Who Was Muhammad Before Islam? His Youth, Trade, and Moral Leadership

In the name of God,  

In this section, I want to tell you the story of the Prophet of Islam during his adolescence, where despite being an orphan and feeling lonely, he became a self-made individual. Day by day, Muhammad's good character grew. He was an organized and clean person, always going to bed on time and brushing his teeth regularly. He helped his cousins and assisted his uncle Abu Talib in his business affairs. 

He had become a young man known as Muhammad the Trustworthy. "Trustworthy" means a righteous, honest, and reliable person. One day, a man came to Mecca, and some people deceived him in trade and harassed him. He stood up and complained to the people. Muhammad, witnessing this incident, gathered with brave and noble young men and made a pact to fight against oppression and injustice. They vowed that anyone who came to Mecca would be under their protection, and no one would have the right to harm or mistreat another. This pact was known as the Hilf al-Fudul, and the Prophet of Islam was one of the main members of this group.

In another incident that occurred, the people's trust in Muhammad was highlighted during the event of the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) of the Kaaba. The story goes that one day, a heavy flood came to Mecca, causing damage to the Kaaba. The people of Mecca, from various tribes, gathered to rebuild the Kaaba. They managed to restore it, but when it came time to place the most important stone, the Black Stone, back in its position, a dispute arose. One group claimed superiority over the others, insisting that they should place the stone, while another group argued that their tribe, known for its bravery, should do it. They threatened each other with war and violence.

Then, an elderly man among them stood up and suggested that they wait for the first person to enter the Kaaba to act as a judge between them. As they waited, Muhammad was the first to enter the Kaaba. Everyone was happy because they recognized Muhammad for his honesty and trustworthiness, and they asked him to mediate. The Prophet Muhammad suggested placing the stone on a leather cloth and having one representative from each tribe lift it, and then he would take it and place it in its rightful position.

Everyone was happy, and they carried out this plan. With this clever strategy, Prophet Muhammad prevented a tribal war, which further increased his popularity in Mecca. 

In his youth, Muhammad was engaged in trade with his uncle Abu Talib. One day, Abu Talib said, "I am getting old and can no longer undertake business trips. Go to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid and trade for her. I have heard that she has many agents who trade on her behalf." Muhammad listened to his uncle's advice and went to Khadijah. 

Khadijah was a young, very wealthy, and influential woman, highly respected among the prominent Arab merchants. Muhammad approached her to collaborate in trade, and since Khadijah knew Muhammad for his honesty, she accepted. This situation allowed Khadijah to observe Muhammad closely, and she truly realized that he was indeed trustworthy and honest. This led to Khadijah developing feelings for Muhammad, and I will discuss their marriage in detail in another article.

Dear friends, I am Rana, and I narrate the history of Islam in a simple and story-like manner. For religious consultations, you can contact me via WhatsApp.