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Themes covered in this section are:
The Holy City of Mecca, Arabia.
Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Mecca in the year 570 CE, at a time when Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe.
Since his father died before his birth and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraish. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is one of the most documented religious figures in history. His existence and life are all carefully recorded, preserved and verifiable. He was a deeply spiritual person and had long detested the decadence of his society.
It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal al-Nur (the ‘Mountain of Light’) near Mecca.
At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad (pbuh) received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel.
This revelation, which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Qur’an. As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 CE, God gave them the command to emigrate.
This event, the Hijra (migration), in which they left Mecca for the city of Medina some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar (referred to as Hijra).
The Ka’ba is the original place of worship which God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to build more than four thousand years ago.
It is the cube-shaped building in Mecca. God commanded Abraham to summon all mankind to visit this place, and when pilgrims go there today they say "At Thy service, O Lord’, in response to Abraham’s summons.
This pilgrimage is called the Hajj and is one of the obligatory duties for all Muslims who are physically able and who can financially bear the cost.
After several years in Medina the Prophet (pbuh) and his followers were able to return to Mecca triumphantly, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam in this holiest of cities.
Before the Prophet (pbuh) died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia had accepted his message, and within a century of his death Islam spread to Spain in the West and as Far East as China.
Prophet's name in Arabic
Entrance door to Relics Chambers
Prophet Muhammad's Swords
Examples
of the Prophet's sayings
`God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.'
`None
of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for
himself.'
`He
who eats his fill while his neighbour goes without food is not a believer.'
`The truthful and trusty businessman is associated with the prophets, the saints and the martyrs.'
Arabic Calligraphy on the ceiling of Auburn
Mosque in Sydney.