Muhammad

From 570 c.e. to 632 c.e.

Muhammad was born in 570 C.e. His father had passed away before his birth and his mother will die while he was young. Eventually Muhammad’s uncle Abu Talib will take over his upbringing. Abu Talib was a respected merchant who operated camel caravans throughout what is today Saudi Arabia and as far as Syria. Muhammad worked as a camel driver for his uncle. Muhammad also worked as a shepherd while a boy. Muhammad came into contact with Jews and Christians but these were not religion related. Like many within his area Muhammad was illiterate so he had never read the religious texts of the Jews or Christians. Prior to the age of 35, Muhammad’s religious views are unknown. It is known that he did not engage in pagan worship. At the age of 25 Muhammad goes to work for Khadijah a Wealthy widow. She is impressed with his demeanor and good manners and they will marry. (consult page 111) From their union there will be six children born. They had four girls and two boys. Neither son survives infancy. Later in Islam there is discussion about the successor to Muhammad. It could be argued that an adult son would have made these disagreements less likely.

Muhammad was not a king, statesman or military leader before being called to be a messenger of Allah. In his community he was known for his honesty. He was called Al Amin which translated means either “the Honest One” or “the Trustworthy.” Muhammad was consulted when two neighbors had a disagreement on the placement of a fence to divide their property. Muhammad ruled in one man’s favor but both parties accepted his ruling because of his well known honesty.

When Muhammad is around 35 years of age, it becomes his habit to go into the hills surrounding Mecca to fast and meditate. He is increasingly interested in religious, ethical and philosophical matters. Five years after he starts making these visits, something will occur that will change his life and human history.

In the year 610 C.E. this event will occur.

“He was forty years old, and it was the fifth consecutive year since his annual retreats, when one night towards the end of the month of Ramadan, an angel came to visit him, and announced that God had chosen him as His messenger to all mankind. The angel taught him the mode of ablutions, the way of worshipping God and the conduct of prayer. He communicated to him the following Divine message:

With the name of God, the Most Merciful, the All-Merciful.
Read: with the name of thy Lord Who created,
Created man from what clings,
Read: and thy Lord is the Most Bounteous,
Who taught by the pen,
Taught man what he knew not. (Quran 96:1-5)

18. Deeply affected, he returned home and related to his wife what had happened.”

Excerpt from University Of Southern California Muslim Studies

The angel also indentified himself as Gabrail and from 610 to Muhammad’s death in 632 he will deliver messages from God to Muhammad. The word Allah is Arabic for God. This is the god of Adam, Abraham, Ishmael, Moses and Jesus.

In the traditions of the Shiites, Muhammad’s first convert to the religion is his nine year old cousin Ali. It is certain that Ali is the first male convert. For the next three years Muhammad instruct his extended family in the beliefs. The religion is called Islam, which is taken from the Arabic word for submission. In the wider sense it is “Submission to the Will of God.” Those who submit are Muslims, which means believers.

In 613 c.e. The angel Gabriel will give Muhammad the message to go and preach in the city of Mecca. Mecca is ruled by several clans. They rule through intimidation and force. They control the economy, politics and relgeion of the city. The religions within the city are various pagan faiths. In the main temple surrounding the black stone altar, the Ka’aba were thousands of idols. The leaders received a percentage of offerings at the temple. When Muhammad first preaches in Mecca, few listen. He return day upon day and starts to draw followers. Eventually his following is great enough to draw the attention of the Meccan leadership. They attempt to buy off Muhammad and offer him the chance to build an idol of his god. Muhammad declines these offers and tells them they should submit to the will of god. They will direct their attention to persecuting Muslims. Muslims are imprisoned, tortured and killed. Eventually this leads to the migration to Medina. (page 111 in text)

In 619 c.e.e Khadijah and Abu Talib die.

In Medina, Muhammad is very sucessful in the conversion of the population. In conversion the Muslims do not seek to convert Jews or Christians, only pagans. Jews and Christians are called “people of the book.” in the Koran because they had also received pacts from God. Though 250 miles north of Mecca, Muhammad and others make trips back to Mecca and continue to convert people to Islam. This angers the leaders of Mecca and leads to them attacking.

Two major battles take place the battle of Badr in 624 c.e. and the Battle of Uhud in 625 c.e.

Islam’s Battles of Destiny

The battle of Badr was the most important among the Islamic battles of Destiny. For the first time the followers of the new faith were put into a serious test. Had victory been the lot of the pagan army while the Islamic Forces were still at the beginning of their developments, the faith of Islam could have come to an end. At this battle in which the pagan army consisted of 950 fighters against 314 Muslims, 70 pagans met their death, and the Muslims took from them 70 prisoners.

The Quarish (ruling clan of Mecca) were unwilling to admit a final defeat. They lost a battle, but they believed that they would never lose the war. In 625c.e. the Meccans return with a massive force for the Battle of Uhud, the Quarish mobilized for the battle three thousand fighters compared to nine hundred and fifty fighters at the Battle of Badr.

Muhammad deployed his forces, placing them in strategic positions. He placed fifty marksmen at the slope of the Mount of Uhud, directing them to protect the back of the Muslims.

He commanded them not to leave their position whether the Muslims defeated the pagans or the pagans defeated the Muslims. When the battle began it went in favor of the Muslims. It appeared to be a rout and the archers fearful they would lose their part of the spoils left their positions. The Qurish chose the time to send in their cavarly and the Muslims were in danger of being completely overwhelmed. During this assault the face of the Muhammad was cut, and one of his teeth was broken, and the protective dress of his head was broken. He had to leave the battle. Some Muslims believed he had been killed and started to lose heart.

Muhammad was taken by Ali to Medina for treatment. Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, was washing the blood and Ali was pouring water he brought by his shield. Seeing that the water increased the flow of blood, she burned a mat, put some of its ashes on the wound and the blood stopped.

A messenger brought news of how badly the battle was going. Muhammad despite his pain returned to the battle and rallied his troops and delivering another defeat to the Meccan leaders.

After the Battle of Uhud, there are attempts to sign peace treaties with the leaders of Mecca. Each time they broke the treaty. Muhammad decides that a military solution is the answer. By 630 c.e. Muhammad and the Muslims have succeeded in converting neighboring pagan communities and the ranks of his army have swelled. Muhammad leads his army to Mecca. When they arrive the Muslims expect a battle, but the gates of the city are thrwon open and they hear cheering from within. The population had embraced Islam and greeted Muhammad and his army as brothers. Muhammad told his troops not to do any harm in the city because these inhabitants were their fellow Muslims. Muhammad summoned the Quarish for a meeting. As the victor he could treat them harhly, but he does not. He tells them that he wishes they woul submit to the will of God and become believers, but if they could not he would allow them to remain in peace. To a man the leaders who had opposed Muhammad, who had threatened his life and killed his followers submit and join Islam.

In this same year, the true origin of the Ka’aba is revealed to Muhammad by God through the angel Gabriel. He is told to destroy the idols that surround the altar and to hold cermonies to cleanse it of pagan worship. These steps are completed in 632 c.e. It is at the final ceremony that Muhammad gives his final sermon.

What follows is an excerpt of his final sermon.

Excerpt of Muhammad’s Last Sermon

“Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope of that he will be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right, then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste. O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white - except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not therefore do injustice to yourselves. Remember one day you will meet Allah and answer your deeds. So beware: do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me, and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and my Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to Your people."(1)

After this sermon Muhammad starts his return to Medina. He becomes ill on the journey and when he is home in Medina will pass away surrounded by family and friends. Muhammad is sixty – two years old at the time of his death.

See pages 114 through 115 for the split of Islam.

Source for Muhammad’s last sermon

(1) http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/prophet/profbio.html