, and most of them strayed from the righteous path. Women had few rights, the poor had little protection, and many customs were based on superstitions.
The land was not completely cut off from the wider world. It was an important hub for trade and the routes of trade. Caravans carried spices, textiles, and other goods from faraway lands. Along with goods came foreign influence, but not the unity or justice the people needed.
Many quietly hoped for a change and for a leader who could rise above tribal loyalties, bring justice, and reconnect people with true faith. That hope set the stage for the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), whose message would do exactly fulfill all of these hopes.
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was born into the honoured Quraysh tribe, which was one of the most influential and respected clans in Makkah. The Quraysh held the custodianship of the Kaaba, the sacred sanctuary at the heart of the city, and their position made them central to both the spiritual and economic life of the Arab continent. This noble heritage gave Muhammad (ﷺ) a lineage that carried respect, quietly preparing the ground for the remarkable role he would later play as a guide and leader.
His father, Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib, was a young man of dignity and high regard, the beloved son of Abdul-Muttalib, who was the chief of Quraysh. Sadly, Abdullah passed away even before Muhammad (ﷺ) was born, leaving the Prophet (ﷺ) an orphan. His mother, Amina bint Wahb, came from the Banu Zuhrah clan, also within Quraysh, and was remembered for her faith, grace, and noble character. Under her gentle care, the young Muhammad spent his earliest years, until her passing left him in the guardianship of other family members.
Muhammad’s (ﷺ) lineage traced back to the great Prophet Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ through his son Ismail عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. This direct link to the Abrahamic tradition was more than a matter of ancestry as it was a sign of divine continuity, placing Muhammad (ﷺ) in the same sacred chain of messengers sent by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى to guide humankind. His noble roots were not just a mark of social honour; they carried the weight of a spiritual legacy that he was destined to carry forward.
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) came into this world in the sacred city of Makkah, a place that drew travellers from every corner of Arabia. Some came for trading, others to seek the blessings of the Kaaba. His birth is most often placed on the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal, in the year 570 CE, the Year when an army led by Abraha attempted, and failed, to destroy the Kaaba. While most scholars hold to this date, a few historical reports differ slightly, a reflection of how records were preserved in those days. Whatever the exact day, the event itself remains one of the most celebrated moments in human history.
From the very beginning, signs of something extraordinary surrounded his arrival. On that night, the sacred fire of the Persians, which had burned without interruption for centuries, suddenly went out. For those who believed the flame to be eternal, its extinction carried a message that a great change was coming. In Makkah, Amina, the Prophet’s (ﷺ) mother, experienced a vision unlike any other. She saw a radiant light emanating from her. It was a glimpse of the spiritual brightness her son would bring to the world, a light that would guide hearts out of the darkness of idolatry and injustice.
According to Islamic history, the heavens themselves rejoiced that night. Angels descended in celebration, and the unseen realms were filled with joy at the arrival of the final messenger. His birth was not only the beginning of a life; it was the opening of a chapter that would change the destiny of nations and offer mercy to all of humankind.
In his earliest years, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was cradled in the gentle care of his mother, Amina bint Wahb. She cherished him with a love that only deepened after the loss of his father, Abdullah, before his birth. But fate dealt another heavy blow when she also died. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was just six years old when he became an orphan at such a young age.
Though grief came early, he was not left alone. His grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib, the respected leader of Quraysh, took him into his custody, shielding him with the warmth and honour of a grandfather’s love. After Abdul-Muttalib’s passing, that guardianship passed to his uncle, Abu Talib, whose protection and loyalty remained steadfast through the years.
It was customary among the noble families of Quraysh to send their infants to be raised for a time in the desert. The pure air and life of the Bedouins were thought to build strength and resilience, while the refined Arabic of the tribes would shape the child’s speech. Muhammad (ﷺ) was entrusted to Halima Sadiyah of the Banu Saad tribe. From the moment he entered her household, her life changed. The drought-stricken pastures become greener, her animals healthier, and her home gets blessings in abundance.
Muhammad’s (ﷺ) nature set him apart even during his childhood. He was quiet yet attentive, honest in every word, and gentle in every action. His compassion showed in the smallest of moments, and people were drawn to him due to his personality. Those who knew him could sense that he was not an ordinary child.
The birth of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was more than a family joy as it was a turning point in Islamic history. In Makkah, life carried on as usual for most, unaware of what had just begun. Yet among a few elders and scholars, there was a quiet stirring of recognition that this child was destined for something far greater than anyone could yet imagine. They saw in his arrival the signs of a reformer, one who would lift society from the shadows of darkness and guide it towards truth.
The expectation of such a figure had been making rounds in different lands and faiths even before his birth. In Jewish and Christian scriptures, prophecies spoke of a final messenger, the “comforter” who would bring people back to the pure oneness of God and uphold justice. For those familiar with these traditions, Muhammad’s (ﷺ) arrival carried a meaning that went beyond Arabia; it was the fulfillment of a hope cherished all over.
Though the people of his time could not fully see it, the impact of his birth would be felt far beyond the streets of Makkah. His life would confront the idols of stone and the idols of pride, dissolve the bitterness of tribal feuds, and call people to stand equal before God. From that single birth began a spiritual tide, offering the timeless message of Islam, which is a message of faith, justice, and compassion.
The birth of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was more than the arrival of a child; it was the quiet beginning of a change the world had not yet seen coming. Arabia at the time was divided, weighed down by injustice and spiritual emptiness. And then, one night, a life began that would bring a message strong enough to be carried on for centuries.
He came from a noble line, and there were remarkable signs at his birth and details about which people spoke of for years afterward. For those who believed, these were no coincidences; they were reminders that Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى mercy had been blessed again.
To think about his birth is to think about the values he lived by: kindness to others, truthfulness, patience in each hardship, and the courage to stand for what is right. It is also a reminder that even when the world feels heavy with darkness, faith can open a path forward, and with perseverance, light will always return.