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How many chances did a man, born in the 6th century on the Arabian Peninsula, have to become a person whose name, 1,500 years later, would be one of the most popular on Earth?

If a famous person grew up in the capitals of such centres of mediaeval civilization as Byzantium or Persia, this would probably surprise few people. But what was Arabia in the 6th century? A peninsula of piles of stones and sand.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born in Mecca in 571 according to the Gregorian calendar. After 63 years, the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula would change beyond recognition, and the region itself would become the centre of a new civilization, which would subsequently cover lands from Spain to India.

Today we will tell three stories from the life of the Prophet ﷺ that characterize him and will help us to better understand the reasons for such a wide spreading of Islam.

Story Nnumber One. Trustworthy

Even before the prophetic mission was sent down, Muhammad ﷺ was known for his faithfulness to the given word and even received the nickname al-Sadiq al-Amin (Truthful and Faithful).

Even those of the Prophet’s ﷺ fellow tribesmen who were at enmity with him did not doubt his honesty and left their things in his custody. This continued until the Messenger of God ﷺ was forced to leave his hometown due to pressure from the pagans. And then the favorite of God ﷺ, expelled from his own home, returned to the owners the property of the Meccans left with him for safekeeping. You heard right! Pursued by enemies, the Prophet ﷺ returned their property that was kept in his home. The high morality of the Messenger ﷺ even in difficult times did not allow him to treat his enemies the same way they treated him.

Story Number Two. What are you willing to do for the truth?

Muhammad’s ﷺ mission as messenger did not please many of his fellow tribesmen from among the pagans of Mecca. Despite this, many continued to accept faith in the One God and this increasingly displeased the polytheists. After all, at the same time they lost authority and power over the minds of people. The moment came when the conspiring enemies declared an economic boycott on the Prophet ﷺ and all his relatives: they refused to conduct trade with them, did not marry their girls to them and did not marry their women. This continued for three years, during which the Prophet ﷺ and his companions had to endure many difficulties and hunger became their natural companion. But this did not break the spirit of the believers. The blockade was lifted and the truth triumphed.

Story Number Three. What would you do with an enemy who for 10 years slandered and kicked you out of your home, killed people close to you and caused all sorts of insults?

What kind of sincerity and spiritual strength should a person have in order to return ten years after being expelled from his hometown and, despite the opportunity to punish his offenders, forgive them?

This is exactly what happened with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Expelled from Mecca and pursued by enemies, he, like many of the first Muslims, moved to Medina. Ten years later, the Muslim army, strengthened and significantly increased in number, stopped at the walls of Mecca and reminded the pagans of the city of the insults and bullying they had suffered. And yet, having the opportunity to punish everyone, the Prophet ﷺ entered the city he had conquered with humility, expressing gratitude to the Lord.

Anyone who carefully and without bias studies the biography of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will not be able to remain indifferent. We pray to the Almighty to help us learn lessons from the life of the Beloved of the Lord ﷻ and give us the strength to follow this knowledge. Amen.

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