Unit 2 · Muhammad and the First Words

Mecca is a city in a hot, dry land. It has sand, rocks and hills. It does not rain much. Long ago, people found a well there. So people came to live near the water.

In the middle of Mecca is a building shaped like a box. It is called the Kaaba. Muslims believe it is a house built for God. It is very old.

Today Mecca is in a country called Saudi Arabia. Millions of Muslims travel there each year. They walk around the Kaaba together.

Mecca was a busy trading town. People bought and sold cloth, dates and spices. Goods came in on camels. A long line of camels is called a caravan.

Camels can walk a long way without water. That made them good for the desert. The people of Mecca sent caravans out. Some went south in winter. Some went north in summer.

The Qur’an has a short surah about this. It is called Quraysh, surah 106. Quraysh was the name of the family group who lived in Mecca.

Muslims say Muhammad was born in Mecca. It was about 1,450 years ago. That is a very long time. It was long before cars, phones or lights.

Muslim tradition tells his story. Tradition means stories passed down for a long time. Muslims tell this story with love. In this course, we learn how they tell it.

Muhammad’s family was part of the Quraysh. They were the people of Mecca. His father’s name was Abdullah. His mother’s name was Amina.

Muslim tradition says Muhammad’s father died before he was born. His mother died when he was about six. A child with no living parents is an orphan.

His grandfather took him in. His grandfather’s name was Abd al-Muttalib. Then his grandfather died too. Muhammad was about eight.

Next his uncle cared for him. His uncle’s name was Abu Talib. Abu Talib kept him safe for many years. Muslims say Muhammad never forgot this care.

Muslim tradition says Muhammad worked as a boy. He looked after sheep. He walked with them to find grass. He kept them safe from harm.

When he was older, he traveled with the caravans. He went with his uncle. He learned about camels and trading. He saw other towns.

Muslims say he liked quiet. He liked to sit alone and think. He liked the hills around Mecca. Later, this would matter a lot.

When Muhammad grew up, he worked in trade. Muslims say he was always honest. He did not cheat. He kept his word.

People in Mecca gave him a name. They called him al-Amin. That means "the trustworthy." A trustworthy person is one you can count on.

Muslim tradition tells a story. The Kaaba was being fixed. Families argued about a special stone. They asked Muhammad to decide. He found a fair way. Everyone was happy.

A woman in Mecca named Khadijah had a business. She sent caravans out to trade. She hired Muhammad to lead one. He did the job well.

Khadijah saw that he was honest. She asked him to marry her. He said yes. Muslims say he was about 25 years old.

They had children together. Muslims honor Khadijah very much. They say she was the first person to believe his message. You will hear that story next.

Near Mecca is a mountain. Muslims call it the Mountain of Light. High up is a small cave. Its name is Hira.

Muslim tradition says Muhammad went there often. He brought food and water. He stayed for days. He sat alone and thought.

He thought about the world. He thought about right and wrong. Khadijah sent food up to him. Muslims say something big happened in that cave.

Muhammad was in the cave of Hira. Muslims say he was about 40 years old. It was in the month of Ramadan. He was alone at night.

Muslims believe an angel came to him. An angel is a being Muslims believe God sends with messages. This angel’s name was Jibril. In English, the name is Gabriel.

Muslims believe Jibril brought words from God. He told Muhammad to say them. This night is called the Night of Power. Muslims say it happened about 1,400 years ago.

Muslims say the angel said one word first. The word was "Read!" In Arabic, it is Iqra. It can also mean "Say it out loud."

Muslim tradition says Muhammad answered, "I cannot read." Few people in Mecca could read then. The angel said it again. Then the angel gave him words.

Those words are in the Qur’an now. They are the first five lines of surah 96. Muslims believe they were the very first words of the whole book.

Muslim tradition says Muhammad was very afraid. He ran down the mountain. He went straight home. He was shaking all over.

He asked Khadijah to wrap him in a blanket. She did. She stayed by him. She did not laugh or say he was wrong. She listened.

Being afraid of something new is normal. Muslims say even the Prophet was afraid at first. What helped was a kind person who listened.

Khadijah told Muhammad not to fear. She said he was good to his family. He helped the poor. He told the truth. She said God would not harm such a man.

Muslims say Khadijah was the first to believe. To believe means to trust that something is true. She trusted that the words came from God.

One surah begins, "You who are wrapped up." Muslims say it speaks to Muhammad in his blanket. It tells him to get up.

The words did not all come in one night. Muslims believe more came later. Sometimes a few lines came. Sometimes a whole surah came.

This went on for about 23 years. Some words came in Mecca. Later, Muhammad moved to a city called Medina. More words came there.

Muslims call the coming of these words revelation. Muslims believe God sent them. The words came in Arabic. They were spoken before they were written.

Muhammad said the words out loud. His friends listened. They said them again and again. They learned them by heart. To memorize is to learn by heart.

Some friends wrote the words down. There was little paper then. Muslim tradition says they wrote on leather, flat bones and stones.

After Muhammad died, Muslims say his friends gathered all the words. They put them in one book. That book is the Qur’an. Muslims still learn it by heart today.

Muslims call Muhammad a prophet. A prophet brings a message from God. Muslims believe there were many prophets. They say Muhammad was the last one.

When Muslims say his name, they add a blessing. They say "peace be upon him." It is a way of showing respect. You may hear a friend say it.

Jewish people and Christians also have prophets in their books. Some of the names are the same. You will meet some of them later in this course.