5. Islam (4)

The Founder

Muslims believe Islam is based on the ministry of a man named Mohammad, and on the words that Allah gave to the world through him. They believe that Mohammad did not found Islam. Islam was created by Allah at the beginning of time; in fact, Muslims regard Adam as the first Muslim.  Mohammad was the final messenger through whom Allah revealed the faith to the world. Earlier messengers included Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and, of course, Jesus.

Mohammad was not only a religious leader, but a political leader as well. This established the close relationship between religion and politics that ensured the rapid spread of the faith, and its influence on the complete way of life in many countries.

Mohammad was born in 570 AD in Mecca , in Arabia , to a family of the Quraysh tribe. His father died before his birth, and his mother died when he was only six, so Mohammad was raised first by his grandfather, and later by his uncle. The family was not rich, so Mohammad spent much of his childhood tending animals for others in order to earn his livelihood. He later managed caravans on behalf of merchants. He met people of different religious beliefs on his travels, and was able to observe and learn about Judaism and Christianity. This explains why Mohammad based Islam on many of the teachings of Judaism and Christianity, its Bible, and its prophets. Muslim often make very different claims about the origins of Islam and Christianity. However history clearly shows Christianity was well established before Islam was introduced.

When he was 25, Mohammad married Khadija, a wealthy 40-year-old widow. Mohammad soon developed an interest in spiritual matters and would spend time on retreat in the cave of Hira on “the Mountain of Light ” (near Mecca ). In the year 610, Mohammad claimed to have his first revelation – a vision of the Archangel Gabriel, who told him that he was to be a prophet. Khadija confirmed Mohammad's belief in his mission and declared herself as his first disciple.

Mohammad was mocked at first by people who claimed that God had forsaken him, but the revelations resumed, and over many years Mohammad received the text of the Qur’an in a series of revelations. He proclaimed that the Qur’an was the last book of God, and that he himself was the last prophet. With a small group of people who believed what he said, Mohammad began to spread the message.  He publicly condemned local idolatrous beliefs and religious customs, which did not make him universally popular.  In the year 613, Mohammad intensified his public preaching and won more converts. He and his followers were persecuted, and some of them escaped to Abyssinia . A long period of difficulty followed, but Mohammad and his followers remained true to the faith and he continued to preach and convert.

In 622 AD, Mohammad fled to Yathrib (later called Medina ) with 70 followers; this is known as the Hegira (which means “emigration” or “flight”). This event also marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Mohammad formed a tribe from those who accepted him as the Prophet, and gradually Islam grew in strength and acceptance. He defeated his opposition in battle, conquered Mecca , and established a strong political and religious base. In the year 632, Mohammad made a final pilgrimage to Mecca . with over 100,000 of his followers, and gave his last sermon. He died a few months later (July 6, 632) in Medina .