SeekersGuidance – Meccan Dawn: The Life of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad
Instructor(s): Sidi Anik Misra
This course introduces students to the Prophetic Biography (sira), exploring the Meccan period of the Messenger’s life with emphasis on the lessons that we can take away from his example. The study of the sira increases faith and inspires even greater love for the Prophet. Students will leave the course with renewed clarity and confidence in following the way of the Messenger in these challenging times.
Ustadh Abdullah Misra will help students fulfill both of these key obligations.
The course begins by introducing students to the Science of the Prophetic Biography (sira). Students will examine the origins of the science, as well as the methodology employed to gather and verify the details of the Prophet’s life and certain modernist approaches to the Seerah.
After preparing themselves by examining the purpose and manners of studying the Prophetic Biography, students will engage in a detailed examination of the Meccan period of the Prophet’s life, concluding with the Migration (hijrah) to Madina. Throughout, students will explore not only what the Prophet did, but also how to apply the lessons of his example more completely in their own lives.
Students will be encouraged to supplement the course lectures and live sessions by reading Martin Ling’s biography, Muhammad.
1. An Introduction to the Seerah
b. Sources and Methodology of Compiling the Seerah
c. Early Modernist attempts at re-interpreting the Seerah
d. Why and How should the Seerah be Studied by Muslims?
2. Before the Birth of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
b. The continuity of the Prophetic Message and Messengers
c. A brief history of the world before the Prophet (peace be upon him)
3. Events and Context of the Noble Birth
b. The lineage of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
c. The Year of the Elephant
d. The Noble Birth
4. The Childhood of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
b. His upbringing under Abdul Muttalib
c. Under the guardianship of Abu Talib, and his trips to Syria
5. His Youth and Early Adulthood (peace be upon him)
b. The rebuilding of the Ka’bah
c. His work as a trader
d. His marriage to Khadija (Allah be pleased with her)
6. The Commissioning of Prophethood
b. The first Revelation in Cave Hira and the meeting with Gabriel
c. Beginning of Prophethood and his earliest supporters
7. The Call to Islam and the Early Muslims
b. Initial reactions to the proclaiming of the Message in Mecca
c. Dar al Arqam and the quiet practice of Islam
8. Persecution of the Muslim Community and the Migration to Abyssinia
b. Stories of endurance under Meccan oppression
c. The first migration to Abyssinia
d. The events at the court of al-Najashi
9. Important Conversions and the Boycott of Banu Hashim
b. The Islam of Hamza (Allah be pleased with him)
c. The Islam of ‘Omar (Allah be pleased with him)
d. The Boycott and Sanctioning of Banu Hashim
10. The Year of Sorrow and the Appeal to Taif
b. The death of Abu Talib and Khadija
c. The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) journey to Taif
d. The appeal to other outlying tribes of Arabia
11. The Journey by Night and Ascension of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
b. The gift of Prayer
c. Abu Bakr’s confirmation (Allah be pleased with him) and the Quraysh’s disbelief
12. ‘Aqaba and Beginnings of the Great Hijrah
b. The spread of Islam in Yathrib
c. Permission to migrate to Yathrib is given
d. The first emigrants
13. Hijrah, Arrival at Madina
b. Permission is given to migrate; preparations begin and Quraysh’s plot
c. The Migration to Madina begins
d. Miraculous events on the way to Yathrib
e. The full moon has risen: the arrival of the Messenger (peace be upon him) in Madina
