Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

My Body Started To Tremble with Fear and Tears Were Flowing

Assalam Alaikum

I have been reading the stories of people converting to Islam for quite a while now and decided to tell everyone about my story. It is a bit different than others in fact I was born in a Muslim family in the United Kingdom and have lived here all my life.

My parents came to this country before I was born. I have three sisters and one brother. Even though I was born in a Muslim family none I knew were practising. All I knew was that I had a Muslim name, couldn’t eat pork and the whitepeoples meat, and was not allowed to show my legs.

I had a really disturbing childhood my father used to physically and mentally abuse my mother and all of us. He used to drink and have extra marital affairs. We were very afraid of him and could never talk to him freely. As growing up I lacked self-confidence and was very shy because I used to be put down a lot by my father.

When I was about nine years old we went to Pakistan to live as my dad was afraid we didn’t speak their language i.e. Punjabi and were not familiar with the culture. We stayed there for five years I would say it was a good thing as we were taught reciting the Quran, praying salaat and we went to school which taught us about Islamic history but still nothing that made an effect. We came back to England and things were a bit better than before my dad wasn’t as abusive. My sister wanted to marry a man but my father disapproved so she ran off to get married to him. I was aware of this and tried to talk her out of it but she had made her mind up. I also left on the same day and went to a hostel as I was afraid what my father would do to me.

I hated it, there were other Asian girls living there but I didn’t like the way they were. They had boyfriends and lived like white girls I cried for two days and decided to go home as I didn’t want to live like that. It was horrible going back and getting cursed by my dad but there was nowhere to go.

I remember praying to Allah that I didn’t want to commit suicide and I didn’t want to live either. I asked him to help me and get me out of this tough time. Suddenly things started to get better, my uncle’s son who I hadn’t seen for a very long time came to our house and we were attracted to each other. We got married and he is everything I wanted in a husband at that time he was very trusting and gave me freedom and basically let me do what I wanted to in its limits. He used to pray the jummah salaat and that’s about it.

After I had my second child my husband changed, he said that the following Ramadan we will begin to pray salaat and read the Quran translation tapes his father gave to us a couple of years ago. I said well I tried to make excuses that I couldn’t remember to pray may Allah forgive me. So I put the cassette on and began to listen to the Quran I cannot explain what effect it had on me my body started to tremble with fear and tears were flowing from my eyes. I felt like I was the worst person on earth for not living the way Allah swt has told us. I began to pray five times a day and read all the Quran by meaning, that Ramadan I will never forget as it changed my life and my husband’s forever. Since then we have become stronger in our faith I have began to wear a hijab and my husband has kept a beard. He intends to perform Hajj next year Insha Allah and I pray that Allah calls for me and makes a way for me too as I have three young sons whom we are trying to in our best ability to bring them up as the Quran and the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has told us to. I have made it my life to gain knowledge about the Islamic way of life and pray that we all get Allah’s guidance before it is too late. My message to all my Muslim brothers and sisters is to not just recite the Quran but actually understand the message Allah has sent for all mankind through the Prophet asa guidance to us to save us from the punishment of the hellfire, and for us to be successful in achieving Allah’s mercy and heaven as a reward. Ameen

Holy Quran 72:13And that when we heard the guidance, we believed in it; so whoever believes in his Lord, he should neither fear loss nor being overtaken (by disgrace).

Yusuf Abdullah [Joseph Zammit]

Since childhood I was gifted with the sincere love for God and I was very sensitive to spiritual/religious things. I used to re-tell the stories about the saints to my mother while she was doing the housework. I spent my time reading the life stories of saints and the prophets in the Old Testament, as well I was highly fascinated with Jesus (Peace be on him). In my late teens, about 17 years old, this childhood fascination took a drastic turn when a priest gave me a copy of the Plain Truth magazine. Immediately curious, I embarked on a correspondence course in Bible study.

Slowly but surely I was becoming aware of something beautiful in the Bible which was missing. I could not accept the teachings of the church anymore as they did not inspire me at all. I couldn’t understand how and why our society is so anti-Christian in its values. Religion was for inside the church only! On the other hand, I wanted to seek the inner, true teachings of the prophets and of Jesus (Peace on them all) in particular. I started using the Psalms as my daily prayers and for the first time I got satisfaction and power from prayers so much that tears would flow down my cheeks.

As my thirst and hunger increased, I started studying various mystical paths, as well as psychology. I started reading Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the Sufis who made a very good impression on me, but I brushed them aside as being Muslims. I studied the Hindu mystics, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita,

then on to the Theosophists, Buddhism, Zen and Tao yoga. During these years I used to correspond with initiates in these religions in the UK.

Simultaneously, I started studying Gnosticism, and thisreverted me back to the Bible studies. I studied a lot of good books by Jewish scholars as well as international Bible scholars about many contradictions in the Bible. Next thing was that I contacted various Rosicrucian Orders and being a member in a couple of them. The Rosicrucians claim to be gnostic and freemasons and they promise the initiate to receive Cosmic Power etc. I was still going back, every now and then, to Sufi philosophy and mysticism and still was impressed and attracted by their simplicity and inner love for Allah. The Sufis touched my heart as nothing else did. In 1986 I decided to cut off my name and membership in the Catholic Church. I did this officially through the legal methods available. This was one of the most challenging things I did, alhamdulillah.

In 1989 I made contact with an Indian Master of high standing and was initiated. This Path is purely mystical and within the folds of the Sikh religion. At last, I said this is it. I was initiated into it for 11 whole years when I started to see similarities in the teachings to Sufi teachings, which I kept interested in. This was very interesting and I started investigating further the issue. I found out, to my amazement and satisfaction, that the Path was influenced, way back in the 16th century, by Sufi teachings and mysticism. Interest again flared up within me regarding the Sufis and so decided to go back to the roots of it, therefore studying more deeply the Sufi Way, which more and more was influencing me. The great obstacle was that real Sufis were Muslims—or worked within the Islamic religion. I found many so called Internationalsufi orders which were neutral to religion but these I wasn’t attracted to. I kept on asking why do I have to be a Muslim in order to be asufi ? To become a Muslim is considered as a big ‘treason’ in a Catholic country like Malta. At this period in my life, I increased my prayers fervently and the yearning within me exploded. To my amazement and bewilderment, I found myself reading the Quran, the Holy scripture that is obviously so close to what Jesus taught, as well as the Old testament Prophets, that I laughed at myself for having missed it (or bypassed it) in my studies.

Reading the Holy Quran was the pivot in my life. I started exploring the Pillars of Islam and by the help and mercy of Allah I gathered strength enough to embrace Islam on Laylat-u-l-Qadr in year 2000. My studies of Sufis became deeper and I made contact with a couple of Tariqas, employing their daily wasifas and dhikr.

AFTERTHOUGHT

Here I must emphasise the real cause behind my whole life. Since childhood I wanted God and God alone. Whatever Prophet, Guru,Master I met with, it was only for the glory of God. God was and still is my aim, my life, my breath. Since childhood, I always thought about death. Being rich, having a nice family, being healthy, having a beautiful wife etc etc…so what? I have to die, then…? Therefore, I was sincere and took life seriously. I used to pray and pray and cry “Oh Allah! If I succeed in findingYou just before I die, my whole life would have been a success!” Going through life, in all its materialistic attractions and deviations, still my heart pointed towards God.

Having arrived at the stage where I was a candidate student in one of the oldest Sufi Schools, I thought now this is really it. But Allah knows best. This year [2002], one week before embarking for the Hajj, casually I met a Muslim couple from UK at the local masjid. I had a very good conversation with them and in the night they gave me some books to read. I realised they were from theshia . I was so fascinated by one of the books they gave me that I made it a point to contact them at the Hotel next morning, but alas! They had flown back home. I went to the Hajj fully convinced that theshia are the true Muslims. So, I advise anyone to keep himself/herself open and let God do the work. We must have yearning, longing and be sincere in our prayers, then Allah does it all.

Your brother in Islam

Holy Quran 2:97 Say: Whoever is the enemy of Jibreel-- for surely he revealed it to your heart by Allah’s command, verifying that which is before it and guidance and good news for thebelievers.

Abdul-Lateef Abdullah (Steven Krauss)

My journey to Islam - How Malay martial arts led a theologically dissatisfied American Protestant to Islam.

My experience in Islam began as a graduate student in New York City in 1998. Up to that point in my life, for 25 years, I had been a Protestant Christian, but had not been practicing my religion for quite some time. I was more interested in “spirituality” and looking for anything that didn’t have to do with organized religion. To me, Christianity was out of touch and not relevant to the times. It was hard for me to find anything in it that I could apply to my everyday life. This disillusion with Christianity led me to shun everything that claimed to be organized religion, due to my assumption that they were all pretty much the same, or at least in terms of their lack of relevance and usefulness.

Much of my frustration with Christianity stemmed from its lack of knowledge and guidance around the nature of God, and the individual’s relationship to Him. To me, the Christian philosophy depends on this rather bizarre intermediary relationship that we are supposed to have with Jesus, who on one hand was a man, but was also divine. For me, this difficult and very vague relationship with our Creator left me searching for something that could provide me with a better understanding of God, and our relationship to Him. Why couldn’t I just pray directly to God? Why did I have to begin and end every prayer with “in the name of Jesus Christ?” How can an eternal, omnipotent Creator and Sustainer also take the form of a man? Why would He need to? These were just a few of the questions that I could not resolve and come to terms with. Thus, I was hungry for a more straightforward and lucid approach to religion that could provide my life with true guidance, not just dogma that was void of knowledge based in reason.

While in graduate school I had a Jewish roommate who was a student of the martial arts. While I was living with him he was studying an art called silat, a traditional Malaysian martial art that is based on the teachings of Islam. When my roommate would come home from his silat classes he would tell me all about the uniqueness of silat and its rich spiritual dimension. As I was quite interested in learning martial arts at the time, I was intrigued by what I had heard, and decided to accompany my roommate to class one Saturday morning. Although I did not realize it at the time, my experience in Islam was beginning that morning at my first silat class in New York City back on February 28th, 1998. There I met my teacher, Cikgu (which means teacher in Malay) Sulaiman, the man who would first orient me to the religion of Islam. Although I thought I was beginning a career as a martial artist, that day back in 1998 actually represented my first step toward becoming Muslim.

From the very beginning I was intrigued by silat and Islam and began spending as much time as possible with my teacher. As my roommate and I were equally passionate about silat, we would go to my teacher’s house and soak up as much knowledge as we could from him. In fact, upon our completing graduate school in the spring of 1998, upon his invitation, we spent the entire summer living with him and his wife. As my learning in silat increased, so did my learning about Islam, a religion that I had hardly any knowledge of prior to my experience in silat.

What made my orientation to Islam so powerful was that as I was learning about it, I was also living it.Because I studied at the home of my teacher, being in the presence of devout Muslims allowed me to be constantly surrounded by the sounds, sights and practices of Islam. For as Islam is an entire lifestyle, when you are in an Islamic environment, you cannot separate it out from everyday life. Unlike Christianity, which lends toward a separation between daily life and religion, Islam requires its’ followers to integrate worship of Allah into everything we do. Thus, in living with my teacher, I was immersed in the Islamic deen (lifestyle) and experiencing first-hand how it can shape one’s entire way of life.

In the beginning Islam was very different and powerful to me. It was also very foreign in many ways and the amount of discipline it requires was difficult to understand. At the time I was liberal in many ways, and was used to shunning anything dogmatic or imposed, regardless of where it came from! As time went on, however, and my understanding of Islam grew, I began to slowly see that what seemed to be religious dogma was really a lifestyle put forth to us by our Creator. This lifestyle, I would later learn, is the straight path to true contentment, not just the sensual and superficial way of life that my society and culture promote. I realized that the question is quite simple actually. Who could possibly know better what the best way of life is for human beings than the all-wise Creator?

From that first silat class in New York City to the day I took my shahadda, July 30, 1999, I had undergone a thorough self-examination that was comprised of two major processes. One was to question the culture of the society I was brought up in, and the second was to question the role I wanted religion to play in my everyday life. As for my culture, this one was not as difficult as most people would think.

American culture is highly influential on how we see life because it constantly bombards us with sensual gratification aimed at appealing to our worldly desires. In America happiness is defined by what we have and consume, thus, the entire culture is geared toward the marketplace. Unless we are removed from this type of environment it is difficult to see it’s drawbacks, which are based on worshipping and putting faith in everything but God, the only One that can provide us with real, lasting contentment in our lives.

Being a social scientist by trade, much of my professional time is spent trying to address the social ills of our society. As I learned more about Islam, I came to the conclusion that many societal ills are based on unhealthy social behaviour. Since Islam is a lifestyle focused totally on the most healthy, positive way of conducting our lives in every setting, then it is, and will always be, the only real answer to any of society’s social dilemmas. With this realization, not only did I decide that Islam was relevant to my everyday life, but I began to understand why it is so different from other religions. Only Islam provides knowledge and guidance for every aspect of life. Only Islam provides a way to achieve health and happiness in every dimension of life – physical, spiritual, mental, financial, etc. Only Islam provides us with a clear life goal and purpose. And only Islam shows us the proper way to live in and contribute to a community. Islam is what everyone needs, and what so many who have not found it yet, are searching for. It is the path to purpose, meaning, health and happiness. This is because it is the straight path to the source of truth and real power – Allah.

It was only until I actually became Muslim that I realized just how encompassing the Islamic lifestyle is. Literally everything we do has one underlying purpose – to remember Allah. The lifestyle provides us with the way – not just the understanding – but an actual method of constantly remembering our Creator in as simple an act as greeting someone, or getting dressed in the morning, or waking up from sleep. Islam shows us that by remembering Allah, everything we do becomes focused on Him, and thus becomes an act of worship. From this, our energy, our thoughts, and our actions all become redirected away from unhealthy and uselesscauses, and focused on the source of all goodness. Thus, we are continuously tapping into His divine strength, mercy and grace. So, by remembering Allah constantly, we become stronger and healthier in every aspect of our lives and not distracted by self-defeating thoughts and behaviours.

There still remain some minor aspects of Islam that have proven to be somewhat difficult adjustments for me. Nevertheless, I thank Allah everyday for the ease to which he has allowed me to make the necessary changes in my life so that I can continue to live in America and still be, Insha-Allah, a good Muslim. As a white, middle-class American, many cultural aspects of Islam are quite different from the way in which I grew up. In fact, when I finally broke the news to my family that I had become Muslim, almost all of their questions and concerns were related to cultural differences – marriage, social life, family, etc. They were much less concerned about my general beliefs about God and religious practice. For my family, friends, and co-workers, becoming Muslim was not seen necessarily as a negative change, but it has required a great deal of education about Islam.

Because acquiring knowledge is a critical component to a Muslim’s development, having a teacher who has taught me how to apply Islam in everyday life has made all the difference in managing whatever difficulties I have experienced from my reversion. Having someone knowledgeable you can turn to whenever you have questions is a wonderful support that every new shahada should go out of their way to find. Islam is not a religion that can be rationalized, in the way that Christianity and Judaism are. It is a clear path that must be followed just as Allah has laid out for us through the Qur’an and the lives of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), his companions, and the saints of Islam.

In this day and age, in this society, discerning the path can often be difficult, especially when we are constantly faced with questions and doubts from people who on the surface may not be hostile to Islam, but whose general lack of faith can have a harmful effect on someone who bases everything they do on their love for Allah. It is also not easy being in an environment where we are constantly bombarded with sensual temptations that are seen as ordinary, common aspects of everyday life. But when we have the support of a knowledgeable, experienced teacher, who is able to apply the universal teachings of Islam to his life, then the truth becomes clear from error, exactly how Allah (SWT) describes in the Qur’an. From this, we are able to understand how to apply Islam correctly to our own lives, and Insha-Allahreceive Allah’s many blessings. The ultimate test, however, of anyone who claims to have true and right knowledge, is to look at how they apply it in their own lives. If their actions support their teachings, then and only then should we look to them forguidance.

My journey to Islam has been a life-altering experience. It is one that with every passingday, makes me more and more appreciative and thankful to Almighty Allah. The extent of His mercy can only fully be understood from the perspective of a Muslim – one who prostrates regularly and submits their will to that of the Creator.

I look back at my life prior to Islam and reflect on the different ways I sought guidance. I think back to all the different ideas I once had of who God really is, and how we can become close to Him. I look back now with a smile and perhaps even a tear because now I know the truth. Through Islam, I know why so many people who do not believe have so much fear inside them.

Life can be very scary without God. I know, because I once harboured that same level of fear. Now, however, I have the ultimate “self-help” program. It’s the self-help program without the self. It’s the path that puts everything is in its proper place. Now, life makes sense. Now, life is order. Now, I know why I am here, where I want to go, what I want my life to be, how I want to live, and what is most important not just to me, but to everyone. I only hope and pray that others who have not found the path yet, can feel the same that I do. Ya arhama rahimeen wal hamdulillahi rabbil aylameen…

Holy Quran 3:96 Most surely the first house appointed for men is the one at Bekka, blessed anda guidance for the nations.

Sister Mardiyyah

I am a forty seven year old wife, mother of three and grandmother of one. I was born & brought up as a Methodist Christian. As a child I wasChristened and sent to Sunday school, even becoming a Sunday school teacher. Both at Sunday school & day school I always came top in religious instruction exams. Even then though, I remember thinking that I wished I could really believe and accept Christianity wholeheartedly, but I always felt that something was wrong or something missing. Why if there was only one God did we worship Jesus? How if God was not human could he have a Son? Why did we refer to God as three- the Holy Trinity? As far as I was concerned God was God, on his own – Full Stop! My father’sfamily were not practising Christians but my mothers were. My great grandfather had even been responsible for the setting up of the Methodist Chapel in his village. This was the same chapel I attended and where my family were very well known and always treated with the utmost respect.

After I met my future husband, who told me he was an atheist, I stopped attending Chapel and teaching at the Sunday school. Over the next few years my husband & I had three children and like a lot of people I followed the traditions of my family and had them christened and sent them to Sunday school. I may not have agreed wholeheartedly with Christianity but I had nothing better to offer them. I attended weddings, christenings & burials and some Easter & Christmas Services and Chapel Anniversary Services, always thinking that I really wanted to believe more than I did and always feeling something was missing.

Having three children my life was always busy and I didn’t really give much thought to religion on a day to day basis but then about fifteen years ago I became involved in local politics. Attending a party political conference, one of my fellow delegates was a Doctor, a Bangladeshi Muslim. We struck up a friendship and would talk, not just about Politics but many other things including religion. I had for some time admired things like Islamic buildings and art, I also liked the clothing that Indian women (not necessarily Muslim wore –Salwar Kameez, particularly the printed fabrics and scarves). From the few things I had learnt about Islam and Muslims from newspapers etc. I could see that my colleague was a pretty poor Muslim. I found out that he only prayed once a day, didn’t fast, and hadn’t been on Hajj, but this somehow got to me and I started reading anything and everything I could find about Islam.

Over the next ten or twelve years I had periods when I would read extensively and periods when I wouldn’t give it a thought. I quickly began to admire the ethics of Muslim families, the way children were taught respect for their elders, the way they all spoke up for each other. I also began to feel the need to speak up forthem, it always appeared they were the ones to be persecuted.

About three years ago I realised that I was spending more and more time thinking about Islam and that without realising it I would steer conversations with friends around to this subject. I also noted that I was very slowly changing my own habits, dressing more discreetly, not drinking, praying (not as a Muslim), something I had not done for a very long time. I then found myself saying this is ridiculous I am not a Muslim I am a Christian and I would go out of my way to convince myself of this. I changed my job and went to work in London for the first time and made sure that I always went out with colleagues to bars and restaurants after work, I bought more showy clothes, I am sorry to say that I neglected my familyduties, I was too tired to do housework and cooking. My husband & sons (my daughter had by now gone to University and set up home on her own) had to fend for themselves. My Muslim friend asked why I was doing this to my family and I told him about my feelings for Islam, I guess he wasn’t all bad as his response was to buy me an English translation of the Qu’ran. I was hooked!

January 2001 I made one last attempt to convince myself that I was not a Muslim, I changed my job again.This time to work for a West End theatre producer, even more partying. But it didn’t work and I quickly realised that I was making myself physically sick. I developed several different illnesses all with symptoms brought about (according to my doctor) by stress. I was taking several types of medication. One day at the beginning of September 2001 I was reading the Qu’ran when without realising what I was doing I said the Shahadah to myself and felt the most wonderful sense of completeness and a serenity I had never felt before. I made the decision there and then that I would find somewhere to really learn how to become a Muslim and to say Shahadah again, but this time in front of witnesses. My only worry was how I would find the courage and words to tell my family of my decision. I had been married for twenty-eight years by now but still didn’t really know what my husband’s beliefs were or how any of my family would react.

Imagine my horror therefore and I am sorry to say the anger I felt when I came back from lunch on 11th September to be confronted with pictures on the Internet of the planes flying into the world trade centre. Over the next few days and weeks I would hear people say that all Muslims were alike and that they should all be thrown out of the country etc, etc. I found myself defending them saying not all Muslims were terrorists any more than all Roman Catholics supported the IRA and were we going to throw out all Irish people. I soon realised however that nowwas not the time to break my news . I decided to keep it to myself. Ramadam came and I remembered that I had just a couple of months earlier imagined I would be fasting. I spent Christmas with my family as I have always done, this year cooking for twenty people. I travelled to Scotland two days before New Year only to spendnew years eve travelling back to England, as I was unwell. We arrived home with fifteen minutes to spare before midnight and I made a resolution that I would give up my job in London and work part time locally so that I would have time to learn Arabic and really make the effort to become a good Muslim.

I decided to write to two local Mosques. I desperately wanted to learn how to pray as a Muslim but knew that I couldn’t just walk into a Mosque. I was terrified I would do something wrong and really offend someone or that they would be really un-welcoming. I got no response from either of my letters. One day however I found a book with a rough outline of a prayer in – I think the book was meant for school children- but anyhow I followed the instructions and prayed. I knew then I had made the right decision. I also knew I had to find the courage to tell my family, but how? It was at this time that I sent two emails which were to be the most important of my life. One was to a site for new converts and one was to an Islamic Centre in a nearby town. To my amazement they were both answered. Within two weeks of this I was to meet two amazing groups of people who welcomed me into their midst. Within a month I had said Shahadah in front of witnesses as I had hoped for.

I was now a Muslim and somehow I had to find a way of telling my family. I now had a son in law and a grandson as well as my own children.A Jewish son in law in fact albeit non-practising. One evening when I was reading the Qu’ran, before I had had a chance to tell my husband he asked when I was going to change my faith. He was very shocked to begin with but we talked and I told him how happy I felt and that I hoped he would try to understand and to find out why I had come to this decision. I think he has coped amazingly well especially as I had felt a need to wear Hijab almost immediately, probably because it has taken me so many years to get this far.

My children seem to have accepted the changes I have made, although like their father they find the wearing of Hijab rather strange but they are persevering and have actually commented on how much happier and relaxed I seem.

My son in law has actually been the one who has so far shown the most interest, asking questions about various aspects, and although he has reservations about explaining to my grandson why I wear a scarf and his own mother doesn’t, he is trying hard to be accepting. Unfortunately it has been my daughter who is most against it. Unfortunately some years ago she had a relationship of her own with a Muslim guy who didn’t treat her very well and I feel this has coloured her judgement.

As for my husband we have now talked and I have found that his own beliefs are not that dissimilar to my own, but he just believes that religion should be private and that in this modern age we should keep our beliefs to ourselves and not go out of our way to make our beliefs obvious to others i.e. wearing Hijab.

Slowly our lives are changing, there are those who say I should move quicker and can’t do this or that any more, but I know my family and if I want them to accept Islam for themselves I know I have to be patient.

Holy Quran 42:23 That is of which Allah gives the good news to His servants, (to) those who believe and do good deeds. Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives; and whoever earns good, We give him more of good therein; surely Allah is Forgiving, Grateful.

Table of Contents

Preface 16

Chapter 1: Arabian Peninsula the Cradle of Islamic Culture 18

Makkah 19

A Short History of Makkah 19

Madina 19

Notes 21

Chapter 2: Arabia Before Islam 22

General Morals of the Arabs 23

Were the Pre-Islamic Arabs Civilized? 23

As`ad Bin Zurarah Meets The Holy Prophet 25

Religion in Arabia 27

Thinking of The Arabs about Man After Death 29

Literature or The Stereoscope of The Mentality of a Nation 29

Position of Women amongst The Arabs 30

Social Position of Women Amongs The Arabs 31

A Brief Comparison 32

Arabs as Warriors 32

Conclusion 33

Superstitions and Myths of Arabs 33

Superstitious Beliefs Of The Arabs Of The Age Of Ignorance 35

1. Burning fire for the coming of rains 36

2. If a cow did not drink water they beat the Ox 36

3. They branded healthy camels so that the others might recover 36

4. A camel was confined by the side of a grave 36

5. They cut off the feet of a camel near a grave 36

Islam Combats With Superstitions 36

6. Treatment of the sick 37

How Islam Campaigned against these Superstitions 38

7. Some Other Superstitions 38

Notes 39

Chapter 3: Conditions of Roman and Iranian Empires 40

Seasonal Discussions in Rome 40

Iran, or The Cradle of Civilisation of that Age 42

General Conditions of Iran Simultaneous with The Dawn of Islam 42

Fondness for Luxuriousness during Sasanian Period 43

Social Conditions in Iran 43

Right of Obtaining Education was Reserved for the Upper Classes 44

Verdict of History on The Sasanian Kings 46

Unrest during The Sasanian Rule 46

Disturbed Conditions of Sasanian Iran from Religious Viewpoint 47

Wars between Iran and Rome 49

Notes 50

Chapter 4: Ancestors of The Prophet 52

1. Ibrahim, The Champion of Monotheism 52

Why Worshop of Creatures Came Into Existence? 52

Birthplace of Prophet Ibrahim 53

Ibrahim’s Campaign Against Idol Worship 54

Secret of Polytheism 55

Ibrahim’s Logic Explained 57

Method of Discussion and Debate Adopted by The Prophets 58

Was Azar The Father of Ibrahim? 58

Azar in The Holy Qur’an 59

The following verses were, however, revealed in reply to their request 59

Ibrahim The Idol-Breaker 60

Instructive Points of This Narrative 62

A New Chapter in The Life of Ibrahim 64

How The Fountain of Zamzam Came Into Existence 65

They Meet Again 66

2. Qusayy Son Of Kilab 66

3 Abd Manaf 67

4. Hashim 68

Umayyah Son of Abd Shams Feels Jealous 69

Hashim Marries 70

5. Abdul Muttalib 71

Re-Excavation Of The Well Of Zamzam 71

Steadfastness In Keeping Promise 73

Tumult Of The Year of The Elephant 74

The Origin Of This Event 75

Abdul Muttalib Goes To The Camp of Abraha 77

Quraysh Await Abdul Muttalib’s Return 78

A theoretical discussion about miracles 79

Way of Thinking of Some Scholars 80

Notable Points With Regard to The Above Mentioned Explanation 82

Two Important Points 83

After The Defeat of Abraha 83

Imaginary Frontiers of Quraysh 84

Abdullah – Father Of The Holy Prophet 85

Death Of Abdullah In Yathrib 86

Notes 87

Chapter 5: Birth of the Prophet 88

Year, Month and Date of Birth of The Prophet of Islam 89

Which of The Two Versions is Correct? 90

Ceremony of Giving A Name To The Prophet of Islam 90

The Holy Qur'an mentions two names of the Prophet.73 91

The Infancy Of The Prophet 91

Notes 92

Chapter 6: Childhood of The Prophet 93

Worshippers of Allah 93

Five Years In The Desert 95

Notes 96

Chapter 7: Rejoining the Family 97

Journey To Yathrib 98

Death of Abdul Muttalib 99

Guardianship by Abu Talib 99

A Journey to Syria 99

Falsehood of The Orientalists 100

A Glance at The Existing Taurat 102

A Glance at The Injeel 103

Prophet 'Isa Shows a Miracle 103

Notes 103

Chapter 8: Period of Youth 104

Spiritual Power of The Holy Prophet 104

The Fujjar (Unjust) Battles 104

The Prophet Participates in The Agreement 106

Notes 107

Chapter 9: From Sheperd to Merchant 108

Abu Talib's Proposal 109

Khadijah - The First Lady Of Islam 110

The Patent and Latent Causes of The Marriage 112

Circumstances of Khadijah’s Suit 113

Notes 114

Chapter 10: From Marriage upto Prophethood 115

Manhood of The Holy Prophet 115

Sentiments of His Manhood 115

His Children from Khadijah 116

Unfounded Guess 116

Adopted Son of The Prophet of Islam 117

Beginning of Differences Among The Idolaters 117

The Foundations of Idol-Worship Shake 118

These four persons consisted of 118

Another Weakness of Quraysh 118

Notes 119

Chapter 11: The First Manifestation of Reality 121

Necessity for the appointment of Prophets 121

Role of Prophets on the reformation of society 122

A Patent Example 122

The 'Honest One' Of Quraysh in The Hira Mountain 124

Commencement of Revelation 125

The World as Viewed by a Materialist 125

The Abstract Soul 126

Magnetic Sleep (Hypnotism) 127

Inspiration or Mysterious Sense 127

Kinds of Inspiration 127

Myths 128

Trail of Revelation 128

Khadijah Goes to Waraqah Bin Nawafal 129

Baselessness of These Statements 130

Notes 131

Chapter 12: The First Revelation 132

Reply by Shi'ah Scholars 132

The First Reply 132

The Second Reply 133

The Third Reply 133

The Faith of the Prophet before The Prophetic Mission 134

Comparison of Prophet Muhammad with Prophet 'Isa 135

Notes 136

Chapter 13: Who Were The First Persons to Embrace Islam? 137

The First Amongst Women to Embrace Islam was Khadijah 137

The First Amongst Men to Adopt Islam was Ali 137

The First Evidence 138

The Second Evidence 139

The Third Evidence 139

The Fourth Evidence 139

Mamun’s Discussion with Ishaq 140

Notes 140

Chapter 14: Cessatation of Revelation 141

Our opinion on This Subject 142

The Holy Prophet Commenced Reformation From A Limited Circle 142

The Manner of Inviting The Kinsfolk 144

Crimes and Breach of Trust 145

Prophethood and Imamate are Linked Together 147

Notes 147

Chapter 15: General Invitation 148

The Role of Faith and Fortitude 148

Steadfastness and Fortitude of The Holy Prophet 149

Quraysh Approached Abu Talib for The Third Time 151

Quraysh Try to Allure The Holy Prophet 151

An Example of The Tortures and Persecutions by Quraysh 152

Abu Jahl Lies in Ambush for The Holy Prophet 155

Persecution of Muslims by Quraysh 156

Bilal, The Ethiopian 156

Self-Sacrifice of Ammar and His Parents 156

Abdullah Bin Mas'ud 157

Ruthless Enemies of The Holy Prophet 158

Umar Ibn Khattab Embraces Islam 158

Notes 160

Chapter 16: Judgement of Quraysh about The Holy Qur'an 162

Judgement of Walid 162

Another Example 163

Strange Stratagem of Quraysh 164

Stimulant for The Obstinacy of the Chiefs of Quraysh 164

1. Quraysh were jealous of the Holy Prophet 165

2. Fear of the Day of Judgement 165

Some objections by the Polytheists 166

Notes 167

Chapter 17: The First Migration 168

Quraysh Send Their Representatives to The Court of Ethiopia 170

Return from Ethiopia 173

Mission of The Christians 173

The Mission of Quraysh 174

Notes 175

Chapter 18: Rusty Weapons 176

Undue Calumnies 176

Persistence in Attributing Insanity 178

Imposture of Nazar Bin Harith 179

Persistence of Quraysh in Their Faith 179

They Prohibit Hearing of The Qur’an 180

The Law-Breaking Legislators 181

Preventing People from Embracing Islam 181

Another Example 182

Notes 183

Chapter 19: The Fiction of Gharaniq 184

A Simple Accountability of This Fiction 185

Judgement of Intellect on This Myth 185

Contradiction of The Story in Another Way 186

Argument against the Myth from The Point of View of Language 187

Evidence put forward by some orientalists 187

Notes 187

Chapter 20: Economic Blockade 188

Declaration By Quraysh 188

The Pitiable Condition Of Bani Hashim 189

Notes 191

Chapter 21: Death of Abu Talib 192

Specimens Of The Kindnesses And Love Of Abu Talib 192

Change In The Programme Of The Journey 193

Defence Of His Sacred Beliefs 193

A False Idea 194

The Real Stimulant For Abu Talib 194

A Short Account Of The Sacrifices Made By Abu Talib 195

The Will Of Abu Talib At The Time Of His Death 196

The Last Journey 197

The Viewpoint Of Shi'ah Scholars 197

Notes 198

Chapter 22: Me`raj – The Heavenly Ascension 199

Me'raj According To The Qur'an, Hadith And History 199

Does Me'raj Have A Qur'anic Origin? 200

In Surah al-lsra' it has been said 200

Reports About Me'raj 201

History Of This Event 201

Was Me'raj Of The Prophet Physical? 202

What Is Spiritual Me'raj? 203

Reply To The Above Criticism 204

An Unrhythmical Song 204

Me'raj And Modern Scientific Laws 205

Reply To The Above Objections 206

The Object Of Me'raj 207

Notes 208

Chapter 23: Journey to Ta`if 209

The Prophet Returns To Makkah 210

A Point Which Deserves Attention 211

Speeches In The Famous Bazaars Of Arabia 212

Invitation To The Heads Of The Tribes During Haj Season 212

Notes 212

Chapter 24: The Agreement of Aqabah 213

The Battle Of Bu'ath 214

The Details Of This Event 214

The First Agreement At 'Aqabah 215

The Second Agreement At 'Aqabah 215

Conditions Of Muslims After The Agreement Of 'Aqabah 217

The Reaction Of QurayshTo The Agreement At 'Aqabah 218

Spiritual Influence Of Islam 219

Fear Overtakes Quraysh 220

Notes 221

Chapter 25: The Event of Migration 222

Divine Assistance 223

The Archangel Jibreel Informs The Prophet 224

Enemies Attack The House Of The Prophet 225

The Prophet In The Cave Of Thaur 225

Quraysh Do Not Hesitate In Searching Out The Prophet 226

Self-Sacrifice In The Path Of Reality 226

Statement Of Ibn Taymiyah 227

Reply To The False Interpretation 228

Detailed Reply 229

Trail Of Events Of The Migration Of The Prophet 230

Coming Out Of The Cave 231

The First Page Of History 231

Why The Year Of Migration Became The Era Of Islamic History? 231

Schedule Of The Journey 232

Arrival In The Village Of Quba 233

Tumult And Glamour Of Joy In Madina 234

Seeds Of Dissension 235

Notes 236

Chapter 26: The Events of the First Year of Migration 238

The Story Of 'Ammar 239

Nurse Kinder To The Child Than Its Mother 240

Brotherhood-The Greatest Gleam Of Faith 241

Two Great Distinctions Of Ali 242

Another Distinction Of Ali 243

The Greatest Documentary Agreement Of History 244

Part One 244

Part Two 245

Part Three 246

Part Four 246

Obstructions Of The Jews 247

ABDULLAH BIN SALAM EMBRACES ISLAM 247

Another Plan To Overthrow The Government Of Islam 247

Notes 249

Chapter 27: Some Events of the First and Second Years of Migration 250

What Was The Object Of War Manoeuvres? 252

Viewpoint Of Orientalists About These Events 253

Notes 255

Chapter 28: The Events of the Second Year of Migration 256

Difficulties Of Marriage During The Present Age 256

The Propllet Campaigned Practically Against These Difficulties 256

The Dowry Of The Prophet's Daughter 258

The Ceremonies Of The Marriage 258

Notes 259

Chapter 29: Change of Qiblah 260

Miraculous Knowledge Of The Prophet 261

Notes 262

Chapter 30: The Battle of Badr 263

The Difficulty Faced By Quraysh 264

The Forces Of Truth And Falsehood Face Each Other 265

War Consultations 265

Concealment Of Facts 266

Procurement Of Information About The Enemy 267

The Caravan Of Abu Sufyan Flees 269

Muslims Become Aware Of The Escape Of The Caravan 269

Difference Of Opinion Amongst Quraysh 269

"Arish" Or Tower Of Command 270

Examining The Question Of Setting Up A Shelter 271

Movement Of Quraysh 271

Consultations By Quraysh 272

Difference Of Opinion Amongst Quraysh 272

The Reason Which Made The Battle Unavoidable 273

Single Combats 273

General Attack Begins 274

Regard For Rights 275

Umayyah Bin Khalaf Is Killed 275

Amount Of Casualties And Losses 276

After The Battle Of Badr 276

Two Captives Were Killed Enroute 277

Men Dispatched By The Prophet To Madina 278

Makkans Come To Know About Their Chiefs Being Killed 278

Wailings And Elegizing Prohibited 279

Final Decision About The Captives 279

Statement Of Ibn Abil Hadid 280

Notes 281

Chapter 31: Dangerous Designs of the Jews 282

The Fire Of War Kindles With A Spark 283

Fresh Reports Reach Madina 284

1. Ghazwatul Kadar 284

2. Ghazwatus Saweeq 285

Ghazwah Zil Amr 285

Quraysh Change Their Trade Route 286

Notes 286

Chapter 32: The Events of the Third Year of Migration 287

Reasons For The Battle Of Uhud 287

Quraysh Decide To Meet The Expenses Of War 288

The Intelligence Organization Of The Holy Prophet Furnishes A Report 289

The Army Of Quraysh Moves 289

The Uhud Region 290

Consultations In The Matter Of Defence 290

Drawing Lots For Being Killed 291

Result Of Consultations 292

The Holy Prophet Takes Decision 293

The Holy Prophet Goes Out Of Madina 293

Two Self-Sacrificing Soldiers 293

Array Of The Two Armies 295

Strengthening The Morale Of The Soldiers 296

The Enemy Organizes His Rows 296

Psychological Stimulations 297

The Battle Begins 297

Who Were Fighting For The Sake Of Lust? 298

Defeat After Victory 299

The Rumour About The Prophet Being Killed Spreads 300

Is It Possible To Deny The Flight Of Some Persons? 301

The Holy Qur'an Reveals Some Facts 301

Bitter Experiences 302

Five Persons Conspire To Kill The Holy Prophet 303

Defence Associated With Success And Renewed Victory 304

Trail Of The Happenings At Uhud 310

The Opportunists Among The Enemy 310

End Of The Battle 311

Last Words Of Sa'd Bin Rabi' 312

The Holy Prophet Returns To Madina 313

Exciting Record Of A Faithful Woman 313

Another Example Of Self-Sacrificing Women 314

The Enemy Should Be Pursued 315

The Prophet Goes Upto Hamra'ul Asad 316

A True Believer Is Not Cheated Twice 317

Notes 317

Chapter 33: The Events of the Third and Fourth Years of Migration 319

A Dexterously Drawn Plan To Kill The Missionaries 319

Cruel Massacre Of The Missionaries Of Islam 320

Tragedy Of Bl'r Ma'unah 321

Partial Behaviour Of The Orientalists 322

A True Believer Is Never Stung From The Same Hole Twice 322

Notes 323

Chapter 34: The Jews Quit the Zone of Islam  324

How To Deal With This Crime? 325

Crocodile Tears 326

Role Of The Hypocrites 326

The Farms Of Bani Nuzayr Are Distributed Among The Muhajirs 327

Notes 327

Chapter 35: The Events of the Fourth Year of Migration 328

Prohibition Of Alcoholic Drinks 328

Battle (Ghazwah) Of Za'tur Riqa' 329

Forbearing Guards 330

The Second Badr 331

Notes 331

Chapter 36: The Events of the Fifth Year of Migration 332

Who Was Zayd Bin Harith? 332

Zayd Marries The Prophet's Cousin (Paternal Aunt's Daughter) 332

Zayd Separates From His Wife 333

Marriage For Banning Another Wrong Custom 333

The Forged Story About Zaynab Is A Mere Fiction 335

Explanation Of Two Parts Of The Verse 336

Notes 337

Chapter 37: The Battle of Ahzab 338

Intelligence Bureau Of Muslims 339

The Well-Known Remarks Of The Prophet About Salman 340

The Army Of The Arabs And The Jews Besieges Madina 341

Number Of Soldiers Of The Two Forces 341

The Rigours Of Winter And The Shortage Of Provisions 341

Hay Bin Akhtab Arrives In The Fortress Of Bani Qurayzah 342

The Prophet Becomes Aware Of The Violation Of The Pact By Bani Qurayzah 343

Initial Transgressions By Bani Qurayzah 343

Encounter Between Faith And Infidelity 344

Some Champions Of The Arab Army Cross The Ditch 345

Combat Between The Two Champions Commences 346

The Value Of This Blow 347

Magnanimity 347

The Army Of The Arabs Is Divided 347

Factors Which Divided The Arab Army 348

Representatives Of Quraysh Visit The Fortress Of Bani Qurayzah 350

The Last Factor 351

Notes 351

Chapter 38: The Last Stage of Mischief 352

Consultations By The Jews Within The Fortress 352

Betrayal By Abu Lubabah 354

The Fate Of The Fifth Group 355

A Study Of Sa'd Mu'az's Judiciousness 356

Notes 358

Chapter 39: The Events of the Fifth and Sixth Years of Migration 359

A Band Of Quraysh Proceeds To Ethiopia 360

Prevention Of Repetition Of Bitter Events 360

Battle Of Zl Qarad 361

Unpermissible Vow 361

Notes 362

Chapter 40: The Events of The Sixth Year of Migration 363

The Battle Of Bani Mustaliq 363

A Hypocrite Fans The Flame Of Dissensions 364

Conflict Between Faith And Sentiments Of A Soldier 365

The Prophet Marries Juwayriyah 366

Notes 366

Chapter 41: A Religious and Political Journey 367

The Representatives Of Quraysh Come And Meet The Holy Prophet 369

The Prophet Of Islam Sends His Representative 371

The Holy Prophet Sends Another Representative 371

The Rizwan Pledge 372

Suhayl Bin 'Amr Contacts The Prophet 372

History Repeats Itself 373

Text Of The Hudaybiyah Pact 374

Glad Tidings Of Freedom 375

Last Effort For The Preservation Of Peace 376

Evaluation Of The Peace Pact Of Hudaybiyah 377

Quraysh Insist Upon Cancellation Of One Of The Clauses Of The Pact 379

The Muslim Women Were Not Surrendered To Quraysh 380

Notes 381

Chapter 42: The Events of the Seventh Year of Migration 382

The Universality Of The Prophethood 382

The Message Of Prophethood Is Sent To Far Off Places 383

Conditions Of The World At The Time Of The Communication Of Universal Invitation 384

The Messenger Of Islam In The Roman Territory 385

Kaiser Makes Investigations About The Holy Prophet 386

The Prophet's Letter Impresses Kaiser 387

The Ambassador Of The Prophet Arrives In Iran 387

Ya'qubi's False View 389

Khusro Perviz Contacts The Ruler Of Yemen 389

Arrival Of The Messenger Of Islam In Egypt 390

The Maqauqis Writes A Letter To The Prophet 392

Envoy Of Islam Enters Ethiopia 393

Conversation Of The Envoy With The Negus 394

The Negus Writes To The Holy Prophet 395

Letters Of The Holy Prophet To The Rulers Of Syria And Yamamah 395

The Holy Prophet's Letters To The Prince Of The Ghassanians 396

The Sixth Envoy Of The Prophet Proceeds To Yamamah 397

Other Letters Of The Prophet Of Islam 399

Notes 399

Chapter 43: Fort of Khayber the Centre of Danger 400

The Army Of Islam Moves To An Unknown Destination 401

Important Places Are Occupied At Night 402

The Fortifications Of The Jews Tumble Down 403

Piety In The Very Face Of Hardships 404

The Forts Are Conquered One After The Other 405

The Great Victory At Khayber 406

Tampering With Facts 408

Three Bright Points In The Life Of Ali 409

The Factors Pertaining To Victory 410

1. Military Plan And Tactics 410

2. Procurement Of Information 411

3. Self-Sacrifice Of All 411

Kind Sentiments In The Battlefield 412

Kananah Bin Rabi' Is Killed 412

War Booty Is Divided 413

A Caravan From Ethiopia The Memorable Land 413

Figures Of Casualties 414

Forgiveness At The Time Of Victory 414

Stubborn Behaviour Of The Jews 415

The Jews Are Expelled From Khayber 417

Lie Justified By Its Motive 417

Notes 418

Chapter 44: The Story of Fadak 420

Is it possible to entertain any doubt about the matter after this clear statement? 422

The Story Of Fadak After The Prophet 422

Notes 424

Chapter 45: The Lapsed `Umrah 425

The Prophet Enters Makkah 426

The Prophet Leaves Makkah 427

Notes 428

Chapter 46: The Events of the Eighth Year of Migration 429

A Still More Tragic Event 429

Difference Of Opinion About The First Commander 430

Array Of Roman And Islamic Troops 432

Army Of Islam In Distress 434

The Soldiers Of Islam Return To Madina 435

Myth Instead Of History 435

The Prophet Wept Bitterly On The Death Of Ja'far 436

Notes 436

Chapter 47: The Battle of Zatus Salasil 437

Ali Is Selected As The Commander Of The Army 439

The Secret Of Ali's Victory In This Battle 439

Notes 440

Chapter 48: The Conquest of Makkah 441

The Prophet's Decision Makes Quraysh Uneasy 442

A Spy Is Trapped 444

The Prophet And The Muslims March Towards Makkah 446

Showing Indulgence While In Power And Authority 447

Fascinating Tactics Of The Army Of Islam 448

Abbas Makes Abu Sufyan Pass Through The Muslim Camp 449

Abu Sufyan Appears Before The Prophet 450

Makkah Surrenders Without Bloodshed 451

Abu Sufyan Proceeds To Makkah 452

Military Forces Of Islam Enter The City 453

Breaking The Idols And Washing The Ka'bah 454

The Prophet Grants General Amnesty 457

The Prophet Exhorts His Kinsmen 457

Historical Sermon Of The Prophet In The Masjidul Haram 458

Superiority On Account Of Being An Arab 459

The Hundred Years' Wars And Old Grudges 459

Islamic Brotherhood 459

The Criminals Are Arrested 460

The Story Of 'Ikrimah And Safwan 460

Events After The Conquest Of Makkah 461

Idol Temples In Makkah And In Its Suburbs Become Desolate 462

Another Offence Of Khalid 463

Notes 464

Chapter 49: The Battle of Hunayn 465

An Unmatched Army 465

Acquisition Of Information 465

Equipment Of The Muslims 467

The Steadfastness Of The Prophet And Of A Group Of Self-Sacrificing Persons 467

War Booty 468

Notes 468

Chapter 50: The Battle of Ta’if 469

Splitting The Wall Of The Fort By Means Of Military Vehicles 470

Economic And Moral Blows 470

The Last Stratagem To Conquer The Fort 471

The Army Of Islam Returns To Madina 471

Events After The War 472

Malik Bin 'Awf Embraced Islam 474

Distribution Of War Booty 474

Notes 476

Chapter 51: The Famous Panegyric of Ka’b Bin Zuhayr 477

A Young Man Becomes The Governor Of Makkah 477

Story Of Ka'b Bin Zuhayr Bin Abi Sulma 478

Grief Mingled With Joy 479

Notes 479

Chapter 52: The Events of the Ninth Year of Migration 480

Demolition Of The Idol-Temple 480

Adyy Bin Hatim Proceeds To Madina 482

Notes 483

Chapter 53: The Battle of Tabuk 484

Inviting Warriors And Procuring Expenses Of War 484

Persons Opposed To Participation In The Battle 485

Ali Did Not Participate In This Battle 486

The Army Of Islam Proceeds Towards Tabuk 487

March Past Of The Army Before The Prophet 488

The Story Of Malik Bin Qays 488

Difficulties On The Way 489

Precautionary Orders 489

Occult Information Of The Prophet 490

Another Occult Information 490

Army Of Islam Arrives In The Area Of Tabuk 490

Khalid Bin Walid Is Dispatched To Dowmatul Jandal 492

Evaluation Of The Journey To Tabuk 493

The Hypocrites Plot Against The Holy Prophet 493

Cold War 494

The Event Of Masjid Zirar 496

Notes 497

Chapter 54: The Deputation of Thaqif Goes to Madina 499

Dissensions Amongst The People Of Thaqif Tribe 499

The Deputation Of Thaqif Meets The Prophet 500

The Conditions Of The Deputation 501

Notes 502

Chapter 55: The Prophet Mourning for His Son 503

Baseless Objection 503

Campaign Against Superstitions 504

Notes 505

Chapter 56: Eradication of Idol-Worship in Arabia 506

Unfair Bias In The Assessment Of This Event 509

Notes 510

Chapter 57: Representatives of Najran in Madina 511

The Representatives Of Najran Have Discussions With The Prophet 512

The Represents Of Najran Give Up The Idea Of Mubahilah 514

Contents Of The Agreement Concluded Between The Parties 515

Notes 516

Chapter 58: The Events of the Tenth Year of Migration 517

Plot To Kill The Prophet 517

The Commander Of The Faithful Is Deputed To Yemen 518

Notes 519

Chapter 59: The Farewell Haj 520

Ali Returns From Yemen To Partake In Haj Ceremonies 521

Haj Ceremonies Begin 522

The Historical Sermon Of The Prophet At The Time Of The Farewell Haj 522

Notes 524

Chapter 60: Islam is completed by The Appointment of Successor 526

Prophethood And Imamate Were Inter-Related 527

Sermon Of The Prophet At Ghadir Khum 528

The Authentic Sources Of The Hadith Ghadir 529

Notes 530

Chapter 61: The Events of the Eleventh Year of Migration 531

The Impostors And Apprehensions Of Rome 531

A Short Biography Of Musaylimah 531

Apprehension Of Rome 532

A Lame Excuse 535

Seeking Forgiveness For Those Burled In Baqi 535

Notes 536

Chapter 62: A Will which was Not Written 537

Bring A Pen And An Ink-Pot So That I May Write A Will 537

What Did The Will Aim At? 540

Making Amends For The Matter 541

Distribution Of Dinars 542

The Prophet Is Annoyed On Account Of The Medicine Given To Him 542

Last Farewell To Friends 542

Notes 543

Chapter 63: The Last Hours of the Prophet 545

The Prophet Speaks To His Daughter 545

Brushing The Teeth 546

Recommendations Of The Prophet 546

The Last Day 547

Notes 549

Table of Contents

Preface 16

Chapter 1: Arabian Peninsula the Cradle of Islamic Culture 18

Makkah 19

A Short History of Makkah 19

Madina 19

Notes 21

Chapter 2: Arabia Before Islam 22

General Morals of the Arabs 23

Were the Pre-Islamic Arabs Civilized? 23

As`ad Bin Zurarah Meets The Holy Prophet 25

Religion in Arabia 27

Thinking of The Arabs about Man After Death 29

Literature or The Stereoscope of The Mentality of a Nation 29

Position of Women amongst The Arabs 30

Social Position of Women Amongs The Arabs 31

A Brief Comparison 32

Arabs as Warriors 32

Conclusion 33

Superstitions and Myths of Arabs 33

Superstitious Beliefs Of The Arabs Of The Age Of Ignorance 35

1. Burning fire for the coming of rains 36

2. If a cow did not drink water they beat the Ox 36

3. They branded healthy camels so that the others might recover 36

4. A camel was confined by the side of a grave 36

5. They cut off the feet of a camel near a grave 36

Islam Combats With Superstitions 36

6. Treatment of the sick 37

How Islam Campaigned against these Superstitions 38

7. Some Other Superstitions 38

Notes 39

Chapter 3: Conditions of Roman and Iranian Empires 40

Seasonal Discussions in Rome 40

Iran, or The Cradle of Civilisation of that Age 42

General Conditions of Iran Simultaneous with The Dawn of Islam 42

Fondness for Luxuriousness during Sasanian Period 43

Social Conditions in Iran 43

Right of Obtaining Education was Reserved for the Upper Classes 44

Verdict of History on The Sasanian Kings 46

Unrest during The Sasanian Rule 46

Disturbed Conditions of Sasanian Iran from Religious Viewpoint 47

Wars between Iran and Rome 49

Notes 50

Chapter 4: Ancestors of The Prophet 52

1. Ibrahim, The Champion of Monotheism 52

Why Worshop of Creatures Came Into Existence? 52

Birthplace of Prophet Ibrahim 53

Ibrahim’s Campaign Against Idol Worship 54

Secret of Polytheism 55

Ibrahim’s Logic Explained 57

Method of Discussion and Debate Adopted by The Prophets 58

Was Azar The Father of Ibrahim? 58

Azar in The Holy Qur’an 59

The following verses were, however, revealed in reply to their request 59

Ibrahim The Idol-Breaker 60

Instructive Points of This Narrative 62

A New Chapter in The Life of Ibrahim 64

How The Fountain of Zamzam Came Into Existence 65

They Meet Again 66

2. Qusayy Son Of Kilab 66

3 Abd Manaf 67

4. Hashim 68

Umayyah Son of Abd Shams Feels Jealous 69

Hashim Marries 70

5. Abdul Muttalib 71

Re-Excavation Of The Well Of Zamzam 71

Steadfastness In Keeping Promise 73

Tumult Of The Year of The Elephant 74

The Origin Of This Event 75

Abdul Muttalib Goes To The Camp of Abraha 77

Quraysh Await Abdul Muttalib’s Return 78

A theoretical discussion about miracles 79

Way of Thinking of Some Scholars 80

Notable Points With Regard to The Above Mentioned Explanation 82

Two Important Points 83

After The Defeat of Abraha 83

Imaginary Frontiers of Quraysh 84

Abdullah – Father Of The Holy Prophet 85

Death Of Abdullah In Yathrib 86

Notes 87

Chapter 5: Birth of the Prophet 88

Year, Month and Date of Birth of The Prophet of Islam 89

Which of The Two Versions is Correct? 90

Ceremony of Giving A Name To The Prophet of Islam 90

The Holy Qur'an mentions two names of the Prophet.73 91

The Infancy Of The Prophet 91

Notes 92

Chapter 6: Childhood of The Prophet 93

Worshippers of Allah 93

Five Years In The Desert 95

Notes 96

Chapter 7: Rejoining the Family 97

Journey To Yathrib 98

Death of Abdul Muttalib 99

Guardianship by Abu Talib 99

A Journey to Syria 99

Falsehood of The Orientalists 100

A Glance at The Existing Taurat 102

A Glance at The Injeel 103

Prophet 'Isa Shows a Miracle 103

Notes 103

Chapter 8: Period of Youth 104

Spiritual Power of The Holy Prophet 104

The Fujjar (Unjust) Battles 104

The Prophet Participates in The Agreement 106

Notes 107

Chapter 9: From Sheperd to Merchant 108

Abu Talib's Proposal 109

Khadijah - The First Lady Of Islam 110

The Patent and Latent Causes of The Marriage 112

Circumstances of Khadijah’s Suit 113

Notes 114

Chapter 10: From Marriage upto Prophethood 115

Manhood of The Holy Prophet 115

Sentiments of His Manhood 115

His Children from Khadijah 116

Unfounded Guess 116

Adopted Son of The Prophet of Islam 117

Beginning of Differences Among The Idolaters 117

The Foundations of Idol-Worship Shake 118

These four persons consisted of 118

Another Weakness of Quraysh 118

Notes 119

Chapter 11: The First Manifestation of Reality 121

Necessity for the appointment of Prophets 121

Role of Prophets on the reformation of society 122

A Patent Example 122

The 'Honest One' Of Quraysh in The Hira Mountain 124

Commencement of Revelation 125

The World as Viewed by a Materialist 125

The Abstract Soul 126

Magnetic Sleep (Hypnotism) 127

Inspiration or Mysterious Sense 127

Kinds of Inspiration 127

Myths 128

Trail of Revelation 128

Khadijah Goes to Waraqah Bin Nawafal 129

Baselessness of These Statements 130

Notes 131

Chapter 12: The First Revelation 132

Reply by Shi'ah Scholars 132

The First Reply 132

The Second Reply 133

The Third Reply 133

The Faith of the Prophet before The Prophetic Mission 134

Comparison of Prophet Muhammad with Prophet 'Isa 135

Notes 136

Chapter 13: Who Were The First Persons to Embrace Islam? 137

The First Amongst Women to Embrace Islam was Khadijah 137

The First Amongst Men to Adopt Islam was Ali 137

The First Evidence 138

The Second Evidence 139

The Third Evidence 139

The Fourth Evidence 139

Mamun’s Discussion with Ishaq 140

Notes 140

Chapter 14: Cessatation of Revelation 141

Our opinion on This Subject 142

The Holy Prophet Commenced Reformation From A Limited Circle 142

The Manner of Inviting The Kinsfolk 144

Crimes and Breach of Trust 145

Prophethood and Imamate are Linked Together 147

Notes 147

Chapter 15: General Invitation 148

The Role of Faith and Fortitude 148

Steadfastness and Fortitude of The Holy Prophet 149

Quraysh Approached Abu Talib for The Third Time 151

Quraysh Try to Allure The Holy Prophet 151

An Example of The Tortures and Persecutions by Quraysh 152

Abu Jahl Lies in Ambush for The Holy Prophet 155

Persecution of Muslims by Quraysh 156

Bilal, The Ethiopian 156

Self-Sacrifice of Ammar and His Parents 156

Abdullah Bin Mas'ud 157

Ruthless Enemies of The Holy Prophet 158

Umar Ibn Khattab Embraces Islam 158

Notes 160

Chapter 16: Judgement of Quraysh about The Holy Qur'an 162

Judgement of Walid 162

Another Example 163

Strange Stratagem of Quraysh 164

Stimulant for The Obstinacy of the Chiefs of Quraysh 164

1. Quraysh were jealous of the Holy Prophet 165

2. Fear of the Day of Judgement 165

Some objections by the Polytheists 166

Notes 167

Chapter 17: The First Migration 168

Quraysh Send Their Representatives to The Court of Ethiopia 170

Return from Ethiopia 173

Mission of The Christians 173

The Mission of Quraysh 174

Notes 175

Chapter 18: Rusty Weapons 176

Undue Calumnies 176

Persistence in Attributing Insanity 178

Imposture of Nazar Bin Harith 179

Persistence of Quraysh in Their Faith 179

They Prohibit Hearing of The Qur’an 180

The Law-Breaking Legislators 181

Preventing People from Embracing Islam 181

Another Example 182

Notes 183

Chapter 19: The Fiction of Gharaniq 184

A Simple Accountability of This Fiction 185

Judgement of Intellect on This Myth 185

Contradiction of The Story in Another Way 186

Argument against the Myth from The Point of View of Language 187

Evidence put forward by some orientalists 187

Notes 187

Chapter 20: Economic Blockade 188

Declaration By Quraysh 188

The Pitiable Condition Of Bani Hashim 189

Notes 191

Chapter 21: Death of Abu Talib 192

Specimens Of The Kindnesses And Love Of Abu Talib 192

Change In The Programme Of The Journey 193

Defence Of His Sacred Beliefs 193

A False Idea 194

The Real Stimulant For Abu Talib 194

A Short Account Of The Sacrifices Made By Abu Talib 195

The Will Of Abu Talib At The Time Of His Death 196

The Last Journey 197

The Viewpoint Of Shi'ah Scholars 197

Notes 198

Chapter 22: Me`raj – The Heavenly Ascension 199

Me'raj According To The Qur'an, Hadith And History 199

Does Me'raj Have A Qur'anic Origin? 200

In Surah al-lsra' it has been said 200

Reports About Me'raj 201

History Of This Event 201

Was Me'raj Of The Prophet Physical? 202

What Is Spiritual Me'raj? 203

Reply To The Above Criticism 204

An Unrhythmical Song 204

Me'raj And Modern Scientific Laws 205

Reply To The Above Objections 206

The Object Of Me'raj 207

Notes 208

Chapter 23: Journey to Ta`if 209

The Prophet Returns To Makkah 210

A Point Which Deserves Attention 211

Speeches In The Famous Bazaars Of Arabia 212

Invitation To The Heads Of The Tribes During Haj Season 212

Notes 212

Chapter 24: The Agreement of Aqabah 213

The Battle Of Bu'ath 214

The Details Of This Event 214

The First Agreement At 'Aqabah 215

The Second Agreement At 'Aqabah 215

Conditions Of Muslims After The Agreement Of 'Aqabah 217

The Reaction Of QurayshTo The Agreement At 'Aqabah 218

Spiritual Influence Of Islam 219

Fear Overtakes Quraysh 220

Notes 221

Chapter 25: The Event of Migration 222

Divine Assistance 223

The Archangel Jibreel Informs The Prophet 224

Enemies Attack The House Of The Prophet 225

The Prophet In The Cave Of Thaur 225

Quraysh Do Not Hesitate In Searching Out The Prophet 226

Self-Sacrifice In The Path Of Reality 226

Statement Of Ibn Taymiyah 227

Reply To The False Interpretation 228

Detailed Reply 229

Trail Of Events Of The Migration Of The Prophet 230

Coming Out Of The Cave 231

The First Page Of History 231

Why The Year Of Migration Became The Era Of Islamic History? 231

Schedule Of The Journey 232

Arrival In The Village Of Quba 233

Tumult And Glamour Of Joy In Madina 234

Seeds Of Dissension 235

Notes 236

Chapter 26: The Events of the First Year of Migration 238

The Story Of 'Ammar 239

Nurse Kinder To The Child Than Its Mother 240

Brotherhood-The Greatest Gleam Of Faith 241

Two Great Distinctions Of Ali 242

Another Distinction Of Ali 243

The Greatest Documentary Agreement Of History 244

Part One 244

Part Two 245

Part Three 246

Part Four 246

Obstructions Of The Jews 247

ABDULLAH BIN SALAM EMBRACES ISLAM 247

Another Plan To Overthrow The Government Of Islam 247

Notes 249

Chapter 27: Some Events of the First and Second Years of Migration 250

What Was The Object Of War Manoeuvres? 252

Viewpoint Of Orientalists About These Events 253

Notes 255

Chapter 28: The Events of the Second Year of Migration 256

Difficulties Of Marriage During The Present Age 256

The Propllet Campaigned Practically Against These Difficulties 256

The Dowry Of The Prophet's Daughter 258

The Ceremonies Of The Marriage 258

Notes 259

Chapter 29: Change of Qiblah 260

Miraculous Knowledge Of The Prophet 261

Notes 262

Chapter 30: The Battle of Badr 263

The Difficulty Faced By Quraysh 264

The Forces Of Truth And Falsehood Face Each Other 265

War Consultations 265

Concealment Of Facts 266

Procurement Of Information About The Enemy 267

The Caravan Of Abu Sufyan Flees 269

Muslims Become Aware Of The Escape Of The Caravan 269

Difference Of Opinion Amongst Quraysh 269

"Arish" Or Tower Of Command 270

Examining The Question Of Setting Up A Shelter 271

Movement Of Quraysh 271

Consultations By Quraysh 272

Difference Of Opinion Amongst Quraysh 272

The Reason Which Made The Battle Unavoidable 273

Single Combats 273

General Attack Begins 274

Regard For Rights 275

Umayyah Bin Khalaf Is Killed 275

Amount Of Casualties And Losses 276

After The Battle Of Badr 276

Two Captives Were Killed Enroute 277

Men Dispatched By The Prophet To Madina 278

Makkans Come To Know About Their Chiefs Being Killed 278

Wailings And Elegizing Prohibited 279

Final Decision About The Captives 279

Statement Of Ibn Abil Hadid 280

Notes 281

Chapter 31: Dangerous Designs of the Jews 282

The Fire Of War Kindles With A Spark 283

Fresh Reports Reach Madina 284

1. Ghazwatul Kadar 284

2. Ghazwatus Saweeq 285

Ghazwah Zil Amr 285

Quraysh Change Their Trade Route 286

Notes 286

Chapter 32: The Events of the Third Year of Migration 287

Reasons For The Battle Of Uhud 287

Quraysh Decide To Meet The Expenses Of War 288

The Intelligence Organization Of The Holy Prophet Furnishes A Report 289

The Army Of Quraysh Moves 289

The Uhud Region 290

Consultations In The Matter Of Defence 290

Drawing Lots For Being Killed 291

Result Of Consultations 292

The Holy Prophet Takes Decision 293

The Holy Prophet Goes Out Of Madina 293

Two Self-Sacrificing Soldiers 293

Array Of The Two Armies 295

Strengthening The Morale Of The Soldiers 296

The Enemy Organizes His Rows 296

Psychological Stimulations 297

The Battle Begins 297

Who Were Fighting For The Sake Of Lust? 298

Defeat After Victory 299

The Rumour About The Prophet Being Killed Spreads 300

Is It Possible To Deny The Flight Of Some Persons? 301

The Holy Qur'an Reveals Some Facts 301

Bitter Experiences 302

Five Persons Conspire To Kill The Holy Prophet 303

Defence Associated With Success And Renewed Victory 304

Trail Of The Happenings At Uhud 310

The Opportunists Among The Enemy 310

End Of The Battle 311

Last Words Of Sa'd Bin Rabi' 312

The Holy Prophet Returns To Madina 313

Exciting Record Of A Faithful Woman 313

Another Example Of Self-Sacrificing Women 314

The Enemy Should Be Pursued 315

The Prophet Goes Upto Hamra'ul Asad 316

A True Believer Is Not Cheated Twice 317

Notes 317

Chapter 33: The Events of the Third and Fourth Years of Migration 319

A Dexterously Drawn Plan To Kill The Missionaries 319

Cruel Massacre Of The Missionaries Of Islam 320

Tragedy Of Bl'r Ma'unah 321

Partial Behaviour Of The Orientalists 322

A True Believer Is Never Stung From The Same Hole Twice 322

Notes 323

Chapter 34: The Jews Quit the Zone of Islam  324

How To Deal With This Crime? 325

Crocodile Tears 326

Role Of The Hypocrites 326

The Farms Of Bani Nuzayr Are Distributed Among The Muhajirs 327

Notes 327

Chapter 35: The Events of the Fourth Year of Migration 328

Prohibition Of Alcoholic Drinks 328

Battle (Ghazwah) Of Za'tur Riqa' 329

Forbearing Guards 330

The Second Badr 331

Notes 331

Chapter 36: The Events of the Fifth Year of Migration 332

Who Was Zayd Bin Harith? 332

Zayd Marries The Prophet's Cousin (Paternal Aunt's Daughter) 332

Zayd Separates From His Wife 333

Marriage For Banning Another Wrong Custom 333

The Forged Story About Zaynab Is A Mere Fiction 335

Explanation Of Two Parts Of The Verse 336

Notes 337

Chapter 37: The Battle of Ahzab 338

Intelligence Bureau Of Muslims 339

The Well-Known Remarks Of The Prophet About Salman 340

The Army Of The Arabs And The Jews Besieges Madina 341

Number Of Soldiers Of The Two Forces 341

The Rigours Of Winter And The Shortage Of Provisions 341

Hay Bin Akhtab Arrives In The Fortress Of Bani Qurayzah 342

The Prophet Becomes Aware Of The Violation Of The Pact By Bani Qurayzah 343

Initial Transgressions By Bani Qurayzah 343

Encounter Between Faith And Infidelity 344

Some Champions Of The Arab Army Cross The Ditch 345

Combat Between The Two Champions Commences 346

The Value Of This Blow 347

Magnanimity 347

The Army Of The Arabs Is Divided 347

Factors Which Divided The Arab Army 348

Representatives Of Quraysh Visit The Fortress Of Bani Qurayzah 350

The Last Factor 351

Notes 351

Chapter 38: The Last Stage of Mischief 352

Consultations By The Jews Within The Fortress 352

Betrayal By Abu Lubabah 354

The Fate Of The Fifth Group 355

A Study Of Sa'd Mu'az's Judiciousness 356

Notes 358

Chapter 39: The Events of the Fifth and Sixth Years of Migration 359

A Band Of Quraysh Proceeds To Ethiopia 360

Prevention Of Repetition Of Bitter Events 360

Battle Of Zl Qarad 361

Unpermissible Vow 361

Notes 362

Chapter 40: The Events of The Sixth Year of Migration 363

The Battle Of Bani Mustaliq 363

A Hypocrite Fans The Flame Of Dissensions 364

Conflict Between Faith And Sentiments Of A Soldier 365

The Prophet Marries Juwayriyah 366

Notes 366

Chapter 41: A Religious and Political Journey 367

The Representatives Of Quraysh Come And Meet The Holy Prophet 369

The Prophet Of Islam Sends His Representative 371

The Holy Prophet Sends Another Representative 371

The Rizwan Pledge 372

Suhayl Bin 'Amr Contacts The Prophet 372

History Repeats Itself 373

Text Of The Hudaybiyah Pact 374

Glad Tidings Of Freedom 375

Last Effort For The Preservation Of Peace 376

Evaluation Of The Peace Pact Of Hudaybiyah 377

Quraysh Insist Upon Cancellation Of One Of The Clauses Of The Pact 379

The Muslim Women Were Not Surrendered To Quraysh 380

Notes 381

Chapter 42: The Events of the Seventh Year of Migration 382

The Universality Of The Prophethood 382

The Message Of Prophethood Is Sent To Far Off Places 383

Conditions Of The World At The Time Of The Communication Of Universal Invitation 384

The Messenger Of Islam In The Roman Territory 385

Kaiser Makes Investigations About The Holy Prophet 386

The Prophet's Letter Impresses Kaiser 387

The Ambassador Of The Prophet Arrives In Iran 387

Ya'qubi's False View 389

Khusro Perviz Contacts The Ruler Of Yemen 389

Arrival Of The Messenger Of Islam In Egypt 390

The Maqauqis Writes A Letter To The Prophet 392

Envoy Of Islam Enters Ethiopia 393

Conversation Of The Envoy With The Negus 394

The Negus Writes To The Holy Prophet 395

Letters Of The Holy Prophet To The Rulers Of Syria And Yamamah 395

The Holy Prophet's Letters To The Prince Of The Ghassanians 396

The Sixth Envoy Of The Prophet Proceeds To Yamamah 397

Other Letters Of The Prophet Of Islam 399

Notes 399

Chapter 43: Fort of Khayber the Centre of Danger 400

The Army Of Islam Moves To An Unknown Destination 401

Important Places Are Occupied At Night 402

The Fortifications Of The Jews Tumble Down 403

Piety In The Very Face Of Hardships 404

The Forts Are Conquered One After The Other 405

The Great Victory At Khayber 406

Tampering With Facts 408

Three Bright Points In The Life Of Ali 409

The Factors Pertaining To Victory 410

1. Military Plan And Tactics 410

2. Procurement Of Information 411

3. Self-Sacrifice Of All 411

Kind Sentiments In The Battlefield 412

Kananah Bin Rabi' Is Killed 412

War Booty Is Divided 413

A Caravan From Ethiopia The Memorable Land 413

Figures Of Casualties 414

Forgiveness At The Time Of Victory 414

Stubborn Behaviour Of The Jews 415

The Jews Are Expelled From Khayber 417

Lie Justified By Its Motive 417

Notes 418

Chapter 44: The Story of Fadak 420

Is it possible to entertain any doubt about the matter after this clear statement? 422

The Story Of Fadak After The Prophet 422

Notes 424

Chapter 45: The Lapsed `Umrah 425

The Prophet Enters Makkah 426

The Prophet Leaves Makkah 427

Notes 428

Chapter 46: The Events of the Eighth Year of Migration 429

A Still More Tragic Event 429

Difference Of Opinion About The First Commander 430

Array Of Roman And Islamic Troops 432

Army Of Islam In Distress 434

The Soldiers Of Islam Return To Madina 435

Myth Instead Of History 435

The Prophet Wept Bitterly On The Death Of Ja'far 436

Notes 436

Chapter 47: The Battle of Zatus Salasil 437

Ali Is Selected As The Commander Of The Army 439

The Secret Of Ali's Victory In This Battle 439

Notes 440

Chapter 48: The Conquest of Makkah 441

The Prophet's Decision Makes Quraysh Uneasy 442

A Spy Is Trapped 444

The Prophet And The Muslims March Towards Makkah 446

Showing Indulgence While In Power And Authority 447

Fascinating Tactics Of The Army Of Islam 448

Abbas Makes Abu Sufyan Pass Through The Muslim Camp 449

Abu Sufyan Appears Before The Prophet 450

Makkah Surrenders Without Bloodshed 451

Abu Sufyan Proceeds To Makkah 452

Military Forces Of Islam Enter The City 453

Breaking The Idols And Washing The Ka'bah 454

The Prophet Grants General Amnesty 457

The Prophet Exhorts His Kinsmen 457

Historical Sermon Of The Prophet In The Masjidul Haram 458

Superiority On Account Of Being An Arab 459

The Hundred Years' Wars And Old Grudges 459

Islamic Brotherhood 459

The Criminals Are Arrested 460

The Story Of 'Ikrimah And Safwan 460

Events After The Conquest Of Makkah 461

Idol Temples In Makkah And In Its Suburbs Become Desolate 462

Another Offence Of Khalid 463

Notes 464

Chapter 49: The Battle of Hunayn 465

An Unmatched Army 465

Acquisition Of Information 465

Equipment Of The Muslims 467

The Steadfastness Of The Prophet And Of A Group Of Self-Sacrificing Persons 467

War Booty 468

Notes 468

Chapter 50: The Battle of Ta’if 469

Splitting The Wall Of The Fort By Means Of Military Vehicles 470

Economic And Moral Blows 470

The Last Stratagem To Conquer The Fort 471

The Army Of Islam Returns To Madina 471

Events After The War 472

Malik Bin 'Awf Embraced Islam 474

Distribution Of War Booty 474

Notes 476

Chapter 51: The Famous Panegyric of Ka’b Bin Zuhayr 477

A Young Man Becomes The Governor Of Makkah 477

Story Of Ka'b Bin Zuhayr Bin Abi Sulma 478

Grief Mingled With Joy 479

Notes 479

Chapter 52: The Events of the Ninth Year of Migration 480

Demolition Of The Idol-Temple 480

Adyy Bin Hatim Proceeds To Madina 482

Notes 483

Chapter 53: The Battle of Tabuk 484

Inviting Warriors And Procuring Expenses Of War 484

Persons Opposed To Participation In The Battle 485

Ali Did Not Participate In This Battle 486

The Army Of Islam Proceeds Towards Tabuk 487

March Past Of The Army Before The Prophet 488

The Story Of Malik Bin Qays 488

Difficulties On The Way 489

Precautionary Orders 489

Occult Information Of The Prophet 490

Another Occult Information 490

Army Of Islam Arrives In The Area Of Tabuk 490

Khalid Bin Walid Is Dispatched To Dowmatul Jandal 492

Evaluation Of The Journey To Tabuk 493

The Hypocrites Plot Against The Holy Prophet 493

Cold War 494

The Event Of Masjid Zirar 496

Notes 497

Chapter 54: The Deputation of Thaqif Goes to Madina 499

Dissensions Amongst The People Of Thaqif Tribe 499

The Deputation Of Thaqif Meets The Prophet 500

The Conditions Of The Deputation 501

Notes 502

Chapter 55: The Prophet Mourning for His Son 503

Baseless Objection 503

Campaign Against Superstitions 504

Notes 505

Chapter 56: Eradication of Idol-Worship in Arabia 506

Unfair Bias In The Assessment Of This Event 509

Notes 510

Chapter 57: Representatives of Najran in Madina 511

The Representatives Of Najran Have Discussions With The Prophet 512

The Represents Of Najran Give Up The Idea Of Mubahilah 514

Contents Of The Agreement Concluded Between The Parties 515

Notes 516

Chapter 58: The Events of the Tenth Year of Migration 517

Plot To Kill The Prophet 517

The Commander Of The Faithful Is Deputed To Yemen 518

Notes 519

Chapter 59: The Farewell Haj 520

Ali Returns From Yemen To Partake In Haj Ceremonies 521

Haj Ceremonies Begin 522

The Historical Sermon Of The Prophet At The Time Of The Farewell Haj 522

Notes 524

Chapter 60: Islam is completed by The Appointment of Successor 526

Prophethood And Imamate Were Inter-Related 527

Sermon Of The Prophet At Ghadir Khum 528

The Authentic Sources Of The Hadith Ghadir 529

Notes 530

Chapter 61: The Events of the Eleventh Year of Migration 531

The Impostors And Apprehensions Of Rome 531

A Short Biography Of Musaylimah 531

Apprehension Of Rome 532

A Lame Excuse 535

Seeking Forgiveness For Those Burled In Baqi 535

Notes 536

Chapter 62: A Will which was Not Written 537

Bring A Pen And An Ink-Pot So That I May Write A Will 537

What Did The Will Aim At? 540

Making Amends For The Matter 541

Distribution Of Dinars 542

The Prophet Is Annoyed On Account Of The Medicine Given To Him 542

Last Farewell To Friends 542

Notes 543

Chapter 63: The Last Hours of the Prophet 545

The Prophet Speaks To His Daughter 545

Brushing The Teeth 546

Recommendations Of The Prophet 546

The Last Day 547

Notes 549