A Mercy to the Worlds
mbrk_mbrk <mbrk_mbrk <at> yahoo.com>
2005-03-12 19:46:08 GMT
I know that my article is not related to this group ,but it might be useful to you . PLEASE read it.
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was an illiterate but wise and well-respected man, a member of
the ruling Quraysh tribe, who was born in Makkah in the year 570 C.E.*, at a time when Christianity was not
yet fully established in Europe . He was orphaned at an early age and then raised by his uncle Abu Talib.
As Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and
sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. His reputation and
personal qualities also led to his marriage at the age of 25 to Khadijah, a widow whom he had assisted in
business. From then on, he became an important and trusted citizen of Makkah. Historians describe him as
calm and meditative.
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) never felt content to be part of his society whose values were
devoid of true religious significance. He never worshiped idols and never drank alcohol, although
drinking was widespread in Arabian society at that time. It became his habit to retreat from time to time to
meditate in the cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal An-Nur, the Mountain of Light , near Makkah.
At the age of 40, while engaged in one such meditative retreat, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)
received his first revelation from Allah (God) through the Angel Gabriel (Jibril). This revelation,
which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Quran.
The Early Message
His first convert was his wife Khadijah, whose support and companionship provided necessary reassurance
and strength. He also won the support of some of his relatives and friends. The basic themes of the early
message were the majesty of the One, Unique God; the futility of idol worship; the threat of judgment; and
the necessity of faith, compassion and morality in human affairs.
All these themes represented an attack on the crass materialism and idolatry prevalent in Makkah at the
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