Who was Muhammad (from the Booklet: 'A Brief Illustrated Guide to Islam')?

Article Title: Who was Muhammad (from the Booklet: 'A Brief Illustrated Guide to Islam')?
Author: I.A.Ibrahim (and shared by Craig Lock)
Category (key words): Religion, Islam, Muhammad (Mohammed), religious tolerance, faith, beliefs, peace, spiritual, spiritual unity, unity of religion, spiritual growth, (enough there for now, craig)

Web site: http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-8.htm

The submitter's blog (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) is at http://en.search.wordpress.com/?q=%22craig+lock%22 and http://craiglock.wordpress.com

Other Articles by the submitter are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, 'spiritual writings' (how 'airey-fairey'), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig

Publishing Guidelines:

This short article was directly sourced from a most informative and enlightening booklet 'A Brief Illustrated Guide to Islam' (easy-to-understand and well-written too!) available at http://www.islam-guide.com/ (If used please acknowledge the author, I.A.Ibrahim and the source website, thanks). All my other articles may be freely published, electronically or in print.

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."

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Introduction:

Craig is studying the teachings of different religions (to try to find 'common ground'/principles/ in different faiths) and as he learns from his research, is sharing these notes in an attempt to 'enlighten' (himself and perhaps others) regarding 'eternal and universal truths.' My motive, my aim in sharing this information written by I.A. Ibrahim is to try to contribute in some small way to a slightly better understanding in the West of the Islamic world. And as I share these basic principles regarding the Islamic faith, I learn too. Hope this piece may be of interest to you...

Note: I have underlined and "bolded" what I consider to be key points

* Sourced from http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-8.htm

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WHAT IS THE QUR'AN ABOUT?

The Quran, the last revealed word of God, is the primary source of every Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, transactions, law, etc.; but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the same time, it provides guidelines and detailed teachings for a just society, proper human conduct, and an equitable economic system. Note that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad in Arabic only. So, any Quranic translation, either in English or any other language, is neither a Quran, nor a version of the Quran; but rather it is only a translation of the meaning of the Quran. The Quran exists only in the Arabic in which it was revealed.

*

WHO IS THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD? Muhammad was born in Makkah in the year 570. Since his father died before his birth and his mother died shortly thereafter, he was raised by his uncle, who was from the respected tribe of Quraysh. He was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained so till his death. His people, before his mission as a prophet, were ignorant of science and most of them were illiterate. As he grew up, he became known to be truthful, honest, trustworthy, generous, and sincere. He was so trustworthy that they called him 'the Trustworthy'. Muhammad was very religious, and he had long detested the decadence and idolatry of his society. At the age of forty, Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. The revelations continued for twenty-three years, and they are collectively known as the Qur'an. As soon as he began to recite the Quran and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered persecution from unbelievers. The persecution grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This emigration from Makkah (or Mecca) to the city of Madinah, some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several years, Muhammad and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies. Before Muhammad died, at the age of sixty-three, the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula had become Muslim, and within a century of his death, Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China. Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the truth and clarity of its doctrine. Islam calls for faith in only one God (Allah), Who is the only one worthy of worship. The Prophet Muhammad was a perfect example of an honest, just, merciful, compassionate, truthful, and brave human being. Though he was a man, he was far removed from all evil characteristics and strove solely for the sake of God and His reward in the Hereafter. Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of God." #

# INFORMATION SOURCED (directly) FROM A BOOKLET 'A BRIEF ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO ISLAM by I.A.IBRAHIM.

Copyright C 1997, 1996 Web site: http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-8.htm

May the Grace of our loving Creator care for and watch over you all ... always

* *

I hope that this brief introductory information about the life of Muhammad may be of interest to you...and perhaps get you thinking about these "deep and serious subjects"... and that's my reason for sharing.

"Those of us who long for moderation will continue to hope for understanding of complex issues with reasoned dialogue and a spirit of understanding between different faiths."

Humanity has far more in common than our differences, what separates us. So Isn't WHAT UNITES US, our common (shared) humanity, FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT DIVIDES US!

"Nothing that I can do will change the structure of the universe. But maybe, by raising my voice I can help the greatest of all cause - goodwill among men and peace on earth."

- Albert Einstein

We can ALL nurture the real values common to ALL humanity: those highest ideals of tolerance, righteousness, justice, mercy and respect for all of life must surely triumph.

Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others."

- John F. Kennedy

With UNDERSTANDING comes TOLERANCE and with TOLERANCE comes UNDERSTANDING. Religion divides; whereas truth unites.

God's greatest gift to us is allowing us to find, then choose to follow our own truths.

Walk your OWN path to Highest Truth and be happy

Shared by Craig Lock ("Information and Inspiration Distributer, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder")

“Peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”
- author unknown

It's not so much what we believe, as HOW, the way we live.

*

Former Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa Desmond Tutu once said these wise and inspiring words: "We have come to a time in the history of the world, where we need to rediscover the path to peace, and the path to peace can never be war. This pathway is lined with the concept of co-existence and co-inhabitance of the world."

"A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long supressed, finds utterance."

- Jahrulal Nehru, first Prime Minister of India

"It is time for people of good will from every faith, culture and nation to recognise that a terrible danger threatens humanity. We must set aside the partisan bickering between nations and join together to confront the danger that lies before us. Let us seek common ground between peoples around the globe... because what unites us is far more important than what divides us."

"There is neither east nor west, tribe nor ethnicity, male or female, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist. Christian nor Jew. There is only a God-filled humanity."

"Let each one of us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. Let us look at distant horizons together in a spirit of acceptance, helpfulness, co-operation and peace. Let our leaders look at the future with a vision - to see things not as they are, but what they could one day become."

- craig

"With passion and purpose in our individual lives we can touch others and in so doing illuminate the hearts and minds of humanity to make a better world (through helping raise the 'collective consciousness'). Let us encourage our leaders towards an alternate vision for the world to embrace: one that banishes the fanatical ideology of intolerance and hatred to the darkness from which it emerged. Each one of us in our own little ways can offer (and most importantly, LIVE) this compelling new horizon: a bright future of justness and justice, tolerance, respect for other traditions and values. Especially a vision of hope and thoughts of peace fuelled by the eternal flame of love, which can light the darkest night... always "

- me

"Until there is peace among the religions, there will be no peace in the world."

- The Dali Lama

* "What we believe is not nearly as important as how we relate, interact with each other... and how we live. Only when we can say, 'I am first and foremost a human being, and second a Jew, Muslim, Shi'ite, a Sunni, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu ,or a Sikh...' will we progress and break down barriers between peoples, nations and cultures, both east and west. Let not our beliefs , but our shared humanity (ALL of us) define who we really are. "

Let us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. Rather than borders, let us look at distant horizons together...in the common spirit of the value and dignity of a shared personhood - our common humanity as citizens of planet earth."

- craig

"God is a mystery, the 'mystery of life', a Creative Presence, Who/That allows me to be who I really want to be and become."

"God, the Essence of Life, is the great mystery in the vast unknown; yet He(??) is understandable."

"God, The Essence of Life, the Ground of All Being, is leading us to the light.

What we learn in the darkness, we are to share in the eternal light.

Together, one mind, one heart, one life at a time, today let's plant the seeds, the hope of a better and brighter future (for tomorrow).