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claim, “This one! He is
a prophet. He is the last
of them.”
Those episodes were
just two signs in a
long series of events.
Allah, the Exalted, was
preparing people for
a predicted and long
prophesized point in
history. Prior to this,
the Prophet Ibrahim
requested Allah for
a purifying Prophet,
and the Prophet `Isa
foretold of one most
praised. The most
telling yet subtle sign
was the tar-like coating
of evil and immorality
upon the hearts. They
had become deaf to
advice, ignorant of the divine, and
blind to uprightness. However, Allah,
the Exalted, is not One to leave man
neglected. He intended to send a
light, both enduring and guiding, to
vaporize darkness until the world’s
end.
The Makkans
Meanwhile, the Makkans increasingly
gravitated towards the young
man a. He was unlike other men
who were universally tainted with
Jahiliyya maladies. For them, he was a
humble and patient shepherd, a kind
and noble caretaker, an honest and
reliable trading partner, and a strong
and pure desert Arab. When he spoke,
he always spoke the truth. When he
was entrusted, he always fulfilled his
trust. Unusually, he seemed unable
to do otherwise. Thus, people made
a note of it and referred to him as
al-Sadiq and al-Amin, the Truthful and
Trustworthy.
Abu Talib verbalized this in a beautiful
way at the occasion of the Prophet’s
a marriage, “Indeed, Muhammad
is such, if other Qurayshi youth were
to be weighed against him, he would
be greater in nobility, generosity,
grace, and intelligence. Although he
has little wealth - for it is a passing
shade and a trust to be returned - he
possesses a desire for Khadijah bint
Khuwaylid and she possesses the
same for him.”
On another occasion, the Quraysh,
as the custodians of the Ka‘ba and
those nearest to it, began rebuilding
its dilapidated structure. Building the
Ka‘ba was an enviable event having
only taken place a few times in the
course of world history. The subtribes
worked together until only the Black
Stone (al-hajar al-aswad) remained.
Egos inflamed over the right of its
placement. Swords of pristine metal
and hands of dripping blood were advanced
by all involved. If rebuilding
the Ka`bah was a tribal and a once in
a millennia honor, placing the Black
Stone was the ultimate privilege. For
several days, the threat of a long war
and hostility grew, and the air around
the Ka‘ba became thick. Eventually,
they agreed the first to enter the
sanction the next day would have the
choice in the matter. In the morning,
they raced through cool
streets and settled sand
only to find the innately
pious 35-year-old
Muhammad a already
there for his morning
visit.
Voices went out saying,
“This is Muhammad,
the trustworthy (al-
Amin). We are pleased
(with him). This is
Muhammad, the trustworthy.”
In an act of
wisdom and generosity,
which endeared him
even further, he set the
stone in a sheet to be
carried by all the chiefs
as he guided it into its
resting place.
The Wife - Sayyida Khadija
Among the Makkans was a Qurayshi
widow, Sayyidah Khadija. One day,
she looked out anxiously over the
terrain from her upper floor. Through
the arid mirages and refracted air,
she saw her latest business venture
come into view. After her last husband
died, she began to invest her wealth
with trading partners. As an astute
yet modest and desirable woman, she
would remain in her Makkan home
as they traveled and engaged on her
behalf. This time, the returning venture
was different. Her investment was
in the hands of the highly lauded yet
inexperienced Muhammad a. However,
it was not the investment that
concerned her, but rather, she wanted
to hear about him. She had sent her
slave and agent, Maysara, to observe
her business partner.
Upon returning, Maysara burst with
stories of honesty, purity of faith,
fortune, and supernatural events. Afterwards,
she was, no doubt, divinely
inspired to propose marriage to the
Prophet a. It was a perfect marwww.
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