Muhammad in Islam

Muhammad (also spelled Muhammed or Mohammed), is considered the last prophet of Islam by most Muslims. He was born in 570 in Mecca.^[1]

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Prophethood

Muslims believe that Muhammad is a messenger and prophet of God. He is also acknowledged as the last of Islam's prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Moses, Jesus, and others. Some Islamic scholars argue that Muhammad was foretold in the Bible.^[2]

Although Western scholars regard Muhammad as the founder of Islam,^[3] Muslims believe that monotheistic faith was not created by a human but was revealed by God.

Muslims do not worship Muhammad, due to the belief in the Oneness of God as stated in the Shahada; they see him simply as a human being.

Divine revelation

According to Islamic tradition, when the angel Gabriel appeared to him at the Cave of Hira, the Quran, began to be revealed to him. His wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, encouraged him to describe the events that happened in the cave.

In addition to the Quran, the hadith (narrations originating from the words and deeds of Muhammad) are an important part of Islam. Muslims do not regard the hadith as divine revelation, but as Mohammad's teachings.^{[citation needed]}

Miracles

A 16th century Persian miniature painting celebrating Muhammad's ascent into the Heavens, a journey known as the Miraj.

The Qur'an does not overtly describe Muhammad performing miracles, and the supreme miracle of Muhammad is finally identified with the Qur’an itself.^[4] However, Muslim tradition credits Muhammad with several supernatural events.^[5] For example, many Muslim commentators and some western scholars have interpreted the Sura 54:1-2 to refer to Muhammad splitting the Moon in view of the Quraysh when they had begun to persecute his followers.^[4][6]

The Isra and Mi'raj are the two parts of a "Night Journey" that, according to Islamic tradition, Muhammad took during a single night around the year 621. It has been described as both a physical and spiritual journey.^[7] A brief sketch of the story is in Sura (chapter) 17 Al-Isra of the Qur'an,^[8] and other details come from the hadith. In the journey, Muhammad travels on Buraq to "the farthest mosque" where he leads other prophets in prayer. He then ascends to heaven where he speaks to God, who gives Muhammad instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of prayer.

According to traditions, the Journey is associated with the Lailat al Miraj, as one of the most significant events in the Islamic calendar.^[9]

Marriages

During his lifetime Muhammad married 11 Women. These were: Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Sawda bint Zama, Aisha bint Abu Bakr, Hafsa bint Umar, Zaynab bint Khuzayma, Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya, Rayhāna bint Zayd ibn ʿAmr, Zaynab bint Jahsh, Juwayriya bint al-Harith, Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan, Safiyya bint Huyayy, Maymuna bint al-Harith and Maria al-Qibtiyya. Muslims often refer to the wives of Muhammad as Mothers of the Believers.

Death of Muhammad

Muhammad died on 8 June 632. He was buried in Medina in his house, now the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque).^{[citation needed]}

Names and titles of praise

When speaking or writing, Muhammad's name is often followed by the phrase "peace be upon him," (in English often abbreviated to PBUH or simply "(p)"), since Muhammad is so esteemed by Muslims.^[10]

Muhammad is often referenced with these titles of praise or epithet:

• an-Nâbî, "the Prophet"
• ar-Rasûl, "the Messenger"
• al-Habeeb, "the beloved"
• al-Muṣṭafā‎, "the chosen one"^[11]
• al-Amîn, "the trustworthy"^[12]
• as-Sadîq, "the honest"^[13]
• al-Haq, "the truthful"^[14]
• ar-Rauf, "the kind"^[15]
• al-Uswa-e-Hasana, "the model of conduct"^[16]
• al-Insān al-Kāmil, "the perfect man"^[17]
• al-Khairul Bashar, "the best of mankind"^[18]
• al-Khātim an-Nâbîyīn, "the seal of the prophets"^[19]
• ar-Rahmatul lil 'alameen, "the beneficent and mercy of all the worlds personified"^[20]
• as-Shaheed, "the witness"^[21]
• al-Mubashshir, "the bearer of good tidings"^[22]
• an-Nathir, "the warner"^[22]
• al-Mudhakkir, "the reminder"^[23]
• ad-Dā‘ī, "the one who calls [unto God]"^[24]
• al-Bashir, "the announcer"^[25]
• an-Noor, "the light personified"^[26]
• as-Siraj-un-Munir, "the light-giving lamp"^[27]
• al-Kareem, "the noble"^[28]
• an-Nimatullah, "the divine favour"^[29]
• al-Muzzammil, "the wrapped"^[30]
• al-Muddathir, "the shrouded"^[31]
• al-'Aqib, "the last [prophet]"^[32][33]
• al-Mutawakkil, "the one who puts his trust [in God]"^[34]
• al-Kuthâm, "the generous one"
• al-Mahi, "the eraser [of disbelief]"^[35]
• al-Muqaffi, "the one who followed [all other prophets]"
• an-Nâbîyyu at-Tawbah, "the prophet of penitence"
• al-Fatih, "the opener"
• al-Hashir, "the gatherer (the first to be resurrected) on the day of judgement"^[33]
• as-Shafe'e, "the intercessor"^[36][37]
• al-Mushaffaun, "the one whose intercession shall be granted"^[38]

He also has these names:

• Abu'l-Qasim, "father of Qasim"
• Ahmad, "the chosen one"^[39]
• Hamid, "praiser"
• Mahmood, "praiseworthy"
• `Abd-Allah, "servant of Allah"^[40]

In Turkey, he is often called Hz. Muhammed or "Peygamber Efendimiz". ^[41]

Different views of Madhahib (Schools of Thought in Islam)

Sufi views

Sufis believe that Muhammad is alive with the power of invisibility; his spirit pervades the world and can be reached by true seekers.^[42][43]

Sunni beliefs

This section requires expansion.

Sunnis believe in the prophethood of Muhammad like all Muslims.

Shia beliefs

In Shia Islam, Muhammad is believed to be free from sins as the doctrine of sinlessness called "ismah" (Arabic: عِصْمَة, Persian: ِعصمت) states. This doctrine literally means 'protection' and is generally translated as "sinlessness". Protection is believed to be of three types of "Protection from mistake in receiving the revelation from Allah", "Protection from mistake in conveying the revelation of Allah" and "Protection from sins." It is believed that all the prophets in Islam, as well as Fatima and the twelve descendants of Muhammad through Fatima are sinless.^[44]

The Twelver branch, calling them The Fourteen Infallibles teaches that they were purified by God in the Event of the Cloak. Although Satan tempted them to sin, it is believed that they were helped by God to overcome the temptations.

Punishment of criticism

Criticism of Muhammad is often equated with blasphemy, which is punishable by death in some Islamic states.

Pakistan is frequently in the news for prosecutions under its blasphemy law. If the courts decline to act, angry crowds have been known to lynch the suspected blasphemer.^[45]

In 2005 a Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, printed some controversial cartoons, a few of which were interpreted as insulting Muhammad and Islam. Some countries -- Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iraq among them—protested the Danish government for not taking action against the newspaper. The Danish government responded by asserting that it does not control the media.

Visual representation

While much of Islam was aniconistic during most of its history, there are rich traditions of visual representation of Muhammad, mainly in the form of paintings and illustrations in religious or hagiographical texts. Religious figures rarely have their face shown. Such figures are often shown with their head veiled in sheets embroidered with Quranic text.

See also

• Relics of Muhammad
• Stories of The Prophets

Notes

References

• Schimmel, Annemarie. 1985. And Muhammad is His Messenger: The Veneration of the Prophet in Islamic Piety. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-4128-0.

• Ibn Ishaq, 1980. "Sirat Rasul Allah, (The Life of Muhammad)", tr: A. Guillaume, New York: Oxford University Press.