ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books [s] - A Brief Biography The Makkan Period If the Prophet's emigration to Madina opened new vistas for the message of Islam and its eventual expansion over the Arabian peninsula, nonetheless the Makkah period despite the persecution and hardships, was instrumental in laying the firm foundations of Monotheism, which were to flower in Madina later on.

Briefly speaking, the major landmarks of the Islamic call in this period are explained underneath for our readers: The First Revelation The coming of the Archangel Gabriel with the tidings of Prophethood and the first revelation, as we have already explained. Da'wat Dhul-Ashira The invitation to his kinsmen the Bani Hashim to accept Islam.

The event known as Da'wat Dhul-Ashira was a formal announcement of Muhammad's (S) mission and a turning point in the history of the divine message and its spread. Undeterred it set the tone for the making of the first group of dedicated Muslims, who despite severe persecution and hardships gathered around the Prophet to assimilate the teachings and principles of Islam. Isra’ The night journey Isra’ as described by the glorious verses of the Holy Qur'an.

“Glory be to Him Who made His servant to go on a night from the Sacred Mosque to the Remote Mosque of which We have blessed the precinct...”Holy Qur'an (17:1) What is meant by Isra’ is the bodily ascension of (S) from the Sacred Mosque (Ka'aba) to the Remote Mosque in Jerusalem[^1] and thence to the heavens to the very presence of Almighty Allah, and back to earth in a very short span of the same night.

It is related that Gabriel descended one night with the heavenly mount Buraq whose speed as the name suggests is far greater than the speed of light, and took the Prophet to the highest and furthest point of the heavens where no creature has ever set foot, and thence the wonder-struck Muhammad (S) proceeded alone to the very presence of the 'Magnificent Light', that only a curtain divided him from the Omnipotent Almighty. Then Allah spoke with his servant and showed him the signs of His Majesty.

The event also known as Me'raj confirms that no creature ever, not even the past prophets or any heavenly being either, like the Archangel Gabriel, had been so near to the Almighty's proximity, as the Habibullah (beloved of Allah) was summoned by Allah that night.