Call to Prophethood and the Makkan Period

The Call to Prophethood and the Makkan Period – IGCSE Islamiyat 0493

The Makkan period is one of the most important parts of Paper 1 because it shows how Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) began his mission, faced intense opposition, and responded with patience, wisdom, and strong character. Cambridge questions often focus on events in Makkah (persecution, boycott, Ta’if, Isra and Mi‘raj) and then ask what Muslims can learn from the Prophet’s behaviour today.

1) The Call to Prophethood (Beginning of the Mission)

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received the first revelation at age 40 in Cave Hira.
The message began with Tawhid (Oneness of Allah) and moral reform.
The early years involved teaching quietly to protect new Muslims.

Key lesson: Prophethood began with guidance and reform, not political power.

2) Early Preaching: Secret then Public دعوت (Da‘wah)

Secret preaching (early stage)

The Prophet taught close family and trusted friends.
Early Muslims faced pressure and social isolation.

Public preaching (Mount Safa)

When commanded to call openly, the Prophet gathered Quraysh at Mount Safa and asked if they would believe him if he warned them of danger—they said yes because they knew he was truthful.

Then he invited them to worship Allah alone—many rejected the message.

Key lesson: The Prophet’s credibility (Al-Amin) made his message impossible to dismiss as dishonesty.

3) Opposition and Persecution in Makkah

The Quraysh opposed Islam because it challenged:

idol worship and economic interests
tribal pride and social hierarchy
unjust practices

Examples of persecution included:

mocking, insults, and attempts to disrupt prayer
physical abuse and humiliation (including an incident where filth was placed on the Prophet during prayer)
pressure on weaker Muslims to abandon Islam

Key exam point: Cambridge rewards answers that show the Prophet’s response (patience, restraint, du‘a, firmness) — not just listing cruelty.

4) The Boycott and the Year of Sorrow (عام الحزن)

A social and economic boycott was imposed to isolate the Prophet and his supporters. Sir Muzammil’s notes highlight that Khadijah (ra) endured this hardship and later passed away in the 10th year of Prophethood—this year is known as the Year of Grief/Sorrow.

Why it matters: This period shows:

endurance under pressure
the role of Khadijah (ra) as a supporter
how hardship did not stop the mission

5) The Visit to Ta’if

When rejection increased, the Prophet went to Ta’if to invite them to Islam. He was abused and stoned, yet he refused revenge and remained hopeful for their future generations.

Key lesson: The Prophet’s da‘wah was based on mercy and long-term guidance, not anger.

6) Isra and Mi‘raj (Night Journey and Ascension)

This event gave spiritual strength after intense hardship.
Students should know:

it reinforced the Prophet’s status
it strengthened believers
it reminded Muslims that relief comes after difficulty

(Keep detail focused—don’t turn it into a long story. Explain its significance.)

7) Transition toward Hijrah

Continued hostility in Makkah led to the search for a safe place where Muslims could worship freely. This sets up the next topic: Hijrah and Madinan period.

Importance of the Makkan Period for Muslims Today

This topic teaches Muslims:

patience and self-restraint under provocation
commitment to truth even when unpopular
peaceful da‘wah and good character
trust in Allah when facing hardship

Common Mistakes Students Make

writing the story without explaining lessons
mixing Makkan events with Madinan battles
missing key names/places (Mount Safa, Ta’if, boycott, Year of Sorrow)
not linking to Muslim life today (AO2 marks)

Last Tested

Cambridge frequently tests the Prophet’s Makkan character and response to persecution. For example, May/June 2023 Paper 1 asked about when the Prophet showed patience and self-restraint while living in Makka, and how Muslims can demonstrate this today.

Top-Level Answer Plan (what students should do)

For (a) 10 marks:

4–6 clear points of opposition/persecution (with 1–2 examples)
then 2–3 points on the Prophet’s response (patience, restraint, du‘a, continued preaching)

For (b) 4 marks:

2 practical lessons + 2 real-life applications today (school bullying, Islamophobia, family pressure, workplace ethics)

Practice Exam Question

(a) Write about the main difficulties faced by the Prophet (pbuh) and the early Muslims in Makkah. [10]
(b) What do these events teach Muslims about patience and responding to opposition today? [4]

A* Model Answer

(a) During the Makkan period the Prophet (pbuh) faced strong opposition from Quraysh because Islam challenged idol worship, tribal pride and unjust practices. The Quraysh mocked him, insulted him and tried to stop him from praying. They also persecuted his followers, especially the weaker Muslims, through social pressure and harassment. Economic and social pressure increased, including the boycott that isolated the Prophet’s supporters. This period also included personal grief, such as the death of key supporters, and the Prophet’s efforts to seek support beyond Makkah, including his visit to Ta’if where he was rejected and harmed. Despite these hardships, the Prophet continued his mission with patience, did not respond with revenge, and remained committed to calling people to worship Allah alone.

(b) These events teach Muslims to remain patient and controlled when facing hostility. Muslims today can follow the Prophet’s example by responding calmly, avoiding revenge, and continuing to practise Islam with dignity. They can also use good character and perseverance in da‘wah, trusting Allah during hardship and staying firm on truth even when pressured by society.