FREE ESSAY ON MOHAMMED, THE ISLAMIC PROPHET

MOHAMMED, THE ISLAMIC PROPHET

Non-Western History
Muhammad 
He well earned his place in the history books as being one of the true people who were
blessed with being able to communicate with God. After having his first vision, Muhammad
tried with out end to get people to listen to him preach and had hopes to win people over
to his God. As good as one may think now day's how good it would be to be blessed with
the gift Muhammad had received, in his times people were very skeptical. In their minds
Muhammad's visions were of evil instead of goodness. However he was able to obtain a few
followers. I plan to inform you on how his life began, the problems he encountered, and
then finally the end and what his life stood for.
Muhammad was born in 570 A.D. in an important trading center in western Arabia called
Mecca. He was born into the Hashim clan of the powerful Quarysh tribe. Soon before his
birth his father died and then when he was six, tragedy struck again taking the life of
his mother. This left Muhammad living with his grandfather Abd-almuttalib. After living
there for a little while Muhammad moved again, this time with his Uncle Abu Talib, who
succeeded as head of the Hashim clan. At the age of twenty-five he went to work for a
rich and beautiful widow named Khadijah, who owned a wealthy commercial enterprise. After
a brief time the two were married and tried to start a family. They had two sons, both of
whom died, but then four daughters were born. At about 610 A.D., while in a cave on Mount
Hira, Muhammad had a message entrusted in him by God to preach of his messages.
Intermediately he received more messages throughout his life. Some of these revelations
constitute the texts of the Koran. First privately and then publicly Muhammad began to
preach of his revelations. He preached that there is but one God and that he was a
messenger sent to worn the people of judgment day and to remind them of Gods power and
goodness.
Muhammad's iconoclasm and monotheism was responded to with hostility from the Mecca's. No
one had ever ventured as far as him as far as religion goes. Luckily as long as
Muhammad's uncle Abu Talib was alive, he was protected by the Hashim. But in 619 A.D. Abu
Talib died and the new clan leader was unwilling to continue the protective arrangements.
Muhammad also lost his wife Khadija. Muhammad and seventy followers decided to break
their ties to Mecca and move to Medina where they could be appreciated and hopefully find
new followers. This move called the Hijra, which in Arabic means emigration, took place
in 622. In medina an organized Muslim community came into existence under the leadership
of Muhammad. Attacks on caravans from Mecca lead to war with the Meccans. Muhammad's
followers obtained some victories but were unable to win them all. One of the greatest
victories was when they successfully defended Medina against 10,000 Meccans. Medina had
three clashes with Jewish clans in a period of time. Bano Quaryza, one of the clans, was
accused of plotting against Muhammad during the siege of Medina. All of the clan's men
were killed and the women and children sold into slavery. Then, there was a change and
Mecca, a city that had banned him eight years ago, opened back up to him. Muhammad showed
great generosity to Mecca. 
Throughout the remainder of Muhammad's life he continued his political and military
involvements. In March 632 a few months after a farewell pilgrimage to Mecca Muhammad
fell ill. He died on June 8, 632 in the presence of his favorite wife Alisha. Muhammad
was given a proper burial. 
Although Muhammad's life wasn't all that long it was very powerful and affected many
people's lives. Muhammad's faith and courage earned him a great mark in the history books
and his mark was very welled earned.