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The Prophet Muhammad
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The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, now Saudia Arabia, in 570. Orphaned as a
child, he was brought up by his grandfather and later by his uncle. He worked as
a trader and at the age of 25 married Khadija, a wealthy widow. As time went on,
he took to reflecting and meditating on Mount Hira just outside Mecca, where
in 610 he received the first of his revelations from God, brought by the angel
Gabriel. From 613 he proclaimed these to the polytheistic people of Mecca but
received a lukewarm welcome. His radical teachings of the oneness of God angered
them, and they persecuted him and his followers, some of whom fled to Ethiopia.
In 622, still persecuted and now widowed, Muhammad accepted an offer of the people
of Yathrib (later known as Medina) and went north. This migration, or hijra,
marks the start of the Islamic era. Muhammad fought against the Meccands until 630,
increasing his power and prestige as more and more tribes accepted Islam. When the
Meccans accepted defeat, Muhammad declared an amnesty for all except a few of his
former enemies, and began to think of spreading Islam beyond Arabia. However, in 632,
at the age of 62, he died, having transmitted the revelations of God in their
entirety.
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The Death of Muhammad: Like all the prophets before him, Muhammad was human. He
chose to be buried in his adopted town of Medina. His tomb lies in the mosque that the
young Muslim community built when they arrived in Medina, where Muhammad and his
wives, mostly widows whom he had married after the death of Khadija, lived. This mosque,
the center for worship and the business of government during Muhammad's lifetime, has been
expanded and embellished by Muslim rulers over the centuries. Muhammad died in the lap of
his favorite wife A'isha, and was buried on the spot, in what was then her small apartment
along one wall of the original mosque. His tomb is now flanked by those of Abu Bakr and 'Umar,
two of his closest companions and the first of two caliphs - leaders of the Muslim community -
after his death.
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Belief in Angels: Muslims believe that angels such as Gabriel are God's
servants in all matters. Particular angels have special responsibilities:
Mik'il is the angel of providence, Azra'il is the angel of death, and Munkar and
Nakir inquire of the dead in their tombs about their deeds. The angel Iblis, also
known as Shaytan, disobeyed God by refusing to prostrate himself before the newly
created Adam. He thereby became the enemy of humankind.
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Reverence for the Prophet: In any photograph, the Prophet's face is hidden by
a veil, not only to show his exalted status, but also because Islam conventionally
prohibits depictions of him. No Muslim will hear criticism of Muhammad, and nearly
all are accustomed to invoke God's blessing on him each time they mention or write
his name. A minority of Muslims accord such great importance to Muhammad that they
attribute to him almost superhuman status.
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Earlier Messengers: Muhammad was the last of God's many prophets sent to bring his
guidance to humankind. Muslims believe that all these messengers, who include Noah, Abraham,
Moses, David, and Jesus, brought revelations that, in essence, concurred with the Qur'an.
"He has revealed to you (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming what was before it,
just as he revealed the Torah and the Gospel" (Sura 3:3). According to Islam, all of
the prophets, including Jesus, were human. In the Qur'an Jesus denies claiming divinity and
looks forward to God's final messenger. Here, in accordance with the Qur'an, he is taken up
to heaven, for: "They (the Jews) did not kill him or crucify him, but it appeared so to them...
but God raised him to himself" (Sura 4:157-8).
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A Perfect Example of Living: Although they insist upon his humanity, Muslims revere
Muhammad as the perfect example of living. The majority follow his Sunna, or customary
practice, and thereby call themselves Sunni Muslims. They base their lives upon his sayings
and actions, which were compiled into six authoritative collections by careful and pious
experts, who separated the authentic Hadith, sayings of the Prophet, from others that
have doubtful status. These collections rank second only to the Qur'an in importance for
Muslims, and among them those of the two experts al-Bukhari and Muslim ibn Hajjaj
are especially respected.
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