Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)
Information taken from his Seerah: Muhammad by Martin Lings
Comments from The Mekkan Crucible
Before Prophethood, Muhammad (SAWS) was known throughout Mecca as Al-Amin, the Reliable, the Trustworthy, the Honest.
He was the son of Abd'Allah and Aminah
Abd'Allah was the beautiful and respected son of Abdul Mutallib
His Birth: He was born in the Year of the Elephant in Mecca. He was born from Aminah who said that when she was pregnant she was conscious of a light within her and that one day it shone forth from her so strongly that she could see the castles of Bostra in Syria. [There are ahadith mentioned by the Prophet (SAWS) about this as well]. She heard a voice say to her "Though carriest in they womb the lord of his people; and when he is born say: 'I place him beneath the protection of the One, from the evil of every envier; then name him Muhammad". Other reports [found in The Meccan Crucible] describe that Aminah did not feel pregnant or did not experience things that most pregnant women experienced. His father, Abd'Allah was not in Mecca at the time, while she was pregnant he had gone for trade to Palestine and Syria; on his way back he fell ill and died. A few weeks later, Aminah bore Muhammad (SAWS).
As was customary, he was suckled and raised in the desert amongst one of the Bedouin tribes. He was raised by Halimah and her husband. Many great Arab families sent their sons into the desert. The people of the deserts' way of life was nobler. The language was stronger and had eloquence. One had much freedom in the desert; he developed responsibility, for the Bedouin had to search for his own food and learned to protect himself. He was built around the importance of necessity--and did not look for extravagance or richness. Necessity was the priority; he was neither lazy or irresponsible. He was accepting to whatever good or evil that may arise.
His Physical Description: In his seerah, around his 20s, he is described as of medium stature, inclined to slimness, with a large head, broad shoulders, his body perfectly proportioned. His hair and beard were thick and black, not totally straight but slightly curled. His hair reached midway between the lobes of his ears and his shoulders, his beard was of a length to match. He had a noble breadth of forehead and the ovals of his large eyes were wide, with exceptionally long lashes and extensive brows, slightly arched but not joined. In most of the earliest descriptions his eyes are said to be black, but according to one or two of these they were brown, or even light brown. His nose was aquiline [curved] and his mouth was wide and finely shaped-always visible even though he let his beard grow. He never allowed the hair of his moustache to protrude over his upper lip . His skin was white, but tanned by the sun. He had natural beauty and their was light on his face. His father had light on his face too--but Prophet Muhammad's face's light was more powerful. His light was apparent from his forehead, and his eyes were remarkably luminous.
Prophet Muhammad did not worship the idols as the rest of Quraish had done, he believed in a God and would often go to a cave in Mount Hira and pray. Then he would return to his family. During the few years when he left the town he often heard "Peace be on thee, O Messenger of God.", and he would turn and look for the speaker but no one was there. Indeed, a long time after, he found out that these beautiful words often came from a tree or a stone.
The First Revelation: In Muhammad's (SAWS) 40th year, while he was alone in the cave, an Angel came to him in the form of a man. He said "Recite!". Muhammad said 'I am not a reciter". The angel took him, embraced him forcefully and said "Recite!". Muhammad again said "I am not a reciter." He did this again and the Prophet said "I am not a reciter." Then the angel said:
"Recite, in the name of thy Lord who created! He createth man from a clot of blood. Recite; nd they Lord is the Most Bountiful, He who hath taught by the pen taught man what he knew not." [From Surat Al-Alaq]
He recited these words after the Angel, who left him. Muhammad (SAWS) left the cave and when he was half-way down the slope of the mountain he heard a voice above him saying: "O Muhammad, thou art the Messenger of God, and I am Gabriel." He raised his eyes up, and saw an Angel, filling the whole horizon. He again said: "O Muhammad, thou art the Messenger of God, and I am Gabriel. The Prophet stood looking at the Angel; then he turned away from him, but whichever way he looked the Angel was always there. Finally the Angel turned away, and the Prophet descended the slope and when to his house. "Cover me! Cover me!" he said to Khadijah (his wife). Alarmed, she quickly brought a cloak and spread it over him. When he told her what he had seen and heard, she went to to tell her cousin Waraqah. The old man said "Qudusun! Qudusun!" ['Holy! Holy!]. he said "By Him in whose hand is the soul of Waraqah, there hath come unto Muhammad the greatest Namus (Identified as the Angel of Revelation in Greek), even he that would come unto Moses. Verily Muhammad is the Prophet of this people. Bid him rest assured." So Khadija went home and told this to the Prophet. This comforted the Prophet (SAWS).
In Ulumul Qur'an, it is said that after the first revelation, there was a fatra or a pause after the first revelation. At this time the Prophet was very eager to receive some sort of sign so that he could assure himself that this was really true.
Apparently, there are differences in what the second revelation was. In studies of Ulumul Qur'an, many scholars claim that it was the first few ayas of Surat Muzzamil or Mudathir. In the Martin Lings book, he suggests it is [Nun/Al-Qalam]. However, it may be that these three surahs were three of the first to be revealed [not the whole surahs but beginnings]
InshaAllah, in the Future, I will be adding more information
about Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)