Muhammad ﷺ, the last prophet

All the prophets called to the same thing: worship Allah alone and do good. The last of them is our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Allah says that he is "the seal of the prophets" (33:40): after him, there is no other prophet.

His childhood. He was born in Mecca. He never knew his father, and his mother died when he was little. Allah says: "Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter?" (93:6). He was raised by his grandfather, then by his uncle.

Al-Amiin. As he grew up, he was so honest that everyone called him "al-Amiin", the one you can trust.

The revelation. At forty, in the cave of Ḥiraa', the angel Jibriil came to bring him the first verses of the Qur'an: "Read, in the name of your Lord who created" (96:1-5). The Qur'an is the great miracle Allah gave him, and it has stayed the same until today (15:9).

His kindness. Allah says: وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ Wa maa arsalnaaka illaa raḥmatan lil-'aalamiin "We have sent you only as a mercy for the worlds" (21:107). He was gentle with children, animals, the poor and even with those who hurt him. Allah says he has "an immense character" (68:4). He would even shorten his prayer when he heard a baby crying, so as not to worry its mother. (Bukhari 707) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro]

Our example. Allah says: "You have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example" (33:21). We learn about his life so we can be like him: telling the truth, being gentle, praying, helping others.

What I learn: I love the Prophet ﷺ and I try to do as he did. Every time I hear his name, I say "ṣalla llaahu 'alayhi wa sallam".

To learn more, older children can take the course "The life of the Prophet ﷺ".

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Why is the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ the last? Because with him, Allah's message is complete, and the Qur'an is protected: it no longer needs a new prophet to remind people of it.

His kindness showed in very small things: a smile, a kind word, a child he picked up in his arms. He said: "Your smile to your brother is a charity." (Tirmidhi 1956). You don't need to be rich or grown-up to do as he did!

Loving the Prophet ﷺ is not only saying it: it is trying to do as he did. It is also sending blessings on him, by saying "sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam". He said: "Whoever sends blessings on me once, Allah sends blessings on him ten times." (Muslim 408)

Lessons to draw from it • I smile at others: it is a charity, and it is the sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. • I try to imitate the Prophet ﷺ: telling the truth, being gentle, helping others. • I say "sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam" every time I hear his name.

Key points to remember • Muhammad ﷺ is "the seal of the prophets": the last prophet (33:40). • He was sent as "a mercy to the worlds" (21:107).

The main message The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is our model: we love him by following his example of kindness, truthfulness and gentleness.