Who is Mohammed and why is his important in Islam?

Question

This is not a provoctive question, it is out of genuine curiosity. I would like to know more about him. I know he was a prophet and that he is important to the Islamic faith - but I would like to know more about him. What was his relationship with God?

Answer 1

the prophet's life in brief:

Birth and Rearing

Muhammad was born in Makkah on Rabi` Awwal 12, 570 CE. His father died before his birth. The infant Muhammad was handed to a Bedouin wet nurse to be brought up by her in the healthy atmosphere of the desert. At the age of five, Muhammad returned to the care of his mother, Aminah bint Wahb, but she died a year later. Muhammad then went to his paternal grandfather, `Abdul Muttalib. He died when Muhammad was eight, and the boy was then brought up by his uncle Abu Talib. At the age of twelve, he accompanied his uncle in a merchant’s caravan to Syria.

As a Young Man

Muhammad was content to work as a shepherd, but his uncle Abu Talib desired something better for him and obtained him employment with a rich widow, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid ibn Asad. Thus Muhammad found himself at the age of 25 in charge of a caravan conveying merchandise to Syria. On his return, Khadijah was so pleased with his successful management of her business and was so attracted by his noble character that she sent her sister to offer the young man Khadijah’s hand. Muhammad had felt drawn to Khadijah, and so matters were soon arranged. Their 26 years of married life were singularly happy. Muhammad continued to work as a merchant. His fairness further enhanced his reputation as “Al-Amin” (The Trustworthy). He continued to take an ever-increasing interest in public affairs and to exert himself in the service of the poor, the helpless, and the weak.

In the Cave

Whenever the iniquities of his people oppressed him, Muhammad retired to the solitude of a cave in Mount Hira’ outside Makkah. There his soul tried to peer into the mysteries of creation, of life and death, of good and evil, to find order out of chaos. Solitude became a passion with him, and every year he would retire to the cave for the whole month of Ramadan to mediate.

First Revelation

It was on one of these occasions, when he was 40 years of age, that Muhammad received the call. One night, while lying absorbed in his thoughts in the solitude of the cave, Muhammad was commanded by a mighty voice to go forth and preach. Muhammad rose trembling and hastened home to seek rest and solace in Khadijah’s tender care, and she calmed and comforted him. She later consulted her kinsman, Waraqah ibn Nawfal. He declared that the heavenly message that had come to Moses had now come to Muhammad, and that he was chosen as a prophet of Allah.

First Converts

Khadijah was the first to accept the truth of Islam. Muhammad then communicated his experience to his cousin `Ali, his adopted son Zayd, and his intimate friend Abu Bakr. The Prophet began by preaching his mission secretly first among his intimate friends, then among the members of his own tribe, and thereafter publicly in the city and suburbs. The Quraysh tribe were the guardians of the Ka`bah, which was a source of great prestige and profit to their city, Makkah. They were, therefore, seriously alarmed and became actively hostile towards Muhammad.

Hijrah to Abyssinia

The fury of the people of Makkah knew no bounds. Muhammad was subjected to insults, to personal violence, and to the bitterest persecution, and his converts were most relentlessly oppressed, persecuted, and tortured. Therefore, in the fifth year of his mission, Muhammad advised them to leave the country and seek refuge from the persecution of the idolaters among the Christian people of Abyssinia. Muhammad and a few stalwart followers remained in Makkah and suffered untold misery and oppression, but still their number continued to increase.

The Boycott

The Quraysh outlawed Muhammad and asked his clan to forgo their right to avenge his blood. The proud clansmen refused to give up the right at the bidding of the people of Makkah, who thereupon boycotted them. After three years, the ban was lifted. A year later, Muhammad lost his uncle Abu Talib and his wife Khadijah. The death of Abu Talib removed the last check on the Makkans’ violence. Persecution grew ever fiercer, and Muhammad sought refuge in the neighboring city of Ta’if, where he was met with great hostility and barely escaped with his life.

Hijrah to Madinah

Muhammad took council with his Makkan followers, and it was decided that they should immigrate to Madinah. They left gradually and unobtrusively, Muhammad remaining to the last. Their departure was soon discovered by the Quraysh, who decided to slay Muhammad before he, too, escaped. They, therefore, cast lots and chose forty men, one from each clan, who took a solemn vow to kill Muhammad. They were to strike simultaneously so that the murder could not be avenged on any one clan. But on the night they were to kill him, Muhammad left Makkah with Abu Bakr.

Muhammad was now free to preach, and his followers increased rapidly. The Muslims could now worship freely and live according to the laws of Allah. But the people of Makkah were not going to allow Muhammad’s movement to take root in Madinah. They organized three great expeditions against the city, but all were beaten back.

Treaty of Hudaybiyah

Eventually the Makkans and Muslims concluded the Treaty of Hudaybiyah to maintain peace and to observe neutrality in their conflicts with third parties. According to the treaty, the Muslims were to return to Madina that year without performing the pilgrimage, but they could come to do that the following year when the Quraish would vacate the city for them for three days.

Back in Makkah

It was not until AH 8 that the Muslims were able to put an end to this war by gaining a bloodless victory over Makkah when the Makkans violated the terms of their treaty. The people of Makkah, who had relentlessly oppressed Muhammad and his followers for 21 years, expected dire vengeance, but in the hour of their defeat, they were treated with the greatest magnanimity. “Go, you are free!” were the words with which Muhammad gave them general amnesty. The Prophet removed all the idols in and around the Ka`bah, saying, [The Truth has come and falsehood vanished] (Al-Israa’: 81) and the Muslim call to prayer was heard in this ancient sanctuary.

His Death

In AH 10, Muhammad went to Makkah as a pilgrim, and he felt it was for the last time because the revelation he received there included the verse [This day have I perfected your religion for you...] (Al-Ma’idah: 3). On his return to Madinah, he fell ill of a mortal fever. It lasted for 15 days, but he continued to lead the prayers until 3 days before his death, when he deputed Abu Bakr. At early dawn on the last day of his earthly life, Muhammad came out from his room beside the mosque and joined the public prayers, but later in the day he died. The end came peacefully; murmuring of pardon and the company of the righteous in Paradise, the Prophet of Islam breathed his last, at the age of 63, on Rabi` Awwal 12, AH 11.

After his death, his followers faithfully carried the message of Islam, and within 90 years, the light of Islam reached Spain, North Africa, the Caucasus, China, and India.

as u see, he is an honored prophet like all prophets was human , he is our teacher to the great religion islam , although we love him soo much , we don't worship him unlike christianity which exaggerated in their love for jesus and made him son of god , we worship only ONE god.

here is his manners:
http://www.islamonline.net/English/Living_Shariah/Muhammad/Manners/index.asp

here is his mercy:
http://www.islamonline.net/English/Living_Shariah/Muhammad/AMercyforAll/index.asp

peace.

Answer 2

I don't think either culture respects women especially well. However in the west women have more freedom and more choice. This comes with great responsibility which is why so many problems occur because so many people are irresponsible. Neo-femism where women dress like sluts because "they feel good about themselves" and Britney spears claiming to be a virgin then cavorting around on stage like the whore of Babylon does not do anything to help women achieve respect. We need to be more respectful of each other and also of ourselves whatever our belief system is. I don't agree with the way women feel obliged to dress in Islamic countries ( I really don't have a problem with it if it is their choice without subjugation) or the way women are treated as the property of her husband, father or brothers like they are in some countries like Saudi Arabia. However I do have to agree with an Islamic preacher who said, "Which culture do you think respects Women more? Islam which covers its women or the west which has to put pictures of half naked women on a box of matches to sell it?" In the west we have lost our way but I don't think the answer comes from the Islamic world.

Answer 3

Some say he was the first liar, some say he was a paedo (since he had sex with a nine year old when he was 53), some say he was a prophet. He couldnt read either but somehow he is the idol of our community.

Answer 4

He is the founder of Islam. According to himself, he is a prophet of God(Allah) and Allah communicated with him and he was able to write the Quran for the people. The Quran is God's word, not Muhammad's.

He is also the last prophet of God to come down to earth. Apart from being able to talk with God, he did not have any special powers and as far as I know, he couldnt perform miracles.

The proof he offers for the claim of being a prophet is the miraculous nature of the Quran itself.

Answer 5

I warn you its a long story!

Born to ‘Abdu’llah ibn ‘Abdu’l-Muttalib, Muhammad initially adopted the occupation of a merchant. The Islamic sources indicate that he was a charismatic person known for his integrity. [15] The sources report that, in his youth, he was called by the nickname "Al-Amin" (Arabic: الامين ), a common Arab name meaning "faithful, trustworthy," and was sought out as an impartial arbitrator. [16] [5] During the holy month of Ramadan, Muhammad would retreat to a cave located at the summit of Mount Hira, just outside Mecca in the Arabian Hijaz. There he fasted and prayed, and would often reflect on the troubles of Arab society that seemed to affect him profoundly. In the year 610, when Muhammad was about forty, he reported being visited in the cave by the Archangel Gabriel who commanded him to recite verses sent by God. According to Islamic belief, these revelations continued for the next twenty-three years, until his death. The collection of these verses is known as the Qur'an. He expanded his mission as a prophet, publicly preaching strict monotheism, preaching against the social evils of his day, and warning of a Day of Judgment when all humans shall be held responsible for their deeds. [5] He did not wholly reject Judaism and Christianity, two other monotheistic faiths known to the Arabs, but said that he had been sent by God in order to complete and perfect those teachings.

After initially ignoring Muhammad's call, the elites in Mecca, commercially threatened by the growing popularity of his message, persecuted Muhammad and his followers. This continued, and intensified, over more than a decade. The hardships reached a new level for Muhammad after the deaths of his wife Khadija, an early convert to the faith, and his uncle Abu Talib, an important political protector of Muhammad. Eventually, in 622, he was forced to move out of Mecca in a journey known to Muslims as the Hijra (the Migration).[5] He settled in the area of Yathrib (now known as Medina) with his followers, where he was the leader of the first avowedly Muslim community.

Eight years of war between Mohammad and Meccan forces followed, ending with the Muslim victory and conquest of Mecca. The Muslims subsequently removed everything they considered idolatrous from the Kaaba. Most of the townspeople accepted Islam. In March 632, Muhammad led the pilgrimage known as the Hajj. On returning to Medina he fell ill and died after a few days, on June 8.

Under the caliphs who assumed authority after his death, the Islamic empire expanded into Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, North Africa, much of the Iberian Peninsula, and Anatolia. Later conquests, commercial contact between Muslims and non-Muslims, and missionary activity spread Islam over much of the Eastern Hemisphere, including China and Southeast Asia.

Answer 6

Muhammad was the first muslim terrorist.
Muhammad raped women whose husband he murdered in his raids. He tortured people in the most sadistic way before killing them. Muhammad was a cult leader. He encouraged violence and terrorism. He wage jihad, kill and loot to expand his cult. This is the real muhammad and this what islam about. Any thing you hear from islam it is a lie, like I told you, they are in cult muslims follow him even with all the crime he did in his life.

Answer 7

Muhammed is described as God/Allah's last prophet. Islam considers the Bible to have been distorted and does not consider Jesus divine...that no man is divine. Muhammed was turned into God's mouthpiece to clear up the record according to Muslims. Once his job was done, he retired wealthy, powerful, and thoroughly married.

Answer 8

A so-called profit of doom. To claim he will was the last is a heresy. Some claim he was a catholic invention meant to tame the 'wild' arabs, but he took control for himself.

Answer 9

Thank you for your interest!
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is the last messenger of Allah (God).
Just like many messengers/prophets who came before him, he was the last of them to bring the message of Allah to the mankind. His message is for all people. We are his followers and Allah's slaves. he taught us how to worship and obey Allah.
He taught us everything. He is our example. Muslims admire him, his personality, justice and honesty. Anyone who reads of him, cannot help but love him.
If you want to learn more about him,you can read this book even online.
It's called "the Sealed Nectar".
Good luck!
You can always email me if you have any questions!

Answer 10

Mohammed is the prophet of Islam. He founded the religion in the seventh century on the Arabian peninsula. He then went and conquered much of the Middle East and Africa, making many places that were formerly Christian or Pagan into Muslim domains.

Answer 11

mohammed was nothing more than a prophet of god, as was jesus. according to each holdy book their word was the word of god, respectivly. there is no formal information on either prophet.