Under the Loving Guardianship of Hadrat Abu Talib (AS)
After the demise of Hadrat Abdul Mutalib (AS), the blessed guardianship of the young Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam) — then only about eight years of age — was entrusted to his noble uncle Hadrat Abu Talib (Alaihi Salam). Hadrat Abu Talib (AS) received this sacred trust with the deepest love and honour, raising the blessed nephew as more beloved to him than his own children, placing him beside himself while eating, sleeping and travelling, and shielding him from every hardship of the age.
The Blessed Journey to Syria at the Age of Twelve
When the Holy Prophet (SAWAW) was about twelve years of age, Hadrat Abu Talib (AS) prepared to travel with a trading caravan of Quraish towards Syria (Sham). Unable to bear separation from his beloved nephew, and equally unwilling to leave him behind, Hadrat Abu Talib (AS) took him along on this blessed journey. It was during this journey, at the town of Busra, that the Christian monk Bahira recognised the promised signs of the final Prophet upon the blessed personality of Muhammad (SAWAW) and earnestly counselled Hadrat Abu Talib (AS) to guard him carefully and return him to Makkah, lest the people of the Book harm him upon recognising those very signs.
The Years of Youth — Shepherding, Harb-ul-Fijar and Hilf-ul-Fudul
In his blessed youth, the Holy Prophet (SAWAW) tended flocks of sheep on the outskirts of Makkah — a blessed occupation shared by many of the Ambiya (Alaihimus Salam) before him — earning his sustenance with his own honest labour. Around the age of fifteen, he was present in the days of Harb-ul-Fijar, the sacrilegious war fought within the sacred months, where he assisted his uncles only by gathering the arrows of the enemy and handing them to his uncles, never himself taking part in bloodshed.
Shortly thereafter, he participated in the noble covenant of Hilf-ul-Fudul, a solemn pact made in the house of Hadrat Abdullah ibn Jud’an, in which the honourable men of Quraish pledged to stand together for the oppressed of Makkah — whether local or stranger — until their rights were restored. The Holy Prophet (SAWAW) later declared, even after the blessed proclamation of prophethood, that he would not exchange his presence in that noble pact for the choicest of red camels, and that if called to such a covenant again in Islam, he would readily answer.
Al-Sadiq and Al-Ameen — The Titles of Makkah
As his blessed youth advanced, the entire society of Makkah — friend and stranger, noble and common alike — openly acknowledged the unmatched truthfulness, honesty and trustworthiness of the young Muhammad (SAWAW). The people of Quraish entrusted their valuables and deposits to his blessed keeping, and honoured him with the titles of Al-Sadiq (the Truthful) and Al-Ameen (the Trustworthy) — titles by which he was known throughout Makkah long before the dawn of the blessed prophethood.
The Trading Journey on Behalf of Hadrat Khadija (SA)
When the fame of his blessed honesty and truthfulness reached Hadrat Syeda Khadija-tul-Kubra (Salam Allah-Ho Alaiha) — a noble and wealthy lady of Quraish who entrusted her merchandise to trustworthy men on profit — she herself sought the young Muhammad (SAWAW) and requested him to take her trading goods to Syria, offering him a share more generous than she had ever offered any other. Accompanied by her faithful servant Maisara, the Holy Prophet (SAWAW) undertook the journey. The trade yielded blessings and profits far beyond expectation, and Maisara returned with wondrous accounts of the blessed signs he had observed upon the personality of Muhammad (SAWAW) throughout the journey — accounts that further deepened the respect of Hadrat Khadija (SA) for him and paved the way for the blessed marriage that was soon to follow.
Retreats to Ghar-e-Hira for Ibadah
In the intervening period between his early youth and the blessed proclamation of prophethood, Hadrat Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam) turned his heart away from the darkness, idolatry and moral corruption of the society around him, and inclined ever more deeply towards solitary worship, reflection and remembrance of the One True Creator. For this sacred purpose, he began to withdraw for long periods to a quiet cave in the mountain of Jabl-un-Noor, known as Ghar-e-Hira, situated a short distance from the blessed city of Makkah.
There, in the silence of the mountain, he engaged in Ibadah, contemplation and remembrance of Almighty Allah for days and sometimes many days together, carrying with him modest provisions and, when needed, returning to Makkah only to replenish them before going back to his blessed retreat. This blessed practice continued year after year and prepared his pure heart for the sacred trust that Almighty Allah was soon to bestow upon him.
The Blessed Marriage at the Age of Twenty-Five
At the blessed age of twenty-five years, and by the special favour of Almighty Allah, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWAW) was married to Hadrat Syeda Khadija-tul-Kubra (Salam Allah-Ho Alaiha) — a noble lady of the highest lineage of Quraish, renowned throughout Makkah for her purity, wisdom, dignity, generosity and impeccable character, so much so that she was honoured with titles such as Tahira (the Pure One) even before the dawn of Islam.
Hadrat Khadija (SA) had, prior to this blessed union, entrusted her trading caravans to the young Muhammad (SAWAW) on account of his unmatched honesty and truthfulness — the very qualities for which the people of Makkah had already declared him Al-Sadiq and Al-Ameen. On observing his blessed character, his angelic conduct and the extraordinary blessings that accompanied him, her heart was moved with the deepest respect and inclination, and she herself expressed her sincere desire for this blessed union.
The Nikah and the Khutba of Hadrat Abu Talib (Alaihi Salam)
The blessed proposal was carried and the nikah was solemnised with dignity and honour. From the side of the Holy Prophet (SAWAW), the venerable Hadrat Abu Talib (AS) — his beloved uncle and guardian — delivered a most eloquent khutba, praising Almighty Allah and glorifying His Names, extolling the noble lineage of Banu Hashim, and openly declaring that his blessed nephew Muhammad (SAWAW) had no equal among the youth of Quraish in nobility, honour, purity, wisdom or excellence of character.
From the side of Hadrat Khadija (SA), her paternal uncle Hadrat Amr ibn Asad acted as her guardian and, on behalf of her family, gladly accepted the blessed proposal — his own words honouring the unmatched standing of the Holy Prophet (SAWAW) among the people of Makkah.
Wedding Celebrations and the Mahr
The blessed marriage was celebrated in a manner befitting the honour of both noble families. A generous mahr (bridal gift) was presented from the side of the Holy Prophet (SAWAW), and the occasion was marked by the sacrifice of animals, the feeding of relatives, neighbours and the poor of Makkah, and expressions of joy and gratitude to Almighty Allah for bringing together two of the purest hearts of that age.
A Bond of Love, Loyalty and Sacred Trust
The blessed marriage of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWAW) with Hadrat Khadija-tul-Kubra (SA) became an unmatched example of love, loyalty, mutual respect and shared devotion to the truth. She stood by him at every step, believed in him from the very first moment, comforted him in the most difficult hours, and spent her wealth freely in the way of Almighty Allah for the cause of the emerging Deen. From this blessed union came the light of the Holy Prophet’s blessed household, foremost among them Hadrat Syeda Fatima-tu-Zahrah (Salam Allah-Ho Alaiha), through whom the sacred progeny of the Holy Prophet (SAWAW) continues to shine upon the world.