The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) received divine revelation at the age of forty

Arabic text

عَنِ ‌ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: أُنْزِلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَرْبَعِينَ، فَمَكَثَ بِمَكَّةَ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً، ثُمَّ أُمِرَ بِالْهِجْرَةِ، فَهَاجَرَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ، فَمَكَثَ بِهَا عَشْرَ سِنِينَ، ثُمَّ تُوُفِّيَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

Translation

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) received divine revelation at the age of forty. He spent 13 years in Makkah. Then, he was commanded to immigrate, and he immigrated to Madīnah, where he stayed for 10 years. Then, he (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) passed away.

Explanation

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that revelation was sent down to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his prophetic mission began at the age of forty, and he stayed in Makkah for 13 years after the revelation. Thereafter, he was commanded to immigrate to Madīnah, where he stayed for 10 years. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) passed away at the age of sixty-three.

Benefits

• The Hadīth shows the Companions' interest in the Prophet's biography.

Topics

• The Creed
• Seerah and History
• Belief in the Messengers
• Our Prophet Muhammad, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him
• Prophet's Biography