Islam 101: The holy prophet

Social Studies Review, Fall 2002 by Harris, Rabia Tern

Muhammad* was born in the city of Makkah, in the Arabian desert, in the year 570 A.D. In that age, Europe was a mass warring tribes and tiny principalities, well out of the mainstream of history. The Arabs too were hangers-on, living by trade or mercenary service on the fringes of the two great empires of the era, the Persian and the Byzantine. Though largely populated by nomads, Arabia contained several active small cities, which functioned as commercial and ritual centers. Among these, Makkah had special distinction: it held the Kaaba.

The Kaaba (ka `ba, "cube") marks an ancient pilgrimage site, widely understood to have been consecrated by the prophet Abraham, his wife Hagar, and their son Ishmael. These latter two had been left in the wilderness at that spot by divine decree, and were believed to have gone on to found the city. Centered upon the famous simple square building, the sacred precincts of Makkah also include two small hills between which Hagar ran in search of water for her child, and the inexhaustible spring of Zamzain that was revealed to her.

In the sixth century, these sacred precincts also included an uncountable number of idols. Over the years, the Makkans had built up a comfortable tourist trade, and not wishing to offend anybody and at the same time aiming to increase traffic, they deposited in the Kaaba a copy of every sacred image that passed through town.

The dominant Makkan tribe of Quraysh, who could trace their ancestry to Ishmael, were the appointed guardians of the Kaaba. They ran the associated concessions and reaped a tidy profit every year. While there were scattered Christians, tribes of Jews, and solitary monotheists in Arabia, the Quraysh, like most Arabs, were polytheists - and quite worldly ones at that.

Into this context was born Muhammad Ibn Abdullah*, of the Hashimi clan of the tribe of Qur-aysh. Orphaned of his father before his birth, and of his mother before the age of six, he became the impoverished ward of his grandfather. In accordance with custom, as a small child he was sent into the desert to be raised by bedouins. There his nurse, Halima, began to notice that unusual blessings and inexplicable events were associated with his care.

On his return to Makkah, the boy was sent to accompany caravans. (It was during one such trip that a Christian anchorite named Bahira is reported to have observed in him the signs of incipient prophethood.) When he came to manhood, the trade of others was put into his charge. He impressed his contemporaries with his thoughtfulness and most of all with his integrity. He was known as Al-Amin, "the trustworthy one."

Muhammad married at the age of twenty-five and during this early period fathered two sons, both of whom died, and four daughters. He lived peacefully, but was continuously troubled by the injustice, brutality, and materialism he saw around him. He used to go on retreat every year, during the month of Ramadan, to a cave on nearby Mt. Hira, where he would think about these things.

There, in his fortieth year, an angel appeared to him. This was no placid vision, but a manifestation of overwhelming holiness that terrified him, growing stronger and stronger until it filled up the entire sky.

"Read!" the presence commanded him. "I cannot read!" he protested - for he had never been taught.

Read in the Name of your Lord, Who created humanity fm a clot of blood. Read! for your Lord is the Most Generous Who taught by the Pen. Taught humanity what it did not know.

And that was the first revelation of the Qur'an (which means "the Reading" or "the Recital"). "0 Muhammad, I am Gabriel !" the presence told him, "and you are the Messenger of God!"

Muhammad, shattered, went home and begged his wife to cover him with a cloak. When she asked him what was wrong with him, he confessed that he feared he was going mad. She told him it was impossible: no one of his balance and character could be afflicted in such a way. And she took him to a cousin of hers, a Christian monk, who affirmed that this was no delusion, but bore all the marks of genuine revelation.

"You will be called a liar," the old man said, "and ill-treated. And they will cast you out and make war on you. And if I live to see that day, God knows I will help His cause." And he kissed him.

From that point Muhammad never doubted again. And the revelations continued until the end of his life -another twenty-three years.

It came about just as the old monk said. At first the Makkans were disposed to ignore their "black sheep." But when they started to suspect that the teaching of Unity and Mercy might interfere with the pilgrimage business (and the social structure), it became a serious matter. Interference began, and as the little community of the faithful grew, small provocations escalated into a vindictive persecution.

For twelve years the Muslims endured. The reputation of the Prophet spread beyond his city. A nearby town, Yathrib, stricken by tribal conflicts, was especially receptive to what it heard. Muslims who could take no more suffering in Makkah began to move there to live. Finally, in 622, representatives of Yathrib invited the Prophet to come among them, to govern them all as a peacemaker. The invitation coincided with a conspiracy among the Quraysh to murder their challenger. Under cover of darkness, Muhammad left the city that he loved and emigrated to Yathrib. This event is called the Hijra. The Islamic calendar counts 622 as Year One.