The Life Of Muhammad Essay, Research Paper

The prophet of Islam, Muhammad, not only was gifted religiously, but was a gifted politically as well. Muhammad was an exceptionally honest and able person who preached that there was only one true God, Allah. Muhammad’s teachings eventually developed into Islam. Though Islam was a successful religion in the end, it developed slowly in the early years. At Muhammad’s death, Islam was on the same level as Judaism and Christianity. Muhammad left behind a strong political-religious community increasing the Arabs’ power and influence. When Muhammad was twenty-five years old, his employer, Khadija proposed to marry him. This relieved all financial worries giving him time to reflect on the meaning of life. Troubled by life in Makkah, he began to spend time in a cave fasting and praying alone. In AD 610, Muhammad experienced a vision. The prophet heard a voice calling him saying he was the apostle of the one true god, Allah. In a second revelation, Mohammad was ordered to warn people about the coming of the divine judgment, when God would punish all evildoers and reward the honorable. In AD 613, Muhammad began sharing his revelations with the people of Makkah. The prophet was making slow progress because the majority of the Makkans rejected his message. Wealthy merchants and religious leaders did not appreciate Muhammad’s attacks on images. People feared a monotheistic religion would end pilgrimages to Makkah, threaten their livelihood, and take away the wealth and power of the city. Muhammad continued to preach his message until threats against his life forced him to go elsewhere.

Citizens in Yathrib agreed to protect Muhammad if he settled a dispute between two rival tribes. In AD 622, Muhammad sent approximately sixty families to Yathrib. Soon after, he followed them in secret. This relocation is known as the Hijrah, or emigration. The people in Yathrib accepted Muhammad as a prophet and as the ruler of their city. Now that Yathrib was the center of the Islamic religion, it became known as Madinat al-Nabi, “the city of the prophet,” or Madinah. In AD 624, Muhammad ordered that all Muslims were place loyalty to the Islamic community above the loyalty to their tribe, which was known as the Madinah Compact. The Madinah Compact showed that Muhammad was a great political organizer, he made wise decisions, and he was an inspired prophet. After Madinah defeated Makkah in war, Muhammad and his followers entered Makkah. On this trip, Muhammad and his followers faced little resistance. The Makkans accepted Muhammad’s message this time. The Muslims destroyed the images at Kaaba, and turned the shrine into a Muslim place of worship. Now, Makkah was the spiritual capital of Islam, and Madinah was its political capital. Muhammad died in AD 632 after a short illness. Muhammad ended his life greatly. He had built a monotheistic religion that was as large as Judaism and Christianity. The prophet also left behind a well-organized religious and political community, two things that do not usually work together. Muhammad still has influence on many people today religiously and politically.