Instructions:
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Watch the video carefully and take clear, organized notes while watching.
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Review the concepts covered in the video and then attempt all the given exercises independently.
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If you feel stuck on any question, go back to your notes and re-watch the relevant part of the video before moving on.
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Do not skip difficult questions—use your notes to understand the method or concept step by step.
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Write down any questions or confusions in your notebook so you can ask the lecturer during the next class.
Good morning students. Today we are going to learn about a very important part of the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him — his call to prophethood and the opposition he faced in Makkah. I’ll explain it in a simple way so you can really connect with it.
Let’s start from the beginning. When the Prophet was forty years old, he received his first revelation in the cave of Ḥira. Angel Jibrīl told him, “Read in the name of your Lord who created.” This was the moment that completely changed his life — from being a quiet man of reflection to becoming the final Messenger of Allah. At first, he was scared, but his wife Khadijah reassured him. She reminded him of his honesty, kindness, and service to people, saying that Allah would never abandon him.
In the early days, the Prophet shared the message secretly with close family and friends. His wife Khadījah, his best friend Abu Bakr, his cousin Ali, and his adopted son Zayd were among the first to accept Islam. For about three years, the focus was on teaching belief in one God, rejecting idols, and living with honesty and justice.
After this private phase, Allah commanded the Prophet to call people openly. He gathered the Quraysh at Mount Ṣafā and invited them to worship only Allah. This shocked the people of Makkah because idol worship was deeply tied to their culture and also their economy — remember, the Ka‘bah was full of idols, and pilgrims brought business to the Quraysh. His own uncle, Abu Lahab, rejected him angrily. From that point, opposition began.
The Quraysh tried different ways to stop Islam. First, they mocked and insulted the Prophet, calling him a madman or magician. But Allah reassured him through the Qur’an. Then they persecuted the weaker Muslims. For example, Bilāl, a slave, was dragged on hot sand and beaten, yet he kept saying “Aḥad, Aḥad” — “One, One [God].” Sumayyah, a poor woman, became the first female martyr of Islam when she refused to give up her faith.
The Quraysh also used economic and social pressure. They boycotted Muslims, cutting them off from trade and marriage. For almost three years, Muslims suffered hunger in a valley called Shi‘b Abi Ṭālib. Then they tried tempting the Prophet — offering him wealth, power, and even marriage if he would stop preaching. But he replied, “If they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, I would never give up this mission.”
Through all of this, the Prophet showed amazing patience and perseverance. He never gave up or lost hope. Instead, he responded with kindness, forgiveness, and wisdom. Allah reminded him that the prophets before him also faced trials, and that hardship is part of the journey of faith.
So why is this Makkah period important for us? It teaches us the foundation of Islam: belief in one God, honesty, and standing firm on truth, even when it’s difficult. It shows us that if we face challenges for doing the right thing — whether it’s peer pressure, mockery, or being treated unfairly — we should stay strong, just like the Prophet and the early Muslims did.
To wrap up, the Makkah period shows us that standing for truth is never easy. The Prophet peace be upon him faced mockery, hardship, and even offers of wealth to give up his mission, but he stayed patient and trusted Allah. His example teaches us that even when doing the right thing is tough, if we hold firm and keep faith in Allah, success will come in the end.
