I'm not sure. I don't really know anything about this programme. I just saw the advert on Islam Channel and thought I'd see it on internet

I've never actually been committed to watching anything on Islam Channel though. . .

I watched the repeat of the first episode on Islam Channel today:

I realized there was so much I didn't know so quickly went for my scrawly pen and paper to jot down what I had learnt from it:

- Abraha - a word which was new to me. Well, I thought it was a word... but then I realized the more I was watching, he was actually the king of Yemen. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraha/]More about Abraha[/url]

He took an army and plus some Elephants to destroy Kaaba. Abu Rigaal one of his followers was very passionate about demolishing the Al-Kaaba. He choked to death on apparently nothing in this documentary and died.

Abraha spoke to Abu Mutallib. In the conversation: Abraha told Abu Mutallib how he had some respect for Abu Mutallib when he first saw him. But as soon as they were conversing this level of respect decreased. This was because Abu Mutallib showed no concern for the intention of Abraha to demolish the Al-Kaaba. He told the Abraha quite firmly, this was because 'The Al-Kaaba is untouchable' in the sense of it being destroyed. I liked that.

Then it showed the story of how by the will of Allah (swt) the elephants refused to move. Most of the Arab men in the army of Abraha retreated. Those who stayed died after being attacked by birds who threw stones at them. The narrator described how (I don't know if this was Abraha he was talking about) but how the body was soaked in blood. How the heart could be seen because of the flesh was dug away by the stones -(Something along the lines of that).

Then there was a recitation of Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant):

Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the Companions of the Elephant?

Did He not make their treacherous plan go astray?

And He sent against them Flights of Birds,

Striking them with stones of baked clay.

Then did He make them like an empty field of stalks and straw, (of which the corn) has been eaten up.

[url=http://www.muslimaccess.com/quraan/arabic/105.asp/]Al Fîl[/url]

I also heard the name Ibn Hisham being mentioned.

Having no idea who he was, I asked good old Wikipedia:

Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Malik bin Hisham (Arabic: أبو محمد عبدالمالك بن هشام‎), or Ibn Hisham (died 833) edited the biography of Muhammad written by Ibn Ishaq. Ibn Ishaq's work is lost and is now only known in the recensions of Ibn Hisham and al-Tabari. Ibn Hisham grew up in Basra, Iraq, but moved afterwards to Egypt, where he gained a name as a grammarian and student of language and history. His family was of Himyarite origin, though some narrators trace him to Mu'afir ibn Ya'far, while others say he is a Dhuhli.

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Hisham/]Wikipedia on Ibn Hisham[/url]

Which led me on to read about [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Ishaq/]Ibn Ishaq[/url]

Then the story briefly moved on to Amina, Mother of the Prophet (saw). How come there isn't any detail about her anywhere? :S even on the internet. If anyone has any good sources/websites/books...could you post them up on here please..so I can read them?

Well, I've just found one website:

From amongst the signs also was that his mother while she carried him during her pregnancy, it was a pregnancy with no hardships or discomfort. Even though the norm is that pregnancy brings with it hardship. Allah says about the pregnant woman, ‘She carried him with hardship and she bore him (gave birth to him) with hardship’.

Furthermore, from the extraordinary incidents reported, was that when he was born, he came out supporting himself with his hands, and he raised his head to the sky. He was born Makhtun (circumcised) and Masrur (his umbilical cord was cut off). His birth was made easy.

When his mother gave birth to him, the good news reached Abdul-Mutallib, who was overjoyed by the news. And when he heard about the way he was born, circumcised, umbilical cord cut off, and supporting his body with his hands, his joy and happiness increased, and he said, ‘By Allah, verily for this son of mine there is an important matter’. He took Muhammed (peace be upon him) before he was even named, into the Ka’bah and raised him and thanked Allah for his birth.

[url=http://www.somaliaonline.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=... of Muhammed (saw)[/url]

Well it goes into a lot of detail about the Birth of the Prophet (saw). But again not much on Amina Bint Wahb.

Ya'qub wrote:

The Message (the 1970s version of the Prophet's life)

I've never heard of that.

EDIT: I know what it is now.

Just watched Part 2!

I wish this was on youtube or something.

Anyway, today's episode started with Haleema and her family. In the documentary, she had a baby son and an elder daughter. She and her family had no food...camel producing no milk...etc.

When she went to find a baby she could foster, Abu Muttalib told her about why it would be a good idea to take home Muhammad (saw). She initially refused; explaining she did not have enough to provide for another baby. Her own child was crying out of hunger. But then she turned back; she could not go home without a child.

She quickly soon realized the blessings of having Muhammad around. There was harvesting, suddenly, the camels were producing enough milk. Everyone went to sleep at night satisfied and full.

Meanwhile, Abu Muttalib told Abu Talib about a conversation he had with King Sayf (I'm not sure who he was -king of Yemen - maybe).

King Sayf told Abu Muttalib about a boy who will reign until Day of Judgement and who will lose both his parents. He will also be brought up by his uncles.

Later on the story, Haleema came and told Abu Muttalib about how a man dressed in white came and tore his heart out and took something out. Haleema had also told Ameena who tole her that she had light inside her when she was giving birth to him (saw).

Haleema wanted to give Muhammad back to his tribe because there were Jews who wanted to take him away.

Abu Muttalib gave Abu Talib the responsibility to look after Muhammad after he died.

He lost his mother, Ameena at the age of 6.

Abu Mutallib died when the Prophet was 8.

Later on in the story, when the Muhammad was in the care of Abu Talib and his wife Fatima, Muhammad was herding cattle on the mountains of Makkah.

From afar, two men walking past noticed that in the clear blue sky there was a cloud over the mountains. They thought it was strange but carried on with their conversations. The cloud (obviously) shadowed the Prophet so that he was given shade.

He did his sherpard work where other sherpards didn't. He was not afraid of wolves or bears at a young age. These were the thoughts of [url=http://worldupdates.tripod.com/newupdates10/id113.htm/]Barakah[/url]-

A young Abyssinian girl ended up for sale in Makkah. There were many like her, boys and girls, Arabs and non-Arabs, who were captured and brought to the slave market of the city to be sold.

Barakah, the young Abyssinian girl, was one of the more fortunate ones. She was saved by the generous and kind Abdullah, the son of Abdul-Muttalib. She became the only servant in his household and when he was married, to the lady Aminah, she looked after her affairs as well.

Her thoughts were put across a lot. A new person in the life of the Prophet that I learnt about today.

Later on...

A fortune teller came to the city. 'Bring me your children.' He cried.

Lots of kids made a line to see him. He judged each one about their future. One had hardship to come by. Another who was going to die in a war but his sword will not be broken.

Then far ahead he saw a boy walking towards them..he asked 'Who is that boy?' and the people answered: ' Muhammad, son of Abdullah'...

To be continued next week...

PS.

If anybody comes across as online version of these episodes, would they please be kind enough to post them on the revival somewhere...?

So...

the fortune teller from Lahab's tribe wants to know about Muhammad's future and starts to act a bit crazy. He watches whilst the Muhammad runs away. The fortune teller seems a bit distraught that he didn't get the opportunity to tell the boy's future.

The Quraish as well as the Banu Hashim tribes have a meeting about leadership.

The name Amro (also known as Hashim) was mentioned:

Hashim ibn Abd al-Manaf (Arabic: هاشم بن عبد مناف‎) (died ca. 497) was the great-grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad and his cousin, Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph and regarded as the first Imam in Shia Islam. Hashim ibn Abd al-Manaf was also was the originator of the Banu Hashim clan of the distinguished Quraish tribe in Mecca. His grave can be found in Jannatul Mualla cemetery, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

His real name was Amr which means ruler/commander, but he was given the nickname Hashim which translates as pulverizer in Arabic - because he initiated the practice of providing crumbled bread in broth for the pilgrims to the Kaaba in Mecca. According to tradition, he was a descendant of Ishmael and thus Ibrahim. He married Salma bint Amr, a woman of Madina. He is said to have died while doing business in Gaza, Palestine in 497. His grave is preserved, and Gaza is also called Ghazzah Hashim or Hashim's Gaza.

Amr (also know as Hashim)

Fourth episode (?):

Abu Talib is to go to Syria.

The night before he goes: he asks his wife Fatima, if all the children are asleep. The answer came as 'Yes, all but Muhammad'.

Muhammad couldn't stop crying since he found out that Abu Talib was leaving for Syria.

Abu Talib tells his mother, that he will leave Muhammad with Fatima and his other children and of course Baraqah. His mother offers to look after Muhammad until Abu Talib is back. She says how much Muhammad reminds her of his father/her son Abdullah.

Abu Talib agrees to Muhammad and Baraqah staying with his mother.

Abu Talib tells his mother about how Muhammad isn't even 13 yet but he had the mind and will of a grown man. He always speaks the truth and doesn't fool around like other boys his age. And he isn't afraid of anyone or arrogant. Abu Talib finds it strange that he likes to be alone.

Abu Talib wonders that Muhammad(saw) doesn't care for the idols and his mother asks whether he as spoken to him about this.

Harb and other people from the Quraysh wait for Abu Talib to go on their trip. Whilst they wait, they talk about things that they will bring back from Syria e.g. spices, ivory, crystals, Roman women.... Ibd Jadaan talks about how he got wealthy selling women...another member mentions that it in the Banu Hashim tribe, they don't agree on human slavery trade.

Back at home, Abu Talib decides to take Muhammad with him to the trip.

Waraqah and Uthman talk about monotheism and people of religion and the religion belonging to Ibrahim whilst they wait for Abu Talib. Uthman promises Waraqah, he will look for things during the trip to Syria.