Every time he received a revelation, there was no doubt either in his mind or the minds of those observing him- he would suffer physical symptoms, like heavy sweating or a trance-like state, and he reported that he frequently felt as if he was going to ' have his soul snatched away'. Those who were with him could tell quite clearly when his revelations started and when they finished.

Many of those who rejected belief in what was happening to the Prophet accused him of being mad, or suffering from a disease, such as epilepsy; but there is no evidence whatsoever of that. A study of his life as revealed in the hadith [ his own sayings, and reports of his teachings and way of life ] show him to have been an immensely sane, kind, warm-hearted, down-to-earth person, and later an eminent and astute leader of his peop
HIS EARLY MISSION
At first, the Prophet did not preach in public, but spoke privately to those who were interested, or who had noticed the change in him. The particular way of Muslim prayer was revealed to him, and he began to practice this daily, which again drew comment from those who saw him. When he was given the instruction to begin preaching in public he was ridiculed and abused as people scoffed at what he was saying and doing.

Also, many of the Quraish tribesmen- who had a vested interest in the Ka'aba shrine, since they provided the many pilgrims with food, water and lodging- were seriously alarmed as they        realised that his insistence on the One True God would undermine the prestige and credibility of worship at the Ka'aba if people were converted to the Prophet's ways and began to abandon their worship of idols.

The way of life that he taught became known as 'Islam', which means 'submission to the will of Allah', and his followers were known as 'Muslims', meaning 'those who submit'.

Some of the Prophet's own uncles [such as Abu Lahab] became his chief opponents, vilifying him and ridiculing him, and stirring up trouble for those who had converted to Islam. There were many examples of torture and abuse, especially against slaves and women who joined the 'new' religion. The first martyr of Islam was a woman, Sumayyah, and the first muezzin [caller to prayer] was the black slave, Bilal, who was rescued from being left to die in the blazing sun with a huge rock on his chest.

Two large groups of early Muslims migrated to Abyssinia, where they took refuge with the Christian ruler, the Negus, who was so impressed with their teachings and way of life that he agreed to protect them.

The Quraish tribe decided to boycott Muhammad's clan, the Hashim, and they were excluded        from all trade, help, business and marriage arrangements, and were refused access to Makkah. It was a very difficult time, and many Muslims were reduced to absolute  pove
THE YEAR OF SORROW
In the year 619 CE, the Prophet's beloved wife, Khadijah, died. She had been his greatest supporter and helper. In the same year his uncle, Abu Talib, who had protected him from the worst persecution of the tribes, also died. The grief-stricken Prophet left Makkah and tried to make a fresh start in the town of Taif, but was rejected there also.

His friends arranged for him to marry a devout        widow called Sawdah, who was a suitable person to look after him and who had also been one of the first Muslim converts.

It was also during this year that the Prophet experienced the second most important night of        his life, the Lailat ul-Miraj or 'Night of Ascent' [ some-times also called 'The Night Journey']. It is not clear     whether this experience was a vision, dream or psychic happening, but in it the Prophet was woken from where he was sleeping, and taken by a        miraculous beast to Jerusalem. From the site of the ancient Jewish Temple on Mount Zion, a way was opened for him through the heavens until he        approached the Throne of God, in a region which even he and the angel Gabriel, who was accompanying him, were not allowed to enter.


During this night, the rules for Muslim prayer were
In this early Islamic picture of 'The Night    Journey' Prophet Muhammad's face is veiled. Why is this?
revealed to him. They became the central part of the Muslim faith and have formed the keystone for Muslim life ever since. He is also said to have seen and spoken to other prophets from the past, including Jesus, Moses and Abraham.

The experience brought great comfort and strength to the Prophet, and confirmed that Allah had not deserted him, or left him to suffer alone.

THE HIJRA- MIGRATION TO MADINAH

The Prophet's fortunes now changed drastically. Although he was still persecuted and ridiculed in Makkah, his message had been heard by people outside the region. Some of the elders of the town of Yathrib invited him to leave Makkah and move to their town, where he would be honoured as their leader and judge. This town was the home of both Arabs and Jews, and there had been constant conflict between them. They hoped that Muhammad would bring them peace.