MOHAMMED, known as the Prophet of Islam, was born of the esteemed Qoreish tribes in Mecca on the 20th of April. The chief occupation of his tribe was trade.
The Islamic Prophet led a life of simplicity and poverty. His house, built of mud walls and thatched with date-palm leaves, often remained dark for want of oil for the lamp. At times he did not even have the flour with which to prepare bread.
Mohammed's father was Abdullah. He died while returning from a journey to Medina. His mother died six years later, leaving Mohammed in the care of his uncle, Abu Talib. His mother's name was Amna.
Mohammed was illiterate but from an early age he showed a remarkable aptitude for concentration. He was a serious child and never took part in pranks or frolic.
When he grew up he earned a great reputation for his honesty and integrity. He always fulfilled his promises. Because he was extremely trustworthy, he became known as Al-Amin.
One day, Mohammed accompanied his uncle to Syria on business. On the journey he met Bahera, a Christian monk, who immediately recognized in the young boy a future prophet.
When Mohammed was twenty-five years old he married Khadija, a rich widow of Mecca, then forty years of age. She was a gentle woman of spotless character.
THE BIRTH OF ISLAM
Mohammed frequently went to a cave in the desert three miles from Mecca, where he would spend months in prayer and meditation. One morning, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and said: "Rise, for thou art the Prophet of God. Go forth and preach in the name of thy Lord. Your God is merciful." A voice was heard - the voice of the Lord - addressed to the Prophet. It was recorded and became the text of the holy Koran. The Koran is not a literary work of Mohammed; it is a direct revelation of the Lord.
When he returned from the cave, Mohammed was filled with divine majesty. On informing his wife of the vision he had, she said, "You are faithful and never utter an untruth. Therefore, you may obey the call and follow the voice." Khadija was the first disciple to profess faith in the Prophet. She became his disciple and the first follower of Islam.
Mohammed delivered public sermons on his faith to a large number of people, proclaiming the unity of God and denouncing the evil of drunkenness and impurity. Though some ridiculed and turned away, others were converted by the power of his words.
Once, he went to the Kaaba and proclaimed that there was no God but Allah. The worshippers of idols looked upon this as a great insult and attacked him, but he was rescued by his disciples. He was abused and insulted frequently in public.
The Prophet of Islam did not hold any debates nor did he challenge anyone to controversies and discussions. He silently converted people to his faith through his strong personality, charming demeanor and force of divine virtues. He bore with patience the persecution of his tormentors. His characteristics as well as the power of the verses of the Koran captivated the hearts of people.
THE SPREAD OF ISLAM
Mohammed fled from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D. when he learned that the Qoreish tribe planned to take his life. The Muslim calendar begins on the day of this flight, known as the Hijra.
The people of Medina accepted Mohammed's faith readily because it was plain, simple and direct. With their help and with an army of men the Prophet later returned to Mecca, where he succeeded in converting his relatives and fellowmen. He then sent missionaries to other parts of Arabia in order to convert the entire peninsula to the new faith.
The teaching of Mohammed attracted numerous followers because they came from a simple and honest man who never posed as a world teacher. He often told his disciples that he was an ordinary man as they were, teaching them to believe in Allah and His revelations.
COMPASSION IN ACTION
Mohammed had great compassion and love. He served the widows and orphans, the poor, sick, aged and homeless. Once, he met an old, impoverished widow. Mohammed said to his wife, "My beloved, give food to this old woman first and then you may eat."
When the Prophet saw a blind woman stumbling in the street in Mecca, he led her gently home and thereafter took meals to her daily.
One day, he saw a woman with a heavy load on her head. At once he relieved her of her burden and carried it on his own head to her house.
Mohammed was humble and simple. Although he was a Prophet with a large following he worked along with others like an ordinary labourer during the construction of the first mosque at Medina. He mended his own shoes, milked the cows, swept the house, purchased provisions, tethered and fed the camels. He never laughed loudly but simply smiled. He had an attractive face and a charming smile. He respected the poor and restored freedom to many slaves.
TENETS OF ISLAM
Islam, meaning "resignation to the Will of God", bears marked similarity to the Semitic religion of Judaism. It emphasizes the principle of brotherhood and equality of man, and is based on austere, simple living.
The main injunctions of Islam are fasting, prayer, pilgrimage, charity and firm belief in the oneness of God and His prophets, particularly Mohammed. The holy Koran, divided into more than one hundred chapters, opens and ends with the subject of the unity of God. The religion of Islam is essentially a religion of peace, for Mohammed was a lover of peace and non-violence. Selflessness and service to suffering humanity are the watchwords of Islam.
Therefore, to answe the last part of your question, No, BinLadan does not follow his " prophet"- he marches to the beat of his own demented mind, and preys on the people to follow him- to obtain what he wants.
Anecdotes of the Prophet Mohammed:)
While Mohammed was serving a sick slave, the latter asked, "Has my master sent you to look after me ?"
"Yes," said Mohammed, "the master of masters has sent me to serve you."
One day, a dying dog approached a follower of Mohammed. The man had no means with which to procure water for the dog, for wells in the desert dry up quickly. He noticed a small pool of muddy water in the vicinity. He tore his shirt, soaked it in the water, placed the dog in his lap and moistened its mouth with the wet cloth. Another Arab who saw this went to the Prophet and said, "One of your followers has touched a filthy animal, a dog, and should therefore not be allowed back here again."
Mohammed questioned, "What was he doing to the dog ?"
"I do not know, but I saw him moistening its mouth with a torn piece of cloth dipped in muddy water," replied the man.
"He is a better Muslim than you are, because he is kind to animals," said the Prophet.
When Mohammed was in Mecca once, a poor shepherd from the hills came to worship in the mosque. He worshipped in his own simple way, performing the necessary ablution, kissing the stone and bowing before the sacred spot. Tears flowed from his eyes as he prayed: "O adorable Lord of love, show me Thy face. Let me be thy servant. Let me mend Thy shoes, apply oil to Thy hair, wash Thy soiled clothes and bring Thee daily the milk of my goat. Let me kiss Thy hand and shampoo Thy sacred Feet. Let me sweep Thy room."
Such simple words of the honest and straightforward shepherd offended the priests who stood near him. They said to him, "What blasphemy is this ? There is no need of such gifts for the omnipotent Lord."
They were ready to drive him out of the temple, when the Prophet called them to him and asked, "When you are in distant lands, in which direction do you turn your faces ?"
"We turn our faces to Mecca," they answered in reply.
He further asked, "When you are within this sacred walls, in which direction do you turn your faces ?"
"All is holy here," they replied. "It does not matter which way we turn."
The Prophet then said, "Your answer is beautiful indeed. Within the mosque it does not matter how you pray, as long as you have love and reverence. This poor shepherd's simple prayer entered directly into the ears of Allah more clearly than yours, as it was uttered from his heart with intense love, faith, sincerity and reverence. Make room for God's poor lover near me. Let no one be ashamed to have his company. He is humble, pure and exalted soul."
As you can see, while I am no follower of Muslim- Islamic ideology, I can clearly say, Bin Ladan, his followers, and the terrorists are not Muslim- Islamics. They are fanatics and maniacs.
2006-06-14 17:52:58
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answer #1
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answered by onesmaartlady 5
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I'll answer your question in particular points:
Who's prophet Muhammad?
He is the prophet of Islam, and it's believed by all Muslims that he's the last prophet at all.
What he stood for?
To complete all the messages before him to rise the banner of the one, and only one, God.
His behavior towards humanity:
Prophet Muhammad came in a very sever land, but he himself was a merciful man, he told his people that "Allah" is the most merciful.
Prophet Muhammad fought for a principle which is "The Human Dignity".. And never treated women as the way they are treated by Muslims today.
In the matter of fact, when I studied Muhammed's life as a minor, I found out that a lot of his words and ways of dealing with creatures are totally against the Islamic philosophy today, and I told my class that is Muhammad was alive today, he would be treated as non-Muslim.
He banned Muslims from killing the birds and the other creatures.
For women, he didn't judge them as he didn't judge men. He told that even a ***** could be a saint if she loved god and no matter what's outside but what's inside.
For slaves, he refused any act of slavery, and set the slaves free, he said that all human are equal.
Arabs, and then other Muslims have changed a lot about him only to justify their own acts.
Is Osama Bin Landen following that path or is way off course?
Osama Bin Laden has nothing to do with Muhammad. Muhammad said: "Don't kell anybody but a worrior who attacks you", don't kell an old man, don't kell a woman or a child, don't kell unarmed man. Don't kell!
Muhammad was against all the principles that Osama Bin Laden is calling for. Muhammad had good relationship with jewsh and christian people. He said that all the human beings are equal. And was very connected with Jesus.
I must clarify more, but I don't have enough time.
2006-06-15 03:08:46
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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Mohammed was a prophet as Jesus was a prophet. He believed in the same books and authors that are contained in the Bible. Mohammed drove the infidels who worshipped 'other gods' from the temple of Abraham. Esau and Jacob were twin brothers who shared the same womb. Jacob means 'The Usurper'. It is said that Jacob seized onto the heel of Esau as he was being born, and pulled him back into the womb in order to be first born. It is also said that Jacob deceived his father into believing he was bestowing his blessing on Esau by wearing a goat's skin, so that the blind father, feeling what he thought was Esaus hairy arms, gave his blessing to Jacob. Jacob later changed his name to Israel ['he who overcomes'] The decendents of Esau became, for the most part, believers in Islam and have a great history of science mathematics, and art.
Muhammed was a strong believer in the 'one god' which is worshipped by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. They all acknowledge this 'one god' as THE 'one god'. Muhammed believed that the 'one god' should be worshipped and other 'gods' were creations of 'infidels',[ those who lacked 'fidelity' to the 'one god'], and should not be worshipped. Many of the 'things' which are 'worshipped' in modern, consumer society, are found to be offensive in many different religions. Osama Bin Laden has 'certain' beliefs that can be 'ASSOCIATED' with some aspects of Islamic beliefs, but that does not make them the Beliefs of Islam. Muhammed teaches that there is 'one god' and teaches how to worship the 'one god', these are the beliefs of Islam, that does not make them the beliefs of the 'one god'.
When Muhammed died, the faithful washed his body and prepared it for burial. Some say that while this was being done, others of the faithful created a rift in the Muslim faith by determining who was to be Mohammed's successor. This is a rift we still see in the Muslim community [not the faith] which differentiates themselves, one from another.
2006-06-15 01:33:48
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answer #3
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answered by Zen Der 1
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Your question is too broad. However, prophet Muhammed established one of the largest Theocratic empires in the history. However, there are strong doubts on the ways he used to establish such empire. His contributions towards humanity have their cons and pros. In one hand, he tried to establish some kind of fairness and morality at the time, but in the other hand, most of those teachings are now outdated and his own biography does not show he abided to those teachings all the time.
2006-06-15 12:55:38
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answer #4
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answered by Mostafa Al Banna 2
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MOHAMMED, is known as the Prophet of Islam. Mohammed frequently went to a cave in the desert three miles from Mecca, where he would spend months in prayer and meditation. One morning, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and said: "Rise, for thou art the Prophet of God. Go forth and preach in the name of thy Lord. Your God is merciful." It was recorded and became the text of the holy Koran.
It looks like Osama has become a cave dweller himself, although not by choice, but he is a firm believer of the Koran and Islam. His hatred of "infidels" is driven by this belief.
2006-06-15 00:58:59
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Prophet Muhammed is the most perfect man created by Allah, The One True God.
2006-06-15 03:10:49
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answer #6
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answered by aishah 5
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do you mean how much money did cassius clay make before and after he turned into muhommad ali? that is called the heavy weight boxing champion of the world prophets and losses
2006-06-15 00:48:29
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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He was only a man , false hope for muslims. Just like Osama"the target" Bologna!!!! There is only ONE true GOD !!!!
2006-06-15 00:49:05
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answer #8
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answered by ChrisJ 3
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The best human ever:
http://jamaat.net/hart/foreward.html
www.pbuh.us
www.sultan.org
2006-06-15 00:58:46
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answer #9
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answered by lukman 4
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