The birth of Islam The Life of Mohammad Mohammad -Everything in the Muslim world is based on the life and teaching of Mohammad, the prophet of Islam. -Mohammad, however, is not the central figure of worship in Islam. This figure is Allah (Arabic word for God) -Mohammad was born in A.D. 570 in the vicinity of Mecca, on the western side of the Saudi peninsula. -He was orphaned at a young age, and was passed around throughout family members, eventually coming to live with his uncle, Abu Talib. -His uncle identified a piety in his young nephew and sought to encourage it. -One biographer writes of Mohammad, The purest and most noble of human beings exhibited exceptional qualities while a small child. He was gentle and mild and loved peace and solitude even at a tender age. It is said that when he was four years old, two angels opened his breast and washed it with snow, which means his inner being was already purified at a young age by God s angelic forces. He was then put on scale and weighed against ordinary people. No matter how many people were put on the other side of the scale, he still weighed more; which means that it was he who counted most before the eyes of God, and who one day was to guide his people towards God. 1 -The Saudi peninsula was a crossroads for cultural and political upheaval, as well as economic diversity. During this time, Mohammad often accompanied his uncle on business trips throughout the region, and fought with him in tribal wars. -Mohammad developed a sharp mind and was very business savvy; good at managing business and finances. -As he continually proved himself a sound business man, a wealthy widow in the community invited Mohammad to take control of her caravans; essentially managing her business. It is said that because of his 1 Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Mohammad, Man of God. (Kazi Publications, 1995), 13.
purity of heart and character, and his natural economic smarts, this widow, Khadijah, proposed marriage to the then 25 year old Mohammad. -The two were married, and just like that, the young orphan had control of one of the wealthiest and most powerful estates in the land. Khadijah bore him 6 children (2 boys who died in childhood, and 4 girls). -Now that Mohammad had gained charge over his wealth, his travels took him all throughout the land, and forced him into contact with many people of differing religions. -Arabia at this time would have been occupied by two major religions. Christianity/Judaism and pagan idol worship (A form of Hinduism). -Islamic historians teach that Mohammad was repulsed by these pagan idol worshippers, and the industry that it fueled (the production and sale of idols/images). -It is said that this disgust drove him into a time of searching and meditation. Revelation of the Qur an -In the year A.D. 610, when Mohammed was 40 years of age, the first revelation of Qur an was given to him. -It is said that he was meditating in a cave, overlooking the plain of Arafat near Mecca. The Prophet added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to recite and I replied, 'I do not know how to recite.' Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to recite but again I replied, 'I do not know how to recite (or what shall I recite)?' Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, Recite in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot. Recite! And your Lord is the Most Generous." (96.1, 96.2, 96.3) Then Allah's Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. 2 Further, after Mohammad had this initial encounter, it is reported that he was so overwhelmed he intended to commit suicide by throwing himself from a high mountain. the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while and the Prophet became so sad as we have heard that he intended several times to throw himself from the tops of high mountains and every time he went up the top of a mountain in order to throw himself down, Gabriel would appear before him and say, "O Muhammad! You are indeed Allah's Apostle in truth" whereupon his heart would become quiet and he would calm down and would return home. And whenever the period of the coming of the inspiration used to become long, he would do as before, but when he used to reach the top of a mountain, Gabriel would appear before him and say to him what he had said before. 3 -To show one of many inconsistencies in the Islamic religion, one biographer shapes the story of Mohammad s revelations into something glorious instead of tortuous. 2 Sahih Buhkari Hadith 9.111. http://www.alim.org/library/hadith/shb/111/9 3 Ibid
This first experience of the revelation was so overwhelming that it overcame the blessed prophet completely, both physically and psychologically. It was also accompanied by the certitude that the instrument of revelation was an angel from heaven and not a psychic force or jinn, who often inspire Arab poets and seers. The revelation reverberated throughout the cosmos and the sky and transformed the whole atmosphere around the blessed prophet. It struck him with a great blow and he heard loud noises like that of bells. For twenty-three years until his death, whenever the revelation came to him, the blessed prophet would feel that great pressure upon him. He would perspire and if he were on camel back or horseback the legs of the animal would bend under the pressure of the word descending from above. 4 -The major problem here is that this rendering of Mohammad s receiving of Qur an is incongruent with the most authoritative Hadith. It is a proven fact that many of Mohammad s biographers shaped his story into a more pleasant and pleasing narrative. One such biographer wrote in his introduction, Things which it is disgraceful to discuss, matters which would distress certain people, and such reports as [my teacher] told me he could not accept as trustworthy all these things I have omitted. 5 -The entire revelation of the Qur an took place over a period of some twenty-three years; or, throughout the remainder of Mohammad s life. The Cambridge History of Islam makes this claim, The important point is that the message was not the product of Mohammad s conscience mind. He believed that he could distinguish between his own thinking and these revelations. His sincerity is this belief must be accepted by the modern historian, for this alone makes credible the development of a great religion. 6 Mecca -After this initial vision, Mohammad fled the cave and returned to his home and to his wife. After reporting all that he had seen, Khadija believed him immediately, but other converts were slow coming. -Mohammad began preaching a new religious message in the region 1 There is only one God, to whose will people must submit. 2 There will be a day of judgment when all people will be judged based on obedience. -The majority of Meccans were skeptical of this new religion, but paid very little attention. Eventually, Mohammad gained a sizable number of followers (in the thousands), and they began calling themselves Muslims, and the religion, Islam. -Due to the growing size and influence of Islam, Mohammad and his followers faced growing hostilities. They were, after all, interrupting the city s main trade; idol worship and sale. 4 Nasr, 24. 5 Ibn Hisham. Life of Mohammad. Notes 6 Cambridge History of Islam, Volume 1A, 31.
-It is reported that the Meccans, in rejecting Islam, also taunted Mohammad saying, God had forsaken him. It was during this time that Mohammad received revelation contained in Qur an, Surah 93, which states, Thy Lord has not forsaken thee, nor is he displeased. -For ten years, Mohammad and his followers called Mecca their home. He received many revelations during this time, and it is helpful to look at them and understand their context Surah 93.1-11. By the Glorious Morning Light, and by the Night when it is still, Thy Guardian-Lord hath not forsaken thee, nor is He displeased. And verily the hereafter will be better for thee than the present. And soon will thy Guardian- Lord give thee (that wherewith) thou shall be well-pleased. Did He not find thee an orphan and give thee shelter (and care)? And He found thee wandering, and He gave thee guidance. And He found thee in need, and made thee independent. Therefore, treat not the orphan with harshness, nor repulse the petitioner (unheard); but the Bounty of thy Lord - Rehearse and proclaim! Surah 73.45. Thou art only a warner to him who fears it (This is a reference to Islamic evangelism and the Day of Judgment) Surah 16.90. Indeed, Allah enjoins justice, and the doing of good to others; and giving like kindred; and forbids indecency, and manifest evil, and wrongful transgression. He admonished you that you may take heed. Surah 29.69. And as for those who strive in Our path We will surely guide them in Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with those who are of service to others. Surah 19.96. Those who believe and do good deeds, for them the Beneficent will surely bring about love. The following is from Al-Bukhari Hadith 7 74.1-5. "While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira' sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, 'Wrap me (in blankets).' And then Allah revealed the following Holy Verses (of Quran): 'O you (i.e. Muhammad)! wrapped up in garments! Arise and warn (the people against Allah's Punishment),... up to 'and desert the idols. After this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly." -In A.D. 622, Mohammad and a group of his followers fled the city for Medina because of growing persecution. This event is known as the Hijra (The flight to Medina). Medina 7 Hadith is the second most authoritative source in Islam. Hadith is the record of the life and sayings of the prophet, Mohammad. There are numerous Hadith s, but Al-Bukhari is the most widely accepted and authoritative.
-Medina welcomed Mohammad and his followers with open arms. -There were many Jews in the city and surrounding region, and Mohammad made a pact between the Jews and Muslims for the two to co-exist peacefully. 8 -This is the time period during which Mohammad began morphing from a peaceful prophet into a political champion. -Early revelations in Medina can be found in Surah 2, entitled The Cow. Surah 2.40. O children of Israel! call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and be faithful to (your) covenant with Me, I will fulfill (My) covenant with you; and of Me, Me alone, should you be afraid. Surah 2.62. Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. Surah 2.140. Nay! do you say that Ibrahim and Ismail and Yaqoub and the tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Are you better knowing or Allah? And who is more unjust than he who conceals a testimony that he has from Allah? And Allah is not at all heedless of what you do. Surah 2.240. Have you not considered the chiefs of the children of Israel after Musa, when they said to a prophet of theirs: Raise up for us a king, (that) we may fight in the way of Allah. He said: May it not be that you would not fight if fighting is ordained for you? They said: And what reason have we that we should not fight in the way of Allah, and we have indeed been compelled to abandon our homes and our children. But when fighting was ordained for them, they turned back, except a few of them, and Allah knows the unjust. Surah 2.256. There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in the devil and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. -What these verses begin to show is that Mohammad is no longer thinking of himself in terms of Surah 73.45 (a warner), but that of a political and religious leader with authority. -As this shift was taking place, many of the Jews in Medina became less and less tolerant of the prophet and his apparent hijacking of their Scriptures. Thus, there were several attempts made to assassinate him. -Throughout his time in Medina, the Meccan armies were still attempting to kill Mohammad. There were two major battles. Mohammad was almost killed the first. The second and fiercer battle is known as the battle of the trench. The Meccan armies allied with armies of Medina, including a large Jewish force. -After a lengthy and unsuccessful siege, the Meccan army retired home, completely abandoning the Jewish tribe to the angry Mohammad. The Muslim army then sieged the Jewish tribe for 25 days. At the end of this siege, the Jewish community surrendered. 8 This peace treaty is understood to be utilitarian; meaning that it was only made because Muslims were far outnumbered by the natives in Medina.
-This is the turning point for Mohammad. The once peaceful prophet morphs into the war monger history seems to forget. -After the surrender of the Jews, Mohammad had the men and young men put to death by decapitation. 9 -This is recorded in Abu Dawud 10 Hadith, Narrated Atiyyah al-qurazi: I was among the captives of Banu [tribe] Qurayzah. They (the Companions) examined us, and those who had begun to grow hair (pubic) were killed, and those who had not were not killed. I was among those who had not grown hair. - As his strength (military and social) grew, he could offer more in the way of treaties, and also make greater demands in return for the privilege of alliance with himself. 11 -In particular, he came to demand the acceptance of Islam, that is, acknowledgement of his own prophethood, performance of the prayer or worship, and a payment of a kind of tithe, the legal alms. 12 Mohammad and Women -During move to Medina, Khadija passed away, and Mohammad began his practice of polygamy. Mohammad s revelations continued. Surah 4.3. And if you fear that you cannot do justice to orphans, marry such women as seem good to you, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you will not do justice, then marry only one or that which your right hand possesses. Surah 33.50-51. O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives] and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her, [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess, [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. You, [O Muhammad], may put aside whom you will of them or take to yourself whom you will. And any that you desire of those [wives] from whom you had [temporarily] separated - there is no blame upon you [in returning her]. That is more suitable that they should be content and not grieve and that they should be satisfied with what you have given them - all of them. And Allah knows what is in your hearts. And ever is Allah Knowing and Forbearing. -After this mass killing, Mohammad took the women and young girls as slaves. Some were sold as slaves, while others were kept by the Muslims as concubines. 13 9 It should be here noted that, although gruesome, the practice of killing a conquered enemy was not uncommon, even as recorded in the pages of Old Testament Scripture. (Duet. 13:13-15; Joshua 6; 1 Sam. 15:2-3) 10 Ibn Ishaq, pg. 466. 11 Cambridge History of Islam, Mohammad. 12 Ibid. Further on this point, this is one of the major differences in cultural practices that sets Islam apart from other religions. 13 This is also a major departure from equivocation with the Christians Scriptures. Whereas God commanded killing for holiness, Mohammad here commanded killing and the enslavement for personal gain/ worship of self.
-The Qur an speaks of these types women (captured concubines) in a somewhat critical manner. Surah 4.3. And if you fear that you cannot do justice to orphans, marry such women as seem good to you, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you will not do justice, then marry only one or that which your right hand possesses. Surah 4.24. And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess. [This is] the decree of Allah upon you Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. Surah 23.6. (Successful indeed are the believers) who restrain their sexual passions except in the presences of their mates or those whom their right hand possesses, for surely you are not blamable. Surah 70.30. (Worshipers guard their private parts) except in the presence of their mates or those whom their right hand possesses for surely they are not to be blamed. -This phrase, those whom your right hand possesses, is a reference to women captured during war and who were forced into slavery. Muslim men were allowed the sell these women for money, or keep them as sexual slaves. The following excerpt is from one of the most respected and authoritative Hadith s in Islam concerning these Quranic verses, and this particular instance in Islamic history. It is hard to read but sheds much needed light on Islamic theology and anthropology. Sahih Muslim writes, Abu Sirma said to Abu Sa'id al Khadri (Allah he pleased with him): O Abu Sa'id, did you hear Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) mentioning al-'azl? He said: Yes, and added: We went out with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) on the expedition to the Bi'l-Mustaliq and took captive some excellent Arab women; and we desired them, for we were suffering from the absence of our wives, (but at the same time) we also desired ransom for them. So we decided to have sexual intercourse with them but by observing 'azl (Withdrawing the male sexual organ before emission of semen to avoid conception). But we said: We are doing an act whereas Allah's Messenger is amongst us; why not ask him? So we asked Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), and he said: It does not matter if you do not do it, for every soul that is to be born up to the Day of Resurrection will be born. Ibn Kathir wrote: except those whom your right hands possess. except those women whom you acquire through war, for you are allowed such women after making sure they are not pregnant. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa id Al-Khudri said, "We captured some women from the area of Awtas who were already married, and we disliked having sexual relations with them because they already had husbands. So, we asked the Prophet about this matter, and this Ayah was revealed Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess. Consequently, we had sexual relations with these women." 14 14 Sahih Muslim, Book 008, Hadith 3371.
-The Quranic references listed above, along with the authoritative Hadith serve to show any objective reader a true look into the mindset of the Islamic prophet. He was a pervert of the highest order, a womanizer, and a man with little to no respect for humanity. -His youngest wife, A'isha, was six years old at the time of their marriage, and it is reported that he consummated the marriage on her ninth birthday. This is recorded in her own words in Sahih Muslim, A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) married me when I was six years old, and I was admitted to his house when I was nine years old. 15 -And if a married woman who was non-islamic was captured during war, before the Muslim could have lawful or permitted intercourse with her, her marriage had to be nullified. One commentator clarifies saying, If a slave woman was married previously in enemy territory to a non-muslim, and is then captured alone, i.e. without her husband, it is not permissible for any Muslim to have relations with her until her previous marriage is nullified, and that is done by bringing her to an Islamic country and making her the legal possession of a Muslim. Bringing her into Islamic territory necessitates the rendering of her previous marriage as null and void by Islamic law because with her husband in enemy territory and she in Islamic territory, it becomes virtually impossible for them to meet and live as man and wife. 16 Conclusion -Mohammad died of illness in A.D. 632 at the age of 61 or 62. -Mohammad was a real man, who lived in a real place, in the real world. These facts are incontrovertible. -What also remains is the true nature of this man and the life he lived. -During the first ten years as a prophet, he had relatively little success, and thus was forced to coexist and harmonize. This is seen and represented in the Quranic revelations during this time. This, however, quickly changed as Mohammad grew in might and strength. Islam quickly changed from a religion of tolerance and peace into a political agenda of conquest. In the end, Mohammad was a war-monger, sexual fiend, and a liar. The Qur an cannot stand up to scrutiny because it is the production of a man, not of God. 15 Sahih Muslim, Book 008, Hadith 3310. Also found in Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Hadith 64, 65, 88. 16 http://www.answering-christianity.com/karim/no_rape_of_female_slaves.htm