Islamic Studies iGCSE Edexcel: Section A (The Life of The Prophet (pbuh)) (but better) (according to the specification)

1.1ai) The Prophet's (pbuh) parents

- Aminah and Abdullah

- Abdullah went on a business trip to Syria after his marriage, leaving Aminah heartbroken.

- Aminah had a dream that her "womb was lighting the mountains, valleys, and hills of Mecca"

- Barakah (her maid-servant) said she would be giving birth to a blessed child.

- Unfortunately, when Abdullah and his friends stopped to rest in Yathrib, Abdullah got sick and passed away.

- Aminah had a dream where she was told to name her child "Muhammad"

- He (pbuh) was born in 570, and was raised by Aminah and Abdel Muttalib (the Prophet's (pbuh) grandfather)

- Abdel Muttalib provided the financial support to Aminah.

1.1ai) [continued] The Prophet's (pbuh) mother, foster-mother, maid, and grandfather

- Halima (tribe of Banu Sa'd) took care of Muhammad (pbuh) for five years in the countryside.

- Unfortunately Aminah died soon after and gave Muhammad (pbuh) to Barakah to take care of him. She did so in Abdel Muttalib's house

- Abdel-Muttaliib loved the boy, and took him whenever he went to meet with leaders at the Kaa'abah. Soon, he died as well and left Muhammad (pbuh) in the care of Abu Talib (the Prophet's uncle) alongside Barakah.

1.1aii) The Prophet's (pbuh) influences - Bahira, Abu Talib, and others

- Muhammad (pbuh) wanted to go with Abu Talib on a business trip when he was around 12 years old - he went on the condition that his job would be to tend to the animals.

- When they were travelling to Syria, they met a Christian monk named Bahira.

He invited Abu Talib and specially Muhammad (pbuh) to join him for dinner.

- After asking Muhammad (SAW) some questions and was awed at the wisdom of his answers.

- Bahira concluded: this was the final messenger.

1.1aii) [continued] The signs that Bahira saw showing Muhammad (SAW) was the final Prophet

- Clouds shading his uncle's caravan

- Wisdom of Muhammad's (pbuh) answers to his questions

- The birthmark on Muhammad's (SAW) back

1.1aiii) The Prophet's (pbuh) work and business before the revelation of the Qur'an [teenager + early manhood]

- Joined a charitable institution to take care of the poor.

- He was called "As-Sadiq", "The Truthful One"

- In his 20's, Muhammad (pbuh) never participated in any immoral activities.

- Since Abu Talib wasn't a rich man, Muhammad (pbuh) acted as a shephard.

—> It was a quiet job that allowed him to think and ponder. Note that all the prophets were shephards.

1.1aiii) [continued] The Prophet's (pbuh) work and business before the revelation of the Qur'an [early manhood]

- Muhammad (pbuh) had no schooling - instead he would watch the leaders of Mecca meet.

- He (pbuh) never liked any of the idols and because of his time as a shephard, he had had enough time to realise it was not possible for idols to create anything.

- Muhammad (pbuh) also tried out trade/business and was quite good at it.

- He was also given the nickname, "Al-Ameen", "The Trustworthy"

1.1aiii) [continued] The Prophet's (pbuh) work and business before the revelation of the Qur'an [The Black Stone]

- After marriage to Khadijah (ra), there was a flood which damaged the ka'abah.

- So when the leaders were trying to decide who would put the black stone back into place, they were vowing to start a war if they weren't allowed to.

- Muhammad (pbuh) advised that they take a cloth and put the black stone in the middle of it, then lift it up together.

- After the leaders lifted it up, Muhammad (pbuh) put the stone in the correct position.

1.1aiv) The Prophet's (pbuh) relationship with his wives and children

- Khadijah (ra) was a rich, widowed woman who had heard of Al-Ameen and decided to put him in charge of her caravan.

- She was impressed with the way he worked and began to feel love for him, eventually she got married to him while he (pbuh) was 25 and she was 40.

- He had two sons who died in infancy, and four daughters: Zainab, Umm Kulthoom, Fatima, and Ruqayyah

1.1b) The importance of the prophet's early life for his future work as the messenger of Allah

- The Prophet (pbuh) was a shepherd before the revelation, when he was with Abu Talib as a young man.

---> This taught him (pbuh) patience.

---> Also allowed him to spend hours pondering how idols couldn't have made the Earth.

- He was called Al-Ameen and As-Sadiq.

- He used to sit and listen to the meetings of the leaders of Makkah.

- He was a good business man who was well-spoken and respectful, and he was knowledgeble and wise, in trade and generally too.

1.2ai) The details of the conversation with Jibrail in the cave at Hira (Night of Power)

- Cave of Hira, 610 AD.

- A pressure built up in the Prophet's (pbuh) chest and was squeezing him, forcing him to read even though he (pbuh) was illiterate.

- Jibra'ael forced him to read, he appeared as a light and forced him to recite verses from Surah Alaq.

- Later when the Prophet (pbuh) was running home, a vision of a perfect man between the skies and the earth told him that he was the Messenger and that the angel was Jibra'ael

1.2ai) The details of the conversation with Jibrail in the cave at Hira (Night of Power) [Waraqah]

- The Prophet (pbuh) ran to Khadijah (ra) asking her to "Cover me!"

- Khadijah (ra) went to her Christian cousin, Waraqa (hated idols) and he said that Muhammad (pbuh) was a messenger.

- Khadija went home and told the Prophet (pbuh).

- They went back to Waraqah, he accepted Islam and told the Prophet (pbuh) to "stay strong" as he knew Muhammad (pbuh) would be persecuted.

- Khadijah then became the first woman to accept Islam.

1.2aii) The importance of this experience [The Night of Power] in the establishment of Islam [Significance in Establishment]

- The Quran was revealed:

---> The Quran is the ultimate script of guidance for Muslims

---> Information about pillars, halal/haram, monotheism, etc. is mentioned in it.

---> Foundation of Islamic faith

- Reminds Muslims of the spiritual significance of angels.

- The Night of Power is considered a miracle -> it signifies the start of the Prophet's (pbuh) struggle.

- The Quran is a gift, gives Muslims strength.

1.2aii) The importance of this experience [The Night of Power] in the establishment of Islam [Benefits of Laylatul Qadr]

- Better than worship for a 1000 months

- All the angels come down to the earth too, showing the majesty of this night as angels are related to blessings, light and guidance

- Hadith that says "Whoever attends Isha prayer in congregation, then he has the reward as if he had stood half of the night. And whoever prays Isha and Fajr in congregation, then he has the reward as if he had spend the entire night standing in prayer."

- It is also said that this is the night where the qadr for the year to come is determined by Allah.

1.2b) The importance to Muslims of the revelation of the Qur'an

- Gives us guidance on how to live our lives - not just religiously

- It is the true will and message straight from Allah

- Also when prophethood was granted, and Islam established

1.2c) The way in which the Qur'an was compiled

- The Prophet ﷺ and other hafidh memorised the Quran, he sometimes had his scribe, Zayd ibn Thabit to write these down after revelation - they were not compiled though.

- After his ﷺ death, Umar (ra) noticed that the hafidh were dying in battles (like battle of Yamama) and so asked Abu Bakr to compile it.

- Abu Bakr appointed Zayd ibn Thabit, the Prophet's scribe, to lead the compilation.

- Zayd collected all available written fragments and required that each verse be verified by at least two witnesses who had memorized it.

- The compiled manuscript was kept with Abu Bakr, then passed to Umar, and later to Umar's daughter Hafsa for safekeeping

1.2c) The way in which the Qur'an was compiled [continued] [standardisation by Uthman (ra)]

- As Islam spread to new regions, differences in recitation and dialect appeared. To prevent disputes, Caliph Uthman ordered the creation of standardized copies based on the manuscript kept with Hafsa

- He added the harakaat to it to make it standardised.

- He ordered all older versions of the Quran to be destroyed.

1.3a) The meaning of the title 'Seal of the Prophets'

- Means he (pbuh) was the final Messenger sent by Allah, not only to the arabs but to all of mankind.

- This means that Allah (swt) revealed His final message, the Quran, which He has promised to protect forever

- The Night Journey - led all the other prophets in prayer

"Muḥammad is not the father of any of your men, but is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things."

"Muḥammad is no more than a messenger; other messengers have gone before him. If he were to die or to be killed, would you regress into disbelief? Those who do so will not harm Allah whatsoever. And Allah will reward those who are grateful."

1.3b) The importance of Muhammad's role as prophet in the establishment of Islam

- He was the Seal of the Prophets, so gave the final messages of Islam to all of mankind.

- He received the Quran from Allah, which is the final form of guidance from Allah, that gave him guidance on how to spread Islam to other nations peacefully.

- He established women's rights and introduced equality to the Arabs, this was a factor that inspired people to join and follow Islam.

- Without Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the hijrah to Madina would not have happened. It allowed the creation of the first Islamic state, and afterwards it spread Islam to many other people too.

- He unified the Ummah together through his preaching

- He is the best role model for Muslims, following his teachings can keep the ummah together.

1.3c) The opposition faced in Makkah by the Prophet and his followers

-The Muslims were brutally persecuted by the people of Quraish

- Many people used to throw trash at his door

- Umm Jamil (Abu Lahab's wife) used to put thorns in the path of the Prophet (SAW) - Surah Al Masad "and ˹so will˺ his wife [burn in jahannum], the carrier of ˹thorny˺ kindling,"

- Bilal was a slave who was tied down on the hot sand and had heavy stones placed on his chest. He was eventually freed by Abu Bakr

- Salman Al Farsi was also a slave.

-Summaiyah was tortured by Makkan leaders so badly that she died of her injuries and became the first female martyr in Islam

- People used to throw rocks at him and accuse him of doing witchcraft and making it up.

-The Prophet (pbuh) was insulted in the streets and once when he was praying outside the Ka'ba the Makkans put animal entrails on his back which were only removed when his daughter Fatima passed by

1.3c) The opposition faced in Makkah by the Prophet and his followers [Ta'if]

- He went to Ta'if with Zayd to spread Islam and find a new protector after Abu Talib died

- People there stoned the Prophet (pbuh) with hostility, and this was humiliating especially as even children stoned the Prophet (pbuh)

- After they came out their feet were bloody and they sat in a garden and the Prophet (pbuh) made a dua saying that only Allah has ultimate power and could help him.

- He got two rewards for it after: grapes and a Message from Allah.

- Jibraeel said that if the Prophet (pbuh) wanted, the mountains could be crushed together to crush the people of Ta'if. The Prophet (pbuh) said no.

1.4a) The events of the boycott and the Mi'raj [boycott]

Boycott

-As Islam started to spread rapidly the Makkan leader decided that it was time to punish the Muslims

- they came up with a boycott against the tribe of Banu Hashim and Banu Muttalib

- the terms stated that: 1. no one would trade with them, 2. no one would sell food to them, 3. no one would offer marriage to them

- They used to tie rocks to their stomachs due to the starvation

- the Muslims were forced to live in a cave called the Shi'b Abi Talib for three years

1.4a) The events of the boycott and the Mi'raj [Mi'raj] (and Isra)

Mi'raj

-The Prophet (pbuh) was asleep in the house of Umm Hani where Jibraeel ascended and him and the Prophet (pbuh) commenced on the Night Journey

- they rode the Burak and first reached Al Aqsa in Jerusalem where Muhammad (pbuh) led all the 124000 Prophets in prayer (Isra - The Night Journey)

- He then ascended through the seven heavens meeting different prophets on each heaven

-The Prophet was shown heaven and hell (Musa, Ibrahim, Ismail, Isa, Haroon)

- He saw the angels at the Bayt-ul-Ma'mur, which is the Kaa'bah for angels. 70,000 go at a time and once they leave, they don't return.

- The Prophet (SAW) went further than Sidra tul Muntaha and met Allah - the prayers were established here

- After the night journey nobody believed the Prophet (pbuh) except Abu Bakr, after which he was called al-Siddiq

1.4b) The plot to kill the Prophet and the details of the flight to Madinah

- Once the Makkans found out about the Prophet and his followers' plan to leave for Yathrib they came up with a plot to kill him

- One member from each of Makka's influential families was send to do the job

-But the Prophet had already fled with Abu Bakr leaving Ali in his place so that he could return the belongings of other people that were with the Prophet (pbuh) - which is why he was called the Trustworthy

- Ali also bravely slept in the Prophet's bed fooling the people outside into thinking that Muhammad (pbuh) was still home

1.4b) The plot to kill the Prophet and the details of the flight to Madinah [continued]

- The Prophet (pbuh) and Abu Bakr took refuge in the cave of Thawr

- The Quraish were on the lookout for both of them and when they stumbled upon the cave they saw a bird's nest and a cobweb at the entrance and deduced that a human couldn't be inside, however these were formed over night due to Divine Intervention from Allah

- Asma bint Abu Bakr would bring the Prophet (pbuh) and Abu Bakr

- They first arrived at a small town outside Yathrib called Quba where they built the first mosque, after a few days Ali also joined them there

- they all then entered Madinah

1.4c) The welcome by the people of Madinah and the building of mosques on arrival there

- when the Prophet (pbuh) arrived at Madinah he welcomed by people celebrating and singing

-He then let his camel lose and it walked towards a vacant lot which was owned by two orphans, the Prophet (pbuh) bought the land and started the construction of the Masjid e Nabawi

1.4d) The significance and importance of the events of the Hijrah in the life of the Prophet and the early Islamic community [Aqabah]

- Treaties of Aqabah preceded hijrah, were crucial because ----> they provided the Muslims with a safe place to migrate

---> recognized the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a leader

---> ensured the community's protection and unity in Madinah.

---> laid the foundation for the rapid spread and establishment of Islam as a strong, organized faith

1.4d) The significance and importance of the events of the Hijrah in the life of the Prophet and the early Islamic community [continued]

- In Madinah, the Muslims found safety (as they were being persecuted in Mecca), allowing them to openly worship and spread the message of Islam, ensuring survival of Islam.

- The Hijrah marked the beginning of a new, unified ummah based on faith rather than tribal or ethnic ties. The Prophet ﷺ established brotherhood between Muhajirun and Ansar

- Marks the start of the Islamic calendar

- The event highlights the importance of trusting Allah's plan, because the Prophet (pbuh) faced many challenges during it.

- Establishment of governments where they could practice Sharia law

- More detailed surahs that told the specifics of how to live life as a Muslim - these also tested the devotion of Muslims

1.4ei) The support given to the Prophet during his lifetime by Abu Talib

- Took him in when Abu Muttalib died

- Protected the Prophet ﷺ from Quraysh attacks and threats

-Gave moral and emotional support, even though he did not accept Islam

-Used his position as leader of Banu Hashim to defend the Prophet (pbuh)

-Spoke out on his behalf to Quraysh leaders and rejected their demands

-Stood by him during the Boycott, sharing in the hardship and suffering

-"By Allah, they shall not reach you while I still live, so go on with what you are commanded"

1.4eii) The support given to the Prophet during his lifetime by Ali ibn Talib

- Among the first to accept Islam as a young boy (10/11)

- Loyal companion who stayed by the Prophet's ﷺ side throughout his mission

- Risked his life by sleeping in the Prophet's ﷺ bed during the Hijrah to protect him

- Defended Islam bravely in battles like Badr, Uhud, and Khaybar (one-to-one battles)

- After the Prophet presented his message at a dinner and asked who would support him in his mission, Ali stood up and offered his support, pledging loyalty and assistance even though he was the youngest present. The Prophet then declared that Ali would be his successor and helper. This act of support by Ali at such a young age is seen as a significant moment, demonstrating his early and unwavering commitment to the Prophet and the message of Islam

-Supported the Prophet ﷺ in family matters, being married to his daughter Fatimah (RA)

1.4eiii) The support given to the Prophet during his lifetime by Uthman

-Early convert to Islam and strong supporter of the Prophet (pbuh)

-Married two daughters of the Prophet (pbuh) (Ruqayyah and then Umm Kulthum), earning the title Dhul-Nurayn ("The Possessor of Two Lights")

-Financially supported the Muslim community, donating generously for causes like the Tabuk expedition and to help the poor

- "Whatever Uthman does after today will not harm him"

-Assisted during the migration to Abyssinia by leading a group of early Muslims there with Ruqayyah

-Showed loyalty during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah by being the Prophet's ﷺ envoy to Quraysh

- Freed slaves fed the poor

1.4eiv) The support given to the Prophet during his lifetime by Umar

- He was an enemy of the Prophet (pbuh) in the beginning

-Converted to Islam and strengthened the Muslim community with his courage

-Publicly declared his Islam, giving Muslims confidence to practice openly

-Defended the Prophet ﷺ and the early Muslims from Quraysh persecution

-Supported the Prophet ﷺ in battles like Badr, Uhud, and Khandaq

-Advised the Prophet ﷺ with wisdom and strong opinions on key issues (e.g., dealing with prisoners after Badr)

-Joined the Hijrah to Madinah, openly and bravely

1.4f) The importance of the contribution of the Prophet's companions and helpers (Ansar) to the establishment of Islam

- The Prophet's companions (Sahabah) were the earliest believers who supported him from the beginning of his mission, enduring persecution, hardship, and sacrificing wealth and other things.

- The Sahabah participated in key battles, served as advisors and administrators

- Made sure that Islam flourished and was governed properly after the Prophet (pbuh) died.

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- When the Muhajireen arrived, they had nothing but the clothes on their backs.

- Every Ansar took a Muhajireen and gave them half of their home, wealth, etc.

- The Ansar stood by the Prophet ﷺ in every challenge, defended Islam in battles, and helped transform the divided tribes of Madinah into a united Muslim ummah

1.5a) The importance for Muslims of the teachings, deeds and sayings of the Prophet

- The Prophet ﷺ is a role model to all Muslims and following him is a primary source of guidance alongside Quran.

- Also, the sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ are very important in the creation of Shari'ah law, due to being a primary source in it.

- "If you love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins." (Qur'an 3:31)" This verse shows that to attain the love of Allah you must love and learn from His Messenger (pbuh)

- He was called the Walking Quran

- He exemplified honesty, trustworthiness, and humility-known as "Al-Amin" (the trustworthy) even before prophethood

- The nisab for zakaat was set by the Prophet (pbuh)

- "I was sent to perfect good character." (Hadith)

- His life was a model of mercy, forgiveness, and kindness to all, earning him the title "Mercy to the worlds"

- Emphasised the justice and equality Muslims should have.

1.5b) The recording of the Sunnah

- The Sunnah is the example or way of life, the teachings of the Prophet as recorded in Hadith.

- This will inform Muslims what to do when the Qur'an is not explicit about certain situations.

- There are many collections of the Hadith. Bukhari and Muslim (Sunni), Al-Kafi and Al-Istibsar (Shia) are the most popular.

- Some companions wrote down hadith during the Prophet's ﷺ lifetime, but widespread recording increased after his death

- To preserve the Prophet's ﷺ teachings accurately for future generations and ensure Muslims could follow authentic guidance

1.5b) The recording of the Sunnah [continued] [Aisha (RA)]

- Scholars examined the chain of narrators (isnad) and the text (matn) to confirm hadith were genuine.

- If a narrator was known to lie and be unreliable the hadith was said to be weak.

- Aisha (RA), the Prophet's ﷺ wife, narrated over 2,000 hadiths, making her one of the most prolific and trusted sources of the Prophet's sayings and actions.

- She taught many companions and later generations, especially women, about the Prophet's ﷺ teachings and practices.

1.5c) The role of the Sunnah in the establishment of Islamic belief and practice

- The Sunnah is the second most important source of Islamic law after the Qur'an. So without this guidance, Muslims would not be able to practice Islam in the best possible way.

- Sunnah also mentions some things that the Quran does not, such as how to pray.

- Sunnah acts help build the ummah and make it stronger because if all Muslims follow the character of the Prophet ﷺ that promoted charity, forgiveness, honesty, kindness, justice, and compassion, everyone would be able to get along better.

1.6ai) The teachings and example of the Prophet on social and economic justice

- Muhajireen and Ansar were told to distribute wealth and share with each other.

- The treaties with the Jews established that all citizens were dealt with properly - enemies to the Jews would be enemies to the Muslims and they would fight against them.

- The Prophet (pbuh) they were punished using the Torah

- the jizya as a special payment collected from certain non-Muslims in return for the responsibility of protection fulfilled by Muslims against any type of aggression, as well as for non-Muslims being exempt from military service.

- Women could buy, sell, give charity, and make gifts, and no one—including husbands—had the right to take a woman's wealth without her consent

1.6aii) The teachings and example of the Prophet on human rights

- The Final Khutbah - no racism "An Arab has no superiority over non - Arab nor a white over black"

- Abolishing slavery

- In the jahaliyyah the Arabs used to bury their daughters - the Prophet (pbuh) taught that men and women should be treated equally

- The Prophet condemned all forms of oppression, exploitation, and injustice, including racism, abuse of the weak, and female infanticide

- The Prophet instructed Muslims to assist the oppressed (Treaty of Hudaybiyyah - The Prophet (pbuh) was just in letting the hostages)

- War hostages could be freed if they taught Muslims to read and write or give ransom.

- Encouraged being just over favouring one's family.

1.6aiii) The teachings and example of the Prophet on relationships with people of other religions

- Treaties with other religions

- Not forcing Islam on other religions

- Muhammad (pbuh) affirmed the legitimacy of earlier prophets and respected the scriptures of Jews and Christians, recognizing them as part of the divine message

- Married a Jew, showing respect to the People of The Book.

- The constitution of Medina established a pluralistic society where Muslims, Jews, Christians, and polytheists could coexist peacefully.

1.6aiv) The teachings and example of the Prophet respect for mothers and for women [women only]

- Women got the right to inherit

- Women couldn't be sold like objects as they used to be.

- His (pbuh) wife being a businesswoman, show

- Having a daughter is a blessing

- He advocated for women's rights to inheritance, education, and participation in social and religious life, and condemned harmful practices such as female infanticide and unjust treatment of women.

- The Prophet emphasized that a woman's consent is essential for marriage

-The Qur'an and the Prophet's teachings affirm that men and women are equal before God, with equal rights and responsibilities in faith and worship

1.6aiv) The teachings and example of the Prophet respect for mothers and for women [mothers only]

- He famously said, "Paradise lies at the feet of mothers," meaning that serving and respecting one's mother is a direct path to the highest spiritual reward

- The Prophet (pbuh) described the unique spiritual rewards for mothers, including immense blessings for enduring pregnancy, childbirth, and the sleepless nights of nurturing a child

- The Prophet warned against even subtle disrespect towards mothers.

1.6b) The importance of the teachings in understanding the nature of Muslim beliefs about society

- The Prophet Muhammad's teachings form the core of Muslim beliefs about society, emphasizing that all human beings are equal and part of a single ummah, regardless of race, status, or background

- A hadith means that people who are fair and just—whether as leaders, parents, or in any position of responsibility—will be given a special, honored place by Allah on the Day of Judgment.

- Their fairness will be so valued that they will be raised on "pulpits of light," showing everyone their high status and closeness to God.

- According to the Prophet (pbuh), social reform and the pursuit of justice are seen as collective obligations, not merely personal virtues.

1.7a) The role of the Prophet in the establishment of the Shari'ah

- He implemented rules that were in the Quran

- He forbade riba

- The sunnah is one of the primary sources of Sharia law

- The judgements of the Prophet (pbuh) are also crucial in Sharia law.

- In Medina, the Prophet established the first Muslim community and acted as its chief judge, arbitrator, and head of state.

- During his lifetime, he conveyed the Qur'anic revelations which are the basis of Sharia

- The Prophet (pbuh) served as the supreme judge and leader, resolving legal problems as they arose by interpreting and expanding on the Qur'an's general provisions

1.7b) The consolidation and expansion of Islam after the Hijrah

- He sent letters to various rulers such as Alexander the Great and An Najashi (Abysinya dude)

- He made treaties with other nations which didn't share the same religions.

- After the conquest of Makkah and Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, Islam spread to many other parts of the world.

- He built the first masjids

- The Constitution of Medina, written on behalf of the prophet Muhammad, outlines the rights and duties of the people living in the city of Medina

1.7c) The Prophet's treatment of opponents and prisoners

- War hostages/prisoners could be freed if they taught Muslims to read and write or give ransom.

- The Prophet (pbuh) made the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah fair and agreed to the terms of the Quraiysh

- He made treaties with the Jews to allow them to live safely and protect each other, saying that their enemies were the enemies of the Muslims.

- When the Muslims reached the wells of Badr before the battle, they controlled access to the water. Despite this strategic advantage, the Prophet allowed the opposing Quraysh army to drink freely from the wells

- The Prophet forbade separating families among prisoners and insisted on their humane treatment

- He made just punishments, such as punishing the Jews from their own book when they broke the treaties.

1.7d) The Prophet's relationship with other communities and countries

- The treaties with the Jews established that all citizens were dealt with properly - enemies to the Jews would be enemies to the Muslims and they would fight against them.

- Treaties with other countries that were not of the same religions.

- He had a good relationship with Najashi because Muslims went to Abysinnya

- He welcomed people of other religions, communities, and countries to live in Muslim states provided that they pay jizya (which was also for their protection)

1.8ai) The battles fought by the Prophet and his followers after the Hijrah: Badr

- Abu Sufyan's trade caravan was set to be captured and he ordered the leader of Mecca to send an army to fight the Muslims.

- To defend themselves, the Muslims sent an army of 313 Muslims.

- There were 1000 Meccans, this was in Ramadan.

- There were one-on-one battles with Utbah, Hamza, and Ali against the Meccans.

- Despite having less Muslims, they still won the battle.

- This was because Allah sent down angels to fight alongside the Muslims.

- Eventually, after several hours of fighting, the Meccans ran away.

- The reading and writing thing about the hostages that we've mentioned so many times. (iykyk)

1.8ai) The battles fought by the Prophet and his followers after the Hijrah: Badr [Banu Qaynuqa]

- The Jewish tribe of Banu Qaynuqa were furious at the Badr win and so they caused conflict and had a 15 day blockade with the Muslims.

- They then surrendered and left Medina.

1.8ai) The battles fought by the Prophet and his followers after the Hijrah: Badr [Benefits of Badr]

- Secure position for the Muslims

- Strengthened the Muslim army

- Made treaties and allies with other nations and communities

- There were many revertions.

- It reminded Muslims to put their trust in Allah and to be patient.

1.8aii) The battles fought by the Prophet and his followers after the Hijrah: Uhud

- Started because the Quraysh were mad about the Badr loss.

- They wanted to attack again, this intiated Uhud.

- There were 700 Muslims only because 300 left after the Prophet (pbuh) found out that they were hypocrites.

- There were many Muslim archers on top of Mount Uhud, and the Prophet (pbuh) told them to not move until he said so.

- Then the battle began, and the Meccans retreated. The Muslim archers disobeyed and went to get the Anfal (spoils of war)

- The Meccans turned around and attacked from where the archers were supposed to be.

- This led to many casualties and then the Muslims retreated suffering a heavy loss.

1.8aii) The battles fought by the Prophet and his followers after the Hijrah: Uhud [Hamza]

- Hind sent a slave to kill Hamza (The Prophet's Uncle)

- After killing him, she chewed on his liver.

- However, after the Conquest of Mecca, she reverted and asked the Prophet (pbuh) for forgiveness. Although he could not face her, he forgave her, showing the mercy of Allah and his Messenger.

1.8aii) The battles fought by the Prophet and his followers after the Hijrah: Uhud [Benefits of Uhud]

- Taught obedience

- Taught not being arrogant

- Taught not to be enticed by worldly things - which shows that ultimately, there is no saving yourself from death.

1.8aiii) The battles fought by the Prophet and his followers after the Hijrah: Battle of the Trench/Khandaq [beginning]

- All of the non-Muslims joined together and formed a confederation - The Jews and the Meccans.

- They wanted to attack as the Jews wanted revenge against the Prophet (pbuh) upon rightfully expelling the tribes of Banu Qaynuqa and Banu Nadir. The Meccans also wanted to defeat the Muslims.

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- When the Muslims got to know, there was not enough time to create an army.

- Salman Al-Farsi (a Persian man) gave the recommendation of building trenches along the outskirts of Medina.

- Everyone, including the Prophet (pbuh), participated in building the trenches.

1.8aiii) The battles fought by the Prophet and his followers after the Hijrah: Battle of the Trench/Khandaq [ending]

- When the Meccans arrived, they were forced to lay a month long siege outside Medina. There were only small skirmishes around the border.

- Food supplies were low for Medina.

- The Jews of Banu Quraiza were still in Medina, and they conspired with the Meccans and were a threat to a Muslims within Medina.

- The Prophet (pbuh) decided to deceive and divide the enemies to make them hesitant to work together.

- At a critical time, Allah sent a huge dust storm that forced the enemies to leave.

- After the Meccans left, the Prophet mobilised an army to battle against Bany Quraiza as they broke the treaty. They were punished using the punishment in their own book, the Torah.

1.8avi) The battles fought by the Prophet and his followers after the Hijrah: Khyber

- The Jews had relocated to a place called Khyber.

- When they heard of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, they wanted to retaliate against the Muslims to regain their lost prestige (the status they used to have)

- The Muslims got to know about this and they prepared to attack Khyber.

- The Jews retreated into the forts (because there were a lotta forts there)

- It took a long time to take over all the forts, especially the last one.

- To take over the last one, Ali (ra) was ordered (by the Prophet (pbuh)) to lead the army. The conquest was successfully.

1.8b) The reasons the Prophet chose to fight the battles

- They were a threat to Islam - as Islam was a new religion with a new state, the Muslims needed to protect Islam and Medina.

- He did not fight any battles unless he was provoked by the Meccans or the Jews, or any other people.

- His wars were not for expansion or conquest, but to resist oppression, prevent further attacks, safeguard the rights and existence of Muslims, and remove obstacles to the peaceful propagation of Islam

1.8c) The importance of the battles for the establishment of Islam

- New reverts - but not forcefully.

- Established the strength of Islam, and grew the Muslim army.

- Protected Medina, which was the first Islamic state, and this allowed future Islamic states to flourish.

- Protected Muslims from persecution and allowed them to preach freely and openly. Also to practice their religion.

- Victories like the Battle of Badr boosted morale, confirmed the Prophet's leadership, and signaled divine support

- while defensive strategies at battles such as the Trench preserved the Muslim community and demonstrated their resilience and unity

- Promoted unity of the Muslim ummah.

1.9a) The Prophet's final pilgrimage and sermon [Treaty of Hudaybiyyah]

Treaty of Hudaybiyyah:

- Lasted 10 years between the Meccans and Muslims.

- The Meccans and Muslims put this in place because the Muslims wanted to perform pilgrimage.

- This ensured a time of peace between the two.

- It was broken by one of the Meccan's allied tribes attacking the Muslims.

- This led to the Conquest of Mecca

1.9a) The Prophet's final pilgrimage and sermon [Conquest of Mecca]

Conquest of Mecca:

- Retaliation for the Treaty being broken.

- The Muslims attacked at night, the Prophet (pbuh) said that anyone in the Kaa'bah or Abu Sufyan's house, or any other location, would be safe - he kept his word.

- He forgave the Quraysh, and recited the verses of Surah Yusuf, "This day let no reproach be (cast) on you: Allah will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!"

- He conquered Mecca without shedding blood.

1.9a) The Prophet's final pilgrimage and sermon [Sermon]

Final Pilgrimmage and Sermon:

- He performed Hajj on the 10th year of Hijrah

- On the day of Arafat, he gave a sermon to 100,000 people gathered around him

- It was his final collective message to the Ummah before his death.

- "This day I have perfected your religion for you, and completed my favour upon you and have chosen Islam as your religion"

- He talked about abolishing racism and slavery, prohibition of interest (riba), the rights of women and men being equal, and highlighted the importance of the pillars of Islam.

- He gave a reminder about the day of judgement.

1.9b) The main themes and the importance of the Prophet's example and teaching in his later years

- He talked about abolishing racism and slavery, prohibition of interest (riba), the rights of women and men being equal, and highlighted the importance of the pillars of Islam.

- He gave a reminder about the day of judgement.

- About the specifics of Islam, and the main message of Tawheed in Islam.

- The finality of Islam as a religion that will never be unchanged.

1.9c) The significant achievements of the Prophet in the areas of society, religion and politics

Society: The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) made society fairer by ending racism, tribalism, and the mistreatment of women, and by teaching people to care for each other and protect everyone's rights. He changed the society from what it used to be in pre-Islamic Arabia, in times of Jahiliyyah.

Religion: He taught people to worship one God, delivered the Qur'an, and set an example for how Muslims should live, pray, and treat others.

Politics: He built the first Muslim community in Medina, created fair rules and laws, made peace treaties, and united the people of Arabia under one leadership.

1.9d) The events at the Prophet's death in Madinah

- During his last days, he got sick and was unable to lead the prayer -> He asked Abu Bakr to lead them instead (foreshadowing his reign as first Caliph/Khalifa)

- He passed away.

- When he passed away, he was with Aisha (ra)

- News of his death shocked the community—many companions were in disbelief, with Umar ibn al-Khattab initially refusing to accept the reality, while Abu Bakr calmed the people by reminding them that worship is due to Allah alone, who never dies.

- "Muḥammad is no more than a messenger; other messengers have gone before him. If he were to die or to be killed, would you regress into disbelief? Those who do so will not harm Allah whatsoever. And Allah will reward those who are grateful."

- "whoever amongst you worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped Allah, Allah is alive and will never die."

- He was buried in the room he died, in his mosque in Medina. (Masjid Al Nabawi)