Pre-Prophetic Life and the Character of Muhammad

Al-Suhayli's annotations on the pre-prophetic life of Muhammad reveal a period of providential preparation. The death of his father Abd Allah before his birth, and the death of his mother Amina when he was approximately six years old, left the child in a condition of orphanhood that the Quran itself would later recall: 'Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter?' (93:6). Al-Suhayli draws on this verse to show how even the difficult circumstances of the Prophet's early life were part of a divine arrangement. The orphan status meant that Muhammad was not embedded in any particular faction's patronage networks, which preserved his independence and prepared him for a mission that would transcend tribal loyalties.

The incident of the opening of the chest (shaqq al-sadr) is one of the most discussed episodes in al-Suhayli's commentary. The narration, recorded by Muslim and others from Anas ibn Malik in its most well-attested form relating to the Night Journey, appears in the Sira tradition in an earlier form during the Prophet's childhood with Halima. Al-Suhayli engages with the question of whether there were one or two such incidents, citing scholars on both sides and noting that both positions have been maintained by major authorities. The theological significance of the event, the purification of the heart and the removal of the share of Shaytan, is explained in relation to the prophetic mission that was to follow.

The journey with his uncle Abu Talib to Syria, and the encounter with the Christian monk Bahira, is annotated carefully by al-Suhayli. Bahira recognized signs of prophethood in the young Muhammad, including the cloud that shaded him and the seal between his shoulder blades. Al-Suhayli discusses the nature of this recognition, noting that it was based on descriptions in earlier scriptures, and addresses the question of why Bahira did not himself follow the Prophet when the mission began, given that he apparently recognized the signs. The question leads al-Suhayli into a broader discussion of religious knowledge versus religious commitment.

The marriage to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid receives careful treatment. Al-Suhayli notes her status as a woman of nobility, wealth, and discernment, and presents the marriage as itself a form of divine provision for the Prophet: she was among the first to believe in him, she comforted him at the most critical moment of his prophetic experience, and she supported his mission with her wealth and presence. The marriage lasted until her death, during which time the Prophet took no other wife. Al-Suhayli notes the Companions' accounts of the Prophet's lasting love for Khadijah and his frequent remembrance of her, seeing in this not only human loyalty but also gratitude for one who had been chosen to support the Prophet at the foundation of his mission.