Zayn al-Abideen Ali bin al-Husayn رضي الله عنه, the great-grandson of the Prophet ﷺ said, “We were taught the expeditions of the Prophet ﷺ, as well as those whom he dispatched, just as we were taught s Surah from the Qur'an.” [al-Jami’ li Aklaq al-Rawi]

Ismail bin Muhammad, the grandson of Sa'd bin Abi Waqqaş رضي الله عنه reported that his father used to teach his children the biography, battles, and expeditions of the Prophet ﷺ, and would say, “Dear children, this is the honour of your forefathers, so do not neglect to remember it!”

Imam Az-Zuhri رحمه الله, one of the first authorities to write on the seerah, famously said, “The Seerah contains the very best of this life and the Next.”

Allah says,

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا

Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often. [Surah al-Ahzab, 21]

Allah swears by the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Qur’an. This is a life that has given life to so many generations. This is a Seerah, the nectar of which has nourished the seerah of so many across the world throughout our history. What a perfect life it must be that Allah the Almighty swore upon it from above the seven heavens.

Reading and reflecting upon the Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ brings peace, tranquility, assurance, and stability to the heart. From the miracles of this Seerah is that no matter through which lens you look at this blessed life, you will find an ideal example for you to emulate. From every angle, it oozes perfection and completeness. Be it a spouse, teacher, or even a political leader; you will find inspiration for it. For any other person’s life, they might have good from one aspect but they will have shortcomings in another. Allah compiled such characteristics with perfection in this one life which are impossible to find elsewhere.

One of the biggest blessings of Allah upon us is that the Prophet's ﷺ life has been recorded in great detail. It is reported, “Then the Prophet ﷺ became silent.” ‎[Ahmad] ‎We have verified chains of narrations that even recorded the Prophet's ﷺ silence! We know the most minute details of his public as well as private life. We know that when he passed away, the Prophet ﷺ had 20 white hair. We know that the sandals of the Prophet (ﷺ) had two straps and so much more. A man mockingly told Salman al-Farsi, “Indeed, your companion teaches you everything, even he teaches you how to defecate!” Salman didn’t take this in a wrong manner. He proudly embraced this fact and added even more by saying, “It is so. The Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited us from removing excrement using the right hand, or while facing the direction of prayer. The Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited us from using dung or bones to do so, and he said not to use less than three stones.” [Muslim]

The following is a small effort to present a timeline of the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. We have restricted ourselves to only key events in the Seerah. That being said, scholars differ over certain dates and months, but that doesn’t affect much in the long run. Also, some scholars of the Seerah start their counting of the years based on when the Prophet ﷺ reached Madinah in Rabi’ al-Awwal. Others and this is the majority start their counting based on the start of the year in Muharram. This is we see slight differences between the works of different scholars.

Reading all these key events in sequence gives us a fresh lens to look through and appreciate the Seerah. The blessed Seerah is a treasure trove of gems and every time one reads it, one finds something beneficial.

Our Imam, Ahmad bin Hanbal رحمه الله said, “Three things have no isnad (mursal), "Tafsir, Malahim (About the Last Hour), and Maghazi. This is because most of their narrations are of the Maraseel (plural for Mursal) type, such as narrations reported by Urwah Ibn az-Zubair, ash-Sha'bi, az-Zuhri, Musa Ibn Uqbah, and Ibn Ishaq.” [Majmu’ al-Fatawa]

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BH = Before Hijrah

AH = After Hijrah

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Makkan Era

The Prophet ﷺ was born on Monday in Rabi' al-Awwal 52 BH. This was at the crack of dawn, 50 days after the Attack of Abaraha in the Year of the Elephant.
The Prophet ﷺ was 4 years old when his chest was split open for the first time in 48 BH.
The Prophet ﷺ was 6 years old when his mother Aminah passed away in 46 BH.
The Prophet ﷺ was 8 years old when his grandfather Abdul Muttalib passed away in 44 BH.
The Prophet ﷺ first travelled to Shaam at the age of 12 with Abu Talib on a business trip in 39-40 BH. This was 28 years before Prophethood.
The Prophet ﷺ participated in the pact of Hild al-Fudool in 31 BH.
The Prophet ﷺ worked as a shepherd in Makkah from 12-25 years of age in 39-27 BH.
The Prophet ﷺ married Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها at the age of 25 years in Safar 28-27 BH. This was 15 years before Prophethood.
The Prophet ﷺ actively engaged as a trader from around 28 BH to 13 BH.
The Prophet ﷺ was 30 years old when his daughter Zaynab رضي الله عنها was born in 22 BH. This was 10 years before Prophethood.
The Prophet ﷺ was 32 years old when his daughter Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها was born in 20 BH. This was 8 years before Prophethood.
The Prophet ﷺ was 33 years old when his daughter Umm Kulthum رضي الله عنها was born in 19 BH. This was 7 years before Prophethood.
The Prophet ﷺ was 35 years old when his daughter Fatimah رضي الله عنها was born in 17 BH. This was 5 years before Prophethood.
The Prophet ﷺ was 35 years old when the Ka’bah was rebuilt by the Quraysh in 17 BH. This was 5 years before Prophethood.
6 months prior to the advent of Prophethood, the stones and trees of Makkah would greet him and he would see dreams that would come true the next day.
The Prophet ﷺ was 40 years old when he was blessed with the Office of Prophethood at Mount Hira on a Monday in Rabi' al-Awwal or Ramadan 12 BH.
Angel Jibreel عليه السلام taught the Prophet ﷺ how to perform wudhu and pray. The Muslims prayed 2 raka't before sunrise (tahajjud) and 2 raka't before sunset.
20 days after the advent of Revelation, meteoric flames and shooting stars were used to chase away devils waiting to eavesdrop information from the heavens, from the skies.
The early Muslims used to fast on the Day of Ashurah and 3 Days in the month. This was later made optional.
The Private Phase of Calling to Islam lasted from 12 BH to 9 BH.
The Public Call to Islam was proclaimed atop Mount Safa in 9 BH.
The first martyr in Islam, Sumayyah رضي الله عنها was martyred in 7 BH. This was 5 years after Prophethood.
The First Migration to Abyssinia comprising 12 men and 4 women occurred in Rajab 7 BH.
The Second Migration to Abyssinia comprising 83 men and 18-19 women occurred in Shawwal 7 BH.
The Prophet's ﷺ uncle Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib رضي الله عنه, and Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه accepted Islam in Dhul Hijjah 6 BH.
Banu Hashim and Banu Muttalib were boycotted by the Quraysh from 5 BH till 3 BH.
The Prophet's ﷺ uncle Abu Talib passed away in Sha'ban or Ramadan 3 BH.
The Prophet's ﷺ wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها passed away in Ramadan 3 BH.
The Prophet ﷺ married Sawdah bint Zama’h رضي الله عنها in Ramadan 3 BH. This was 10 years after Prophethood.
The Prophet ﷺ split the moon miraculously at the request of the Quraysh in Dhul Hijjah in around 4-3 BH. This is approximately 10 years after Prophethood.
The Prophet ﷺ went to Taif to invite the people to Islam in Shawwal 3 BH.
A group of Nusaybin Jinn accepted Islam in the Valley of Nahla in Shawwal 3 BH after hearing the Prophet ﷺ recite the Qur'an.
The Prophet ﷺ married Aishah bint Abi Bakr رضي الله عنها in Shawwal 3 BH.
The Prophet's ﷺ chest was split open before the Night Journey in 1.5-2 BH.
The Prophet was taken for Isra wal Mi'raj in 1.5-2 BH. He ﷺ was 51.9 years old at the time.
The 5 Daily Prayers were legislated on the Night of Isra wal Mi'raj in 1.5-2 BH. Tahajjud was made optional. All the prayers were 2 raka't.
Angel Jibreel عليه السلام came down on the morning following the Night of al-Isra’, when the sun passed its zenith, and taught the Prophet ﷺ the prayer and its timings.
The First Covenant of Aqaba (Bay'at al-Aqaba al-Ula) occurred in Dhul Hijjah 1 BH This was 12 years after Prophethood.
Mus'ab bin Umayr رضي الله عنه was sent as the First Ambassador of Islam to Yathrib in Dhul Hijjah in Dhul Hijjah 1 BH.
The Second Covenant of Aqaba (Bay'at al-Aqaba al-Thaniya) occurred in Dhul Hijjah in the 13th Year of Prophethood when the Prophet ﷺ was 52 years of age.
In the 13th Year of Prophethood, the Prophet ﷺ departed Makkah with Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه as his companion on a Monday either at the end of the month of Safar or the start of the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal at the age of 53 years. They reached Quba during high noon on Monday, the 8th or 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal in the 14th Year of Prophethood or 1 A.H.

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Madinan Era

The Prophet ﷺ engaged in laying the foundations for building Masjid Quba in the area of Bani Amr bin Awf, the first Masjid in Islam, in Rabi’ al-Awwal 1 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ conducted his first Friday prayers in the area of Banu Salim bin Awf in Rabi’ al-Awwal or Rabi’ al-Thani 1 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ engaged in laying the foundations for building Masjid al-Nabawi in Rabi’ al-Awwal or Rabi’ al-Thani 1 AH.
The first house that the Prophet ﷺ built for his family was the House of Sawdah رضي الله عنها in 1 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ consummated his marriage with Aishah bint Abi Bakr رضي الله عنها in Shawwal 1 AH.
The Adhan was legislated in 1 AH.
The 5 Daily Prayers were increased to 4 raka't except for Maghrib and Fajr for the resident in 1 AH.
Jihad was permitted in 1 AH.
Ghazwa of al-Abwa in Safar 2 AH. This was the first military expedition the Muslims engaged in along with the Prophet ﷺ.
The Qiblah was changed from Masjid al-Aqsa to the Ka’bah in Rajab 2 AH.
The Fasting of Ramadan was legislated in Sha’ban 2 AH.
The Battle of Badr al-Kubra occurred in Ramadan 2 AH with 313 participants.
The Prophet’s ﷺ daughter Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها passed away in Ramadan 2 AH.
Zakat al-Fitr was legislated in Ramadan 2 AH.
Zakat al-Maal was legislated in 2 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ uncle Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib رضي الله عنه accepted Islam in Ramadan or Shawwal 2 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ daughter Fatimah رضي الله عنها was married to Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه in Rajab 1 AH and the marriage was consummated after the Battle of Badr in 2 AH.
The Banu Qaynuqah were expelled from Madinah in Shawwal 2 AH for breaching the Constitution of Madinah.
The Cemetery of Al-Baqi‘ was established after the death of Kulthum bin al-Hadhm and Uthman bin Madh‘un in Dhul Hijjah 2 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha and offered Udhiyah sacrifice for the first time in Dhul Hijjah 2 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ daughter Umm Kulthum رضي الله عنها was married to Uthman bin Affan رضي الله عنه in 3 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ married Hafsah bint Umar رضي الله عنها in Sha’ban 3 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ married Zaynab bint Khuzaymah رضي الله عنها in Ramadan 3 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ grandson Hasan bin Ali رضي الله عنه was born in Ramadan 3 AH.
The Battle of Uhud occurred in Shawwal 3 AH with 650-700 participants.
The Prophet's ﷺ wife Zaynab bint Khuzaymah رضي الله عنها passed away in Rabi’ al-Thani 4 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ grandson Abdullah bin Uthman passed away in 4 AH.
The Battle of Dhat ar-Riqa’ occurred in Sha’ban 4 AH with 400-700 participants.
The Siege and Expulsion of Banu An-Nadhir occurred in Shawwal 4 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ married Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها in Shawwal 4 AH.
Alcohol was prohibited in 4 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ grandson Husayn bin Ali رضي الله عنه was born in Ramadan 4 AH.
Tayammum was legislated in 4 AH.
Salat al-Khusuf (Eclipse prayer) was first performed in Jumada al-Thani 5 AH.
The Battle of Ahzab or al-Khandaq occurred in Shawwal 5 AH with 3,000 participants.
The Siege of Banu Qurayzah occurred in Dhul Qa’dah 5 AH.
Allah legislated the marriage of the Prophet ﷺ with Zaynab bint Jahsh رضي الله عنها in Dhul Qa’dah 5 AH.
The Hijab was legislated in 5 AH.
The Battle of Al-Muraysi or Bani Al-Mustaliq in Sha’ban 5 AH.
The Slander of Aisha occurred in Sha'ban 5 or 6 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ took Rayhanah bint Zayd as a bondwoman in 5 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ married Juwayriyah bint al-Harith رضي الله عنها in Sha’ban 6 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ taught the Dua of Travel in Dhul Qa’dah 6 AH during the Battle of Banu Lahyan.
The Salat al-Khawf (Prayer of Fear) was prescribed during the confrontation at Usfan near Makkah just before the Treaty of Hudaybiyah in Dhul Qa’dah 6 AH.
The Pledge of Ridwan and the Treaty of Hudaybiyah occurred in Dhul Qa’dah 6 AH with 1,400 participants.
The Prophet ﷺ married Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنها in 6 AH while she was in Abyssinia.
The Prophet ﷺ was afflicted with a magic spell cast by the Jews in Muharram 7 AH. No revelation came down in this duration.
The Prophet ﷺ sent ambassadors in Muharram 7 AH and beyond with around 22-25 letters to various world leaders.
The marriage of Muslim women to Kuffar men was prohibited in 6 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ performed Umrah al-Qadiyyah or Umrah al-Qada (the Fulfilled Umrah) in Dhul Qa’dah 7 AH.
The Battle of Khaybar occurred in Rabi’ al-Awwal 7 AH with 1,420 participants (20 women participated).
The Last batch of Muslims from Abyssinia reached Madinah in Rabi’ al-Awwal 7 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ was poisoned by the Jews in 7 AH after the Battle of Khaybar.
Consumption of domesticated donkey meat was prohibited in 7AH.
Mutah marriage was prohibited in 7AH.
The Prophet ﷺ married Safiyyah bint Huyayy رضي الله عنها in Rabi’ al-Awwal 7 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ ate seafood (al-Anbar) in Rabi’ al-Thani 7 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ married Maymunah bint al-Harith رضي الله عنها in Dhul Qa’dah 7 AH.
The Prophet took Mariyah al-Qibtiyah as a bondwoman in 7AH after she was gifted to him by Al-Muqawqis, the ruler of Egypt.
The Prophet ﷺ expanded Masjid al-Nabawi for the first time in 7 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ daughter Zaynab رضي الله عنها passed away at the start of 8 AH.
The First Minbar for the Prophet ﷺ was built in 8 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ son Ibrahim رضي الله عنه was born at the end of 8 AH.
The Battle of Mu’tah or Jaysh al-Umara occurred in Jumad Al-Awwal 8 AH with 3,000 participants.
The Conquest of Makkah occurred in Ramadan 8 AH with 10,000 participants.
The Battle of Hunayn and the Siege of Taif occurred in Shawwal 8 AH with 12,000 participants.
The Prophet ﷺ performed Umrah al-Ja’rranah in Dhul Qa’dah 8 AH.
The Battle of Tabuk or Jaysh al-Usrah occurred in Rajab 9 AH with 30,000 participants.
Masjid Ad-Dirar was demolished at the command of the Prophet ﷺ at the return of the Muslims from Tabuk in Sha'ban or Ramadan 9 AH.
Hajj was legislated in 9 or 10 AH.
Delegations from all over Arabia visited the Prophet ﷺ in 9 AH. It became known as the Year of The Delegations.
The Prophet ﷺ led the Muslims of Madinah in Janazah Salah in absentia for An-Najashi in 9 AH.
Mu’adh bin Jabal was sent by the Prophet ﷺ to Yemen to teach the people in 9 AH.
Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was sent to lead the Muslims in Hajj in Dhul Hijjah 9 AH. Ali was sent to announce that no disbelievers would be allowed for Hajj after that year.
The Prophet’s ﷺ daughter Umm Kulthum رضي الله عنها passed away in Sha’ban 9 AH.
The Prophet ﷺ performed Umrah and Hajj in Dhul Hijjah 10 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ son Ibrahim رضي الله عنه passed away in Rabi’ al-Awwal 10 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ bondwoman Rayhanah passed away in 10 AH, six months before the death of the Prophet ﷺ.
The last public khutbah of Prophet ﷺ was in Safar 11 AH, during the last weeks of the Prophet’s ﷺ illness.
The Prophet ﷺ passed away on Monday, 12th Rabi al-Awwal in 11 AH.
The Muslims pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه as the Khalifah on Monday, 13th Rabi’ al-Awwal in 11 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ daughter Fatimah رضي الله عنها passed away in Ramadan 11 AH.
The first compilation of the Qur'an was undertaken during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه after the Battle of Yamamah in 11 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ granddaughter Umamah bint Abu al-Aas رضي الله عنها married Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه in 12 AH.
Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه passed away in Jumada al-Akhirah 13 AH.
The Islamic Calendar based on the Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ was institutionalised in 17 AH during the Caliphate of Umar رضي الله عنه.
The Prophet’s ﷺ granddaughter Umm Kulthum bint Ali رضي الله عنها married Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه in 17 AH.
Umar al-Faruq رضي الله عنه was martyred in Dhul Hijjah 23 AH.
Uthman Dhun Nurayn رضي الله عنه was martyred in Dhul Hijjah 35 AH.
Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه martyred in Ramadan 40 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ grandson Hasan bin Ali رضي الله عنه passed away in Rabi’ al-Awwal 49 AH.
The Prophet’s ﷺ grandson Husayn bin Ali رضي الله عنه was martyred in Muharram 61 AH.

I conclude this short collection with a dua that Umar al-Faruq رضي الله عنه used to make,

اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي شَهَادَةً فِي سَبِيلِكَ، وَاجْعَلْ مَوْتِي فِي بَلَدِ رَسُولِكَ صلى الله عليه وسلم

“Oh Allah, make me a martyr in your path, and grant me a death in the city of your Messenger (ﷺ).” [Bukhari]

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Taken From: Know Your Heroes | The Building Blocks of Islam: The Prophet ﷺ and His Companions

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