The life of the Prophet ﷺ

c. 570 · age 0 · Makkah

The Year of the Elephant

Abraha, the ruler of Yemen, marched on Makkah with an army and elephants to destroy the Ka‘bah. Allah sent flocks of birds against them and the army was destroyed before it entered the city. Surah Al-Fil tells the story.

Sources: Quran 105:1-5 (Al-Fil); Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah

c. 570 · age 0 · Makkah

Birth of the Prophet ﷺ

Muhammad ﷺ was born in Makkah in the month of Rabi‘ al-Awwal, in the Year of the Elephant, into the clan of Banu Hashim of Quraysh. His father Abdullah had passed away before he was born; his mother was Aminah bint Wahb.

Did you know? The year and the month are agreed. Scholars differ on the day: the 12th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal is the best known view; the 9th and others are also given.

Sources: Sahih Muslim 1162 (born on a Monday); Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah; Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 574 · age 4 · The lands of Banu Sa‘d

With Halimah in the desert; the opening of the chest

As was the custom of Quraysh, he was nursed among the Banu Sa‘d in the desert by Halimah as-Sa‘diyyah. While he was a small boy playing there, the angel Jibril came, opened his chest and washed his heart.

Did you know? His age at the time is not given in the hadith; the Seerah books say about four or five.

Sources: Sahih Muslim 162 (Anas: Jibril came while he was playing with the boys); Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah

c. 576 · age 6 · Al-Abwa’, between Makkah and Madinah

His mother Aminah passes away

On the way back from a visit to Madinah (then Yathrib), his mother Aminah fell ill and passed away at al-Abwa’. He was six years old, and his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib took him into his care.

Sources: Sahih Muslim 976 (he visited his mother’s grave); Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah; Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 578 · age 8 · Makkah

His grandfather passes away; Abu Talib takes care of him

Abdul-Muttalib passed away when the Prophet ﷺ was eight. His uncle Abu Talib then raised him and protected him for the rest of his own life.

Sources: Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah; Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 582 · age 12 · Busra, Syria

First journey to Syria; the monk Bahira

As a boy he travelled with Abu Talib in a trade caravan to Syria. At Busra a monk, Bahira, recognised signs of prophethood in him and advised Abu Talib to take him back and protect him.

Did you know? His age is given as nine or twelve.

Sources: Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3620; Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah

c. 590 · age 20 · Makkah

The Pact of the Virtuous (Hilf al-Fudul)

Leaders of Quraysh met in the house of Abdullah ibn Jud‘an and agreed to stand by anyone wronged in Makkah, local or stranger, until his right was returned. The Prophet ﷺ took part and later said he would still answer such a call in Islam.

Did you know? Usually placed when he was about twenty; the exact year is not certain.

Sources: Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah; Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 595 · age 25 · Makkah

Marriage to Khadijah

Known in Makkah as al-Amin, the trustworthy, he led a trade caravan to Syria for Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. Impressed by his honesty and character, she proposed marriage, and they married when he was twenty-five.

Did you know? His age, twenty-five, is the view of most; Khadijah’s age at the time (forty is best known) is differed on.

Sources: Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah; Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 605 · age 35 · The Ka‘bah, Makkah

Rebuilding the Ka‘bah and the Black Stone

Quraysh rebuilt the Ka‘bah and he carried stones with them. When the clans argued over who would put the Black Stone back, they agreed to let him decide: he placed it on a cloth, each clan lifted a corner, and he set it in place with his own hands.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 364 (carrying stones for the Ka‘bah); Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah

c. 610 · age 40 · Cave of Hira, Jabal an-Nur

The first revelation in the Cave of Hira

He used to spend nights in worship in the Cave of Hira. In Ramadan, when he was forty, the angel Jibril came to him and said “Read!” and brought the first verses of Surah Al-‘Alaq. He went home trembling, and Khadijah comforted him.

Sources: Quran 96:1-5 (Al-‘Alaq); Sahih al-Bukhari 3 (the start of the revelation)

c. 610 · age 40 · Makkah

The first believers

The first to believe were his wife Khadijah, his friend Abu Bakr, his young cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib and Zayd ibn Harithah. Through Abu Bakr, Uthman, Az-Zubayr, Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf, Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas and Talhah also accepted Islam.

Sources: Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah; Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 613 · age 43 · Mount Safa, Makkah

The call made open: on Mount Safa

After about three years of calling people quietly, Allah revealed “And warn your nearest kinsfolk.” He climbed Mount Safa and called the clans of Quraysh to believe; his uncle Abu Lahab answered with insults, and Surah Al-Masad was revealed.

Sources: Quran 26:214; Sahih al-Bukhari 4770 (the call from Safa); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 615 · age 45 · Abyssinia (Ethiopia)

The first migration to Abyssinia

As the persecution grew, he allowed a group of Muslims to leave for Abyssinia, whose Christian king, the Negus (an-Najashi), was known for his justice. Later a larger group followed, led by Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib.

Sources: Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah; Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 616 · age 46 · Makkah

Hamzah and Umar accept Islam

His uncle Hamzah ibn Abdul-Muttalib accepted Islam after Abu Jahl insulted the Prophet ﷺ, and soon after Umar ibn al-Khattab became Muslim. With them the Muslims could pray openly at the Ka‘bah for the first time.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 3684 (we became strong when Umar accepted Islam); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 617 · age 47 · Shi‘b Abi Talib, Makkah

The boycott in the valley of Abu Talib

Quraysh signed a pact to boycott Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib: no trade and no marriage with them. For about three years the Prophet ﷺ, his family and the Muslims lived in hunger in the valley of Abu Talib, until the pact was ended.

Sources: Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah; Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 619 · age 50 · Makkah

The Year of Sorrow

In the tenth year of prophethood, soon after the boycott ended, his uncle and protector Abu Talib passed away, and then his beloved wife Khadijah. The year became known as the Year of Sorrow.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 3884 (the death of Abu Talib); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 619 · age 50 · Ta’if

The journey to Ta’if

He walked to Ta’if with Zayd ibn Harithah to call the tribe of Thaqif to Islam. They rejected him and set people on him who threw stones until his feet bled. When the angel of the mountains offered to crush the town, he hoped instead that their descendants would worship Allah.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 3231 (the hardest day); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 620 · age 51 · Makkah, Jerusalem and the heavens

The Night Journey and Ascension (al-Isra’ wal-Mi‘raj)

In one night he was taken from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, where he led the prophets in prayer, and then up through the heavens. The five daily prayers were made obligatory on this night.

Did you know? It happened in Makkah before the Hijra; scholars differ on the year and month (from about the tenth to the thirteenth year of prophethood). The 27th of Rajab is a well-known view but not agreed on.

Sources: Quran 17:1 (Al-Isra’); Sahih al-Bukhari 3887 (the Mi‘raj and the prayers)

c. 621 · age 52 · ‘Aqabah, Mina

The first pledge of ‘Aqabah

At the Hajj season twelve men from Yathrib (Madinah) met him at ‘Aqabah and pledged to worship Allah alone and to avoid theft, adultery and killing their children. He sent Mus‘ab ibn Umayr back with them to teach Islam.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 18 (Ubadah: the pledge); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

c. 622 · age 53 · ‘Aqabah, Mina

The second pledge of ‘Aqabah

The next Hajj season, seventy-three men and two women from Madinah pledged at night to protect him as they would protect their own families. This pledge opened the way for the Hijra.

Sources: Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah; Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

1 AH · 622 · age 53 · Makkah, Cave of Thawr, Quba, Madinah

The Hijra to Madinah

Quraysh plotted to kill him, and he left Makkah at night with Abu Bakr. They hid for three nights in the Cave of Thawr, then took a coastal route to Quba and on to Madinah, where the Ansar welcomed them. The Islamic calendar counts its years from the Hijra.

Sources: Quran 9:40; Sahih al-Bukhari 3905 (the Hijra)

1 AH · 622 · age 53 · Madinah

Building the Prophet’s Mosque; brotherhood of Muhajirun and Ansar

In Madinah he bought the land where his camel knelt and built the mosque with his companions, carrying bricks himself. He made each emigrant from Makkah (Muhajir) the brother of a helper from Madinah (Ansari), who shared his home and wealth.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 428 (building the mosque); Sahih al-Bukhari 3780 (the brotherhood); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

2 AH · 624 · age 54 · Madinah

The qiblah turns to the Ka‘bah

For sixteen or seventeen months in Madinah the Muslims prayed towards Jerusalem. Then Allah revealed the verse turning the prayer towards al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah.

Sources: Quran 2:144; Sahih al-Bukhari 399 (sixteen or seventeen months)

2 AH · 624 · age 54 · Madinah

Fasting in Ramadan is made obligatory

In the second year after the Hijra the fast of Ramadan was made obligatory, and the Muslims fasted the month for the first time.

Sources: Quran 2:183-185; Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

2 AH · 624 · age 54 · Badr

The Battle of Badr

On the 17th of Ramadan, about 313 Muslims met an army of Quraysh about three times their size at the wells of Badr. Allah gave the Muslims a clear victory; the Quran calls it the Day of the Criterion (Yawm al-Furqan).

Sources: Quran 3:123 and 8:41-44; Sahih al-Bukhari 3957 (the number of the people of Badr); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

3 AH · 625 · age 55 · Mount Uhud, Madinah

The Battle of Uhud

Quraysh came back with about 3,000 men; the Muslims were about 700 at the foot of Mount Uhud. He placed fifty archers on a hill and told them not to leave it. When most of them left it to collect the spoils, the Muslims were attacked from behind; Hamzah was martyred and the Prophet ﷺ was wounded.

Sources: Quran 3:121-175 (Al ‘Imran); Sahih al-Bukhari 4043 (the archers); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

5 AH · 627 · age 57 · Madinah

The Battle of the Trench (al-Ahzab)

An alliance of about 10,000 men from Quraysh and other tribes marched on Madinah. On Salman al-Farisi’s advice the Muslims dug a trench across the open side of the city. After a long siege in the cold, a fierce wind broke up the allies’ camp and they left.

Did you know? Most give Shawwal of the year 5 AH; Musa ibn ‘Uqbah gave the year 4 (mentioned by al-Bukhari). Its order among the events is the same either way.

Sources: Quran 33:9-27 (Al-Ahzab); Sahih al-Bukhari 4101 (digging the trench); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

5 AH · 627 · age 57 · Madinah

Banu Qurayza

The Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayza had broken their treaty with the Muslims during the siege of the Trench. Straight after the battle the Muslims besieged them, and their fate was decided by Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh, whom they had chosen as judge.

Sources: Quran 33:26-27; Sahih al-Bukhari 4117 (after the Trench); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

6 AH · 628 · age 58 · Al-Hudaybiyyah, near Makkah

The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah

He set out with about 1,400 companions to perform ‘umrah, but Quraysh blocked the way at al-Hudaybiyyah. Under a tree the companions pledged their loyalty (Bay‘at ar-Ridwan), and a ten-year peace treaty was signed. The Quran called it a clear victory.

Sources: Quran 48:1 and 48:18 (Al-Fath); Sahih al-Bukhari 4154 (we were 1,400); Sahih al-Bukhari 2731 (the treaty)

7 AH · 628 · age 59 · Madinah

Letters to the kings and rulers

After the peace of Hudaybiyyah he sent letters inviting rulers to Islam, among them Heraclius, the emperor of Rome, Khusraw (Kisra) of Persia, the Negus of Abyssinia and al-Muqawqis of Egypt.

Did you know? Sent at the end of 6 AH and in 7 AH; the letters went out at different times.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 7 (the letter to Heraclius); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

7 AH · 628 · age 59 · Khaybar

The conquest of Khaybar

The Muslims marched on Khaybar, the fortified oasis north of Madinah from which attacks on Madinah had been planned. The forts fell one by one, and the people of Khaybar stayed on their land in return for half of its harvest.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 4197 (arriving at Khaybar); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

7 AH · 629 · age 59 · Makkah

The ‘umrah that was made up (‘Umrat al-Qada’)

A year after Hudaybiyyah, as the treaty allowed, he and his companions entered Makkah and performed ‘umrah, staying three days.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 4251 (the ‘umrah of the next year); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

8 AH · 629 · age 60 · Mu’tah, Jordan

The Battle of Mu’tah

An army of 3,000 was sent north after an envoy of the Prophet ﷺ was killed. At Mu’tah it met a far larger Byzantine army. Its three commanders, Zayd ibn Harithah, Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib and Abdullah ibn Rawahah, were martyred one after the other, and Khalid ibn al-Walid led the army safely back.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 4261 (the three commanders); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

8 AH · 630 · age 60 · Makkah

The conquest of Makkah

After Quraysh’s allies broke the treaty of Hudaybiyyah, he marched on Makkah with about 10,000 companions in Ramadan. The city was entered with almost no fighting; he cleared the idols from the Ka‘bah and forgave the people who had fought him for years.

Sources: Quran 17:81 and 110:1-3; Sahih al-Bukhari 4287 (clearing the idols); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

8 AH · 630 · age 60 · Valley of Hunayn, near Ta’if

The Battle of Hunayn

Weeks after the conquest, the tribes of Hawazin and Thaqif gathered at Hunayn. The Muslims were many and proud of their numbers; an ambush made them scatter, but those around the Prophet ﷺ stood firm and the battle was won.

Sources: Quran 9:25-26; Sahih al-Bukhari 4315 (Hunayn); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

9 AH · 630 · age 61 · Tabuk

The expedition to Tabuk

In the heat of summer and a time of hardship, he led about 30,000 men north to Tabuk against a Byzantine threat. No battle was fought; tribes of the north made treaties. Ka‘b ibn Malik and two others who stayed behind without excuse were forgiven after fifty days.

Sources: Quran 9:117-118; Sahih al-Bukhari 4418 (Ka‘b ibn Malik); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

9 AH · 631 · age 61 · Madinah

The Year of Delegations

Tribes from all over Arabia sent delegations to Madinah to accept Islam or make treaties, so the ninth year after the Hijra became known as the Year of Delegations.

Sources: Quran 110:1-3 (An-Nasr); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

10 AH · 632 · age 62 · Madinah

His son Ibrahim passes away

His infant son Ibrahim, born to Mariyah, passed away. The sun was eclipsed that day and people said it was because of Ibrahim’s death; the Prophet ﷺ taught that the sun and the moon are not eclipsed for anyone’s death or life.

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 1043 (the eclipse); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

10 AH · 632 · age 62 · Makkah and ‘Arafah

The Farewell Hajj

He performed his only Hajj with a very large number of Muslims and gave the Farewell Sermon at ‘Arafah on the sacredness of life, property and honour. On that day the verse “This day I have perfected your religion for you” was revealed.

Sources: Quran 5:3; Sahih al-Bukhari 45 (the verse revealed at ‘Arafah); Sahih al-Bukhari 1739 (the sermon)

11 AH · 632 · age 63 · Madinah

The passing of the Prophet ﷺ

He fell ill shortly after returning from Hajj, and asked Abu Bakr to lead the prayers. He passed away on a Monday in Rabi‘ al-Awwal, 11 AH, in the house of Aishah, at the age of sixty-three, and was buried there.

Did you know? The year, month, Monday and his age are agreed; the day of the month is differed on (the 12th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal is the best known view).

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 3536 (he passed away at sixty-three); Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)