Basic HTML Version
30
(Peace be upon him) laid it in the proper position with his own hands. This is how a very tense
situation was eased and a grave danger averted by the wisdom of the Prophet (Peace be upon him).
Quraish ran short of the licit money, they collected, so they eliminated six yards area on the
northern side of Al-Ka‘bah which is called Al-Hijr or Al-Hateem. They raised its door two metres from
the level ground to let in only the people whom they desired. When the structure was fifteen yards
high they erected the roof which rested on six columns.
When the building of Al-Ka‘bah had finished, it assumed asquare form fifteen metres high. The side
with the Black Stone and the one opposite were ten metres long each. The Black Stone was 1.50
metre from the circumambulation level ground. The two other sides were twelve metres long each.
The door was two metres high from the level ground. A building structure of 0.25 metre high and
0.30 metre wide on the average surrounded Al-Ka‘bah. It was called Ash-Shadherwan, originally an
integral part of the Sacred Sanctuary, but Quraish left it out.
A RAPID REVIEW OF MUHAMMAD'S BIOGRAPHY BEFORE COMMISSIONING OF THE
PROPHETHOOD:
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was, in his youth, a combination of the best social
attributes. He was an exemplary man of weighty mind and faultless insight. He was favoured with
intelligence, originality of thought and accurate choice of the means leading to accurate goals. His
long silence helped favourably in his habit of meditation and deep investigation into the truth. His
vivid mind and pure nature were helpfully instrumental in assimilating and comprehending ways of
life and people, individual and community-wise. He shunned superstitious practices but took an
active part in constructive and useful dealings, otherwise, he would have recourse to his self-
consecrated solitude. He kept himself aloof from drinking wine, eating meat slaughtered on stone
altars, or attending idolatrous festivals. He held the idols in extreme aversion and most abhorrence.
He could never tolerate someone swearing by Al-Lat and Al-‘Uzza. Allâh’s providence, no doubts,
detached him from all abominable or evil practices. Even when he tried to obey his instinct to enjoy
some life pleasures or follow some irrespectable traditions, Allâh’s providence intervened to curb any
lapse in this course. Ibn Al-Atheer reported Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as saying: “I have
never tried to do what my people do except for two times. Every time Allâh intervened and checked
me from doing so and I never did that again. Once I told my fellow-shepherd to take care of my
sheep when we were in the upper part of Makkah. I wanted to go down to Makkah and entertain
myself as the young men did. I went down to the first house of Makkah where I heard music. I
entered and asked: ‘What is this?’ Someone answered: ‘It is a wedding party.’ I sat down and
listened but soon went into deep sleep. I was awakened by the heat of the sun. I went back to my
fellow-shepherd and told him of what had happened to me. I have never tried it again.”
Al-Bukhari reported on the authority of Jabir bin ‘Abdullah that he said: “While the people were
rebuilding Al-Ka‘bah, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) went with ‘Abbas to carry some
stones. ‘Abbas said: ‘Put your loincloth round your neck to protect you from the stones.’ (As he did
that) the Prophet (Peace be upon him) fell to the ground and his eyes turned skyward. Later on he
woke up and shouted: ‘My loincloth... my loincloth.’ He wrapped himself in his loincloth.” In another
report: “His loins were never seen afterwards.”
The authorities agree in ascribing to the youth of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) modesty of
deportment, virtuous behaviour and graceful manners. He proved himself to be the ideal of
manhood, and to possess a spotless character. He was the most obliging to his compatriots, the
most honest in his talk and the mildest in temper. He was the most gentle-hearted, chaste,
hospitable and always impressed people by his piety-inspiring countenance. He was the most
truthful and the best to keep covenant. His fellow-citizens, by common consent, gave him the title of
Al-‘Ameen
(trustworthy). The Mother of believers, Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) once
said: He unites uterine relations, he helps the poor and the needy, he entertains the guests and
endures hardships in the path of truthfulness.
Click on View to read this book online under free books www.islamicbulletin.com