prophet – Islam A Closer Look

Who is Muhammad?

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:34:32 +0000

Overview

Muslims regard Muhammad (pbuh) as the last of a long line of Prophets and Messengers sent to every nation and tribe. This Prophetic brotherhood includes Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all). Therefore, Islam regards all expressions of monotheism as coming from the same Source and the Prophets as messengers from the same Almighty God. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said that the difference between him and the other prophets is that they came primarily to their people but he was sent to all of humanity. For Muslims he is considered to be the seal and finality of all of the Prophets and Messengers as his message transcended all boundaries of race, language and tribe.

Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Makkah in the year 570 A.D. during a time of great ignorance and religious uncertainty. He was from the tribe of Quraish and a direct descendant of the prophets Ishmael and Abraham (peace be upon them). His father died before he was born and his mother passed away shortly after his birth. He was raised mainly by his uncle, Abu Talib, and spent much of his early years as a shepherd. Muhammad (pbuh) became renowned for his sincerity, generosity and truthfulness. He had a contemplative nature and shunned the idolatry, and decadence of Makkan society.

In later years, Muhammad (pbuh) became fond of leaving the city and meditating in the mountains nearby. He would spend hours gazing at the star-filled Arabian sky and reflecting on his humanity and the divine nature of creation. At the age of 40, he received a revelation from the Angel Gabriel, commanding him to recite and ponder his existence. This was the beginning of the final Divine Testament, the Qur’an, revealed to Muhammad (pbuh) over a period of 23 years – a scripture that would guide him to form a community of believers in One true God. His followers were from different nations and tribes but their faith in God was the same as Messengers of monotheism who came before them. Muhammad (pbuh) had begun a mission that would change the Arabian Peninsula from a state of war, paganism and debauchery to a society of compassion, Godliness and unity. His message would reach the far corners of the earth within 100 years and usher in a period of intellectual and spiritual transformation.

Further Reading

After 13 years of teaching pure monotheism and breaking down racial and class divisions, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was rejected by the leaders of his hometown in Makkah. Many of his followers were tortured and killed. He, eventually migrated to Al Madinah in the north of Arabia and began developing an Islamic society. He laid the foundations of this society in three major ways:

Muhammad (pbuh) strengthened the relationship between the Muslim community and God Almighty by building an all-purpose house of worship that provided services for religious, educational and social affairs.
He strengthened the relationship between the Muslims, one to another, by developing a type of social contract that provided an operational unity and a source of love and personal bonding. They intermarried, shared their wealth and even engaged in a form of share cropping as a means of economic empowerment.
He strengthened the bond between Muslims and people of other faiths by developing a constitution that enabled the young city-state to meet the needs of minorities. This new arrangement included other faiths in the development and defense of society without compelling them to accept Islam.

Muhammad’s teachings transformed people’s character by bringing out the best in humanity. He was quoted as saying:

“Extend peace greetings among yourselves, provide food to the needy, maintain close relations, observe prayer at night while people are asleep, then you will peacefully enter Paradise.”

“He will not enter Paradise, he whose neighbor is not secure from his wrongful conduct.”

“To remove something harmful from the road is charity.”

“Charity erases sin just as water extinguishes fire.”

“ Show mercy to people on earth, so that Allah will have mercy on you in Heaven.”

“The Believers in their mutual love are like the human body, where when the eye is in agony, the entire body feels the pain. When the head aches, all the body parts will suffer.”

“Provide food and extend greetings to whom you know or do not know.”

These concepts in 6^th century Arabia, they were a total revolution in human affairs. No wonder they spread so fast throughout Arabia and beyond. It is no surprise that they continue to inspire people of all nations, languages and ethnicities even in today’s troubled world.

Islam and Jesus

Admin — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:36:48 +0000

Overview

Muslims believe that Jesus, the son of Mary, is one of the most important Messengers of Almighty God. He is loved and respected by Muslims of all nations. Muslims regard Jesus (peace be upon him) as the Messiah promised by Allah to the Children of Israel. Born in a miraculous way without a physical father, Jesus performed miracles right from his birth.

“Remember when the angels said: ‘O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God). He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous.’ She said: ‘My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me?’ He said: ‘So it will be. God creates what He wills. If He decrees a thing, He says to it only Be! And it is’” (Qur’an, 3:45-47).

Muslims believe that the miraculous birth of Jesus was by the order of God, in the same way that God created Adam with no father or mother. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) referred to Mary as one of the most virtuous women who ever lived. Jesus confirmed his Prophethood, confounding his detractors by performing a series of miracles in his lifetime. The Qur’an testifies to this by quoting from Jesus, himself:

“I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you the shape of a bird out of clay. I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s permission. I heal those born blind and the leper. And I bring the dead to life by God’s permission.” (Qur’an, 3:49)

Muslims also believe that the miracles of Jesus extended to his persecution. Although his enemies planned to crucify and disgrace him, God saved him by raising him up to Himself.

“…they said: ‘We killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of God.’ They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared so to them. Those who disagreed about him are full of doubt; they have no knowledge of it, they follow conjecture. They certainly did not kill him. No! God raised him up to Himself. God is Almighty, All-Wise.” (Qur’an: 4:157-158)

It was God’s Will that the Messiah would not be disgraced by crucifixion. Another man was made to appear like Jesus and he was crucified in the Messiah’s place.

For Muslims, Jesus was a sign to all people and a harbinger of the coming of the last Prophet, Muhammad (may God’s Eternal peace be upon them both).

Further Reading

Upon researching the history of Jesus and the lives of his disciples, Muslims scholars have found that entire communities of early Christians shared nearly identical beliefs concerning Jesus. The followers of this creed spread the concept of Monotheism to the east and south of Palestine. They were popularly known as “Nazarenes.” They maintained the Law of Moses, confirmed the Oneness of God and the prophethood of Jesus. For this, they were persecuted by the Roman Empire.

In contrast, another group of Jesus’s followers adopted the teachings of Paul who had never met Jesus in person yet claimed he saw a vision of Christ while traveling on the road to Damascus. According to Paul, the teachings of Jesus were not exclusive to Jews and it was not necessary to strictly adhere to the Law of Moses. His followers became known as “Christians” and his doctrine lead to the belief in the divinity of Christ and the Crucifixion.

By 312 A.D., when the power of Rome was centered in Constantinople, the Emperor Constantine set out to unify Christianity and the ancient Pagan traditions of the Mediterranean region. He changed the Sabbath to Sunday and adopted the cross, formerly an ancient pagan symbol, as the official symbol of Christendom.

The teachings of Jesus as preserved by the Nazarenes had spread far and wide and were represented by teachers like Arius, an African priest. He refused to accept the innovations of Paul and declared openly that Jesus was a prophet and a human being. These views were unacceptable to the official Roman church that had convened a special Council of Bishops at Nicea in 325 A.D. where the doctrine of the trinity was chosen as the ‘true doctrine of Orthodox Christianity.’ This Council canonized four gospels while rejecting hundreds of others and labeled those Christians who opposed their views as heretics. Arius was poisoned and died in Constantinople, subsequently thousands of his followers were persecuted and killed.

Despite widespread persecution, these Unitarian Christians survived and settled among the populations of Syria, Palestine, Egypt and North Africa. Their uncompromising belief in one God and the humanity of Jesus paved the way for them to accept the message of Islam. The faith of these new Muslims was so strong that their lands remain among the most important centers of the Muslim world to this today.