The Prophet’s Mission Begins

Ibn Ishaq said: When Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, reached forty years, Allah sent him as a mercy to all worlds and as a bearer of good news to all people. Allah had taken a covenant from every Prophet sent before him: to believe in Muhammad, affirm him, support him against those who opposed him, and convey this covenant to those who believed and followed them. Ibn Ishaq cites Qur’an 3:81, in which Allah takes the covenant of the Prophets concerning a Messenger who would confirm what they had and whom they must believe and support.

The passage continues with the covenant: “Have you affirmed this and accepted My charge?” They said, “We affirm it.” He said, “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses” (Qur’an 3:81). Allah took this covenant from all the Prophets to affirm and support Muhammad, and they conveyed it to those among the People of the two Scriptures who believed them. Ibn Ishaq then relates from al-Zuhri, from ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, from ‘A’ishah: The first stage of Prophethood granted to the Messenger, when Allah intended to honor him and show mercy to His servants through him, was true visions. Whenever he saw a dream, it came true as clearly as the break of dawn. She said that solitude was made beloved to him, and nothing was dearer to him than being alone.