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Muhammad
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Muhammad ( 570 – June 8, 632) was an
Arab religious, political, and military leader who founded the religion of Islam
as a historical phenomenon. Muslims view him not as the creator of a new
religion, but as the restorer of the original, uncorrupted monotheistic faith of
Adam, Abraham and others. In Muslim tradition, Muhammad is viewed as the last
and the greatest in a series of prophets—as the man closest to perfection, the
possessor of all virtues. For the last 23 years of his life, beginning at age
40, Muhammad reported receiving revelations from God. The content of these
revelations, known as the Qur'an, was memorized and recorded by his companions.
The Masjid al-Nabawi ("Mosque of the Prophet") in Madina is the site of
Muhammad's tomb.During this time, Muhammad preached to the people of Mecca,
imploring them to abandon polytheism. Although some converted to Islam, Muhammad
and his followers were persecuted by the leading Mecca authorities. After 13
years of preaching, Muhammad and the Muslims performed the Hijra ("emigration")
to the city of Medina (formerly known as Yathrib) in 622. There, with the
Medinan converts (Ansar) and the Mecca migrants (Muhajirun), Muhammad
established his political and religious authority. Within years, two battles had
been fought against Mecca forces: the Battle of Badr in 624, which was a Muslim
victory, and the Battle of Uhud in 625, which ended inconclusively. Conflict
with Medina Jewish clans who opposed the Muslims led to their exile, enslavement
or death, and the Jewish enclave of Khaybar was subdued. At the same time, Mecca
trade routes were cut off as Muhammad brought surrounding desert tribes under
his control. By 629 Muhammad was victorious in the nearly bloodless Conquest of
Mecca, and by the time of his death in 632 he ruled over the Arabian Peninsula. |
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Q: Did Muhammad, peace be upon
him, make up the Qur'an?
A: He (Muhammad) doesn't speak out of whim (fancy). It is a
revelation that is being revealed. He was taught by an angel with super
powers. (Gabriel in English, Jibreel in Arabic)
Q: What happens to anyone who
lies and says he is a prophet of Allah, when he is not?
A: Who can be more tyrannical than the one who lies upon Allah or
says that revelation has come upon him when nothing has been revealed to
him. And who says I will send down like what Allah sent down. If you could
see, the tyrants during the pangs (hardships) of death and the angels
extending their hands (to hit hard): "Take your souls out by yourselves.
Today you are receiving humiliation punishment because you did not say the
truth about Allah and you were arrogantly rejecting His signs".
Q: Did some people ask Muhammad, peace be upon him, to make changes in
the Qur'an?
A: And when Our lines were recited upon them clearly, those who do
not hope in meeting Us said: Bring a qur'an other than this or change it.
Say: I do not have the right to change it by myself. I only follow what is
being revealed to me. If I disobeyed my God I fear the punishment of a Great
Day. Say: If Allah wanted I wouldn't have recited it upon you, and you
wouldn't have even known it; I had lived among you a life before this*, so
won't you understand!?
Q: What would have happened to Muhammad, peace be upon him, if he had tried
to change the Qur'an from what it was revealed?
A: And they were about to tempt you away from what We had revealed to
you so that you make up in our name a different one and thus they would have
made you their close friend. And if We hadn't made you firm you could have
somehow inclined to them. Then We would have made you suffer double in life
and double in death and you wouldn't have found a supporter against Us.
Q: How does Allah praise Muhammad, peace be upon him?
A: And there is for you a complete reward. And you are of a great
nature.
Translation of: Ayat 3-4 Surat AlQalam.
Words: Ajr = Reward, Ghayr = Not, Mankous = Incomplete, cut, Khuluq =
Nature, Azeem = Great.
Q: What did Allah say to those
who thought that Islam would end with the death of Muhammad, peace be upon
him?
A: And Muhammad is not but a prophet before whom the prophets had
passed. So if he died or was killed you would turn back on your heels
(become unbelievers again) and who turns back on his heels will not do any
harm to Allah and Allah will reward the grateful ones.
Q: Why did Allah send Muhammad?
A: We have sent you a prophet to be a witness on you as We had sent a
prophet to Pharaoh (Phiroun). And Pharaoh rejected the prophet. So We took
him with a severe punishment. So how can you protect yourselves, if you
disbelieve, against a Day that turns the youth gray-haired (out of fear).
The sky in it will be split. His promise had to be fulfilled. Truly this
(Quran) is a Reminder and whoever wants takes a path towards his God.
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