HIS LIFE
Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born around 570 CE in Makkah, he was orphaned at a young age so he was brought up by his uncle. He worked as a tradesman, married at the age of 25 and lived a modest and relatively uneventful life. He was however well respected and noted for his honesty and integrity, and as such was given the title “The Trustworthy One”. he used to spend long hours meditating in a cave around Makkah.
Here, at the age of 40, he started getting revelations from Almighty God. He immediately started preaching to his people, to direct their lives and worship purely to God alone, and to forsake all forms of idolatry (i.e. the worship of other than Almighty God alone.) to prevent people from worshipping him like previous prophets had been, he always referred to himself as the Messenger and Slave of God. He and his early followers were persecuted for their beliefs, but many people began to become Muslim. As the persecution became severe he and his followers were forced to flee to another city Madinah to the north of Makkah in Madinah, the people accepted his message and made him their leader. From this position of strength he was able to spread Islam far and wide.
The enemies of Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent armies to wipe out the small Muslim community, however, although being significantly outnumbered they were able to overcome or repel the aggressors. Within a few years he was able to conquer Makkah. In victory, Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a very merciful, and many of his former enemies, including the leaders became Muslim. By his death, at the age of 63, Muhammad (peace be upon him) had spread Islam to most of the Arabian Peninsula and his followers spread the religion to most of the world.
Prior to Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Arabs had been irrelevant in history. Muhammad (peace be upon him) united them and changed them into a nation that would take their religion to most of the world within 100 years of his death. History had not seen such a startling change or the speed by which a new religion would grow. Unlike other empires whose gains were transitory, and soon disappeared, Islam’s ability to conquer hearts and minds has lead to its permanency.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) lived in the full light of history, his followers took great care to preserve his teachings. They are collected together today as the Hadeeth and are the source of Islamic Law with the Qur’an. Muhammad (peace be upon him) explained, implemented and lived the teachings of the Qur’an.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught many things that were truly revolutionary and transformed the society. He (peace be upon him) encouraged the liberation of Slaves, (1200 years before Abraham Lincoln) and taught;
“No white is better than a black, and no black is better than a white. Superiority is by righteousness and obedience to God alone.” Malcolm X commented,
“America needs to understand Islam, because this is one religion that erases from its society the race problem.”
Women were given rights that regards to inheritance, and education, rights they only gained in Britain in the 20th century. He (peace be upon him) taught,
“the most perfect amongst the believers… is the best in manner and kindest to his wife”.
Bernard Shaw wrote
“If a man like Muhammad (peace be upon him) were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems”.
And he was able to establish a state throughout the Muslim lands, based purely on God’s law, incorporating all aspects of life. To Muslims, Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the supreme example for all people, he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbour, husband, father and friend. His actions, interactions with people and rulings form the basis of how Muslims lead their lives today.
