Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
2. The Life of the Prophet Muhammad
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took to the desert. He would often go to mount Hira, three miles
from Makkah. He stayed there in the cave lost in thoughts for
hours. When his supply of food and water were exhausted, he
returned home for provisions and went back to the solitude of
nature for prayer and meditations. He sought answers to the
mysteries of life. What is man’s true role in life? What does the
Lord require of us, as His servants? From where man comes and
where will he go after death? It was to find answers to these
perplexing questions that he betook himself to the stillness of the
desert. With all these questions in mind, worldly gain and loss,
comfort and distress did not concern him. He urgently wanted the
answer to these important questions of truth. For nothing less than
the truth could satisfy his soul. This phase of Muhammad’s life is
referred to in the Quran in this verse.
“Did He not find you wandering and guide you?”
(93:7).
He spent the whole of the month of Ramadan in the Cave of
Hira. Finally after spending six long months in the cave, God
turned in mercy to His Prophet, to guide him to the path of truth.
At the age of 40, on February 12, 610 A.D., the Prophet was
sitting all alone in his Cave. The angel of the Lord appeared to him
in human form, bringing the first message from God. These words
form part of the beginning of the ninety sixth chapter of the Quran.
The Prophet’s quest had finally been rewarded. God granted him
guidance and chose him as His Prophet.
