Middle Eastern Region History - Essay Example

Most historians of the Muslim faith assert that Muhammad was born in Mecca and died in Medina. These two locations are both cities in Saudi Arabia. He started preaching in his youth years publicly about a strict monotheistic culture. He was even able to unite most of the tribes of Arabia under Islam and created even a single religious polity.

After Muhammad was born, Halima who was a nurse was to look after him in the desert since it was considered benign for children. Six years later, Amina who was Muhammad’s mother passed on. Muhammad was then placed under the care of his uncle who was the leader of the Hashim clan that was very influential in Mecca. He usually journeyed together with his uncle to Syria for trade purposes. In one instance, during the reconstruction of Ka’bah, a fight was about to arise with regard to who would have the honor to put the Black Stone in its place (Armstrong, 1993). Mecca’s oldest man had proposed that the first man to arrive at the mosque was to make that pronouncement. Fortunately, Muhammad was the first and he received a major reputation among the community after he came up with a solution. He started receiving revelations during his middle years.

After marrying Khadijah at the age of 25, Muhammad usually had several revelations. According to documented sources, he usually saw Angel Gabriel in most of his revelations while on other occasions he has a bell-ring sound. According to the Islamic tradition, Muhammad is said to have received a recitation of the Qu’ran from Gabriel before his death. At one point, some non-Muslims claimed that there was a period of ‘satanic verses’ but, the Muslims disagree.

Later on, tension started mounting between Mecca and Medina after the Meccans confiscated Muslim property that had been left in Mecca. However, Muhammad tried to create unity between the two communities by signing alliance treaties. He even went forward to engage the Arabian style involving the raid of caravans that were bound for Mecca. Since Muslims had no land in Medina, they mostly relied on charity and wage labor which was scarcely available. In 624, he unsuccessfully led three hundred brave men to raid a Meccan caravan (Armstrong, 1993). After this occasion, they decide to fight the Meccans in the Badr battle where the Muslims defeated them. This victory was considered a vindication of the prophethood of Muhammad and he even became a ruler of the city.

Muhammad’s edicts (sunnah) were even considered part of the regulations that governed the community after his vindication. Some of Muhammad’s sayings are mandatory even in the current world. Continued warfare ensued between the Muslims and the Meccans in the Uhud and the Trench battle. After these battles, the Muslims were able to extend their rule to other cities and tribes that were neighboring them. In 628, Muhammad went back to Mecca as a pilgrim and was able to establish an agreement that enhanced tribal alliances between the two parties. Muhammad was able to employ spiritual leadership to unify Arabia (Armstrong, 1993).