Events from the Seerah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWA)

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz

Imposition of economic-social sanctions on the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWA)
On 1st of the Islamic month of Moharam in the 6th year before Hijra, the pagan Arab leaders of Mecca, fearful of the spread of the monotheistic and liberating creed of Islam, signed an accord to impose economic-social sanctions on Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), thereby banning all trade ties and any relations with the fledgling Muslim community.
The Prophet's uncle and guardian, Abu Taleb (AS) took the Muslims under his care and retired to a gorge outside Mecca which still bears his name as Sh'eb Abi Taleb. During this 3-year period, the Muslims suffered acute hardships, and in order to ease their economic plight, the Prophet's wife, Omm al-Momineen Khadija (SA), spent all her vast wealth on their basic needs, to the extent that she passed away in poverty for the sake of Islam.
It was the duty of the Prophet's young cousin and ward, Imam Ali (AS) to procure grains for the besieged Muslims by risking his life and limbs. As the sanctions and boycott failed to have their affect, the frustrated Arab pagans lifted the siege three years later, and when they unlocked the box containing the accord, they were surprised to see that all its contents, except the Name of God, had been eaten by termites.
Sadly, just before the lifting of the siege and sanctions, the Prophet became a widower as his one and only wife of twenty-five long years, the Mother of all True Believers, Hazrat Khadija (SA) passed away leaving as orphan her young daughter, Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA).

Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) inviting the world’s kings and emperors to Islam
On 3rd of the Islamic month of Moharam in 7 AH, Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), sent letters to the world’s kings and emperors, officially inviting them to the truth of the divine religion of Islam. According to historians he sent between twelve to twenty-six letters to the then world leaders spread across the face of the earth including the emperors of Rome, Iran, and China. Obviously, the Prophet’s approach in this regard shows that Islam speaks with logic and reasoning in its invitation to righteousness. A few years following these official invitations, Islam spectacularly spread across the major part of the known world.

Farewell Hajj Pilgrimage of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWA)
On 25th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa'dah in 10 AH, the Almighty's Last and Greatest Messenger, Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) left Medina for the city of Mecca, accompanied by over 100,000 Muslims from various regions, to perform his Farewell Hajj Pilgrimage.
During this pilgrimage, he showed Muslims the correct performance of the Hajj rituals, and at Mount Mercy on the plain of Arafaat, he delivered his famous sermon, in which he said he was about to depart from the world and was leaving behind for the guidance of the Ummah The Saqalayn or two weighty and invaluable things, that is, the holy Qur'an and his infallible progeny, the Ahl al-Bayt.
While returning home from the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet was commanded by God to halt at pond of Ghadeer of Khom near Juhfa to proclaim his dear cousin and son-in-law, Imam Ali (AS) as vicegerent.