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matter. Consequently, the parties to the aforesaid confederacy convened their meeting and
managed to force Az-Zubaidy’s money out of Al-‘As bin Wa’il.
MUHAMMAD'S EARLY JOB:
Muhammad (Peace be upon him), had no particular job at his early youth, but it was reported that
he worked as a shepherd for Bani Sa‘d and in Makkah. At the age of 25, he went to Syria as a
merchant for Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) Ibn Ishaq reported that Khadijah, daughter
of Khwailid was a business-woman of great honour and fortune. She used to employ men to do her
business for a certain percentage of the profits. Quraish people were mostly tradespeople, so when
Khadijah was informed of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), his truthful words, great honesty and
kind manners, she sent for him. She offered him money to go to Syria and do her business, and she
would give him a higher rate than the others. She would also send her hireling, Maisarah, with him.
He agreed and went with her servant to Syria for trade.
HIS MARRIEAGE TO KHADIJAH:
When he returned to Makkah, Khadijah noticed, in her money, more profits and blessings than she
used to. Her hireling also told her of Muhammad’s good manners, honesty, deep thought, sincerity
and faith. She realized that she homed at her target. Many prominent men had asked for her hand
in marriage but she always spurned their advances. She disclosed her wish to her friend Nafisa,
daughter of Maniya, who immediately went to Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and broke the good
news to him. He agreed and requested his uncles to go to Khadijah’s uncle and talk on this issue.
Subsequently, they were married. The marriage contract was witnessed by Bani Hashim and the
heads of Mudar. This took place after the Prophet’s return from Syria. He gave her twenty camels as
dowry. She was, then, forty years old and was considered as the best woman of her folk in lineage,
fortune and wisdom. She was the first woman whom the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)
married. He did not get married to any other until she had died.
Khadijah bore all his children, except Ibrahim: Al-Qasim, Zainab, Ruqaiyah, Umm Kulthum, Fatimah
and ‘Abdullah who was called Taiyib and Tahir. All his sons died in their childhood and all the
daughters except Fatimah died during his lifetime. Fatimah died six months after his death. All his
daughters witnessed Islam, embraced it, and emigrated to Madinah.
REBUILDING AL-KA'BAH AND THE ARBITRATION ISSUE:
When the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) was thirty five, Quraish started rebuilding Al-
Ka‘bah. That was because it was a low building of white stones no more than 6.30 metres high, from
the days of Ishmael. It was also roofless and that gave the thieves easy access to its treasures
inside. It was also exposed to the wearing factors of nature— because it was built a long time ago
— that weakened and cracked its walls. Five years before Prophethood, there was a great flood in
Makkah that swept towards Al-Ka‘bah and almost demolished it. Quraish was obliged to rebuild it to
safeguard its holiness and position. The chiefs of Quraish decided to use only licit money in
rebuilding Al-Ka‘bah, so all money that derived from harlotry, usury or unjust practices was
excluded. They were, at first, too awed to knock down the wall, but Al-Waleed bin Al-Mugheerah Al-
Mukhzumi started the work. Seeing that no harm had happened to him, the others participated in
demolishing the walls until they reached the basis laid by Abraham. When they started rebuilding its
walls, they divided the work among the tribes. Each tribe was responsible for rebuilding a part of it.
The tribes collected stones and startwork. The man who laid the stones was a Roman mason called
Baqum. The work went on in harmony till the time came to put the sacred Black Stone in its proper
place. Then strife broke out among the chiefs, and lasted for four or five days, each contesting for
the honour of placing the stone in its position. Daggers were on the point of being drawn and great
bloodshed seemed imminent. Luckily, the oldest among the chiefs Abu Omaiyah bin Mugheerah Al-
Makhzumi made a proposal which was accepted by all. He said: “Let him, who enters the Sanctuary
first of all, decide on the point.” It was then Allâh’s Will that the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon
him) should be the first to enter the Mosque. On seeing him, all the people on the scene, cried with
one voice: “
Al-Ameen
(the trustworthy) has come. We are content to abide by his decision.” Calm
and self-possessed, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) received the commission and at once resolved
upon an expedient which was to conciliate them all. He asked for a mantle which he spread on the
ground and placed the stone in its centre. He then asked the representatives of the different clans
among them, to lift the stone all together. When it had reached the proper place, Muhammad
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