Basics of Religious Education — Page 223
223 223 223 223 223 B ASICS OF R ELIGIOUS E DUCATION - F IFTH E DITION When the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa was about 35 years old, the Quraish decided to rebuild the Ka`bah. When the time came to replace the sacred Black Stone in its position, all the four leading families of the Quraish began to dispute as to who would have the honour to lift the Black Stone. It was Muhammad sa who managed to resolve this dangerous dispute. He spread out his cloak on the ground and placed the Black Stone on it. He then invited all the leading members of the Quraish to lift the cloak and carry the stone to its new place. Muhammad sa then lifted the stone and placed it in position. The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa was deeply troubled by the moral and spiritual decline of his people. He could see no way of rescuing them except with God’s help. He formed the habit of retiring to a cave on Mount Hira, where he spent his time in prayers and meditation. This practice continued for ten long years until he was forty years of age. In the year 610 A. D. , on one night of Ramadan, when he was busy praying, as usual, he saw someone in a vision who was commanding him to recite: Read in the name of thy Lord Who created; created man from a clot of blood. Recite! And thy Lord is the most Beneficent; Who taught man by the pen; taught man what he knew not. (The Holy Qur'an, 96:2-6) This was in fact the Archangel Gabriel who had brought to him the first Qur’anic revelation from God. This was evidently the start of his prophethood. He was afraid in view of this great responsibility from God. His wife Khadijah ra gave him moral support and assured him that God would never leave him alone in his Divine mission. Hadrat Khadijah ra , then took the Prophet sa to her cousin, Waraqa bin Naufal, a Christian. He had studied some of the holy books of the previous prophets. That is why, on hearing the account from the Prophet, he said: “The angel who descended on Moses, I am sure, has descended on you” (Bukhari). Waraqa was evidently referring to the prophecy mentioned in the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:18). Rebuilding the Ka`bah (605 A. D. ) The First Revelation (610 A. D. ) 6. 1 6. 1 6. 1 6. 1 6. 1 H H H H H O L O L O L O L O LY Y Y Y Y P P P P P ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET SA SA SA SA SA A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D S S S S S UCCESSORS UCCESSORS UCCESSORS UCCESSORS UCCESSORS — L — L — L — L — L I F E I F E I F E I F E I F E O F O F O F O F O F H H H H H O L O L O L O L O LY Y Y Y Y P P P P P ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET SA SA SA SA SA