The Story of Prophet Muhammad - Coursework Example

Customer’s Name Customer’s Course Tutor’s Name 21st April, 2013. Introduction The story of Mohammed the prophet seems to be of interest to the Muslim world many stating it to be because of their affiliation towards him as God’s messenger but in recent times, many authors have come up with different biographies trying to explain different views of the prophet. His story takes a controversial way where some authors agree with what he teaches as others oppose his teachings. This essay takes a look at three biographies written by different authors each giving an explanation of their view of Prophet Mohammed. A conclusion is later given summarizing on what will be discussed. Biography 1 Armstrong (2001), begins the bibliography of Prophet Mohammed by taking readers back to the religion of Christianity where she states it to have the largest number of followers while the Muslim religion is seconded. While relating the story of Jesus in the Christian world, she affirms that many have the knowledge of the prophet Mohammed who is the founder of the Muslim religion. In his explanation of this prophet, she takes many people’s view of seeing him as a founder behind the intentions of terrorism and as seen by many others, Mohammed is usually remembered by destruction activities. This is different from the viewpoint of the Muslim world where in her book; she described Prophet Mohammed as the founder of a religion that has massive support behind culture and the economy which are attributed to the spiritual forces that control them. She acknowledges Mohammed to be mystical in nature where he is profiled to reform both social and political aspects and concentrates more on bringing people closer to God and not being specific to any tribe. In her book, Armstrong claims Mohammed to be a prophet of good hope where he seeks for care, reconciliation and empowerment for all people not regarding any specified gender. This is also supported by the Koran where it states that women have property rights together with the orphans being freed from being in any obligation and as it was foretold, radical changes and things that had not been seen would surprise many. Armstrong writes Mohammed bibliography in a time that the September 11 attack had taken place and uses his bibliography as a revaluation tool. She states that he was born way back in 570 -632 in Mecca in a family that was involved in trading activities. In his youthful years, he got married to Khadija who was a widow who by then had employed him to control her caravans. It was at the age of 40 that Mohammed claimed to have been terrified by a force that he assumed to be from God to start reciting scriptures. His wife was the first to accept conversion where some family and friends followed suit to become his disciples. Out of this, people started claiming that he was the prophet who had been long awaited as he was seen to recite new passages which were later compiled in the Koran. Submission was the word that Mohammed popularly used while preaching and this was not a good message to the people of Mecca. Also while praying, Mohammed advised that one should pray while they have bowed down something that many also did not like. This led him and his followers to be exiled in Medina. Mohammed being a fighter encouraged warfares which he claimed to be necessary and one would not live without it. Armstrong though does not give a stand or a conclusion why Mohammed had to engage in violent activities, she affirms Mohammed to be full of wisdom and is fully submitted to God. Biography 2 Lings (1987) starts by making a comparison of Jesus as the prophet and with the introduction of a new religion that does accept Jesus yet denies him to be the Son of God seems to a controversial issue to Christians world. Lings sees Mohammed’s life to be a fascinating one where a child is brought up in an illiterate way, is an orphan and brought up under harsh conditions and adopted the merchant profession as he was raised in Arabia. Later in his life he establishes a religion that is joined by many hence creating a force that is unstoppable which is still practiced even after 100 years from the day he died. Lings reveals the life of Mohammed all through till his death where most of his life was composed of persecution and rejection as he experienced most of his followers being murdered before deciding to leave for Mecca after he realized his life was in danger. Mohammed is seen to be God inspired and through him a complete yet complex individual is made where many believe in his actions. Though people see as if he has been possessed by an evil spirit on his first revelation, people later come to realize that he is divinely inspired. This is evidenced through the vision that he sees of Archangel Gabriel. With this vision, Muslims see him to be Gods messenger hence a person to be accorded respect. Lings though takes readers to a spiritual context in Mohammed’s life, He also gives an overview of the violent side of Mohammed where he is seen to order massacres in the tribe of Jews who lived in Medina and at the same time forgives those enemies who had wronged him in Mecca. Biography 3 Rogerson (2003) in explanation of Mohammed’s bibliography begins in a time when he was at the age of six years when he lost the mother and grandparents and was raised by the nephew by Abu Talib. When at the age of 25, he got a job as a Merchandiser under employment of Khadija. She was a widow for fifteen years but Mohammed proposed to her for marriage where they lived for a century before she passed on. Though Khadija had lived to see Mohammed’s revelation, she did not live to see if his mission succeeded. Something surprising that Rogerson claims about Mohammed is that though raised in a polygamous family, he remained married to one wife making many people believe Mohammed was westernized in another way. He was believed to visit the cave called Hira in a mountain and was believed to be so spiritually inclined thus this acted as a place for worship. Comparisons When making a comparison on the above bibliographies, it can be found that they seek to understand the history of Muslims and their actions. This is done by using the bibliography of Mohammed and this seems to be a specific way in which Muslims have to follow. Take the example of violent attacks that take place in the world. Taking the view of Muslims, they follow Mohammed’s case saying that war is inevitable hence a necessity in survival. As stated by Armstrong says the Muslim attribute religion with the economy hence adopt the view of Mohammed where throughout his revelation he relates religion with everyday human activity hence everyone had to embrace Muslim as a religion (Ali, pp. 78). In the bibliographies given, most non Muslims want to depict the picture of a terrorist and a criminal hence used Muhammed as a figure who used to victimize the innocent and murdered those who had done nothing wrong. In the organization of a massacre, Mohammed is seen to be to be a murderer hence not the best role model to follow. The biography of Mohammed has allot of relevance in the history as it can be stated that he encourages slavery. It has been from time in memorial that the Muslim world beginning with Mohammed started slavery, there is a contradiction of what he stated it as he said slaves should be treated with respect . He also claimed that it was legal for men to marry slaves and this has been revealed in recent times when men capture women for marriage (Muhammad, pp. 26). Muslims believe that their prophet was a messenger form God this what he said would be put to practice. This has been revealed through the continued terror attacks which they call holy war claiming that it is done with a positive aim. Conclusion From the essay given above prophet Mohammed is seen to In his explanation of this prophet, he takes many peoples view of seeing him as a founder behind the intentions of terrorism and as seen by many authors, he is usually remembered by destruction activities. This is different from the viewpoint of the Muslim world where in her book, he described prophet Mohammed as the founder of a religion that has massive support behind culture and the economy which are attributed to the spiritual forces that control them. She acknowledges Mohammed to be mystical in nature where he is profiled to reform both social and political aspects and concentrates more on bringing people closer to God and not being specific to any tribe. In her book, she claims Mohammed to be a prophet of good hope where he seeks to care, reconciliation and empowerment for all people not regarding any specified gender. Rogerson in his bibliography of Mohammed mentions that reveals the life of Mohammed all through till his death where most of his life was composed of persecution and rejection as he experienced most of his followers being murdered before deciding to leave for Mecca after he realized his life was in danger. Mohammed is seen to be God inspired and through him a complete yet complex individual is made where many believe in his actions. Though at first people see as if he has been possessed by an evil spirit on his first revelation, people later come to realize that he is divinely inspired through the vision that he sees of Archangel Gabriel. With this vision, Muslims see him to be Gods messenger hence a person to be accorded respect. The second author Lings places him to be the reason behind Muslim religion and it is through him that a strong Muslim foundation is based. In comparison of all the bibliographies given, it has been found that all begin in the way he was brought up and being raised as the only child and in a diverse setting of families being polygamous, he decides to marry one wife. He is also seen to have a divine call in all biographies but there is a disparity in different authors about whether he is the best prophet to be chosen as he recognizes violence to be part of life. Works Cited Ali, Muhammad. Muhammad the prophet. 6th Ed. Lahore: Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishā'at Islām, 1984. Print. Armstrong, Karen. Muhammad: a biography of the prophet. San Francisco, Calif.: HarperSanFrancisco, 1992. Print. Lings’, Martin. Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources ,Inner Traditions Intl Ltd, 1987.Print Muhammad. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2003. Print. Rogerson, Barnaby. The Prophet Muhammad: a biography. Mahwah, N.J.: HiddenSpring, 2003. Print. Read More

In his youthful years, he got married to Khadija who was a widow who by then had employed him to control her caravans. It was at the age of 40 that Mohammed claimed to have been terrified by a force that he assumed to be from God to start reciting scriptures. His wife was the first to accept conversion where some family and friends followed suit to become his disciples. Out of this, people started claiming that he was the prophet who had been long awaited as he was seen to recite new passages which were later compiled in the Koran.

Submission was the word that Mohammed popularly used while preaching and this was not a good message to the people of Mecca. Also while praying, Mohammed advised that one should pray while they have bowed down something that many also did not like. This led him and his followers to be exiled in Medina. Mohammed being a fighter encouraged warfares which he claimed to be necessary and one would not live without it. Armstrong though does not give a stand or a conclusion why Mohammed had to engage in violent activities, she affirms Mohammed to be full of wisdom and is fully submitted to God.

Biography 2 Lings (1987) starts by making a comparison of Jesus as the prophet and with the introduction of a new religion that does accept Jesus yet denies him to be the Son of God seems to a controversial issue to Christians world. Lings sees Mohammed’s life to be a fascinating one where a child is brought up in an illiterate way, is an orphan and brought up under harsh conditions and adopted the merchant profession as he was raised in Arabia. Later in his life he establishes a religion that is joined by many hence creating a force that is unstoppable which is still practiced even after 100 years from the day he died.

Lings reveals the life of Mohammed all through till his death where most of his life was composed of persecution and rejection as he experienced most of his followers being murdered before deciding to leave for Mecca after he realized his life was in danger. Mohammed is seen to be God inspired and through him a complete yet complex individual is made where many believe in his actions. Though people see as if he has been possessed by an evil spirit on his first revelation, people later come to realize that he is divinely inspired.

This is evidenced through the vision that he sees of Archangel Gabriel. With this vision, Muslims see him to be Gods messenger hence a person to be accorded respect. Lings though takes readers to a spiritual context in Mohammed’s life, He also gives an overview of the violent side of Mohammed where he is seen to order massacres in the tribe of Jews who lived in Medina and at the same time forgives those enemies who had wronged him in Mecca. Biography 3 Rogerson (2003) in explanation of Mohammed’s bibliography begins in a time when he was at the age of six years when he lost the mother and grandparents and was raised by the nephew by Abu Talib.

When at the age of 25, he got a job as a Merchandiser under employment of Khadija. She was a widow for fifteen years but Mohammed proposed to her for marriage where they lived for a century before she passed on. Though Khadija had lived to see Mohammed’s revelation, she did not live to see if his mission succeeded. Something surprising that Rogerson claims about Mohammed is that though raised in a polygamous family, he remained married to one wife making many people believe Mohammed was westernized in another way.

He was believed to visit the cave called Hira in a mountain and was believed to be so spiritually inclined thus this acted as a place for worship. Comparisons When making a comparison on the above bibliographies, it can be found that they seek to understand the history of Muslims and their actions. This is done by using the bibliography of Mohammed and this seems to be a specific way in which Muslims have to follow. Take the example of violent attacks that take place in the world. Taking the view of Muslims, they follow Mohammed’s case saying that war is inevitable hence a necessity in survival.

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