Level 3A (Grades 5 th & 6 th ) Level 3B (Grades 7 th & 8 th ) Study Guide Seerah Book: When The Moon Split by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri This study guide is to provide with the topics that will be asked about in written form, in the competition based on the assigned Seerah book. Participants (in pairs) will be given a written test from these topics. A study of the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) shows us the different qualities Allah (SWT) blessed him with and how he (SAW) used those characteristics to further his mission of spreading Islam. Each subtopic listed below is related to one such quality of the Prophet (SAW). Please use this study guide as an outline of all topics which will be tested in the Seerah Competition. Please refer to the book, When the Moon Split for a more detailed explanation of these topics. This study guide is not exhaustive and should only be used as an outline to prepare for the competition. The first part of this study guide provides an outline of the character of the Prophet (SAW). This is to allow all participants to get a better understanding of the qualities and characteristics bestowed on the Prophet (SAW) by Allah (SWT). These qualities will be intertwined with the topics as listed below: 1. THE SOCIAL BOYCOTT THE MUSLIMS COMPLETE OBEDIENCE TO THE PROPHET (SAW) (CHAPTER 9) 2. THE PLEDGE OF AQABAH : THE PROPHET (SAW) REACHING OUT TO OTHERS (CHAPTER 12) 3. BATTLE OF BADR (YAUMAL FURQAN) PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) : THE SPIRITUAL LEADER (CHAPTER 16) 4. BATTLE OF TRENCH RELIANCE UPON ALLAH (SWT) (CHAPTER 20) 5. TREATY OF HUDAIBIYAH THE PROPHET (SAW) S WISDOM (CHPATER 22) 6. CONQUEST OF MAKKAH- PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) A MERCY TO MANKIND (CHAPTER 26) 7. HIS (SAW) S DEATH AND WORSHIP OF ALLAH (SWT) (CHAPTER 32) SEERAH COMPETITION 2013 LEVEL 3A & 3B STUDY GUIDE WWW.MCWS.ORG/SEERAH Page 1 of 7
PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) s CHARACTER BEFORE PROPHETHOOD He was born after the death of his father and lost his mother at a very young age. His grandfather whom he loved very much took him under his care and after his death his paternal uncle Abu Talib became his guardian. (Later he lost many loved ones including most of his children.) This did not leave any bitterness in his personality, he (SAW) went through all these losses with patience. Everybody who knew him (SAW) loved him (SAW) and was fond of him (SAW). As Sadiq and Al Ameen (The Truthful and The Trustworthy) These were the names given to him (SAW) by his tribesmen. Since childhood his conduct was such that people in general distinguished him (SAW) with these qualities. Because of his fairness he (SAW) was sought out as an impartial arbitrator. People consulted him (SAW) in matter of disputes. (Note : The clash between Quraish tribes in the matter of the black stone) He became an active member of "Hilful Fudul", a league for the relief of the distressed. Later on, after proclaiming Islam, he said he would participate in such a pact again if needed. His (SAW) conduct with people around him Prophet (SAW) in his youth had a combination of the best social attributes. He (SAW) was very polite and soft spoken. He (SAW) would pay complete attention to the one he (SAW) was talking to. He (SAW) was known for his kindness and hospitality. (Bukhari) He (SAW) shared other s burdens and helped out those in need. He (SAW) was courteous and caring to not only to his family members but to everyone around him. This attitude of his did not change even when people persecuted him after prophethood. Many people turned towards Islam just because of his gentle and tolerant nature. PROPHETHOOD - THE PROPHET (SAW) AS A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL He (SAW) was 40 years old when he (SAW) was given prophethood. After that he(saw) dedicated all his efforts to this mission and was ready make any sacrifice required. He (SAW) tried to cement the relations of each individual with the Creator. He (SAW) presented his life as an ideal for everyone to follow, in every walk of life. He (SAW) was an affectionate father, a dutiful and lovable husband, an ideal neighbor and a trustworthy and honest trader. He (SAW) brought the message of Monotheism which resulted in hardships and suffering for him and his Sahaba by the hands of his own people. SEERAH COMPETITION 2013 LEVEL 3A & 3B STUDY GUIDE WWW.MCWS.ORG/SEERAH Page 2 of 7
He (SAW) tolerated the mistreatment by the people of Makkah for 13 years but never cursed them. (Story of Taif). He (SAW) always hoped and prayed for the guidance of people and forgave everybody who mistreated him. He (SAW) would feel hurt by whatever was harmful to his nation. TOPIC ONE: THE SOCIAL BOYCOTT THE MUSLIMS COMPLETE OBEDIENCE TO THE PROPHET (SAW) (CHAPTER 9) Despite all the odds, Muhammad (SAW) persisted in his determination. His courage never weakened, he (SAW) consoled others. During the Makkan period the Muslims refrained from any retaliation. They endured all the hardships and they stood firm on their beliefs. They were destitute to eat roots, leaves and leather but they were patient. This event is an example of the strategic attitude of the Muslims that was encouraged in Makkan period, (i.e. their patience and level of endurance). TOPIC TWO: THE PLEDGE OF AQABAH: THE PROPHET (SAW) REACHING OUT TO OTHERS (CHAPTER 12) Prophet (SAW) reached out to every individual with the message of Islam. Yathrib was not his planned primary mission. People from Madinah accepted Islam because they were impressed by Islam and Prophet (SAW) s character. Madinah became a Muslim state by Dawah, not by force. This pledge paved the way for allegiance and mutual support between the Ansar and the Muhajireen. TOPIC THREE: BATTLE OF BADR (YAUMAL FURQAN) PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW): THE SPIRITUAL LEADER (CHAPTER 16) This battle is a turning point in Islamic history. Prophet (SAW) and Muslims were recognized as a strong force. Victory does not depend on numbers or collection of weapons, but it is granted to those who have the following traits: o Those who believe in Allah and put complete trust in Him. SEERAH COMPETITION 2013 LEVEL 3A & 3B STUDY GUIDE WWW.MCWS.ORG/SEERAH Page 3 of 7
o Those who are organized and follow orders of the Prophet (SAW). o Those who are committed to the cause of Allah, have faith in Him and were sincere believers with pure intentions o Those who seek the reward of Jannah. o Those for whom family bonds and wealth do not matter when the interest of Islam is at stake. Muslims at the time were the first line of defense and a thick wall that stood in support of Prophet (SAW). For such people Allah sends angels to help. The personality of the Messenger (SAW), his patience, his composure in every stressful situation is a great example of leadership. TOPIC FOUR: BATTLE OF TRENCH RELIANCE UPON ALLAH (SWT) (CHAPTER 20) 20 chiefs of Khyber Jews went to Makkah & pledged their military support against the Muslims. Arab tribes such as Banu Ghatfan & Jewish tribes of Khyber joined hands together to prepare a military campaign. The coalition of 4000 men under leadership of Abu Sufyan, 6000 from Banu Ghatfan laycen with military weapons. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was considering to offer the Banu Ghatfan ⅓ of Madina s fruits if they backed out of the war. In contrast the 3000 Muslims were heavily outnumbered. On suggestion of Salman Al Farsi (RA) Muslims built a trench. Madinah was naturally fortified on 3 sides by mountains & volcanic plains. On one side the trench was dug. Sahabas were divided in groups, each group had to dig 40 yards. Prophet (SAW) himself participated in the digging. During the digging they chanted in chorus, the Prophet (SAW) joined in too. The weather was biting cold & food was scarce. At the time the Muslims were very poor as most of them suffered from hunger. They wrapped stones on their stomachs to deal with pangs of hunger; Prophet (SAW) also had 2 stones tied on his stomach. This event brought in open the treachery of Banu Quriada. Special events during the digging of trench: The food in Jabir (ra) house which was for 5 people was sufficient to about 800 Sahabas. Same incident happened with dates. Complete reliance upon Allah (SWT) alone, no worldly resources: Prophet (SAW) & his companions found the idea of the trench attractive & enjoyable. Prophet (SAW) participated in the digging even though he was a leader. He shared in the work like any individual of the Muslim community SEERAH COMPETITION 2013 LEVEL 3A & 3B STUDY GUIDE WWW.MCWS.ORG/SEERAH Page 4 of 7
They made a difficult job easy by being organized & cooperative. His action motivated the Muslims to work as hard as they could. Working together for a common cause made their brotherhood more strong, even though they were from many different clans & tribes. Battle of Trench established the highest level of eman in the companions (ra). They were at the height of obedience. Digging the trench was not an easy job especially in the rocky sand and mountainous terrains of Madinah. Prophet (SAW) took an advice from a non Arab (Salman al Farsi) even though the Arabs were not familiar with this war strategy. This battle also marked the idea of tawakal al Allah (reliance upon Allah SWT). Muslims were in a weak position against a huge coalition with meager resources and a mutiny by the Jews. Even in this situation the Muslims put their best effort and relied on dua and the nusrat from Allah (SWT) Battle of trench also marked the clear demarcation between the real Momin and Munafiq. TOPIC FIVE: TREATY OF HUDAIBIYAH THE PROPHET (SAW) S WISDOM (CHPATER 22) Bay a Al-Ridwan demonstrates the Muslims utmost conviction to the cause of Allah (SWT) and Prophet (SAW). Although they were not prepared for war, they took an oath to fight till death. The Treaty - Negotiations Begin: Prophet (SAW) handled the conditions of treaty with profound wisdom. He (SAW) dealt with both the Sahaba (RA)s emotional reactions and Kuffars stubborn behavior with remarkable tolerance and astuteness. Although he (SAW) returned back to Madinah without Umrah, he (SAW) did not show any resentment. The Sahaba (RA) controlled their feelings and accepted this situation because they were focused on their mission. Although this seemed like a setback, the Muslims persistence on their belief, trust on Allah (SWT) and hope resulted in this event becoming An Evident Victory. This treaty is referred to as Fath-ham Mubina in Quran, Why? (Surah Al Fath 48:1) It is the turning point in the political history of Muslims. The series of events that followed the signing of this treaty confirmed the wisdom of Prophet (SAW). This agreement of Hudaibiyah was recognition of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Muslims as a powerful entity. The treaty gave a chance to the Makkans to visit Madinah and witness Islamic society. SEERAH COMPETITION 2013 LEVEL 3A & 3B STUDY GUIDE WWW.MCWS.ORG/SEERAH Page 5 of 7
Refraining from wars gave Muslims the opportunity and time to focus on and improve their economic condition, spread Islam, do Dawah work in peace, and deal with other problems and threats. (Battle of Khyber) Lessons from the actions of the Prophet (SAW) and Sahaba (RA) in the events of Hudaibiyyah: Having the perceived upper hand doesn't always result in victory. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) took advice from his wife. Wisdom is more powerful than material power. Patience is the key to all success, Prophet s (SAW) epitomized patience in i) Writing of the treaty, ii) Dealing with the Kuffar s behavior iii) Managing the emotional reaction of the Muslims. Far sightedness of the Prophet (SAW). (Leadership quality) Importance of Obeying and following the leader. Channelizing energy and redirecting efforts into positive direction. Refraining from negative reactions and outbursts. Even in disappointment, to have faith in Allah (SWT), believe that things will happen as and when He (SWT) has planned. TOPIC SIX: CONQUEST OF MAKKAH- PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) A MERCY TO MANKIND (CHAPTER 26) Prophet (SAW) proves himself to be a mercy to mankind. It was this victory in the history of the world that established the supremacy of Allah (SWT) and Muslims. Achieved without a drop of blood or resistance making this war the ultimate Triumph. This event fulfills Allah s (SWT) promise of granting Fath-ham Mubina / The Clear Victory. The key to this victory was Eman /Faith that never falters in any test. Allah (SWT) gave this blessing to the people who believed in Him and stayed loyal to their mission. History in Making: Prophet Muhammad (SAW) set new standards for any conquering army when he (SAW) entered Makkah. Despite being victorious, his (SAW) head was lowered in humility to Allah (SWT). Mercy was shown to everybody by giving a general amnesty to all enemies and nobody was persecuted. This act of forgiveness paved the way for the spread of Islam. This forgiving attitude of Prophet (SAW) and Muslims resulted in a healthy, prosperous society which attracted many people towards Islam. SEERAH COMPETITION 2013 LEVEL 3A & 3B STUDY GUIDE WWW.MCWS.ORG/SEERAH Page 6 of 7
TOPIC SEVEN: HIS (SAW) S DEATH AND WORSHIP OF ALLAH (SWT) (CHAPTER 32) Even when the Prophet (SAW) s illness was worsening, he (SAW) kept visiting all his wives in turn, due to his just nature. But as his health failed, he (SAW) took permission from all his wives to stay with Aisha (RA); being considerate to all of them even in his suffering. He (SAW) addressed his Sahaba not to make his grave a place of worship as was made by the previous people of faith, stating that no matter what, worship is only meant for ALLAH (SWT) Abu Bakr (RA) leads the prayer. Acts of charity. His prime concern (prayer and your slaves) His last words(my lord you are my companion) He (SAW) mentioned Abu Bakr (RA) as his successor by making him lead the prayer. His insight and thoughtfulness eased at least one burden from the grieved Muslims. His (SAW) s life as well as his death proves that the prime importance is for Allah (SWT). He (SAW) gave up all the worldly pleasures just for His sake and chose being with Him over everything else. What concerned him most were the things he (SAW) feared the most for his Ummah: o the prayer, as its the key to the salvation o the slaves, indicating that peoples behavior with the weak in society is the judge of human character. So, even in his (SAW) end state his utmost concern was for his fellow beings, as is said in one of his hadith O people you are running towards the pit of fire and I am pulling you away from it (Bukhari) Sorrow and grief experienced by the Ummah at his death was not the grief of losing a leader, rather, it was a sorrow of losing something most precious and beloved. It signifies the place of admiration and association that the Sahaba had for the Prophet (SAW). It is because of his softheartedness and merciful nature that one feels so much love for him (SAW). For these reasons Umar (RA) was in a complete denial of his death. The reaction of Abu Bakr (RA) at his death proved him to be a right choice as the next leader as he wisely and patiently dealt with the situation. His reaction indicates the training that he (SAW) gave to his Sahaba: though they loved him so dearly, Allah(SWT)is the ultimate and the only entity being loved and worshipped.this is the ideology of a Muslim: to love and worship Allah (SWT)and to love and follow Prophet(SAW). SEERAH COMPETITION 2013 LEVEL 3A & 3B STUDY GUIDE WWW.MCWS.ORG/SEERAH Page 7 of 7