![\"Birth](\"http:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/ghsislam13\/files\/2013\/11\/Birth-of-Muhammad.jpg\")
<\/a>Birth of Mohammed<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Mohammed was born into one of the most distinguished families in Mecca who were independent traders.\u00a0 His father died before he was born and death continued to be a prominent feature of Mohammed\u2019s life.\u00a0<\/span>After his birth, Mohammed\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n DSC_9532.jpg was sent to live in the desert which is a general custom for Arabs so that they could be free of the city and form a lasting bond with the desert. \u00a0Mohammed\u2019s mother died when he was<\/span> around age 6 on their trip home from Yathrib, present day Medina, where they were visiting their relatives.\u00a0 Mohammed then lived with his grandfather who presided over Mecca\u2019s Council of Elders (Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet, 2002).\u00a0 When Mohammed was eight, his grandfather passed away and Mohammed then moved in with his uncle.\u00a0 When Mohammed was twelve, his uncle took him on a business journey to Syria where they met a monk who knew that Mohammed was destined for prophethood.<\/span><\/p>\n Click here<\/a> for a complete timeline of important events in Mohammed’s life.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Legend<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n There are many legends surrounding Mohammed\u2019s life.\u00a0 One particular legend involves Mohammed surviving an extraordinary event and going back to live with his mother in the city.\u00a0 While out in the desert during his early childhood, two men in white seized Mohammed and slit his chest open.\u00a0 When Halima, Mohammed\u2019s nurse, found him, Mohammed explained that the men had taken his heart from his body and extracted a blood-clot that was supposedly a part of Satan in him.\u00a0 The men washed his heart with the water of Zamzam in a gold basin and then placed it back in Mohammed.\u00a0 Halima and Mohammed rushed back to his mother who calmed them both down and reassured them of Mohammed\u2019s exceptional nature.\u00a0 After this event, Mohammed didn\u2019t return to live with Halima in the desert, but instead he lived with his mother in the city for the next few years (Early Childhood of Muhammad, 2011).<\/span><\/p>\n Zamzam Well in Mecca Saudi Arabia Mount Hira Cave Mount Hira Cave Mount Hira (Cave)<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 610 C.E. was a life changing year for Mohammed. He had begun spending one month in solitary contemplation near Mount Hira (Cave), a tradition started by his grandfather. Toward the end of his private month, he felt a presence in the cave. The presence identified himself as Gabriel, the angel used by God to communicate revelations to humanity, whose purpose was to turn Mohammed away from the polytheistic practices that dominated the area.<\/span><\/p>\n Click\u00a0 for a virtual tour of Mount Hira (Cave)\u00a0http:\/\/www.3dmekanlar.com\/en\/mount-hira.html\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The First Revelation<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Script<\/p><\/div>\n The angel showed Mohammed a scroll with script in which he was supposed to read. However, Mohammed was illiterate and feared he would die never knowing the script. He was commanded twice to \u2018Recite.\u2019 Finally, he was grasped with extraordinary force from the angel, Gabriel and the first revelation was revealed to him. \u00a0He was ordered to repeat the script to others, and then found himself alone in the cave again.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n His First Follower<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Khadijah Mohammed returned from this unexpected day telling his wife, Khadijah, he had either gone mad or become a prophet. This initially startled Khadijah, depicted at the left.\u00a0 However she soon reassured him that he must have been called by God to be a prophet and serve as His messenger. She thus became his first follower.<\/span><\/p>\n After the First Revelation<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Mohammed became frustrated after not receiving another revelation for at least two years. He returned to the mountain and was finally visited by the angel. He was comforted by the angel\u2019s famous words:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n By the glorious light of morning, and by the stillness of night – your Lord has never forsaken you, and He is not angry with you. Be certain – your future will be better for you than your past, and in the end God will be kind to you and you will be satisfied. Did He not find you an orphan, and gave you a home? Did He not find you lost and wandering, and showed you the way? Did He not find you in great need, and took care of you? As for you, therefore, never wrong the orphans, nor turn away those that ask your help; spread and increase your Lord’s blessings\u2019<\/span> Angel Gabriel <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He then received revelations for the rest of his life. Mohammed lived knowing the angel could come at any moment, and Mohammed no longer enjoyed any private time. <\/span><\/p>\n Mohammad’s Initial Followers<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mohammed was always careful to clarify his role in God\u2019s work, in that he was only a prophet. He was not an angel and did not know the mind of God. He simply preached what he received. Additionally, accepting this role never once affected his humility. He knew he was the means of making the Divine Words known to humanity, and knew this was all at God\u2019s discretion. <\/span><\/p>\n Initial Followers<\/p><\/div>\n In his first 3 years of ministry, he gained only 40 followers. His teaching threatened the Meccan way of life, morally and economically, causing his followers to face heavy persecution through mockery and violence. This led the small group to flee the region and begin a journey toward Mecca. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before Mohammed\u2019s final journey to Mecca, Mohammed, along with his followers, began praying while facing Jerusalem. This is what had been customary, but on this day Mohammed received a revelation telling him to face Mecca as he prayed. Therefore, he turned around along with those who were praying followers stayed for two to three weeks. During this time he made arrangements for the future <\/span>administration of Mecca and the surrounding area (Holt, Lambton, and Lewis, 1977). Finally, Mohammed led the Hajj to Mecca in<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>
by Alexandre Bourdeu<\/a>, used under <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
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\n(Surah 93.1-11)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>
by Unknown<\/a>, used under <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/b>alongside him. This caused Islam to be more closely connected to the Arabs and Mecca (Holt, Lambton, and Lewis, 1977). Mohammed decided to perform the Lesser Pilgrimage (‘Umra) to Mecca. Unfortunately, Mohammed and his followers were stopped at al-Hudaybiya. After many days, a treaty was signed allowing Muslims to enter Mecca for three days the following year (Holt, Lambton, and Lewis, 1977). The next year, Mohammed led his followers back to Mecca and was able to enter the city after little conflict. However, instead of just staying for three days, Mohammed and his<\/span><\/p>\n
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![Nazli<\/a>, used under](\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Cave_Hira.jpg.){kind=link}
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