What was Muhammad religiously? I read that he was always a believer in God alone and was against idolatry but did he always worship God the way Muslims do now?

Originally Posted by Darth Ultor

What was Muhammad religiously? I read that he was always a believer in God alone and was against idolatry but did he always worship god the way Muslims do now?

He (saw) was always a hanif (believer in One God, and living on a straight path) before the revelations, and every record showed that he never told a single lie, That's why even the disbelievers didn't call him a liar or made up stories, but they called him a magician or possessed by djinn or a mad man when he (saw) first told the makkah people about revelations.

Before the revelations, He didn't perform the shalah the way we perform today. But every year, he often went out to the nature and the cave of hira for solitary contemplation. My knowledge about him (saw) is quite limited though, maybe others can tell more.

Ramadhan is correct.

The prophet pbuh used to go into the cave of Hira for solitary contemplation quite often. Sometimes for days at a time. He hated the injustice that was rife in Arabia at that time, and he hated that men were worhipping stones.

It was in the cave of hira where arch-angel Gabriel commanded the Prophet pbuh to read in the name of his Lord, who created him. This was the first revelation.

With regard to the salah, the method of worship - this was revealed to him around the time when the Hijra (migration) was taking place. The Prophet pbuh went to meet the prophets of the past and God too, on one occasion - what Muslims today refer to as the night of Mehraj (ascension). It was here that the correct method to pray was taught to him. This is the prayer of the prophets who came before him.


Another thing to understand is that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet pbuh in Makkah and in Madina. The Makkah verses came first and these verses contained no shariah (law). The Makkah verses were all about understanding the magnificence of Allah. His mercy to humanity. His favour upon the world. etc. That kind of thing. The Shariah was revealed in what are referred to as the Madinite verses - which is also when the Muslims were commanded to offer Salah 5 times a day.

The first Masjid that was built by the Arabs of that time was Masjid Quba which is in the city of Madina (below).

masjid-quba-medina-saudi-arabia+1152_12796405708-tpfil02aw-5445.jpg

I hope this helps.

Scimi

Originally Posted by Scimitar

The first Masjid that was built by the Arabs of that time was Masjid Quba which is in the city of Madina (below).

Attachment 4539

Isn't this masjid the same as Masjid Al-Qiblatain where the direction faced during salah was changed from Jerusalem to Mecca?

Yes, I believe you are correct.

Scimi

No, they are two different mosques, in two different directions.



You can see Masjid Qiblatain marked near the top left as al-Qiblatain, while Masjid Quba is towards the bottom of the picture, near where it says Kuba.

They look similar, but Masjid Quba was the one made upon arrival in Madina, but the one the Prophet was praying in at the time of the qibla change became known is Masjid Qiblatain.

Masjid Quba has special virtues attached with visiting it, which Masjid Qiblatain does not, though many do visit Masjid Qiblatain out of interest.

These are some of the ahadeeth regarding the virtues of praying in Masjid Quba:

It is prescribed for the visitor to Madeenah and for the one who lives there to go to the Mosque of Quba’ and pray there, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and seeking the reward of ‘Umrah. It was narrated that Sahl ibn Haneef said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever goes out until he comes to this mosque – meaning the Mosque of Quba’ – and prays there, that will be equivalent to ‘Umrah.” Narrated by Ahmad, 3/437; al-Nasaa’i, 699; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1180, 1181.

According to Ibn Maajah: “Whoever purifies himself in his house, then comes to the Mosque of Quba’ and prays there, he will have the reward of ‘Umrah.” Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 1412.

In Sahih Muslim it is narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to go to the mosque of Quba’ every Saturday, walking or riding, and he would pray two rak’ahs there. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1191; Muslim, 1399

[Taken from Etiquettes of Ziyaarah - by Imâm of Masjid al Nabawi, Sheikh Salâh al-Budayr ]

Source: http://abdurrahman.org/umrah/virtues-masjid-quba.html

None of these ahadith apply to Masjid Qiblatain.

Masjid Quba:


Masjid Qiblatain, which has only two minarets:

Originally Posted by Insaanah

No, they are two different mosques, in two different directions.

Wa alaikum assalam. Thank you for the clarification. From wiki, "The Qiblatain Mosque is among the three earliest mosques in Islam's history, along with Quba Mosque and Al-Masjid al Nabawi."

Subhaan-Allah. Thank you for the clarification sister. I learnt something new again. May Allah bless you and yours. I always wanted to write "I stand, corrected" - you just gave me the opportunity to do so whahahahahaaa.....

Scimi

Originally Posted by Scimitar

I always wanted to write "I stand, corrected" - you just gave me the opportunity to do so whahahahahaaa.....

I guess that was the first time you have been wrong, huh? A bite of humble pie every once in a while is good for your soul.

I do get it wrong quite a lot, but usually away from the public eye (wink). But yeah, here - I admit it. I was wrong. I honestly believed it was Masjid Quba. You can imagine my surprise and delight at learning a bit more of our precious historical nuances. I'm very happy it was pointed out.

I thought I'd point out that not too far away from there, if you are heading out from Masjid Nabawi towards Masjid Qiblatain, and you keep going in that direction (approx 7km from Masjid Nabawi) you can get to Jabal Habshi, where the Sauds have built a palace atop the mountain Jabal Habshi. Same place that Dajjal is reported to stand and point towards Madina Masjid Nabawi... Which coincidently can be seen in the direct line of sight. If you stand atop the mountain and look towards masjid Nabawi, you will be able to make out its tall minarets...

Interesting stuff eh? Turns out, the locals have nicknamed the palace complex that has been built on top of Jabal Habshi, the Dajjal palace.

I never trusted the Sauds... perpetrators.

Scimi

Originally Posted by Scimitar

Subhaan-Allah. Thank you for the clarification sister. I learnt something new again. May Allah bless you and yours.

Ameen, and the same for you and yours as well. I only know because some years ago I was alhamdulillah able to visit both, and thus knew they were two different mosques. Before that, I was none the wiser.

Originally Posted by Scimitar

thought I'd point out that not too far away from there, if you are heading out from Masjid Nabawi towards Masjid Qiblatain, and you keep going in that direction (approx 7km from Masjid Nabawi) you can get to Jabal Habshi, where the Sauds have built a palace atop the mountain Jabal Habshi. Same place that Dajjal is reported to stand and point towards Madina Masjid Nabawi... Which coincidently can be seen in the direct line of sight. If you stand atop the mountain and look towards masjid Nabawi, you will be able to make out its tall minarets...

Interesting stuff eh? Turns out, the locals have nicknamed the palace complex that has been built on top of Jabal Habshi, the Dajjal palace.

This is very interesting indeed, I didn't know this, and have learnt something new. Jazaakallah khayr for sharing.

You might find these two interesting:



and



Sorry for going a bit off topic btw (facepalm)

Scimi