16 of 18

Write now Article Tools

Muhammad:is it just a name?.NO. it is the Name of A Glorified prophet,
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the messenger of Allah and the last prophet, was born in the city of Mecca. Mecca is in the west of the Arabian Peninsula, which lies between Asia, Europe and Africa, within the Hejaz region. It is important to be aware of the history of Mecca, the Kaaba and the Quraishi tribe to understand the life of the Prophet.

The known history of Mecca dates back to the time of Prophet Abraham, but there is not much information about any earlier history. Prophet Abraham brought his son Ishmael, who was an infant, and his wife Hagar to Mecca on the order of Allah, leaving them there to return to Palestine.

The valley of Mecca is described as an "uncultivable valley" (Abraham 14/37), being a desert with a hot, dry climate. Thus, Hagar and Ishmael were soon thirsty. According to religious accounts, just as Hagar, who had been running between the Safa and Marwa Hills in order to find water, had become desperate and abandoned hope for her son's life, a source of water sprung from under the feet of her son. The source was an abundant spring called the zamzam and subsequently became a stopping-off place for caravans. After a certain time, the Jurhum tribe from Yemen settled in the outer sections of Mecca. Ishmael learned Arabic from them and married a girl from this tribe.

Prophet Abraham, who was living in Palestine, paid occasional visits to Hagar and Ishmael. On his third visit to Mecca, Prophet Abraham, in accordance with the order of Allah, began to construct the Kaaba with his son Ishmael. It can be understood from certain verses of the Holy Quran (al-Baqarah 2/127; Al-Imran 3/96; Al-Hajj 22/26) that the Kaaba had existed before the time of Abraham; however it had been destroyed and its location was obliterated over time until Prophet Abraham once again found its place and rebuilt it.1 Although there is no information about who built the Kaaba before Abraham, it is recorded in some sources that it was built by Prophet Adam or his son Seth. When Prophet Abraham completed the construction of the Kaaba, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him and taught him how to perform the pilgrimage (hajj).

Learn more about this author, Shamshad Khan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Muhammad: The most common name in the world?
We want to hear your view. Write now!