OBSERVATION

This was popular question among the candidates. Most of the candidates that answered this question understood its demands and scored high marks. The question demanded from the candidates to narrate as follows:

Muhammad (S.A.W.) was the son of ‘Abdullah b. ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib. He was born posthumously   in 570 C.E. His grandfather, Abdul-Muṭṭalib, gave him the name Muhammad, meaning the praise worthy. (Introduction)

• Muhammad (S.A.W.) though endeared and respected by Makkans for his wisdom and virtues, preferred solitude and so, he kept his distance from the polytheistic society.
• Disgusted with the corruption all around, he used to retire to the cave of Hira a few kilometres from Makkah, meditating over Allah’s Majesty.
• By then he has reached the age of thirty-five.
• He lived a life of piety and selfless service and soon became the ideal of his people and was nicknamed Al-amin (the trustworthy).
• He would spend hours and sometimes days in the cave of Hira.
• His wife Khadijah would pack provisions to suffice him throughout such periods.
• When he reached the age of 40 years and was engrossed as usual in solitary meditation to Allah in the cave Hira, suddenly Angel Jibrīl appeared to him.
• This happened to him in the month of Ramaḍān.
• The Angel commanded him to read.
• But Muhammad as an illiterate, replied that “ I am not a reader”
• The Angel took hold of him and squeezed him the second time, and then said again: ‘Read’ and Muhammad said “I am not a reader”.
• Then the Angel again seized him and squeezed him for the third time and said: ‘Read’ in the name of your Lord who creates. (96:1-5)
• With these verses (Jibril) announced to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) that Allah has formally chosen him to be His last and final messenger to humankind.
• Muhammad (S.A.W.) hurriedly went home to inform his wife Khadījah about the incident that happened to him.
• Khadijah now comforted him with inspiring words and suggested that the Angel that visited him must have been a good one.
• She later took him to her cousin Waraqah b. Nawfal who knew the scriptures of the Jews and Christians.
• Waraqah confirmed that Muhammad (S.A.W.) must have been appointed a prophet of Allah.
• Then he started his mission by preaching firstly to his family, friends and later to other people.