Meccan Dawn: The Life of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad
Instructor(s):
Ustadh Abdullah (Anik) Misra Course Format: 12 downloadable sessions, 3 live sessions
Starts On: Not currently offered.
Length: 1 term(s) - 12 weeks
Course ID: GEN210
Department: Guidance
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Summary
This course introduces students to the Prophetic Biography (sira), exploring the Meccan period of the Messenger’s life with emphasis on the lessons that we can take away from his example. The study of the sira increases faith and inspires even greater love for the Prophet. Students will leave the course with renewed clarity and confidence in following the way of the Messenger in these challenging times.Details
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his parent, his child and all of mankind put together.” In order to love the Prophet fully (peace be upon him), and to embody that love by following his example, we must know who he was. Ustadh Abdullah Misra will help students fulfill both of these key obligations.
The course begins by introducing students to the Science of the Prophetic Biography (sira). Students will examine the origins of the science, as well as the methodology employed to gather and verify the details of the Prophet’s life and certain modernist approaches to the Seerah.
After preparing themselves by examining the purpose and manners of studying the Prophetic Biography, students will engage in a detailed examination of the Meccan period of the Prophet’s life, concluding with the Migration (hijrah) to Madina. Throughout, students will explore not only what the Prophet did, but also how to apply the lessons of his example more completely in their own lives.
Students will be encouraged to supplement the course lectures and live sessions by reading Martin Ling’s biography, Muhammad.
Lesson Overview
1. An Introduction to the Seeraha. The inception and development of the science of Prophetic Biography
b. Sources and Methodology of Compiling the Seerah
c. Early Modernist attempts at re-interpreting the Seerah
d. Why and How should the Seerah be Studied by Muslims?
b. Sources and Methodology of Compiling the Seerah
c. Early Modernist attempts at re-interpreting the Seerah
d. Why and How should the Seerah be Studied by Muslims?
2. Before the Birth of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
a. The central objectives of Prophethood and Revelation
b. The continuity of the Prophetic Message and Messengers
c. A brief history of the world before the Prophet (peace be upon him)
b. The continuity of the Prophetic Message and Messengers
c. A brief history of the world before the Prophet (peace be upon him)
3. Events and Context of the Noble Birth
a. Tribes of Quraysh in Makkah
b. The lineage of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
c. The Year of the Elephant
d. The Noble Birth
b. The lineage of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
c. The Year of the Elephant
d. The Noble Birth
4. The Childhood of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
a. His infancy, weaning, and orphanhood
b. His upbringing under Abdul Muttalib
c. Under the guardianship of Abu Talib, and his trips to Syria
b. His upbringing under Abdul Muttalib
c. Under the guardianship of Abu Talib, and his trips to Syria
5. His Youth and Early Adulthood (peace be upon him)
a. The pact of chivalry and his social dealings
b. The rebuilding of the Ka’bah
c. His work as a trader
d. His marriage to Khadija (Allah be pleased with her)
b. The rebuilding of the Ka’bah
c. His work as a trader
d. His marriage to Khadija (Allah be pleased with her)
6. The Commissioning of Prophethood
a. The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) religious experiences before Prophethood
b. The first Revelation in Cave Hira and the meeting with Gabriel
c. Beginning of Prophethood and his earliest supporters
b. The first Revelation in Cave Hira and the meeting with Gabriel
c. Beginning of Prophethood and his earliest supporters
7. The Call to Islam and the Early Muslims
a. The early stages of secret propagation and those who responded first
b. Initial reactions to the proclaiming of the Message in Mecca
c. Dar al Arqam and the quiet practice of Islam
b. Initial reactions to the proclaiming of the Message in Mecca
c. Dar al Arqam and the quiet practice of Islam
8. Persecution of the Muslim Community and the Migration to Abyssinia
a. Those who suffered most: the poor, the weak and the slaves
b. Stories of endurance under Meccan oppression
c. The first migration to Abyssinia
d. The events at the court of al-Najashi
b. Stories of endurance under Meccan oppression
c. The first migration to Abyssinia
d. The events at the court of al-Najashi
9. Important Conversions and the Boycott of Banu Hashim
a. The attempts of the Quraysh to stop the call to Islam
b. The Islam of Hamza (Allah be pleased with him)
c. The Islam of ‘Omar (Allah be pleased with him)
d. The Boycott and Sanctioning of Banu Hashim
b. The Islam of Hamza (Allah be pleased with him)
c. The Islam of ‘Omar (Allah be pleased with him)
d. The Boycott and Sanctioning of Banu Hashim
10. The Year of Sorrow and the Appeal to Taif
a. The end of the sanctions
b. The death of Abu Talib and Khadija
c. The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) journey to Taif
d. The appeal to other outlying tribes of Arabia
b. The death of Abu Talib and Khadija
c. The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) journey to Taif
d. The appeal to other outlying tribes of Arabia
11. The Journey by Night and Ascension of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
a. The Isra and M’iraj event and its details
b. The gift of Prayer
c. Abu Bakr’s confirmation (Allah be pleased with him) and the Quraysh’s disbelief
b. The gift of Prayer
c. Abu Bakr’s confirmation (Allah be pleased with him) and the Quraysh’s disbelief
12. ‘Aqaba and Beginnings of the Great Hijrah
a. The first and second pledges of ‘Aqaba
b. The spread of Islam in Yathrib
c. Permission to migrate to Yathrib is given
d. The first emigrants
b. The spread of Islam in Yathrib
c. Permission to migrate to Yathrib is given
d. The first emigrants
13. Hijrah, Arrival at Madina
a. Events leading up to the Hijrah
b. Permission is given to migrate; preparations begin and Quraysh’s plot
c. The Migration to Madina begins
d. Miraculous events on the way to Yathrib
e. The full moon has risen: the arrival of the Messenger (peace be upon him) in Madina
b. Permission is given to migrate; preparations begin and Quraysh’s plot
c. The Migration to Madina begins
d. Miraculous events on the way to Yathrib
e. The full moon has risen: the arrival of the Messenger (peace be upon him) in Madina
Requirements & Prerequisites
None.Feedback
Shaykh Misra is awesome, relevant, humble and practical. Quite excited about his rise as a scholar masha Allah. (Hammad Din, Winter 2011)