Interesting Facts about Muhammad The Prophet

Muhammed ibn 'Abdullā was a great orator, philosopher and reformer. He is the founder of the Islam religion and is believed to be an agent of divine intervention. Muhammad was born into a prominent Mecca family. Abdullah, Muhammad's father, died before he was born. The child was sent to live with a Bedouin family according to tradition. He lost his mother, Amina, to an illness and was brought up by his paternal grandfather, before being adopted by his uncle. Muhammad used to accompany caravans and soon became a merchant. His reputation for being 'faithful' attracted the attention of a widow, Khadijah, in 595 and she and Muhammad were married. He was unhappy with the belief system around him, he used to often retreat to the surrounding mountains for reflection.

Muhammad is believed to have had his first revelation while meditating alone on Mount Hira. It is believed that the angel Gabriel appeared to him and commanded him to memorize a verse. The verse was one of praise for the Lord and declared that man was created out of congealed blood. He was told by the angel that he was a chosen messenger of God. When Muhammad returned home, he only yearned for the spiritual quest. Muhammad's wife Khadija, cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abu Bakr and Zaid, his adopted son were his first followers. He declared eschatological punishment for non believers, monotheism, resurrection of dead, final judgment and frequent prayers.

Muhammad spread 'The Word' and proclaimed the very foundations of the Islamic faith. These included the one omnipresent God, complete surrender as the only way to salvation and that he was a messenger of God. Muhammad's thoughts and popularity earned the hostility of certain Meccan tribes. He and his early disciples were persecuted. Muhammad migrated to Medina or Yathrib, in 622 CE. This flight or Hijra, is the beginning of the calendar followed by followers of Islam, the world over. While in Medina, Muhammad fostered peace and harmony among conflicting tribes.

Muhammad established the Constitution of Medina, Ummah, which declared a federation of the Medinan tribes and emigrants from Mecca. It specified Islam beliefs, citizen rights and duties and effectively applied to the first Islamic nation. Muhammad fostered a brotherhood between emigrants and followers. Eight years of war with Meccan tribes culminated in victory, and Mecca was conquered without bloodshed. After ten long years away from Medina, Muhammad returned as part of the first actual Islamic pilgrimage, Haj. Through the famous Farewell Sermon, he advised his followers to:

• Abandon the addition of intercalary months in the then existent calendar.
• Align the solar and lunar calendars.
• Abolish feuds and create a new Islamic community.
• Respect women.
• Nullify inheritance of paternity claims that were based on falsehood and testamentary heirship.

In 632, Muhammad succumbed to an illness. But, by the time of his death, the Arabian Peninsula was largely under the influence of Islam. He had united the tribes into a single, religious polity. Muhammad or 'He who is praiseworthy' is mentioned four times in the Holy Qur'an. He is referred to as prophet, servant of God, messenger, announcer, reminder and witness, in the Quran. Muhammad's life is documented in numerous historical texts. The Qur'an is considered as a record of the words spoken by Muhammad. The earliest biography of Muhammad is 'Life of God's Messenger' by Ibn Ishaq. The work was published around 120 years after the prophet's death. Segments of the original text still survive in the recensions recorded by Al Tabari and Ibn Hisham. 'The history of Muhammad's Campaigns' by Al-Waqidi is another rich resource on the life and times of the prophet.