The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, lived for sixty three years; forty of which were before prophethood and twenty three after it. During his lifetime, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, moved around and traveled through the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, and most of his travels were after Prophethood. He, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, traveled a great deal and moved to different places as a worshipper, caller for Allaah, immigrant, conqueror, commander, and pilgrim. This article introduces the most important places related to the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and his call.

• Makkah:

The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, was born in Makkah on the twelfth of Rabee` Al-Awwal, fifty three years before his migration. In this city, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, spent his childhood with his

grandfather, `Abdul-Muttalib, after the death of his mother, and later with his uncle Abu Taalib after the death of his grandfather.

In Makkah, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, married Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, and had six children: Al-Qaasim, `Abdullaah, Zaynab, Umm Kulthoom, Ruqayyah, and Faatimah.

Islam first emerged in Makkah and the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, started to spread his call among its people. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, called them to monotheism and to abandon idolatry. Some of his senior companions believed in him, like Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, `Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, `Uthmaan Ibn `Affaan, `Ali Ibn Abi Taalib, and `Abdullaah Ibn Mas`ood, may Allaah be pleased with them.

Also his wife, Mother of the Believers Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, believed in him and she defended and supported him as much as she could. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, tirelessly spent thirteen years in Makkah calling people to embrace Islam. He and the believers bore all types of suffering and torture in the way of Allaah. Later, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, migrated to Madeenah where he found support and aid, and was able to spread his call and establish a Muslim state.

The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, continued to remember Makkah where he spent his childhood and where the revelation had began. He, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: “By Allaah, you are the best land of Allaah in the sight of Allaah and the dearest land to Allaah. If I had not been forced to leave you, I would have never left you.”

In the eighth Hijri year, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, commanding ten thousand companions, may Allaah pleased with them, returned to

Makkah and conquered it. It was a notable day on which the idols around the Ka`bah were destroyed. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, pardoned its people and let them go unharmed.

• Busra:

This is a city in modern day Syria with some remaining ancient monuments. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, accompany his uncle Abu Taalib, visited this city when he was young.

This was during a business trip to the Levant. It was during this trip, that glad tidings of his prophethood was given. Abu Taalib met a monk called Baheerah who looked at  the

Prophet,sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and saw the signs of Prophethood on his face and between his shoulders.

The monk said to Abu Taalib: “What is the relation between you and this child?

Abu Taalib replied: “He is my son.”

The monk said: “His father cannot possibly be alive!”

Abu Taalib said: “He is actually my nephew and his father died when his mother was pregnant with him.”

The monk said: “Now you have told the truth. Take him back to your town and guard him from the Jews.”

• The Cave of Hiraa':

This cave lies in a mountain some kilometers away from Makkah. Before his Mission, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, used to go to this cave and worship Allaah there away from the hustle and bustle of Makkah. In this

quiet cave, he used to contemplate the universe and the creations of Allaah and His Kingdom.

In a Ramadhaan night, Jibreel (Gabriel) was sent down with revelation and said to the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam: “Read”. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, replied: “I do not know how to read”. Then Jibreel repeated the same request and the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, repeated the same answer. Then, Jibreel recited the first verses of chapter Al-`Alaq in which Allaah says (what means):

“Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists, Has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has taught (the writing) by the pen [the first person to write was Prophet Idrees (Enoch)] Has taught man that which he knew not.” [Quran 96: 1-5]

• The House of Al-Arqam Ibn Abi Al-Arqam:

This was a house in the suburbs of Makkah owned by Al-Arqam Ibn Abi Al-Arqam. In this house, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, used to meet his companions to teach and instruct them far away from the spies of Makkah.

There were about forty Companions who used to come to this house. In this house, `Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, embraced Islam.

• At-Taa`if:

This is a town about eighty five kilometers from Makkah and it was inhabited by the Thaqeef tribe. On the tenth year after prophethood, the

Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, went to At-Taa`if to find new supporters after the Quraysh tribe had inflicted severe torture on him especially after the death of his wife Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, and his uncle Abu Taalib.b.

The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, went to some of its leaders and explained the principles of Islam and called them to believe in Allaah. Their answer was no more than to insult and humiliate him and they refused to believe. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, spent ten days in At-Taa'if calling its people to embrace Islam but they remained arrogant and obstinate.

Furthermore, they expelled him from their town and incited the children and the dregs of the society to throw stones at him. Blood flowed from his feet and head because of this. Then, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, returned to Makkah to resume his call.

• The Cave of Thawr:

Mount Thawr, South of Makkah, has this cave in which the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and his Companion, Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, stayed for a while during their migration to Madeenah.

The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, decided to migrate to Madeenah to spread his call after its people promised to support and protect him. Many of his Companions migrated there before him. Noticing this, the disbelievers of Makkah became afraid that Islam was winning new grounds and they conspired to assassinate the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam. In order to implement their conspiracy, they chose forty strong, young Makkan men from different tribes to kill the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, so that the Prophet's tribe, Banu Haashim, would not be able to avenge for him from all these tribes.

At night, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, secretly left his home and went to the house of Abu Bakr and they both headed for the cave where they hid for three days. The people of Quraysh were unable to reach him because Allaah protected him. The Quran mentioned this story as Allaah said (what means): “If you help him (Muhammad) not (it does not matter), for Allaah did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of two, when they (the Prophet Muhammad and Abu Bakr) were in the cave, and he said to his companion (Abu Bakr): "Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allaah is with us.

" Then Allaah sent down His tranquility upon him, and strengthened him with forces (angels) which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while it was the Word of Allaah that became the uppermost, and Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” [Quran 9:40]

• Al-Madeenah:

This is the city of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam. It was called Yathrib but the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, changed its name to Al-Madeenah(the city)The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi

wa sallam, enjoined the Muslims not to call it Yathrib again. Then, the Muslims named it Al-Madeenah Al-Munawwarah (The Enlightened City) in order to distinguish it from other cities.

The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, migrated to Al-Madeenah and the people welcomed him warmly. Immediately after the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, reached Al-Madeenah, he started to organize the aspects of life there. First, he built a mosque to gather people for prayer, teach them, and enable them to consult each other on their affairs. Then, he made a tie of brotherhood between the Al-Muhaajiroon (Immigrants) and the Ansaar (supporters, who were the original residents of Al-Madeenah).

The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, stayed in Al-Madeenah for ten years where he shouldered the responsibilities of the Islamic call, organized people's lives, sent regiments to defend the city, and sent messengers and ambassadors to the kings all over the world calling them to embrace the new religion.

One of the most important events that happened in Al-Madeenah during the lifetime of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, was the digging of the trench around it following the advice of the companion, Salmaan Al-Faarisi, may Allaah be pleased with him. In the fifth Hijri year, Al-Madeenah was exposed to an attack from the Quraysh polytheists, some of their allies, and the Jews.

These allied forces, known as the “Ahzaab”, were surprised to see the trench which defended Al-Madeenah and rendered them unable to penetrate it. The attack came to an end with the Muslims' victory after Allaah sent a stormy wind on the allies who were obliged to abandon their siege of Al-Madeenah and return to Makkah.

The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, died and he was buried in Al-Madeenah. Later, Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq and `Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with them, were buried next to him.

• Badr:

This is a town which is located about 160 kilometers from Al-Madeenah. In this place, on the 17th of Ramadhaan 2 A.H., the decisive Battle of Badr took place. The Muslims, commanded by the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, defeated the Makkan polytheists although the latter were much more superior in terms of numbers and weaponry. The polytheists were about one thousand fighters whereas the Muslim forces were one third of this number.

The Quran referred to this victory, as Allaah said (what means):

“And Allaah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allaah much [abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allaah much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained] that you may be grateful.” [Quran 3:123]

• Uhud:

This is one of the most famous mountains in Islamic history. It lies near Al-Madeenah and the Battle of Uhud took place near it in the third Hijri year.

After their defeat in the Battle of Badr, the people of Quraysh were furious and decided to avenge this defeat. So, three thousand fighters marched to Al-Madeenah to attack it and fight the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam. In Shawwaal, they reached Al-Madeenah and the army camped near mount Uhud. Commanding seven hundred noble companions, may Allaah pleased with them, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, marched to confront them. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, prepared a masterly plan for the battle.

 The Muslims implemented this plan in the beginning of the combat until they attained victory and the polytheists fled. Some Muslims thought that they were completely victorious and so they left the positions assigned to them by the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, that was supposed to protect the rear of the Muslim army. When they started to take the spoils of war, the polytheists seized the opportunity and came back under the command of Khaalid Ibn Al-Waleed, may Allaah pleased with him, who was not yet a Muslim at that time. The polytheists attacked the rear of the Muslim army. The Muslims' rows were in chaos and the whole army was in trouble. Many Muslims fled from the battlefield. Only the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and some companions remained steadfast and they managed to keep off the attack. The polytheists were satisfied with what they had achieved and they returned to Makkah.

At the same place, the Muslim martyrs were buried and in the forefront of them were Hamzah, may Allaah be pleased with him, the Prophet's uncle and Mus`ab Ibn `Umayr, may Allaah be pleased with him, the first ambassador in Islam. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, used to say about Mount Uhud: “This mountain likes us and we like it.”

• Tabook:

This is a city in northern Hijaaz, more than 1000 kilometers from Al-Madeenah. This city witnessed the last and largest holy war commanded by the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, in the ninth Hijri year with an army of thirty thousand soldiers.

The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, prepared this army in extremely hard conditions. This was called the army of hardship, because the distance was far away and it was very hot.

The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, stayed in Tabook for three weeks in which he organized the affairs of the region and concluded treaties with some emirates that were pro-Roman allies. After that, he returned to Al-Madeenah to receive delegations of the Arab tribes who came to declare their Islam.