Prophet's Day (Meelad al-Nabi) 12th of the month of Rabi' al-Awwal

Mohammed was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, about 570 CE and died on the same day in the Muslim calendar in 632 CE. His birthday is of prime importance for Muslims for whom Mohammed is the most important of a long line of prophets including Moses, Abraham, Joseph, David, and Jesus. The day (and the month) are celebrated by special assemblies and the telling of stories of the birth and life of the Prophet to the young. Mecca was a growing commercial city on an important trade route, but strong links remained with the desert heritage. City dwellers often sent their children, as part of their education, to spend time with desert nomads. There were Jewish and Christian communities in the vicinity but the city was famed for the shrine of the Ka'ba (literally the Cube) around which shrines to many tribal and local deities were placed. Much money was made in Mecca as it was a centre of pilgrimage. Before Mohammed's time Allah ( God) was worshipped by the Arabs as the creator and superior god- but many other gods were also worshipped.

The Birth and Early Life of Mohammed

Mecca is a city in the Arabian desert where, nearly 1,500 years ago, there lived the merchant, Abdullah, with his wife, Amina. Abdullah was worried -there had been a long drought, the wells were running dry and there was no sign of rain. People were hungry and many were ill including Abdullah himself. Worse still, Amina was expecting a baby any day, and Abdullah had to go away on business. Abdullah set out across the desert in the burning heat and soon afterwards he died. A few days later his son was born. As Amina nursed her new child she began to hear the heavy patter of raindrops on the dusty ground outside and, as the shower became a heavy storm, she heard the cheerful shouting and cheering of people dancing around in the rain. Amina took this as a sign that her son Mohammed was to be someone special.

Until he was six Mohammed spent his time with a tribe of wandering Arab shepherds in the desert. Soon after he returned home his mother died. He lived with his grandfather until he was eight and when the old man also died Mohammed was taken into the care of his uncle Abu Talib, a merchant and the head of Mohammed's tribe.

Mohammed's time in the desert had taught him how to care for sheep and now he became his uncle's shepherd. He was so trustworthy that other people asked him to look after their sheep too and the money they gave him helped to pay for his keep. After a sad beginning things began to look better for Mohammed

As he grew older Mohammed began to travel with the camel trains his uncle took to far-off lands. Sometimes they went to Palestine or Syria (over 1,500 kilometres away) where he would hear Jewish and Christian stories. With each trip his uncle would let Mohammed do more and more important jobs and eventually Mohammed became the leader of a camel caravan. All the merchants knew they could trust him with their goods and their money.

Once, when Mohammed had been on a trading expedition he arrived back in Mecca to learn that there had been a terrible flood. The waters had swept through the open-air temple and knocked down the wall that had the sacred Black Stone built into it. The wall had been built up again but no-one could decide who should have the important job of putting the stone back in place. Finally an agreement was reached that the first man to come into the Ka'ba would be asked for his solution to the problem. In came Mohammed The people asked him what to do. He spread his cloak on the ground and put the Black Stone on to it.

'All of you take hold of the cloak,' said Mohammed, 'and you will all have the honour of carrying the stone.' When they reached the place Mohammed himself put the stone back so there could be no more argument. Everyone said what a wise decision he had made.

A rich widow in Mecca had heard of Mohammed's wisdom and honesty and asked him to look after her affairs. They got on so well that after a short time Mohammed and Khadijah got married. Although she was rich the couple gave away most of their money to the sick and the poor and they set free all of Khadijah's slaves. Although the poor were very grateful, most of the people in Mecca thought Mohammed had gone mad.

Mohammed cared for all people, especially the poor. Once, when a rich old woman died, her son came to Mohammed to ask what sort of monument he should build to her memory. Mohammed told him to dig a well, so that whenever the poor went to fetch water they would remember and bless his mother's name.

On one occasion Mohammed was talking to the chief of a tribe, a very important man. A poor blind man recognised Mohammed's voice and interrupted them to ask about God. Mohammed was angry and turned away from the blind man. But as he carried on speaking to the rich chief he suddenly grew ashamed. He realised that all men should be treated fairly whether rich or poor, sighted or blind.

Mohammed was hated by some people in Mecca. He taught that it was wrong to worship many gods in the Ka'ba and that there was only one God (Allah). The people who worshipped at the Ka'ba and the traders who made money out of the pilgrims who prayed there thought Mohammed was a mischief -maker. When Mohammed and Khadijah gave away their money to the poor and set free their slaves, perhaps many people in Mecca felt guilty, and they hated him. There were some attempts to kill Mohammed but none of them succeeded.

On one occasion Mohammed was travelling with a camel caravan. It was midday, when the desert sun is high in the sky and at its hottest, so everyone was resting in the shade of some trees. Mohammed fell asleep. He was awakened by a shout. Standing over him was a man with a sword.

'Who can save you now?' shouted the man.

'God, Almighty Allah will save me,' said Mohammed, and calmly got to his feet. The man was so surprised and shocked that he dropped his sword. He had expected Mohammed to be frightened of death. Mohammed snatched up the sword, pushed the man against the tree and held the sword to his throat : , And who can save you now?' asked Mohammed

'Only you can save me,' said the terrified man.

'Be merciful then,' said Mohammed and let him go. The man became a Muslim and followed the teachings of Mohammed for the rest of his life.

Mohammed told the people about the word of God in the Holy Qur'an. Here is part of its meaning in English:

Goodness is nothing to do with whether you face east or west to pray. The good man is the one who believes in God, in the angels, in the Scriptures and in the prophets; the one who gives his money to his family, to orphans, to the needy, to travellers, to beggars, and for freeing captives, for the love of God; the good man is the one who says his prayers when he should and gives his money to charity; who is true to his promises; who is strong in trouble and danger and times of war. These are the true believers, the ones who fear God.
(from Sura 2 of the Qur'an, c.625 CE)

Here is the meaning in English of the call to prayer. It is always recited in Arabic, the language Mohammed spoke, and calls Muslims to prayer five times a day, every day of the year.

God is greatest.
I testify that there is no god but God and that Mohammed is His Prophet. Up to prayer,
Up to salvation,
Prayer is better than sleep.
God is greatest.
There is no god but God.