Muhammad
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Muhammad (in Arabic: محمد) was a man who Muslims believe to be the last prophet of God and also an Arab religious and political leader. Believed to be a descendent of Ishmael, a son of Abraham, he is considered the most important person in religion of Islam.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Childhood
Part of a series of articles on History of Islam |
Beliefs and practices |
Oneness of God |
Important people |
Muhammad Abu Bakr • Ali |
Texts & Laws |
Qur'an • Sunnah • Hadith |
Types of Islam |
Muslim culture |
Academics • History |
See also |
Vocabulary of Islam • Islamophobia |
Muhammad was born about A.D. 571 in Mecca, but he was born without a father. His father, whose name was Abdullah, died much earlier. His mother, Amina, died when he was six years old. So, his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, took care of him for two years. Then his grandfather died too, so his uncle Abu Talib took care of him all his life.
[edit] Beginning of the Prophecy
When he was forty years old, Muhammad went for a walk to the mountain of Hira near Mecca. According to Muslims, the archangel Gabriel spoke with him in the cave of the mountain. This is what Gabriel said to Muhammad:
“ | Read... in the name of God Who made man from a drop of blood... God is Most Rewarding... He Who taught man to write with pen... and taught man what he knew not.[1] | ” |
Muhammad ran back home scared at first. But then, he bagan to return to the mountain, putting his fear aside. He returned to Mecca with new words from Gabriel, which would become the words of the Muslim holy book, the Quran. The Quran was made with help from Muhammad's teachers, because he could not read or write, in the last ten nights of Ramadan. When Muhammad first started teaching, the pagans of Mecca, and Muhammad's uncle Abu Lahab, a leader of Mecca by that time, started to punish and torture all followers of Islam. They went after Muhammad himself.
No matter how hard they tried, more people were willing to enter Islam. But then, the people of Mecca were told to throw all Muslims into the desert without their belongings. They stayed there for three years without enough food or water. Then, Muhammad's wife, Khadijah, and his uncle, Abu Talib, died in the same year. Muhammad was left without protection against the people of Mecca.
[edit] The Hijra
When Muhammad thought he had failed, people from Medina learnt about him and his followers. They welcomed him into their city, but Muhammad wanted them to convert to Islam in exchange. They agreed, and most of his followers went to Medina. This movement from Mecca to Medina is called the Hijra. The Hijra was also the beginning of the Muslim calendar. Muhammad stayed behind until all of his people left Mecca safely.
As Muhammad stayed in Mecca, Abu Lahab was training seven men to kill him in his sleep. But, no one saw him leaving Mecca. The men went into his house and hound his cousin, Ali. So, Abu Lahab and his horsemen went to the desert to look for him and his friend, Abu Bakr.
[edit] His stay in Medina
Muhammad and Abu Bakr arrived Medina safely. The people of Medina welcomed Muhammad with a song. Today, this song is famous in Muslim populations. Muhammad had many people welcoming him to their homes, but he used his camel to show everyone where he would build his house. Also, the first mosque of Medina, a small place for prayer, was built at the back of the house.
But then, a lot happened after. Not everone was happy about the new changes in Medina. A strong Jewish tribe in Medina felt that Muhammad's new rules would change their lifestyle for the worse. So, they told their allies in Mecca to sell of all the things and homes the Muslims of Mecca left behind. Then the Muslims, and those from Mecca, were being advised to fight to get their belongings back. But, Muhammad did not advise them to do so.
Then one day, every Muslim all over Medina was surprised to hear In A.D. 624, Muslims were called all over Medina to gather at Muhammad's prayer place. They were told to fight against the pagans of Mecca, who threw Muslims out of Mecca long ago.
[edit] The wars
The pagans of Mecca heard about this, and they sent a larger army to fight the Muslims. They meant in Badr, but the pagans were defeated.
But, the Muslims lost the second war. One year after the first one, the army of Mecca had outside help. Hamza, Muhammad's last uncle, was killed when a slave from Mecca threw a spare into his chest. Muhammad was badly hurt, and Muslim fighters failed to listen to his instructions.
[edit] The truce with Mecca
Although the Muslims failed the second war, the pagans of Mecca decided to sign a truce with the Muslims. This means that no one would fight each other for ten years. The Muslims used this as a chance to talk to other people all over Arabia. In three years, everyone changed their religions to Islam.
But, this truce did not last for long. After three years of it, a small group of horsemen from Mecca attacked a Muslim camp and killed almost everyone in it. The Muslims in Medina heard of this, and the truce was cancelled. Abu Sufyan, third leader of Mecca in Muhammad's lifetime, tried to resume the truce, but everyone walked away from him with anger. Muhammad told his followers to be ready to capture Mecca for good.
[edit] The capture of Mecca
In A.D. 630, most people in Arabia had become Muslims, and they became part of Muhammad's large army to capture Mecca. Because of the big size, the people of Mecca were afraid to fight back. Abu Sufyan, still feeling bad over the broken truce, went to Muhammad's camp outside Mecca to ask for forgiveness. He did not receive a direct response, but returned back home. Before he did, in Muhammad's presence, he changed his religion to Islam by saying the Testimony (al-Ashaada):
“ | I testify that there is no other god but God, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. | ” |
The next day, the Muslim army walked towards Mecca. Everyone ran to their homes and closed all doors and windows. They were afraid that the Muslims were going to kill them, because of the bad things they did to the Muslims many years ago. But, the Muslims went towards the Kaaba, believed to be built by Abraham and his elder son, Ishmael. Bilal ibn Ribah, a former Ethiopian slave, shouted out loud to the people of Mecca that they were all safe:
“ | All those who lays down arms are safe. All those in the house of Abu Sufyan are safe. All those behind closed doors are safe. | ” |
Abu Sufyan heard this in his home. From this, he learnt that Muhammad forgave him. At that time, Muhammad and his followers removed and broke all idols from the Kaaba. The idols were statues that the pagans worshipped as gods. At the end, Bilal climbed to the top of the Kaaba and called for prayer. This was Muhammad's victory in spreading Islam all over Arabia. But, because he was old, he would not live for long.
[edit] His death
In A.D. 632, Muhammad became very sick. Before he died, he told his followers about it. Many cried because of this, and some still did after he died. He is buried in his place in Medina, where the Mosque of the Prophet is. In Mecca, his friend Abu Bakr went to the Kaaba and shouted to the people:
“ | If any of you worship Muhammad, you should know that Muhammad is dead. But those of you who worship God, let it be known that God is alive and cannot die.[2] | ” |
Although Muhammad died, Islam soon spread all over the Middle East. Then, centuries later, it continued till it reached Africa, Asia and Europe. Even now, Islam is one of the world's popular religions.
[edit] Not important fact
In 1976, a man named Mustafa Akkad made a movie about Muhammad and his life as a messenger. But, because of serious Islamic rules, Muhammad was not shown in this movie.
[edit] Notes
- ↑ This saying can be found in the Quran (Chapter 96:1 - 5)
- ↑ Muhammad’s Biography, The Religion of Islam. Found January 23, 2007