Hilf al-fudul

Hilf al-fudul

Messenger of Allah was present at the Hilf al-Fudul.

This was the most renowned alliance ever heard of in Arabia. It was formed because a man from Zabid had arrived in Makkah with some merchandise and `Al-'As ibn Wa'il, one of the Quraysh nobles, bought goods from him and then withheld payment. The Zabidi asked the Quraysh nobles for help against Al-' As ibn Wa'il, but they refused to intervene because of his position. The Zabidi then appealed to the people of Makkah as a whole for support.

All the fair-minded young men were full of enthusiasm to put the matter right. They met in the house of 'Abdullah ibn Jud'an who prepared food for them. They made a covenant by Allah that they would unite with the wronged man against the one who had wronged him the matter was settled. The Arabs called that pact Hilf Al-FuduI, 'The Alliance of Excellence'. They said,

'These people have entered into a state of excellence.'

Then they went to al-' As ibn Wa'il and took from him

what he owed to Zabidi and handed it over.

The Messenger of Allah was proud of this alliance.

He held it in such high esteem that, after receiving the message 'of Islam, he said, 'In the house of 'Abdullah ibn

Jud'an, I was present at an alliance which was such that if I was invited to take pad in it now in Islam, I would still do so.' The Quraysh pledged to restore to everyone what was their due and not to allow any aggressor to get the better of those he had wronged.

In Allah's wisdom, His Messenger was allowed to grow up unlettered. He could neither read nor write. Thus, he could never be accused by his enemies of altering other ideologies. The Qur'an indicates this when

it says, `Before this you did not recite any Book nor

write it with your right hand, for then those who follow

falsehood would have doubted.' (29: 48)

The Qur'an called him 'unlettered' and said, 'those

who follow the Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet,

whom they find written down with them in the Torah

and Evangel.' (7: 157)

Rebuilding the Ka'bah

Rebuilding the Ka'bah

When the Messenger of Allah was thirty-five, the Quraysh decided to rebuild the Ka‘bah. Apart from needing a new roof, they found that the stone walls, that were higher than a man's head, had no clay to bind the stones together. They had no alternative but to demolish the building and erect it again.

When the rebuilding had reached the point where

traditional Black Stone had to be put in place, they began to argue. Each clan wanted to have the honour of carrying out this prestigious task. They began to argue fiercely among themselves. During these pagan days more trivial issues than this could spark off a war.

They prepared to fight. The Banu `Abdu`d-Dar brought a large bowl filled with blood. They and the Banu 'Adi put their hands in the blood and took a vow to fight to death.

It was a sign of death and evil. The Quraysh remained in that sorry state for several days, before agreeing that the first person to enter the door" of the mosque should make the decision About placing the Black Stone. The first to enter was the Messenger of

Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). When they saw him, they said, 'This is the trustworthy one. We are pleased. This is Muhammad.'

The Messenger of Allah called for a piece of cloth. He took the stone and placed it in the centre of the cloth. Then he said that each clan should take a corner of the cloth and lift it together. They did this, bringing it to its position.

He put the Black Stone in place with his own hands, and

then the building continued.

This was how the Messenger of Allah prevented a war from breaking out among the Quraysh by a supreme demonstration of wisdom.

Marriage to Khadijah

Marriage to Khadijah

When the Messenger of Allah was twenty-five, he married Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, a Qurayshi woman of excellent character who was then forty years of age. She had a fine intellect, noble character and great wealth. She had been widowed when her husband, Abu Halah, died.

Khadijah was a businesswoman who hired men to trade goods for her and gave them a' share of her profits. The Quraysh were a merchant people. She tested the truthfulness of the Messenger of Allah, his noble character and his sincerity when he took some of her goods to Syria to trade. When she was told About his outstanding competence on this journey she expressed her desire to marry him although she had refused the offer of many noblemen of the Quraysh.

Messenger of Allah also wished to marry her. His uncle Hamzah conveyed the khitbah, the marriage proposal, to Khadijah's family and they all readily agreed to it. When marriage took place Abu Talib delivered the khutbah at the ceremony.

Khadijah was the first woman that the Messenger of Allah married and she bore him all his children except Ibrahim.

Divine training

Divine training

As he grew up, the Messenger of Allah was protected by Allah Almighty. He distanced himself from the obscenities and bad habits of the jahiliyyah. He outshone everyone in manliness, character, modesty, truthfulness, and trustworthiness. He earned respect and the name 'trustworthy'. He respected family ties and

shared the burdens of others. He honoured his guests and demonstrated piety and fear of God. He always provided his own food and was content with simple meals.

When he was About fourteen years old, the Fijar War broke out between the tribes of Quraysh and Qays.

The Messenger of Allah was at some of the battles, passing arrows for his uncles to fire. He learned About war and About horsemanship and chivalry during these tribal encounters.