Seerah 01-03: The Early Life and Divine Protection of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ | Insights from Shaykh Assim Al-Hakeem | Zad Academy Audio | Blogpost by Zayd Haji

Seerah 01-03: The Early Life and Divine Protection of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ | Insights from Shaykh Assim Al-Hakeem | Zad Academy Audio | Blogpost by Zayd Haji

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.

I am Zayd Haji, a student at Zad Academy. In this blog post, we explore the early life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, focusing on divine signs, his noble character, and Allah’s protection—long before he received revelation.

1. Childhood and Allah’s Protection

At age four, the Prophet ﷺ experienced the miraculous event of chest-splitting by Angel Jibreel (Gabriel), where his heart was purified with Zamzam water. This event purified him from Shaytaan’s influence and occurred again before the Night Journey (Isra wa al-Mi'raj).

Soon after, his mother Aaminah passed away during a trip to Yathrib (Madinah), leaving the Prophet ﷺ orphaned at age six. His grandfather Abdul Muttalib took custody and showed deep affection for him. Upon Abdul Muttalib’s death two years later, the Prophet ﷺ was cared for by his uncle Abu Talib, despite the latter’s poverty.

2. Character Before Prophethood

Though surrounded by idol worship and immorality in Meccan society, Allah protected the Prophet ﷺ. He never touched idols, never drank alcohol, and never attended gatherings of immorality. Once, when he tried to attend a musical gathering, he fell asleep—divinely protected from such behavior.

“Indeed, you are of a great moral character.”

— Surah Al-Qalam 68:4 (quran.com/68/4)

3. Hilf al-Fudul – Pact of Justice

The Prophet ﷺ participated in a noble alliance known as Hilf al-Fudul, which was formed to uphold justice and protect the oppressed in Makkah. He later said:

“I witnessed a pact of justice in the house of ‘Abdullah ibn Jud’an that was more beloved to me than red camels. If I were invited to something like it in Islam, I would accept.”

— [Musnad Ahmad 1655] (authenticated by Al-Albani)

This shows Islam encourages cooperation in justice, even with non-Muslims, as long as it does not contradict Shari’ah.

4. The Value of Guiding Others to Islam

During the Battle of Khaybar, the Prophet ﷺ emphasized that guiding someone to Islam is more valuable than wealth:

“By Allah, if a single person is guided through you, it is better for you than red camels.”

— Sahih al-Bukhari 2942

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2942

This was said to Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA), showing how da'wah holds immense reward.

5. Early Exposure to Trade and Global Interactions

The Prophet ﷺ traveled with Abu Talib on a trade journey to Syria in his youth. Although some stories (like the monk Bahira) are unauthenticated, the Prophet’s exposure to international trade laid a foundation for his later dealings and trustworthiness.

Important Takeaways:

• Allah protected Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from birth.
• His early life reflects honesty, purity, and service.
• Islam supports justice and alliances that promote it.
• Guiding others to Islam is greater than worldly wealth.

May Allah allow us to embody these lessons and spread truth with wisdom.

— Zayd Haji, Zad Academy