The polytheist Quraysh felt humiliated by their defeat after the battle of Badr when their army was about 1000 strong against 313 Muslims. They decided a year later, to retaliate and came all the way from Mecca, over 400kms away…

A companion of the Prophet (p), Tu‘ma bin Ubairiq reportedly stole a shield because he was desperate to join a battle in defence of Muslims, but he was poor and did not have any suitable equipment. After stealing the shield,…

Narrated Abu Laila bin Abdullah bin Abdur-Rahman bin Sahl: Sahl bin Abi Hathma and some great men of his tribe said, “Abdullah bin Sahl and Muhayyisa went out to Khaybar as they were struck with poverty and difficult living conditions….

The Prophet (p) Hosted the Christians of Najran in His Mosque Prophet Muhammad (p) hosted a delegation of 60 Christians from Najran in his Mosque in Medina; they spent three days there.[1] This was during the last (9/10th) year after…

It was reported that when the arch-opponent of the Prophet (p) and “leader of the hypocrites” in Medina, Abdullah bin Ubayy, was dying, he sent his son to the Prophet (p) with the request that the Prophet (p) should give…

The companion, Jabir bin Abdullah narrated the following incident: “We proceeded in the company of Allah’s Messenger (p) towards Najd to participate in a battle. When Allah’s Messenger (p) returned, we too returned with him. Midday came upon us while…

Anas bin Malik said, “I was walking with the Messenger of Allah (p), and he was wearing a Najrani[1] cloak with a rough collar. A Bedouin man caught up with him, then violently pulled him by his cloak, causing the…

It was narrated by Sa’id bin Al-Musayyib[1] from his father that, “When the time of the death of Abu Talib approached, the Messenger of Allah (p) went to him and found Abu Jahl bin Hisham and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah…

During the pre-Islamic (Jahiliyyah) period in Mecca and within the legal and administrative system of the “Jahiliyyah society” of Mecca, the Prophet (p) joined a group known as the Hilf al-Fudul (League of the Virtuous).[1] This was a group of…

When the Prophet (p) learnt that the Quraysh had prepared an army of three thousand men to take revenge for their defeat at the hands of the Muslims in the Battle of Badr, he called for a consultative meeting (shura)…

The polytheists of the Quraysh tribe of Mecca were the most hostile community towards the Prophet (p) and his Companions. They tried on several occasions to assassinate him and bring an end to his mission. They killed many of his…

Case 9 The Prophet (p) Forgave the Jewish Lady who Poisoned Him In an incident reported by Anas bin Malik, while the Prophet (p) was in Khaybar, a Jewish lady by the name of Zaynab bint al-Harith brought a piece…

Ten years after receiving his mission from Allah, the Prophet (p) set out towards al-Taif, about 60 kilometers from Mecca, in the company of his freed slave Zaid bin Haritha. He approached the noblesse among the people of the town…

It was narrated on the authority of Abdullah bin Umar that, “During some of the battles fought by the Prophet (p), a woman was found killed. The Messenger of Allah (p) disapproved the killing of women and children.”[1] There is…

Even before the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (p), Yathrib, the ancient name of Medina, was already home to the polytheist Arab tribes/clans of Aws and Khazraj, as well as the Jewish clans of Banu Nadir, Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Qurayzah and…

During the period of the peace treaty of Hudaibiyah, the Prophet Muhammad (p) gave Abu Sufyan (the leader of the polytheists of Mecca then) the very generous sum of 500 dinars (of gold)[1] to assist the poor of Mecca during…

Narrated Asma’ bint Abu Bakr: My mother came to me during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (p), and she was a polytheist. I said to the Prophet (p) (seeking his verdict), “My mother has come to me and she desires…

It is narrated on the authority of Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: “There passed a bier (funeral procession) and the Prophet (p) stood up for it and we also stood up along with him. We said: Messenger of Allah (p), that was…

This section highlights narratives and instances during the lifetime of the Prophet (p) which shows that Islam not only permits, but even encourages keeping good relations with people of other faiths who are not hostile or oppressive to Muslims. Case…

Islam Permits Some Interfaith Marriages Islam permits a Muslim man initiating and having a relationship as close and intimate as that of marriage with a Christian or Jewish woman in spite of the difference in faith. It is narrated that…

SECONDARY SOURCE: IJMA’ There are several secondary sources of evidence or tools for Ijtihad (juristic reasoning and deduction of rulings). One is Ijma’: a consensus of opinion. This consensus could mean, to various scholars, either unanimous or majority opinion.[1] The…