The First Journey of the Holy Prophet Muhammmad [PBUH] To Syria [4]

He [Prophet Muhammad{PBUH}] was twelve years old when Abu Talib planned to go with a merchant caravan to Syria, leaving him behind in Makkah. But he[PBUH] was so used to the company of Abu Talib that he could not bear separation from his uncle. Abu Talibfelt moved and agreed to take him Syria. When the caravan reached Busra, the southeastern part of Syria, a Christian monk named Bahira saw and recognized him as the Last Prophet.

He came to Abu Talib and let him know that his nephew was set to become a Prophet as he had noticed with him all the signs of Prophethood written in the Torah and the Gospel. He then advised Abu Talib to hurry back with his nephew, so as to avoid any harm against him. Abu Talib acted upon the advice.

His First Participation in Battle[Harb Al-Fijar]

A great fair was regularly held at Ukaz. This fair would organize a number of programs including horse races, wrestling, demonstrations of the art of combat and poetic competitions. All the tribes of Arabia were highly belligerent by nature and drew swords against one another at the smallest incident.

Once, in the course of the fair at Ukaz, the Hawazin and Quraish tribes challenged each other due to a slight provocation. At the outset some wise and sober people stood in the way and put the matter right. But some mischief- mongers worsened the situation which led to large-scale fighting and killing on both sides. The war was known as Harb- Al-Fijar because it took places in the month of Dhul-Qa'dah when fighting was altogether forbidden.

This war was based on a series of four wars in which three firsts were small and the fourth war happened to be more fierce than the preceding one, as all the tribes of Qais joined the Hawazin tribes while all the tribes of Kinanah came to the help of the Quriash. Thus this war developed to become a war between the Qaisand Kainanah tribes. The fourth and the last war was so terrible that some of the chieftains had their feet chained so they could not have leave from the field of the battle.

The Prophet[PBUH] joined this fourth war for the first time armed with weapons. Among BanuKinanah, every tribe had its separate commander. Thus the commander of BanuHashim was Zubairnin Abdul-Muttalib, an uncle of the Prophet[PBUH] while Harb bin Ummayah was the commander of all the troops of BanuKnanah. Muhammad[PBUH] was then fifteen or twenty years of age. He was entrusted with the service of picking up the arrows for his uncles. However, he was saved from combat action. At the outset BanuHawazin seemed to be denominating, but at lat, Bun Kinah turned the table against the BanuQais and war ended on peace treaty.

Trade Expeditions embarked upon by Prophet Muhammad[PBUH]

When the Prophet[PBUH] became a young man, he turned towards trade as a vocation. His uncle Abu Talib also liked this worked for his nephew. Several times he accompanied trade caravans with his merchandise and every time he returned with a substantial profit. The people during these journeys had ample opportunity to observe his qualities of honest dealings and graceful behavior. Besides, all those in Makkah with whom he entered into business terms, became witness to his trusty, truthful, upright and gracious character.

One of his companions, Abdullah bin Abul-Hamsa relates: “Before his deputation to the Prophethood, I had entered into a business dealing with the Prophet[PBUH]. The dealing was not yet concluded when I had to leave for another place in a haste. But, before leaving I asked the Prophet[PBUH] to wait until I returned to finalize the deal. After taking leave from him I forgot our appointment and when I returned by the same route on the third day, I found the Prophet[PBHU] waiting at the same spot.

When I drew near him, he said to me only this much: “You put me through a great deal of trouble. I am still waiting for you here.” Similarly, when Sa'ib embraced Islam, some people spoke highly of him in the presence of the Prophet of Allah[PBUH]. He[PBUH] remarked that: “I know Sa'ib more than all of you.” Sa'ib submitted: “May my mother and father be sacrificed for you, once you had been my partner in business and you always made fair dealings.”

HusseiniYushauBabalWaiz, is the Research & Outreach Coodinator at the Center for Media & Peace Initiative in New York. He authored three books, including “Islam Promotes Tolerance & Prohibits Terrorism:- Reviving the Islamic Advocacy of Mercy and Magnanimity to Mankind.” This four weeks series showcasing the brief life history of the Prophet[PBUH] ends today, since this weekend appears to be the end of the month of the birth of the Prophet[Rabi'ulAwwal]. It was in commemoration of his birth month which my late grandfather, Sheikh BabalWaiz was the first to have initiated his maulid[birthday celebration] in Ghana since 1945. Hence this year marks the 70th milestone of this celebration.

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References:
The History of Islam{VolumeOne} ,by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

Al-RaheeqilMakhtoom[The Sealed Nectar], by ShiekhSaffiyu Rahman Al-Mubarikfurii

QisasilAnbiyah{Stories of the Prophets}, by Imam Hafiz Hafiz Ibn Kathir