Description

Introduction

Historical icons often seem one-dimensional, reducing complex individuals to mere names or symbols. However, these figures were real people who faced incredible challenges. Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, is one such example. His life was marked by hardship, both before and after receiving God’s revelations.

These summaries offer a timely and insightful look into Muhammad’s transformation from an orphaned outsider to the prophet of Islam, as told in the Qu’ran. You’ll discover:

– Muhammad’s personal struggles, including a mid-life crisis

– The importance of patience in the face of adversity

– The intricate relationship between religion and politics

Regardless of your religious beliefs, this account provides a nuanced understanding of Muhammad’s life and legacy.

One

Muhammad‘s story begins with a remarkable vow made by his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, chief of the Hashim clan. Abd al-Muttalib had discovered the sacred freshwater spring of Zamzam, and to assert his ownership, he swore to sacrifice one of his ten sons if the gods granted him a healthy family.

Years later, when Abd al-Muttalib had ten sons, he was forced to keep his word. He decided the fate of his sons by throwing arrows near the sacred stone of Hubal. The arrow that fell closest to the stone bore the name of Abdullah, Muhammad’s future father.

Heartbroken, Abd al-Muttalib prepared to sacrifice Abdullah, but tribal members intervened, suggesting an alternative. A priestess from Medina proposed that Abdullah’s life could be spared if an equivalent offering was made instead. Abd al-Muttalib was instructed to throw arrows, one representing his son and the other representing ten camels. After ten throws, the arrow finally fell in favor of the camels, and a hundred camels were sacrificed to spare Abdullah’s life.

On the same night, Abdullah married Amina, and Muhammad was conceived. However, fate took another turn when Abdullah left on a trade expedition the following day and later died under unknown circumstances.

Two

Muhammad’s early life took an unusual turn when he was taken in by a bedouin wet nurse, Halima, who brought him to the desert wilderness. Born in Mecca in 570 AD, Muhammad was considered an orphan after his father’s death, despite his mother still being alive. Halima, who had come to Mecca seeking work as a wet nurse, took Muhammad in as a foster child, despite his mother’s inability to pay.

During his time in the desert, a miraculous event occurred, which would eventually lead to Muhammad’s return to Mecca. At the age of five, Muhammad recounted a vivid experience in which two angels descended from the sky, opened his chest, and removed a black speck, symbolizing the devil’s mark, from his heart. This extraordinary event was witnessed by Muhammad as if he were outside his own body.

Halima, fearing for Muhammad’s safety, believing he might have been possessed by an evil jinn, returned him to his mother in Mecca. There, Muhammad grew up as an outsider in the patriarchal society, living an unremarkable life until he turned 40, when his life took a dramatic turn.

Three

At the age of 40, Muhammad’s life took a profound turn. In the year 610, during the month of Ramadan, Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel while praying and meditating on Mount Hira, near Mecca. Gabriel revealed to Muhammad that he was chosen to be God’s messenger and commanded him to recite the holy word.

Initially, Muhammad was frightened and disbelieving, even contemplating harm to himself. However, Gabriel reassured him, emphasizing God’s power and generosity. The angel’s message would become the foundation of the Qur’an, the holy text of Islam.

Shaken, Muhammad sought comfort from his wife, Khadija. As he shared his experience, Khadija’s support and faith helped alleviate his fears. She recognized the significance of the moment, realizing that her husband was destined to become the prophet of their people. The words Muhammad spoke, as conveyed by Gabriel, would form the beginning of the Qur’an, forever changing their lives and the course of history.

Four

After the first revelation, Muhammad’s faith was severely tested. He was plagued by doubt and uncertainty about the experience on Mount Hira. For two years, he waited for a sign or confirmation, but God remained silent. This period of intense loneliness, depression, and doubt was the darkest time in Muhammad’s life.

This experience is reminiscent of the “dark night of the soul,” a concept later described by Saint John of the Cross. It’s a rite of passage that many spiritual leaders must endure on their path to enlightenment.

Muhammad’s perseverance and unwavering faith ultimately convinced God to reveal more profound and beautiful messages. The second revelation, which included the Sura of the Morning, provided a way for Muhammad to teach his people about the new faith. From then on, Muhammad continued to receive revelations from God, which emphasized the importance of caring for and preserving the natural world.

These revelations, often brief and poetic, were imparted to Muhammad at irregular intervals, teaching him patience and the value of allowing each message to take its full shape before sharing it with others. This lesson in patience would prove essential for the challenges that lay ahead.

Five

Muhammad’s divine message sparked division within his own clan. Initially, he shared his revelations with his wife, Khadija, but soon, the angel Gabriel instructed him to spread the message to his friends and family.

Muhammad invited members of his Hashim clan to a meal, where he planned to recite his revelations. However, his uncle, Abu-Lahab, walked out, disrupting the gathering and forcing Muhammad to stop.

Undeterred, Muhammad hosted another dinner the next day, where he successfully recited his revelations without interruption. This marked the beginning of his efforts to spread the word.

However, not everyone was receptive to Muhammad’s message. When he asked for help in sharing the new faith, only his cousin, Ali, was willing to support him. Muhammad appointed Ali as his representative, instructing others to obey him.

This decision created tension, as it went against tribal rules, which stated that a son should always obey his father. As a result, many older clan members and the majority of the Hashim clan rejected Muhammad’s command, leading to a divide within the clan. Initially, only a few younger members converted to the new faith.

Six

As Muhammad continued to spread God’s word, his message took on a political tone, criticizing corruption and wealth, and advocating for the poor and oppressed. This resonated with young people and marginalized groups, but alienated those in power.

The prophet’s revelations ultimately led to his clan, the Hashims, being partially excluded from Meccan society. The chiefs of the influential Makhzum and Umayyad clans pressured Abu-Talib, the chief of the Hashim clan, to disown Muhammad. When Abu-Talib refused, the two clans imposed a boycott on the entire Hashim clan.

The boycott prohibited other clans from doing business with the Hashims or arranging marriages with them. However, the Hashims had established strong family ties with other clans through centuries of intermarriage, which helped them weather the boycott. Not all clans participated, and the Hashims were able to maintain some connections and support.

Seven

Muhammad’s continued preaching in Mecca met with increasing hostility, prompting him to seek support elsewhere. During the hajj pilgrimage, he met six pilgrims from Medina who were impressed by his message and invited him to Medina to serve as a conflict mediator.

The following year, 72 clan leaders from Medina pledged their allegiance to Muhammad, and in 622 AD, the Medina clans formed a military alliance with Muhammad’s clan. This pact essentially integrated Muhammad and his followers into the Medinan tribes.

Muhammad and his followers relocated to Medina in the summer of 622, but the transition was challenging. Leaving their tribal lands and clans was a significant upheaval, and the Meccans pursued some of those who attempted to leave, forcing them to return. However, Muhammad’s followers eventually settled in Medina, creating a new community. The rifts between the tribes would need to be healed, and the next stage of Muhammad’s journey would focus on building unity and resolving conflicts.

Eight

Muhammad employed a strategic approach to reunite Medina and Mecca, utilizing a pilgrimage and a battle to achieve his goal. Following a series of inconclusive battles between the two cities, Muhammad embarked on a peaceful pilgrimage to Mecca with a group of unarmed followers.

The Meccans, bound by their laws to allow pilgrims to pass, were uncertain how to respond. Ultimately, the two cities agreed to a ten-year truce, permitting Muhammad to enter Mecca on his next pilgrimage. This development marked a significant turning point, as individuals were now free to choose between following Muhammad or the Meccan leaders.

Over the next year, Muhammad continued to build support and spread Islam, even through military means. When a skirmish broke out between two bedouin tribes allied with Mecca and Medina, respectively, Muhammad seized the opportunity to settle the issue once and for all.

On January 11, 630, Muhammad led his army in a successful conquest of Mecca, encountering little resistance. With the city under his control, Muhammad became the recognized leader of a new faith, Islam, uniting Medina and Mecca under his rule.

Conclusion

This book conveys a pivotal message: the story of Muhammad is not a simplistic portrayal of a saintly figure. Instead, it is a richly human narrative that explores the complexities and challenges of his life. Muhammad’s journey is marked by his experiences as an orphaned child and his later exile from his community due to his beliefs. Despite these hardships, he remained steadfast in his convictions, ultimately laying the foundation for a new faith.

About the author

Lesley Hazleton is a distinguished expert on the Middle East, with a notable literary career. Her notable works include “After the Prophet”, which garnered recognition as a finalist for the 2010 PEN nonfiction award.

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