On the first day of Rabee’ Al Awwal, Muslims commemorate the anniversary of Prophet Mohammed’s birthday.
Referred to as the “seal of the Prophets” – because he was the last prophet to be sent to Earth by God – Prophet Mohammed was mentioned by several other prophets before him.
He was the prayer invoked by the first prophet, Ibrahim (Abraham), who asked God to send people "a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them" (Al Baqara: 129). He was also mentioned by Prophet Isa (Jesus), who said "and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." (As-Saff: 6).
The night before the Prophet was born, his mother, Amina bint Wahb, dreamt she gave birth to a shining light that illuminated the castles of Syria. His father died of disease months before he was born and soon after his birth, his mother sent him to live with a Bedouin family in the desert as it was believed, at the time, that desert life was healthier for infants. It is said he brought good fortune to whoever cared for him.
After his mother and grandfather died, he was put under the guardianship of his uncle Abu Talib. He worked as a shepherd from a young age to support the family as his uncle did not have enough money.
Despite the hardships he faced at a young age, Prophet Mohammed was protected by God throughout his life. As a boy, he was known to be diligent, determined and well-mannered. As he grew older he became known for his generosity, honesty, trustworthiness, fairness and kindness.
At the age of 40, he received Divine Inspiration. While in the cave of Hira, on Mount Jabal Al Nour near Makkah, where he would go to worship God in solitude, the angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared and asked him, though he was illiterate, to read. “Recite” (Al-Alaq: 1), the angel said.
This word was the first revelation to him from the holy Quran.
After being bestowed with prophethood, he stayed in Makkah for three years, inviting people to the way of Islam.
After that, he migrated to Madinah where he established a Muslim community based on ethics and values.
On Friday, worshippers will be reminded to obey God and His messenger Mohammed – as is enshrined in the Quran: “Oh you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” (An-Nisaa: 59).
The sermon will tell worshippers to strive to possess Prophet Mohammed's qualities.
The Quran says, “there has certainly been for you, in the Messenger of Allah, an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.” (Al-Ahzab: 21).
