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• 25 Safar 1448

Representative of the Supreme Religious Authority in Europe Offers Condolences to the Muslim World on the Martyrdom of the Great Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah (PBUH), Saying:
Humanity has lost the greatest personality ever known to humankind on the face of the earth, due to the profound impact he had on the course of human history—from his childhood as an orphan who had lost both parents, to his youth, when he became known for truthfulness and trustworthiness; from being a prophet who confronted an ignorant society in all aspects of life, to becoming a leader who established a new entity, and finally to being a Messenger who conveyed the divine message, fulfilled the trust, and whose life and legacy remain open for generations to study.

Wednesday, 28 Safar, corresponding to **12 August 2026**, marks the ascension of the Noble Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the Higher Realm. On this occasion, Islamic centers and institutions are draped in black in mourning for his passing (PBUH), and mourning gatherings are held as is customary.
We cannot possibly encompass the personality of the Noble Prophet (PBUH) in an article such as this. However, as the saying goes, *“What cannot be attained in its entirety should not be abandoned in its entirety.”* Therefore, by presenting the following account, we seek to highlight the most important milestones of his life:

First: His Birth and Upbringing
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH), was born in Mecca in the Year of the Elephant, according to the widely held view, to Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Aminah bint Wahb. His father, Abdullah, passed away before his birth, and thus he grew up as an orphan from the very beginning of his life. The Holy Qur’an alludes to this in the verse: “Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter?” (Qur’an 93:6)
This early experience carried an important meaning. The Prophet (PBUH) experienced orphanhood, loss, and hardship, and therefore a deep sensitivity toward the weak, the deprived, and orphans remained a defining feature of his character.
It was customary among the Arabs at that time to send children to the desert to be nursed and raised. Halimah al-Sa‘diyyah therefore nursed him for a period of time, after which he returned to his mother. When he reached the age of six, his mother, Aminah, passed away. He then came under the care of his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib. Following his grandfather’s death, his uncle Abu Talib took responsibility for him. Abu Talib cared for him greatly and remained his defender and protector throughout the Meccan period of his mission.

Second: His Youth and the Emergence of His Character
The Prophet (PBUH) grew up in a society in which idolatry, social injustice, and tribal fanaticism were widespread. Despite this, he preserved the purity of his natural disposition and the integrity of his conduct from a young age.
This title is extremely important for understanding his personality. A person who would later call upon people to believe in revelation and prophethood could not have begun his life with lies and betrayal. Before his mission, people knew him for his truthfulness and trustworthiness. Islam subsequently revealed to them that these qualities were not temporary or accidental, but rather an integral part of his character.
In his youth, the Prophet (PBUH) worked in trade and was known for his honesty and excellent dealings with others. He undertook several commercial journeys, gaining broad experience of people, societies, and markets.
During this period, he married Lady Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (AS), who became one of the most prominent figures in his life. Khadijah provided him with immense spiritual and social support and was the first person to believe in his mission and affirm his truthfulness when revelation came to him.

Third: The Period Before His Prophethood
The Prophet (PBUH) was inclined toward contemplation and toward distancing himself from the atmosphere of idolatry and corruption. He would worship and meditate in the Cave of Hira.
When he reached the age of forty, the decisive moment in human history arrived: revelation descended upon him.

Fourth: The Prophetic Mission and the Revelation
The Islamic message began with the revelation of the Holy Qur’an to the Prophet (PBUH) in the Cave of Hira. The first verses revealed to him were:
“Read in the name of your Lord who created.” (Qur’an 96:1)
At this point, an entirely new phase of his life began.
The mission was not merely a call to perform certain acts of worship. Rather, it came to rebuild the individual and society upon the foundations of monotheism, justice, dignity, and morality.
The first person to believe in him was Lady Khadijah (AS), and among the earliest to believe in him was Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS).
During the early years, the call was limited in scope, until the Prophet (PBUH) was commanded to proclaim it openly.
Quraysh responded to the new call with fierce resistance, because Islam confronted not only theological idolatry, but also injustice, exploitation, tribal fanaticism, and social discrimination.

Fifth: The Meccan Period and Patience in the Face of Persecution
The mission continued in Mecca for approximately thirteen years, and this period was a great school of patience and steadfastness.
The Prophet (PBUH) and his companions were subjected to various forms of harm, ridicule, accusations, boycott, and persecution.
He could have abandoned his call in exchange for wealth, status, and power. Quraysh offered him such possibilities in one form or another, but he did not retreat.
Here one of the greatest characteristics of his life becomes apparent: **steadfastness upon principle**.
The Prophet (PBUH) was not seeking personal power. Rather, he saw himself as responsible for fulfilling the divine trust entrusted to him.
The Muslims in Mecca endured severe persecution, to the extent that a group of them was forced to migrate to Abyssinia. The persecution then intensified against the Prophet (PBUH) and Banu Hashim during the well-known social and economic boycott.
Then Abu Talib and Lady Khadijah (AS) passed away. This was an extremely difficult year in the life of the Prophet, and it became known as the **Year of Sorrow**.
Yet despite all this, he did not cease carrying out his mission.

Sixth: The Migration to Medina
After the persecution intensified, Allah Almighty permitted the Prophet (PBUH) to migrate to Medina.
The Hijrah was not merely a geographical movement from Mecca to Medina. It represented a transition from a period of weakness and persecution to a period of building a community and a state.
The Prophet (PBUH) entered Medina and began a new phase of Islamic activity.
Among his most important undertakings were the construction of the mosque, the establishment of a community based on faith and cooperation, the organization of relations between Muslims and others, and the addressing of the social, economic, and political challenges facing the new community.
Here, the leadership dimension of the Prophet’s personality became particularly clear.
He was not merely a preacher. He was a teacher, educator, leader, judge, and administrator of the affairs of society.

Seventh: Building the Individual and Society
One of the most important characteristics of the Medinan period was that the Prophet (PBUH) focused on building the individual before building institutions.
He trained his companions in truthfulness, trustworthiness, humility, selflessness, and patience.
He emphasized that true superiority among people is not based on wealth, tribe, or race, but rather on piety and righteous deeds.
One of the most prominent aspects of his approach was that he combined worship with morality and social responsibility.
Prayer was not separated from morality; fasting was not separated from piety; zakat was not merely the giving of money; and jihad was not merely a military confrontation. Rather, all of these were means of building the righteous individual and the just society.

Eighth: Facing Crises and Wars
The life of the Prophet (PBUH) was not free from crises. The Muslims in Medina faced numerous military and political threats, and battles such as Badr, Uhud, the Battle of the Trench, and others took place.
At the Battle of Badr, the impact of faith, steadfastness, and planning became evident.
These events demonstrate that the Prophet (PBUH) combined reliance upon Allah with taking the necessary practical measures.
For him, reliance upon Allah did not mean abandoning planning, just as planning did not replace dependence upon Allah.

Ninth: The Morals of the Prophet (PBUH)
One of the greatest dimensions of his life was his noble character.
The Holy Qur’an describes him: “And indeed, you are of a عظیم character.” (Qur’an 68:4)
His noble character was a major factor in attracting people to Islam.
He was humble, sitting wherever there was an available place in a gathering. He treated the poor with respect, visited the sick, cared for orphans, maintained family ties, and forgave those who wronged him whenever forgiveness was the better course.
His mercy was not limited to his companions. Rather, the Qur’an describes him as:
And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Qur’an 21:107)
This mercy is one of the most important keys to understanding his personality.

Tenth: The Conquest of Mecca
After years of conflict came the conquest of Mecca.
This was one of the most significant moments in his life, because the Prophet (PBUH) entered the very city from which he had been expelled and in which he had been persecuted. He now possessed the power to take revenge upon those who had harmed him.
Yet his approach was not based on personal vindictiveness.
Instead, his conduct was characterized largely by forgiveness and the rebuilding of society. Mecca became a center of monotheism after having been a center of idolatry.
Here, a great lesson becomes apparent: **in Islam, power is not an end for revenge; rather, it is a means to establish truth, repel injustice, and reform society.**

Eleventh: The Expansion of Islam
Following the conquest of Mecca, large numbers of people embraced Islam, and the message began to spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
The Prophet (PBUH) sent letters and invitations to a number of kings and rulers as part of his efforts to convey the message of Islam beyond the Arabian Peninsula.

Twelfth: The Farewell Pilgrimage
In the tenth year after the Hijrah, the Prophet (PBUH) performed the Farewell Pilgrimage.
This pilgrimage was a moment of immense importance because it was one of the final major public occasions of his life.
During it, he emphasized a number of fundamental principles, including the sanctity of human life, property, and honor; adherence to Islamic values; and the rejection of the tribal fanaticism of the pre-Islamic era.
According to the **Imami Shi‘i perspective**, the events of the final period of his life acquire particular significance, especially the event of **Ghadir**, where the Prophet (PBUH) proclaimed the authority and leadership of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) in that momentous gathering and affirmed the position of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) in the journey of the Muslim community.
Accordingly, from the Imami perspective, the study of the final period of his life cannot be complete without examining the **Hadith of al-Thaqalayn**, the **Hadith of Ghadir**, and the other texts concerning the Ahl al-Bayt (AS).

Thirteenth: His Final Days and Passing
Not long after returning from the Farewell Pilgrimage, signs of illness began to appear.
During his final days, the Prophet (PBUH) remained deeply concerned about the future of the Muslim community and about fulfilling the remaining responsibilities of his mission.
His illness became severe, and during those days he moved to the house of Lady Aisha. Sources report that he urged the believers to maintain their prayers and emphasized a number of fundamental matters.
In the eleventh year after the Hijrah, following a life filled with mission, struggle, education, and patience, the Prophet (PBUH) departed for the Divine Presence at approximately sixty-three years of age.
His departure was the greatest calamity ever experienced by the Muslims, because it was not merely the loss of a political leader or a religious scholar. It was the loss of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and the Seal of the Prophets.

Fourteenth: What Did the Prophet Leave for the Muslim Community?
The most important question after studying the life of the Prophet (PBUH) is: **What did he intend to leave for the Muslim community?**
He left the Holy Qur’an, the Sunnah, an ethical framework, and a project for building the human being. The narrations also emphasized adherence to the Ahl al-Bayt (AS).
In the well-known hadith: “I am leaving among you the Two Weighty Things: the Book of Allah and my progeny, my Ahl al-Bayt.”
From this perspective, the continuation of guidance after the Prophet (PBUH) was connected to the Imamate and the Ahl al-Bayt (AS). Therefore, the Prophetic mission cannot be separated from the role played by the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) in preserving its teachings, explaining them, and defending them.
May the peace of Allah be upon you, O Master of the Messengers and Seal of the Prophets, for as long as a silent person remains silent, a speaker speaks, the sun rises, and the mercy and blessings of Allah endure.