Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet

As-Salamu Alaykum, Insha'Allah (إن شاء الله) (السلام عليكم) Peace upon you my friends. May Allah (G-d) will it. I would like to share the story about the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Whether you believe or not. Even if you distaste Islam for what ever reason. I'm not a Muslim either but have great respect for Islam. I hope to introduce and generalize the early life and the prophet hood of Muhammad. There will not be any preaching or telling you are in correct not to follow Islam. Just see something you have never dared look.

Prophet Muhammad (s) was born in 570 CE in Makkah (Bakka, Baca, Mecca). His father, Abdullah, died several weeks before his birth in Yathrib (Medinah) where he went to visit his father's maternal relatives. His mother died while on the return journey from Medinah at a place called ‘Abwa’ when he was six years old. He was raised by his paternal grandfather 'Abd al Muttalib (Shaybah) until the age of eight, and after his grandfather’s death by Abu Talib, his paternal uncle. 'Abd al Muttalib's mother, Salma, was a native of Medinah and he was born and raised as a young boy in Medinah before his uncle Muttalib brought him to Makkah to succeed him. Many years before Muhammad's birth, 'Abd al Muttalib had established himself as an influential leader of the Arab tribe ‘Quraish’ in Makkah and took care of the Holy sanctuary ‘Ka’bah’. Makkah was a city state well connected to the caravan routes to Syria and Egypt in the north and northwest and Yemen in the south. Muhammad was a descendant of Prophet Ismail through the lineage of his second son Kedar.

Under the guardianship of Abu Talib, Muhammad (s) began to earn a living as a businessman and a trader. At the age of twelve, he accompanied Abu Talib with a merchant caravan as far as Bostra in Syria. Muhammad was popularly known as ‘al-Ameen’ for his unimpeachable character by the Makkans and visitors alike. The title Al-Ameen means the Honest, the Reliable and the Trustworthy, and it signified the highest standard of moral and public life. Muhammad (s) was forty when, during his one of many retreats to Mount Hira for meditation during the month of Ramadan, he received the first revelation from the Archangel Jibril (Gabriel). On this first appearance, Gabriel (as) said to Muhammad: "Iqraa," meaning Read or Recite. Muhammad replied, "I cannot read," as he had not received any formal education and did not know how to read or write. The Angel Gabriel then embraced him until he reached the limit of his endurance and after releasing said: "Iqraa." Muhammad’s answer was the same as before. Gabriel repeated the embrace for the third time, asked him to repeat after him and said:
"Recite in the name of your Lord who created! He created man from that which clings. Recite; and thy Lord is most Bountiful, He who has taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not."
These revelations are the first five verses of Surah (chapter) 96 of the Qur’an. Thus it was in the year 610 CE the revelation began.

Muhammad (s) was terrified by the whole experience of the revelation and fled the cave of Mt. Hira [Qur'an 81:19-29]. When he reached his home, tired and frightened, he asked his wife: ‘cover me, cover me,’ in a blanket. After his awe had somewhat abated, his wife Khadijah asked him about the reason of his great anxiety and fear. She then assured him by saying: "Allah (The One God) will not let you down because you are kind to relatives, you speak only the truth, you help the poor, the orphan and the needy, and you are an honest man. Khadijah then consulted with her cousin Waraqa who was an old, saintly man possessing knowledge of previous revelations and scriptures. Waraqa confirmed to her that the visitor was none other than the Angel Gabriel who had come to Moses. He then added that Muhammad is the expected Prophet. Khadijah accepted the revelation as truth and was the first person to accept Islam. She supported her husband in every hardship, most notably during the three-year ‘boycott’ of the Prophet’s clan by the pagan Quraish. She died at the age of sixty-five in the month of Ramadan soon after the lifting of the boycott in 620 CE.

In the first three years of his mission forty people (men and women) accepted Islam. This small group comprised of youth as well as older people from a wide range of economic and social background. The Prophet was directed by a recent revelation to start preaching Islam to everyone. He then began to recite revelations to people in public and invite them to Islam. The Quraish, leaders of Makkah, took his preaching with hostility. The most hostile and closest to the prophet was his uncle Abu Lahab and his wife. Initially, they and other leaders of Quraish tried to bribe him with money and power including an offer to make him king if he were to abandon his message. When this did not work, they tried to convince his uncle Abu Talib to accept the best young man of Makkah in place of Muhammad and to allow them to kill Muhammad. His uncle tried to persuade the Prophet to stop preaching but the Prophet said: "O uncle, if they were to put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand to stop me from preaching Islam, I would never stop. I will keep preaching until Allah makes Islam prevail or I die."

The Quraish began to persecute Muslims by beating, torture and boycott of their businesses. Those who were weak, poor or slaves were publicly tortured. The first person to die by this means was a Muslim women by the name Umm Ammar (the mother of Ammar Ibn Yasir). The Muslims from well-to-do families were physically restrained in their homes with the condition that if they recant they will be allowed freedom of movement. The Prophet was publicly ridiculed and humiliated including frequent throwing of filth on him in the street and while he prayed in the Ka’bah. In spite of great hardships and no apparent support, the message of Islam kept all Muslims firm in their belief. The Prophet was asked by God to be patient and to preach the message of Qur’an. He advised Muslims to remain patient because he did not receive any revelation yet to retaliate against their persecutors.

When the persecution became unbearable for most Muslims, the Prophet advised them in the fifth year of his mission (615 CE) to emigrate to Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) where Ashabah (Negus, a Christian) was the ruler. Eighty people, not counting the small children, emigrated in small groups to avoid detection. No sooner had they left the Arabian coastline, the leaders of Quraish discovered their flight. They decided to not leave these Muslims in peace, and immediately sent two of their envoys to Negus to bring all of them back. However, Negus allowed them to stay under his protection after he investigated Muslim belief and heard the revelations about Jesus and Mary (peace be upon them both), which appears in Chapter 19, entitled Mary, of the Qur’an. The emigrants were allowed freedom of worship in Abyssinia.

The Quraish then made life even more difficult for the Prophet by implementing total ban on contact with the Prophet’s family (Bani Hashim and Muttalib). The ban lasted for three years without the desired effect. Just before the ban was lifted, the Prophet was contacted by the leaders of Quraish to agree to a compromise under which they should all practice both religions (i.e., Islam and Idolatry). Upon hearing this, the Prophet recited a revelation (Chapter 109) he had just received and which ends with the words: "... For you your religion and for me mine." The ban was lifted when leaders of Quraish discovered that their secret document on the terms of ban, which they had stored in Ka’bah, was eaten by worms and all that was left were the opening words ‘In Your name, O Allah.’ The effects of the three-year boycott left the Prophet with more personal sorrow when he lost his beloved wife Khadijah (ra) and uncle Abu Talib soon after the ban was lifted.

After the death of his uncle Abu Talib, the Prophet went to Taif (about 50 miles east, southeast of Makkah) to seek their protection. They flatly refused and mocked at him, and severely injured him by inciting their children to throw stones at him. Gabriel (as) visited the Prophet here suggesting that the angels were ready to destroy the town if he were to ask Allah for the punishment. Nevertheless, the Prophet declined and prayed for future generations of Taif to accept Islam [Taif]. It was on the return journey from Taif that the verses from Surah Al Jinn (Chapter 72) were revealed. It indicated that the Qur’an is a book of guidance to both the Jinns and Humankind.

I have already added more then enough to share. Continue reading from the links I have provided.
Islam is a beautiful religion.



Source
Pictures source
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Muhammad
Muhammad wiki

reply to post by ManOfGod267


Not something i know much about honestly...

Can you sum up your belief in a few sentences or paragraphs, so i can fully understand your religion from your perspective?

Muhammad was a great man/teacher. I am not so sure he would be fond of Islam today.....nor would Jesus be fond of Christianity today. Only they know ...of course.

I love the teachings...just not what has been done to "Religion".

Peace and love to you all!!!! xoxoxox

Jenn

Click here for more information.

reply to post by Akragon


Well I'm not a Muslim. Just wanted to talk about Muhammad and his life.
Second line needed.

reply to post by Q:1984A:1776


It is how you look at it. I respect your views and understand your concerns. As different faiths came about. History hasn't always favored the founders or other leaders.

reply to post by ManOfGod267




Alrighty then...

Originally posted by Q:1984A:1776
reply to post by ManOfGod267

 

You forgot how the man was a pedophile who married a girl when she was 6 and had sex with her when she was 9. Anyone who can follow the teachings of a man who was so obviously sick in the head, deserves nothing but contempt from any decent person. I find you to be pathetic for showing such respect to a religion that has plagued the earth with violence and the subjugation of women since its inception.

Now....if true....that is disgusting and I take back what I said.
2nd! ! !

reply to post by MamaJ


Google is your friend. Religion isn't.

reply to post by ManOfGod267


Oh Dear...you posted pictures of Mohammed.

Don't you realize that is forbidden?

I predict a Fatwa to be given in 3...2...1

Naughty, naughty.

reply to post by TDawgRex


I like to at least post a picture or video to help other users visualize my threads better.
Does it help? haha.

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" -Galatians 1:8 Muhammad taught a different doctrine that what is taught in the Bible. He was a false prophet. Even the Bible says this about such teachers "Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son." 1 John 2:22 He denied that Jesus was the son of God and said he was only a prophet. Muhammad also taught that good works get you into Heaven but the Bible says only faith in Jesus Christ gets one to Heaven.

reply to post by Q:1984A:1776


Thank you for reminding me about Google. If I was interested I would...but Im not. Also....if I want Religion in my life....I would have it....but I don't.

reply to post by ManOfGod267


Let me repost what I said earlier, as a mod thought that it was inappropriate for me to show my distaste for the promotion of a religion founded by a pedophile. I feel that it is important that this point be made, so people don't get the wrong idea and think that the man the OP is talking about is anything but a child molester. This time I will leave out anything that can be taken as a personal attack.

"
You forgot to add how the man was a pedophile who married a girl when she was 6 and had sex with her when she was 9. Anyone who can follow the teachings of a man who was so obviously sick in the head, deserves nothing but contempt from any decent person. How, as a nonbeliever, can you show such respect to a religion that has plagued the earth with violence and the subjugation of women since its inception? You don't even have the excuse of being blinded by faith that was forced on you from an early age, using fear and coercion...

Originally posted by IlluminatusOculus33
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" -Galatians 1:8 Muhammad taught a different doctrine that what is taught in the Bible. He was a false prophet. Even the Bible says this about such teachers "Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son." 1 John 2:22 He denied that Jesus was the son of God and said he was only a prophet. Muhammad also taught that good works get you into Heaven but the Bible says only faith in Jesus Christ gets one to Heaven.

Well I'm not a Christian or a Muslim. So, a lot of what you said doesn't apply to me. But I respect your views.

reply to post by ManOfGod267


Nah, not really. I've already seen 'em.

I am fascinated by theaology, but look at most "Holy" texts as history lessons or maybe even a guidebook on how to live. I choose the verses that tell us to do good, others?, not so much.

All of the texts are very easy to cherry pick and I doubt they are the "Word", but rather teachings of individuals of the time.

reply to post by TDawgRex


Well, of course. Islam is not perfect like the Christian faith and other faiths. Even Atheism is not perfect. It is how you view it that it will present it's self to the world.

Originally posted by Q:1984A:1776
reply to post by ManOfGod267

 

Let me repost what I said earlier, as a mod thought that it was inappropriate for me to show my distaste for the promotion of a religion founded by a pedophile. I feel that it is important that this point be made, so people don't get the wrong idea and think that the man the OP is talking about is anything but a child molester. This time I will leave out anything that can be taken as a personal attack.

"
You forgot to add how the man was a pedophile who married a girl when she was 6 and had sex with her when she was 9. Anyone who can follow the teachings of a man who was so obviously sick in the head, deserves nothing but contempt from any decent person. How, as a nonbeliever, can you show such respect to a religion that has plagued the earth with violence and the subjugation of women since its inception? You don't even have the excuse of being blinded by faith that was forced on you from an early age, using fear and coercion...

You realize that everyone did that back then right? The life expectancy for a woman was like, 20-30 years which is why so got married early. It wasn't considered pedophilia then, it was considered marrying a woman before she got killed so you could continue the species.

reply to post by Nosred


I don't know about that. But I wouldn't be surprised many different cultures practice early marriages.

reply to post by ManOfGod267


It was a pretty common practice all over the world. If you didn't marry them while they were young there was a serious chance that they'd get killed by some disease or something before you had chances to reproduce.

Edit: More than 3/4 of all women at that time were married before they were 19.


Edit: Also, there's a pretty good chance that everyone on here's ancestors were "pedophiles" according to the above poster's definition.