Atheists and Christians: Who *really* was Mohammad?

Question

Please *do* read first.

I'm an Atheist myself, thus I have a very limited knowledge base of the story of Mohammad, and fankly, of Islam as a whole. I'm not perfect (I have said things that don't match my real personality and values, starnge enough), but I do know one thing about myself that I "never" doubt is that, I am *not* an ignorant person and I dislike biased facts. I try not being closed-mided, but it's hard for me, but I do try, nontheless. So I was thinking of reseaching who and what Mohammad and Islam *really* was and is, but then I thought: "maybe I should ask people who share relatively the same beliefs as me", to get *both* sides of the story and then compare to the hard fact. In a way you can think of this as me testing your knowledge of something that you may oppose to but at the same time but having a prespective of both sides. So, who do you guys thing Mohammed really was, and why does Islam focus so much on him? What's his importance in the religion?

Answer 1

I know you didn't ask me, but I hope you don't mind if I comment anyway.

Islam is a religion that is very concerned with keeping the facts straight. The Quran is the exact same as it was, word for word, since Muhammad's day. If you pick up a copy of an English translation, it is incorrect to say it's a Quran, you should refer to it as a translation of the Quran. Muslims believe that the bible was once a good religious text before it was corrupted by the passage of time. That's why Allah gave the Quran to us through Muhammad, to resend the original message.

Please bear with me while I give a little background ...

The Quran instructs us to follow the example of Muhammad. How do we know what Muhammad was like? Because we have the Hadith, which are reports on the life of Muhammad. These reports were from many different people. They talk about things he did and said so we can follow his example. The Hadith are even categorized by accuracy. We're talking about thousands of pages of text.

Yes, now I'll get to the point ... :o)

My point is that there is no better source about the real Muhammad than a Muslim. Ask about the Hadith specifically, there is a wealth of information there if you want to look.

There is a lot of misinformation, mostly spread by people who hate Islam. So take things you hear from others with a grain of salt.

Answer 2

Mohammed"PBUH" is the prophet of Islam and massenger of the whole humanity. Mohammed was the last prophet and massenger that god sent.
Islam believes in one god that has no partner. Islam also is a way of life that preserves the modesty, putiry, diginity and honor of the person who apply it. Islam want complete justice for every one. Islam is the first religion that talked about election. Unfortunately that is not happeneing right now because the politics facts we are living. Islam want the person independent and free with limits and boundaries.

We believe, each human is slave by his own nature. Either you became slave for your lusts and desires or you become slave for the almighty god. If you become slave for your own lusts and desire you will regret and feel bad about ur self however being slave for god is honorable thing you wont regret. We consider this the best type of freedom. When you are free from lusts and desires in this life.

If you want to know more about Islam and Mohammed "PBUH" visit some islamic sites and read.

Answer 3

Mohammad(pbuh) is same as the previous Prophets(pbut).For me it plain and simple.Mohammad preaches firstly when he was appointed by God to tell all mankind that there only one God and he is the one who give life to everything that you can see,feel,or hear of.That's why in order to be a Muslim the very first step is the Shahada Laila ha illallah(there is no other God Than God)That is the basic foundation being a Muslim.I decided to be a Muslim as the attributes of God brought about by Mohammad(pbuh) is true and compatible with what he is talking about God.
God is one and only one
He self sustaining
He neither begets or begotten
None can be equal to him
Only God has this attributes.So I worship only him directly and not through someone created.
He is the Most High-Most Gracious-Most Merciful
Mohammad(pbuh) teaches all mankind to served God ,to abide by all the Holy Scriptures he had sent down to his Messengers.I believe God would not have created us without any guidance.

Answer 4

I'm a moslem, I know my answer will not satisfying you, but I just try to help you knowing Mohammad & Islam comprehensively, not because I expert on this, I do learn & gain knowledge about my religion too, probably I can share some references for your question. Mohammad is important because He's our prophet whose lead us to know Islam. Many books you have read first then you discuss what u've read & what u think bout it.
For instance, you can read Karen Amstrong's books. She's make some study of Islam, but she's not a moslem, probably she is someone in the same belief as you. Someone who curios bout Islam&Mohammad.
Tks.

Answer 5

If you read the 100 most influentian men of history written by the great historian Michael H Hart ,you will find to great surprise of many that the No.1 greatest personality is Prophet Muhammed.

If you are really unbiased you will get all the answers and solutions to all your problems and doubts in the Holy Quran . Why dont you read it. just once, check this site . http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/SURAI.HTM

Muhammed is the Prophet Of God . God sent him as his messenger to guide man. Muhammed was no god . He was a man. Just like jesus and Moses. Muslims believe is all the prophets sent by god to guide man at different time.
And Muhammed is the Last and final messenger of god

If you have any doubts please feel free to ask at [e-mail]

Answer 6

In essence, he was a guidance for the Islamic religion, just like Jesus for Christianity and Buddha for Buddhism.

Answer 7

Muhammad was the person who brought light to the Arabs and he was the teacher of the first Muslims. They believe that he was the last and great prophet sent from God..

Answer 8

Mohammad was a prophet who had "visions". These visions were written down into what is known today as the Koran.

Answer 9

Mohammad received revelations from the angel Gabriel from God. He was a prophet

Answer 10

What is Islam ?

Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people.

For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life.

Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with their faith.

One billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe - from the southern Philippines to Nigeria - are united by their common Islamic faith.
What do Muslims believe?


Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God; in the Angels created by Him; in the prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind; in the Day of Judgement and individual accountability for actions; in God's complete authority over human destiny and in life after death.

Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them.

But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through Gabriel.

What does Islam mean?

The Arabic word 'Islam' simply means 'submission', and derives from a word meaning 'peace'. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God.

'Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims worship Muhammad rather than God.

'Allah' is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike.

Why does Islam often seem strange?

Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion does not dominate everyday life in the West today, whereas Muslims have religion always uppermost in their minds, and make no division between secular and sacred.

They believe that the Divine Law, the Shari'a, should be taken very seriously, which is why issues related to religion are still so important.

Who is Muhammad?

Muhammad, was born in Makkah in the year 570, at a time when Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe.

Since his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh.

As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes.

The historians describe him as calm and meditative.

Muhammad was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society. It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal al-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near Makkah.

How did Muhammad become a prophet and a messenger of God?


At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Quran.

The Mountain of Light where Gabriel came to Prophet Muhammad.

As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate.

This event, the Hijra, 'migration', in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

After several years, the Prophet and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively.

Before the Prophet died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China.