The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

[Mark Wells]

There is no compulsion in Islam.

—The Prophet Muhammad from the Qur'an, 2:256

Muhammad was born around the year 570 in the city of Mecca, Arabia. His name means "highly praised." Muhammad's full name was Abu al-Qasim Muhammad Ibn Abd Allah Ibn Abd al-Muttalib Ibn Hashim. He was the last prophet of the religion of Islam.

Muhammad's father, Abdallah, died several weeks before his birth and his mother, Aminah, died when he was six years old. He was raised by his paternal grandfather, 'Abd al Muttalib, until the age of eight, and after his grandfather's death by Abu Talib, his paternal uncle. Under the guardianship of Abu Talib, Muhammad began to earn a living as a businessman and a trader.

The tradition of Islam claims that in the year 610, Muhammad, while on a retreat to Mount Hira for meditation during the month of Ramadan, received his first revelation from the Archangel Gabriel. Gabriel said to Muhammad: "Iqraa," meaning "read" or "recite." He replied, "I cannot read." Gabriel embraced Muhammad and after releasing him repeated: "Iqraa." Muhammad's answer was the same as before. Gabriel repeated the embrace, asking Muhammad to repeat after him and said: "Recite in the name of your Lord who created! He created man from that which clings. Recite; and thy Lord is most Bountiful, He who has taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not."

The Angel Gabriel visited the Muhammad many times over a period of twenty-three years. Gabriel taught Muhammad the verses and he instructed his scribes to record them. All the revealed verses are compiled in the Qur'an. The Prophet's sayings and actions are recorded separately in collections known as Hadith. Muslims believe that Muhammad was a messenger of Allah (Arabic for The One and Only God) and last of the prophets sent by Allah to guide man to the right path.

The Prophet's mission was to restore the worship of the One True God, the creator and sustainer of the universe, as taught by Prophet Abraham and all Prophets of God, and to demonstrate the laws of moral, ethical, legal, and social conduct. Islam means peace by submission and obedience to the Will and Commandments of God. Those who accept Islam are called Muslims, meaning those who have accepted the message of peace by submission to God.

The Qur'an provides insight into the missions, struggles and communities of twenty-five Prophets, the first of which is Adam. The Qur'an mentions four previously revealed Scriptures: Suhoof (Pages) of Abraham, Taurat ('Torah') as revealed to Moses, Zuboor ('Psalms') as revealed to David, and Injeel ('Evangel') as revealed to Jesus. Islam requires belief in all the prophets and revealed scriptures as part of its Articles of Faith.

Muhammad's first few followers were his cousin, Ali, his servant, Zayd ibn Harithah, his friend, Abu Bakr and his wife and daughters. They all accepted Islam by testifying that: "There is no Deity (worthy of worship) except Allah (The One True God) and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." By the end of his life, Muhammad had several hundred thousand followers.

Before he died in 632, Muhammad had established the religious practices known as "the five pillars of Islam." They are declaring the oneness of Allah and his messenger Muhammad; praying five times a day; fasting during the month of Ramadan; giving to charity; and making the pilgrimage to Mecca. Some Muslims recognize a sixth pillar in the Islamic jihad that can be an armed conflict in defence of Islam (known as the lesser jihad); and improving one's spiritual being (called the greater jihad).

Muhammad is the model of Qur'anic behavior for Muslims. They mention his name by adding "peace be upon him," a phrase used with the name of all the prophets. Muslims try to follow the Qur'an and the Prophet's example in every detail.

[p.a. glenn]

Isn't it ironic that "The Prophet's mission was to restore the worship of the One True God" YET "Muslims try to follow the Qur'an and the Prophet's example" instead of trying to follow and worship God?

[Shelia Ellis]

Great lesson Mark thanks :)

[Kentavia Whittington]

Malcom X (the movie) has me extremely interested in the Nation of Islam. I was just asking someone "What does the Koran say about murder/revenge/justice/defense?" & this post introduced the sixth pillar, armed conflict in defense. I am curious about that. Chapter 5 verse 32 of the Koran says that whoever kills a soul UNLESS FOR A SOUL has slain mankind entirely (paraphrased). Thank you for connecting that information for me. I will look more into the lesser jihad.

[Nimat:Grace]

1. Al Islam is established on Five Pillars. Jihad is not a Pillar. In fact the idea of Jihad is misapplied and misunderstood.
2. Muslim look to Prophet Muhammad (saw) as an example (Uswa) as we also look at Jesus, Abebraham, Moses, David,Noah, Job, Jonah etc... All Prophets/Messengers sent to represent.
3. There is a difference between Prophet and Messenger, One is Rasul the other Nabi. So the words are not the same and should not be interchanged in that way. One is given a Book/Scripture and the other comes as a warner with no Book or Scripture
4. Muslims do worship the One and Only God. However, as in all faiths you have individuals who may or may not be the best examples. It is not the religion that is at fault, it is the individuals and their own personal issues. As they come to religion to make there lifes better, to move towards having a better understanding, to grow and purify.
5. All/Most religions have Scripture Messages identified as Gods Words, Muslims do to. These  Scriptures as we call them give guidance ie... Quran, Torah, Bible, Psalm, Abrahams Covenant/Scroll, etc.. So, following the word is following the laws and instructions of God and or being enlighted.

[Kimbely Furman]

I am satisfied and prefer to pray and believe in the one true Son who Lives and not to a spirit who is stated by beliefs of a man still in his grave. And the fact that I know I can have ever lasting life by believing and not doubting as Thomas done so. I can have heavens everlasting life believing in the SON OF GOD  as God Himself stated to do so.  No one will see the kingdom of heaven BELIEVING NOT that Jesus is the Son of God.    John 6:40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."  Amen!

[Nimat:Grace]

Lakum Deenakum Wa leeyadeen.

[Nimat:Grace]

As you can see, there are many ways to worship GOD. And as each one of us are born and arrive on this planet, we over a period of time are exposed to ways to believe and taught what to believe or study for faith purposes and connections to GOD.

However, there was a period of time, as we were not here/there, when Prophets and Messengers were sent, inspired or directed to come to mankind in their various locals to teach and warn and give directions as From God.

This happened all over the planet, thereby establishing ways to worship indicative to these locals and nationalities. As each and some regions had particular "issues". (Important point here) And as history is not a source yet protected by the frailties of the human mind and its process to secure artifacts many sources are lost of ancient texts and scriptures. (As well as mans rewriting Gods Words)

One of the problems on this planet is the idea of one holding up their acceptance as the only way. I past that stage long ago. So, the words that I wrote above means, To you be your way, to me mines. As God, will make the final determination as to how his servants served him and others. He will decide, no one else. ( And I use He for speaking purpose not gender as God is not male or female. As this is my way to see it)

As a note of clarity, Muslims do not worship people. We do not worship Muhammad! He is one of many messengers and prophets that we love and respect.

We Only worship God! The Unseen, The Creator, beautiful conversation we can have about that in real time. And as Muslims and Jews and all other Faiths we have varying ideas based on our perceptions, travels, experiences, up-bringing, social conditionings, educations and many other variables; so amongst each faith, within their own ranks there is difference in how one practices and executes the ideas of( their) faiths.

For example in Christianity some say that Jesus (Peace be upon him) is God, some say he is the Son of God. Jews dont think he is either, those of other faiths have their own ideas. As in Al Islam, some Muslims give too much to the idea of Jihad and misrepresent this in action. So we can look at every way towards God and see something in its actualization being misrepresented or wonderfully displayed based on the persons and people and their aforemention background.

I stand on the principles of my faith and practise them in excellence with the intent of getting better, I do this for God and in service to mankind.

We have to be careful all of us as to how we treat others and their faiths. As we can look back in history and see horrible things done to people because of what they practised, we see this in all religions.

And we have to be especially careful in this time that we live in with the lies and incorrect memes that the media is putting out there. I come from a circle of people of all faiths.

We work together on common grounds, we eat together, laugh together, plan together and go back to our communities to help improve the circumstances for all tho we are in different religious houses.

I think God, The One, The Unseen, The Majestic, The All Knowing would be pleased with that and I pray that he would be pleased with me and you and all who have accepted faith in Him. Ameen/Amen .

In Al Islam when the early Muslims were being attacked it was a Black Christian King of Abyssinia who listen to the verses from our book, the Holy Quran. The verses were about Mary, The Mother of Jesus, and when The Black King heard these verses he,( as God would have it) protected the Muslims in their early years. And he drew a line in the dirt and said the only difference between us is this line. And today, the ancestors of those people still live there. ( I was just speaking with a friend whose wife are from those people)

[Nimat:Grace]

[Nimat:Grace]

As a closing note, I study all scriptures. In my home I have several books from many fatihs. I love

God and his words(plural). I understand the importance of embracing others faith while living my own. As the trail is not with one another but the ideas of saitan.

And as every way of faith has many things to find the glory of God in, one of Al Islam is the rapid growth. And while most believe because of the media that Arabs make up the highest number of Muslims, that is wrong. I study with due diligence and research for details and I have had the chance to go to Saudi Arabia for Hajj where I saw every Ethnic Group/Nationality worship

(3 million on that day). And needless to say, it was a beautiful sight to see, A Garden with so many flowers of Mankind. :)

 

Blessed Regards

Grace