قبل البعثة

Before the Light

571 CE – 610 CE52 BH – 12 BH

The years leading up to Prophethood — from the birth of Muhammad ﷺ to the age of forty. A period of preparation, in which Allah shaped His final Messenger through loss, honesty, contemplation, and an upbringing unlike any other.

14 events in this era

عام الفيل

The Year of the Elephant

571 CEHistorical context

Abraha, the Abyssinian ruler of Yemen, marched upon Makkah with an army includin...

مولد النبي ﷺ

The Birth of the Prophet ﷺ

571 CEBirth

Muhammad ﷺ was born on a Monday in Rabi' al-Awwal, approximately 50-55 days afte...

رضاعة حليمة السعدية

Nursing by Halimah al-Sa'diyyah

571-575 CEChildhood

Following Arab custom, the infant Muhammad ﷺ was entrusted to Halimah bint Abi D...

شق الصدر

The Opening of the Chest

~575 CEMiracle

When Muhammad ﷺ was approximately four years old, while playing with other child...

وفاة أمه آمنة

Death of His Mother Aminah

~577 CELoss

When Muhammad ﷺ was approximately six years old, his mother Aminah bint Wahb pas...

كفالة عبد المطلب

Under the Care of Abdul Muttalib

577-579 CEChildhood

After the death of his mother, Muhammad ﷺ was taken into the care of his grandfa...

وفاة عبد المطلب

Death of Abdul Muttalib

~579 CELoss

Abdul Muttalib passed away when Muhammad ﷺ was approximately eight years old. Be...

كفالة أبي طالب

Under the Care of Abu Talib

579 CE onwardsChildhood

Abu Talib took Muhammad ﷺ into his household and raised him alongside his own ch...

الرحلة إلى الشام مع أبي طالب

Journey to Syria with Abu Talib

~583 CEJourney

At the age of twelve, Muhammad ﷺ accompanied Abu Talib on a trade caravan to Syr...

حلف الفضول

The Pact of Al-Fudul (Hilf al-Fudul)

~590 CESociety

Muhammad ﷺ participated in the Hilf al-Fudul, a pact formed in the house of Abdu...

رعي الغنم

Working as a Shepherd

~583-596 CELivelihood

Muhammad ﷺ worked as a shepherd in Makkah, tending sheep for the people of Makka...

زواجه من خديجة بنت خويلد

Marriage to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

~595 CEMarriage

At the age of twenty-five, Muhammad ﷺ married Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, a noble a...

بناء الكعبة

Rebuilding of the Ka'bah

~605 CEHistorical context

When Muhammad ﷺ was thirty-five years old, the Quraysh undertook the rebuilding ...

التحنث في غار حراء

Retreat to Cave Hira

~609-610 CEDevotion

In the years preceding his prophethood, Muhammad ﷺ began retreating to the Cave ...