The Life of Prophet Muhammad - by Sheikh Azhar Nasser

Who does the Quran refer to when it says Ahlul Bayt? Sheikh Azhar Nasser compares Sunni and Shia viewpoints based on hadit from Sunni sources. The three main perspectives are: - It includes the Prophet's wives, Bani Hashim, and the Holy Five (Ali, Fatima, Hassan, Hussain, and Prophet Muhammad) - It includes just Bani Hashim and the Holy Five - It includes just the Holy Five (shia perspective)...

Continuing the comparison of Shia and Sunni views on Aisha bint Abu Bakr, Sheikh Azhar compares Shia and Sunni perspectives on hadiths that cause each sect to have their varying opinions on Aisha. Hadiths covered include: - (Bukhari/Sahih Muslim) Prophet Muhammad apparently pointing to Aisha's house and saying "fitna is from here" - (Bukhari) Prophet Muhammad saying Aisha is like &q...

Comparing the Shia and Sunni views on Aisha, the daughter of Abu Bakr and third wife of Prophet Muhammad. Sheikh Azhar also explains why the two sects may have such divergent views of her. The lecture dives into: - Why Shia's believe Aisha was in her late teens when she married Prophet Muhammad (vs the Sunni narrative of being 9 years old) - How Aisha gained an prominence above other wives of...

At the end of the battle of Badr, Abu Sufyan had challenged the Muslims to a rematch a year later. This rematch was known as the Second Battle of Badr, and after seeing how much stronger the Muslims had gotten the Meccans were demoralized and decided to march back to Mecca. And so no battle never actually took place. Around this time period many of the Prophet's multiple marriages took place....

This lecture covers: - The gradual prohibition of Alcohol - Passing of Fatima bint Asad (Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib's mother) - Birth of Imam Husayn - Prophet Muhammad's Marriage to Umm Salamah Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=528 . Subscribe at http://www.why-quran.org/subscribe to watch the lectures live and participate in the Q&A at the end of each class. Video r...

Prophet Muhammad approached the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadhir to help the Muslims make peace between themselves and another Jewish tribe, only to discover at the last minute that Banu Nadhir was planning to assassinate him. Why? The Banu Nadir couldn't accept a gentile as the final messenger of God. They considered it degrading to be subservient to a non-Jew. Faced with this treachery, Prophet...

After the Battle of Uhud: - Quraysh mutilate the bodies of Muslims - Prophet Muhammad sends a reconnissance mission to see if the Quraysh will invade Medina or return to Mecca - Various verses of the Quran are revealed to console the Muslims and instruct them on how to recover from the losses - The Meccans decide to come back to finish off the Muslims, but their army is scared away - Nomadic tribe...

As the Quraysh fled, the archers watching the army's back rushed to gather the spoils of war. The enemy noticed this and launched a cavalry counter attack from the unprotected rear, changing the tide of the war. Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=497 . Subscribe at http://www.why-quran.org/subscribe to watch the lectures live and participate in the Q&A at the end of ea...

With archers defending their backs, Ali ibn Abi Talib starts the skirmish with one on one battles, defeating nine opponents in a row. Quickly, the Qurayshi army becomes demoralized and starts fleeing. Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=493 . Subscribe at http://www.why-quran.org/subscribe to watch the lectures live and participate in the Q&A at the end of each class. Video...

- The Muslims marched towards the invaders with an army of 1000 men. - Munafiqs revealed: Abdullah ibn Ubayy deserted the army and left with 300 of the men, the munafiqs. - Battle tactics used by Prophet Muhammad - Fortications abandoned: The prophet gave the archerers unambiguous instructions to maintain a defensive position, yet they were ignored to try and obtain some spoils of war, giving the...

Both sides prepare for the Battle of Uhud soon after Imam Hasan's birth: - The battle was instigated by the Meccan's desire for revenge, the insult they felt from Islam, and the economic strain they had landed under - Abu Sufyan's attempts at raising an army - Hind's support of the army - Prophet Muhammad's investigation when an undercover Muslim informs him of Abu Sufyan&...

The events that occurred after the Battle of Badr, which led to the Battle of Uhud: - The Expedition of Qarqarat Al-Kudr, where nomadic tribes started hostilities against the Muslims - The Expedition of Sawiq, where Abu Sufyan led an assault against Medina - The Qaradah Raid, where the Muslims raided a Meccan caravan - The death of Uthman ibn Madh'un, one of the highest companions - The death...

While most Muslima and Jewish tribes in Medina were agriculture based, the Jewish tribe of Banu Qaynuqa consisted mainly of craftsmen and blacksmiths, making them highly militarized. The tax-free marketplace, along with the Muslim's conflict with the Meccans (one of Banu Qaynuqa's main customer base) threatened Banu Qaynuqa's financial interests. This led to Banu Qaynuqa violating t...

How and why the qiblah was changed from Jersalem to the Kaaba: - The Jewish tribes had been mocking Muslims for worshipping towards Jerusalem - Quranic verses in Surah Baqarah explain why the Qiblah was changed - Quran's criticism of the people who had enmity in their hearts against Muslims. Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=470 . Subscribe at http://www.why-quran.org/sub...

The immediate aftermath of the Battle of Badr, including: - How the prisoners of war were treated after the battle - Revelation of Surat al-Anfal, which included verses on warfare - How the spoils were divided Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=466 . Subscribe at http://www.why-quran.org/subscribe to watch the lectures live and participate in the Q&A at the end of each clas...

Warfare during Battle of Badr and the Muslim's victory: - The story of Umayr ibn Al-Humam, who longed for a martyrdom - The two youth who killed Abu Jahl, and how they attacked him - Abu Jahl's arrogance even with his dying breaths - Umayyah ibn Khalaf's attempt to seek refuge once defeat was imminent - Lessons taught after the battle Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran....

The Battle of Badr begins: - Prophet Muhammad tried to avoid hostilities, and some of the Quraysh wanted to avoid fighting as well. But Abu Jahl instigated the conflict forwards. - Fighting began with three one on one skirmishes - The miracle of the prophet throwing pebbles towards the Quraysh and blinding them Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=458 . Subscribe at http://www.wh...

The Quraysh set out with a huge army, intending to intimidate not just the Muslims but the rest of the Arabs as well. This lecture includes: - Quraysh leaders who were afraid of going to war - Military tactics leveraged by the Propeht Muhammad before the battle - Attributes needed to be a leader - A miracle Allah sent to give the Muslims an advantage the night before the battle Lecture notes avail...

The Meccans wanted to bolster their military situation, not okay with the Prophet Muhammad simply relocating to Medina. The Meccans had invested heavily in a caravan led by Abu Sufyan which would let them build up their military. Prophet Muhammad intended to intercept this caravan on it's way back from Syria. However, Abu Sufyan discoveres this plan and devises a scheme to rile up the Meccans...

Imam Ali and Lady Fatima got married in the 2nd year AH. This lecture covers: - Lady Fatima's age at marriage (Shia vs Sunni views) - The people who unsuccessfully proposed to Fatima (and their reactions to the rejection) - Imam Ali's bridal gift for Lady Fatima - Their valima (the wedding feast) Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=446 . Subscribe at http://www.why-qur...

This lecture covers how the prophet changed Yathrib's name to Medina, the rise of hypocrisy in Medina as political expediency caused people to convert without having any Islamic conviction, the first time Muslims were given permission to fight and why it was granted, and the first five military expeditions of the Muslims. Practical Lessons:  1. No victory comes with ease. Even prophets must s...

The Prophet Muhammad had been invited to Medina to quell tensions in the city. With a few months of arriving, he created a social contract between the different tribes in they city, specifying the behaviors expected from each group: Ansar, Muhajireen, Jews, and Polythiests Practical Lessons: 1. The importance of writing down contracts. This was an unprecedented move by the Prophet since Arabia was...

After Prophet Muhammad settled in Abu Ayyub al-Ansari's home in Medina, he purchased the lot next to it and started building a masjid there. This became known as Al Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque) and Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque). Azan was legislated soon after, and within half a year after hijra the Second Pact of Brotherhood was made between the Muhajireen and Ansaar. Pr...

Prophet Muhammad's arrival in Quba, the building of the Quba Masjid, and how Prophet Muhammad let Allah guide him through his camel to find a place to stay at in Medina, with the camel stopping  at Abu Ayyub al Ansari's home. Lecture by Sheikh Azhar Nasser Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/blog/30-hijra-the-first-masjid/ Subscribe at http://www.why-quran.org/subscribe t...

When Prophet Muhammad learned about the assassination plot against him, he choose his most trustworthy companion to be the decoy: Ali ibn Abi Talib. Why did Abu Bakr migrated with the Prophet? Sunni vs Shia views on the merits of the Quranic verse on Abu Bakr during this hijrat (Quran 9:40), and the first instance of enmity towards the prophet expressed by Abu Bakr. By Sheikh Azhar Nasser Lecture...