Muhammad (c. 570 - June 8, 632) is the revealer of the Qur'án and the founder of Islam. He is recognized as a Manifestation of God in the Bahá’í Faith.
History[edit]
In a letter written on his behalf Shoghi Effendi noted that Muhammad was prophesized in the Bible stating that Mount Paran and Paracelete refer to Him and listing the following verses as specifically referring to Him and Islam[1]:
- Deuteronomy 33:2
And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.[2]
- Genesis 21:21
And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.[3]
- Numbers 12:16
And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.[4]
- Numbers 13:3
Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.[5]
Muhammad is estimated to have been born in approximately 570 into the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe in the region of Arabia, where His family was prominent in Mecca and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states that He was a descendant of Ishmael, the son of Abraham.[6] His father passed when He was in infancy, and He was raised by a foster family outside of Mecca until returning to the city when He was six years old.[7]
When He was returned to Mecca Muhammad was briefly raised in His grandfather 'Abdu'l-Muttalib's household but he passed after two years and Muhammad was then placed in the care of His uncle Abu-Talib and He assisted His uncles in trading. On one occasion while on an expedition to Busra He met a Christian monk named Bahirah who felt he saw Christ in Muhammad. At some point Khadijah bint Khuway-lid, a wealthy widow in Mecca, entrusted Muhammad with managing her business affairs, and they married when Muhammad was twenty-five having eight children with four sons who passed in infancy and four daughters, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm-Kulthum, and Fatimah.[8]
Muhammad often visited the hills outside of Mecca to meditate and in approximately 610 He first received Divine Revelation reportedly seeing the Angel Gabriel and His wife Khadijah became the first to believe in Him. He did not publicly proclaim His mission for an estimated three years. From approximately 613 He began publicly proclaiming His mission and He and His followers began to experience persecution, and in 616 powerful clans in Mecca placed a boycott on the Hashemite clan as Muhammad's uncle Abu-Talib would not withdraw his protection of Muhammad.[9]
In 619 Muhammad's wife Khadijah and uncle Abu Talib both passed away resulting in Muhammad losing the protection of His clan and He moved to Ta'if from Mecca but was expelled from Ta'if after a short time. He then secured an assurance of protection from another chief and returned to Mecca. In 622 the leaders of the Quraysh tribe planned to assassinate Muhammad however He departed the city before they were able to do so and traveled to Medina, and He quickly became extremely prominent with a large Muslim community being established in the city.[10]
The Muslims continued to be persecuted and martyred by armed forces from Mecca, and from 624 Muhammad began directing and leading armed resistance.[11] Conflict escalated into a full scale war between Medina and Mecca with Muhammad securing control of Mecca in 630.[12] Many leaders in the region converted to Islam and conveyed their loyalty to Muhammad after He secured Mecca,[13] but the Muslim community remained under threat from some powerful tribes in the region and He conquered the rest of Arabia over the next two years destroying idols and establishing Islam as the predominant religion and power in the region.[14]
In 632 Muhammad made a final pilgrimage to Mecca and gave a sermon in which He emphasized the importance of unity in the Muslim community. After returning to Medina Muhammad fell ill with a fever and His Ascension took place on June 8, 632.[15]
Station[edit]
Regarding the station of Islam and Muhammad a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi states the following:
. . . Muhammadanism is not only the last of the world religions, but a fuller Revelation than any one preceding it. The Qur'án is not only more authoritative than any previous religious gospel, but it contains also much more ordinances, teachings and precepts, which taken together constitute a fuller Revelation of God's purpose and law to mankind than Christianity, Judaism or any other previous Dispensation. This view is in complete accord with the Bahá’í philosophy of progressive revelation, and should be thoroughly accepted and taught by every loyal Christian Bahá’í.[16]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ Hornby & Shoghi Effendi 1988, Lights of Guidance, no.1662.
- ↑ Deuteronomy 33:2, King James Version, at BibleGateway.com
- ↑ Genesis 21:21, King James Version, at BibleGateway.com
- ↑ Numbers 12:16, King James Version, at BibleGateway.com
- ↑ Numbers 13:13, King James Version, at BibleGateway.com
- ↑ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 2014, Some Answered Questions, 4:Abraham.
- ↑ Balyuzi 2002, pp. 11–16, Muhammad and the Course of Islam.
- ↑ Balyuzi 2002, pp. 17–20, Muhammad and the Course of Islam.
- ↑ Balyuzi 2002, p. 20-37, Muhammad and the Course of Islam.
- ↑ Balyuzi 2002, pp. 38–58, Muhammad and the Course of Islam.
- ↑ Balyuzi 2002, pp. 62–67, Muhammad and the Course of Islam.
- ↑ W. Montgomery Watt, Muhammad at Mecca, Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1956, p 66
- ↑ Moojan Momen, An Introduction to Shi'i Islam, Yale University Press: London, 1985, p 8
- ↑ W. Montgomery Watt, Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman, Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1974, p 207
- ↑ Balyuzi 2002, pp. 149–153, Muhammad and the Course of Islam.
- ↑ Hornby & Shoghi Effendi 1988, Lights of Guidance, no.1670.
References[edit]
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (2014). "Some Answered Questions". Bahá’í World Centre.
- Balyuzi, H.M. (2002). Muhammad and the Course of Islam. George Ronald Publisher Ltd. ISBN 0853984786.
- Hornby, Helen; Shoghi Effendi (1988) [1983]. Lights of Guidance. Bahai.works. ISBN 978-8185091464.
