Chapter 1: The Early Years of Muhammad

In the early stages of his life, little is documented about Muhammad's religious practices until he reached the age of thirty-five. Notably, he was known for rejecting idol worship, a fact acknowledged by all his biographers. A few others in Mecca shared his aversion to paganism while remaining loyal to the Ka'bah, the sacred site dedicated to the One God by its builder, Abraham.

In approximately 605 CE, the Ka'bah's draperies caught fire, damaging the structure, which then required reconstruction. Each citizen contributed according to their means, ensuring that only gifts from honest earnings were accepted. Muhammad participated actively, even injuring himself while carrying stones.

To determine where the black stone, significant for the ritual of circumambulation, should be placed, a dispute arose among the citizens. In a moment of potential violence, a suggestion was made to let fate decide, and it was Muhammad—known as al-Amin, or the trustworthy—who arrived first. He proposed a solution by placing the stone on a cloth, inviting the tribe leaders to lift it together, and then he positioned it in the Ka'bah, satisfying everyone present.

This moment marked a significant shift for Muhammad as he began to devote himself more deeply to spiritual reflection. Much like his grandfather, he sought solitude during the month of Ramadan in the cave of Hira, known as Ghar-i-Hira, where he prayed, meditated, and shared his meager supplies with passing travelers.

At the age of forty, during a night towards the end of Ramadan, an angel visited him, declaring that God had chosen him as His messenger to humanity. This angel taught him the proper way to perform ablutions, worship God, and conduct prayers, imparting the first divine message:

“With the name of God, the Most Merciful, the All-Merciful, Read: with the name of thy Lord Who created, Created man from what clings, Read: and thy Lord is the Most Bounteous, Who taught by the pen, Taught man what he knew not.” [Qur’an 96:1-5]

Upon returning home, he expressed his fears to his wife, worried that his experience might have been a malevolent force. She reassured him, citing his history of charity and kindness, affirming that God would safeguard him from harm.

This was followed by a significant pause in revelations lasting three years. Initially, the Prophet must have felt a mixture of shock and calm, leading to a growing impatience as skeptics began mocking him, claiming that God had abandoned him. During this period, he dedicated himself increasingly to prayer and spiritual practices.

Eventually, revelations resumed, reassuring him that God had not forsaken him but had instead guided him. He was instructed to care for orphans and the needy, proclaiming God's blessings upon him (cf. Q. 93:3-11). This was a clear command to preach. Further revelations urged him to warn others against immoral practices, to worship only the One God, and to abandon actions displeasing to Him (Q. 74:2-7). Another command directed him to warn his close relatives (Q. 26:214) and to openly proclaim the message while distancing himself from idolaters.

According to Ibn Ishaq, the first revelation came during a dream, likely to ease the shock. Subsequent revelations arrived during full wakefulness.