Brief summary of the beginning of The Sealed Nectar

1. The Biography of the Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬
Ar-Raheeq Al Makhtoum is the biopgraphy of the Prophet Muhammad ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬
written by Safiur Rahman Al Mubarakpuri. He discusses in it certain aspects of the Arabian
society before telling us the amazing story of the Prophet’s ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ life. I will mention
certain aspects of them before discussing the life of the Prophet before revelation and the early
beginnings of revelation.
Aspects of Pre-Islamic Arabs and Arabian Society
The author starts by placing the Arabian Peninsula on the world map. He then mentions
that there were three types of Arabs. Firstly, the perished Arabs, secondly the Pure Arabs also
known as the Qahtanian Arabs. Lastly, the Arabized Arabs; these are the progeny of Ismael ‫عليه‬
‫,السالم‬ also called the Adnanian Arabs. Ismael ‫السالم‬ ‫عليه‬ had twelve sons of whom only Qidar and
Nabet are traceable. The descendants of Qidar lived in Makah, from him descended Quraish.
From Quraish came Qusai bin Kilab from who was Abd Manaf from who was Hashim who is the
great grandfather of the Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬. .
Mubarakpuri explains that when the Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ conquered Makkah, there were
360 idols surrounding the Kabah. The Arabs believed that such idols would bring them closer to
Allah. Allah informs us that they used to say: “We worship them only that they may bring us
near to Allah.”1
(39:3) and “And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit
them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah.”2
(10:18)
The Arabs of the time believed in many superstitions but still kept certain aspects of the
Abrahamic religion alive. However Christianity, Judaism, Magianism and Sabianism found their
way into Arabian society.
Women among the nobles enjoyed a high level of esteem although the family aspect of the
Arabian society was wholly patriarchal. Prostitution and lewdness were widespread. Author
mentions that Pre-Islamic Arabs had no limit on the number of wives they could have. They also
had the right to marry two sisters at the same time. They would also marry the wives of their
fathers if divorced or widowed. Adultery and fornication existed in all social classes except for a
very few men and women. The author mentions that even though the Arabs held their children
dearly, they would bury their daughters alive out of fear of poverty and shame.3
There were
constant tribal conflicts which led to war and bloodshed. The sacred months, Muharram, Rajab,
Dhul-Qa’dah, and Dhul-Hijjah allowed them to earn a living and live in peace. They author says:
1
Quran 39:3, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.17
2
Quran 10:18, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.17
3
, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.20

2. “On the whole, poverty, hunger and insufficient clothing were the prevailing features in Arabia
economically.”4
The Lineage and Family of the Prophet Muhammad (‫وسلم‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫)صلى‬
Concerning the lineage of the Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ the author mentions three
versions. The one which is completely authentic is the one that leads back to Adnan. The
Prophet’s ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬grandfather Hashim had five daughters and four sons of who was
Abdul Muttalib. Abdul Muttalib had a dream about the location of the Zamzam well and
subsequently was able to locate it. Thus he became in charge of providing Zamzam water to the
pilgrims. Abdul Muttalib had 10 sons of who was Abdullah, the father of the Prophet. Abdullah
was supposed to be sacrificed but instead 100 camels were slaughtered. Mubarakpuri informs
us that Abdullah died before his wife, Aminah, could give birth to the Prophet Muhammad ‫صلى‬
‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬. 5
The Prophet Muhammad ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ was born in Makkah on Monday morning, the 9th
of
Rabi Al Awwal, in the Year of the Elephant. At his birth many miracles happened. A light
eminated from Amina’s pundendum, the galleries of Kisrah’s palace cracked, the Magian fire
extinguished and the churches on Lake Sawa collapsed and sank.6
The Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬was first suckled by his mother Aminah. Then he was suckled by
Thuwaybah who was the concubine of Abu Lahab and she also suckled Hamzah (ra). Then
Halimah took the Prophet ‫صلى‬‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ and suckled him for 2 years. The author mentions
that while he ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ was entrusted to Halimah , she and her husband witnessed many
miracles. She suddenly found enough milk in her breast to feed the children whereas before she
had none, her she-camel had plenty of milk, the donkey she rode on recovered speed on her
way back, and the barren land started to grow.7
At the age of 4 years old Jibreel extracted a
blood clot from the Prophet’s ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ heart which represented a portion of shaitaan.
When this happened Halimah returned him to his mother out of fear something might happen
to him. The Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ stayed with his mother till the age of 6, when his mother
died. Then he stayed with his grandfather till the latter’s death two years later. At the age of
eight the Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ started to live with his uncle Abu Talib. Abu Talib took the
Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ on a business trip to Syria where they met a monk, Bahirah, who told
them: “This is the master of all humans. Allah will send him with a message which will be a
mercy to all beings.”8
Bahirah also warned them against the jews and advised Abu Talib to take
him back to Makkah so they returned.
4
, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.21
5
, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.25
6
, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.26
7
, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.27
8
, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.28

3. In his adulthood the Prophet ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ started to work for Khadijah and went on a journey
accompanied by her slave. Upon return her salve informed Khadijah of the integrity and
impeccable character of the Prophet ‫صلى‬‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ Thus Khadijah sent a proposal through
Nafisah for marriage. After the Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ consulted his peers, he accepted and
had six children with her. They were Al-Qasim, Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthoom, Fatimah and
Abdullah.
Revelation
The text mentions that the Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ received revelation in the third year
of solitude in the cave Hira on the 21st
of Ramadan. Jibril came down and revealed the first three
verses of surah Al Alaq. Frightened by what happened, he went to khdijah and she took him to
Waraqah bin Nawfal.9
The Prophet ‫صلى‬‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ also saw Jibreel in the horizon in his true
form.
Meanwhile the revelation was interrupted, some say for three and half years but that is
incorrect according to the author.10
Rather it paused for a few days. The Prophet ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬
became so sad that he would try to throw himself of a mountain but every time he would try,
Jibreel would come to him and remind him that he truly is the Messenger of Allah. Revelation
resumed with Surah Al Muddathir.
Finally the author mentions that revelation was revealed in seven stages. There was the period
of true visions. The 2nd
stage was consisting of what Jibreel cast into the Prophet’s mind and
heart. Also Jibreel would also come in true form in the 3rd
stage. The 4th
stage and the hardest
way of revelation for the Prophet (saw) was in the form of a bell-toll. The 5th
stage consisted in
Jibreel coming in his real form. The 6th
stage consisted of what Allah revealed Himself while in
the Prophet’s ascension. The 7th
stage was consisting of Allah’s words being revealed without
mediation. There is controversial 8th
stage which states that Allah spoke to the Prophet
Muhammad ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫صلى‬ without a curtain while in his ascension.11
By: Abu Esa Kashif Godil
9
, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.31
10
, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.32
11
, Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoum PDF p.33