The Lives Of Muhammad By Kecia Ali

Beginning with Muhammad’s age from the start of 7th century Islam, Islamic culture and politics have gone a great many events and occurrences. Throughout all of its years, it has boasted both a rich culture and technological/intellectual advancements. The preservation of the Quran, developments in mathematics, and the continued emphasis on respect and charitable nature are just some examples of Islamic achievement. However, as with any growing civilization, Islam has evolved beyond what it originated as. The cultural and political life of Islamic civilization beginning in the 7th century to the end of the Abbasids of the 13th century underwent many changes such as the deteriorating view of women in society and the shift from elected caliphates to dynastical caliphate. But, one aspect that persisted were the religious beliefs and traditions followed by the Islamic people.

Muhammad a prophet for our time is written by Karen Armstrong. This book is like a diary that tells the life of Muhammad and how he played a big role in the Islamic religion. Muhammad was born in the year 570 ce and died in 623 ce. Muhammad was a man who did not have much going for him, he couldn’t read and lived in a cave with his wife at the time. When Muhammad was reached down upon by Allah he did not know what was happening and why it was happening. “ he knew that some people expected the imminent arrival of an Arab prophet, but it never occurred to him that he would be the one entrusted with the mission.” (p.10). Muhammad was 40 years old when this happened and he lived in Mecca. Mecca at the time had many different civilizations and was a big trading center. Arabs at the time did not like this and kept moving from places to place to get something stable. Some of the Arabs even had settled in urban areas around Mecca. Society in Mecca was based on laws and traditions that even though Allah is the main god

As Muhammad was the first to receive the Qur’an, he had the knowledge and understanding to interpret it and show how the principles of the Qur’an could actually be translated into life. Muhammad did not only preach to Muslims about how they should live and the guidance to life but he also showed them it into action, gave them an example (his life). He was a Sunnah – path or example. The perfect man – (al-Insan e Kamil). Many Muslims call him that. He was a perfectly faithful Muslim. Muhammad was seen as the perfect man by Muslims because he was totally and completely devoted to his religion. He was faithful, he continued praying etc.

People are different in many ways. Ranging from colour of their skin to their ethnic backgrounds. How society copes with these differences is what defines prejudice and discrimination. Racism, social class and ethnicity have become a never ending cycle that begins to shape the opinions of how people treat one another. The novel The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini revolves around a society constructed around two socially diverse ethnic groups the Pashtuns who practice Sunni Islam and the Hazaras who follow Shia Islam. Throughout the novel The Kite Runner, a variety of characters have made decisions that affect the overall outcome of the novel which base around ethnicity, race and social class.

Muslims are one of the most marginalized people in the U.S for their beliefs and their religion but after 9/11 discrimination and hate crimes against them had become even worse.Throughout the U.S people have been “Anti-Islam” and believed that the Muslim’s religion is absurd, want muslims to change their beliefs or, leave the country.According to “Anti-Islman Discourse in the United States in the Decade After 9/11:The Role of Social Conservatives and Cultural Politics”by David D.Belt on page 211-212, talks about how a post on Charisma News with an article title “Why I am Absolutely Islamophobic” was urging at the fact that Muslim-Americans needed to be deported as soon as possible ,or go under sterilization.Also Belt talks about one of Bush’s family friend being,Franklin Graham saying that he thinks the muslim’s religion is “very evil “and “wicked”.One last example a man named Gabriel had said Islam is the real enemy of America and that we supposedly “we will be doomed in war if we don’t realize it”. People are so brainwashed it honestly insane and very ignorant at the things people think about Muslims, its barbaric.They believe what Muslims believe in and their religion is wrong and they should switch to “Christianity” because it is the “American way “ or have them deported because the do not belong there and are “terrorist”.

This book review will be developed in three stages. The first stage will summarize the main themes comprised in the book. The second stage will examine the main arguments Errington composes to prove her thesis. The third stage will provide analysis and critique of Errington’s work.

Chraibi’s book Muhammad: A Novel is a fantastic, powerful read because it is just that: a novel. It is a fictional story, but written by an author who had an unusual, mystical calling himself to write the book. By using original aspects from the traditional biographies of Muhammad and then adding his own personal, esoteric twist on these characteristics, Chraibi creates a work of literature that is truly compelling and shows Muhammad’s journey to becoming a prophet in a mystical light. Two central distinctions, namely Muhammad’s relations with Khadija and Bahira, add the spice in this novel that really help the reader grasp what is mystical about both this literature and most importantly, Muhammad himself.

This chapter begins with the Muhammad and the message he brings. It all began in the Arabian Peninsula, which was mostly desert. The people who lived there were called Nomadic Bedouin, and they are organized in family and clan groups. The importance of long-distance trade networks became important again between China, India, and Persia, Byzantium. The section starts talking about the early life Muhammad ibn Abdullah was born in to a Mecca merchant family in 570 C.E. He had a difficult life growing up, but in 595 C.E, he married a wealthy widow. By the time, he was thirty he became a merchant and exposed too many faiths. He had a spiritual transformation at the age of forty, and declared that there was only one true god, whose name was Allah, “the god.” His believe that Allah would soon bring judgment on the world, and the divine messenger, Gabriel, delivered these revelations to Muhammad. The Quran, also known as the “recitation,” is the holy book of Islam. Muhammad followers complied with his revelations. They had works of poetry and definitive authority on Islam;

As Muhammad got older, he became known as a very trust-worthy, noble and kind man. When Muhammad was twenty-five years old, he became a trading agent for a wealthy, noble lady by the name of Khadija. Khadija was so

A desert peninsula in 6th century was the cross roads of the world, the bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa. Arabia was a vacant wasteland of desert, rarely seeing any life besides that of the trade caravans. City states dominated the political life and the only form of centralized government was in chaos. This was Arabia in the 6th century, this even though Christian was to become the staging ground for the growth of the 2nd largest religion that exists today. This is where the "Prophet" Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca.

Amir had many interactions that shaped him to be who he was by the end of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Through life lessons, Amir could have walked a path of despair but each positive influence pushed him to hope and happiness. Although Amir’s father, Baba, didn’t provide positive influences, or receive maternal or paternal support, Amir is able to receive fatherly advice from Rahim Khan; love and maternal support from his wife, Soraya; and childhood dreaming and confidence from Hassan.

What society thinks about yourself becomes important when you feel that people treat you in a different way. It is not about what you do, it is about how society judge you. In the article, “Beast of Burden” by Sunaura Taylor we have a story of a disable person who narrates how was her life since her childhood until now. On the other hand, there is another article, “The Arab Woman And I” by Mona Fayad which tells us about a lady who had to experience the opinions of others, society suppose her to be someone even when she does not want. The authors include examples, personal experience and rhetorical strategies to give us a better understanding. This text provides information of how is that society is the one who had been involved with the fears of people as time goes by.

Muhammad now recognized as the most important person in the Islam religion, demonstrated diplomacy. Muhammad’s first followers became his family that stuck by his side, and obeyed his wishes. During the evolving of Muhammad’s teachings, he married eleven different women. “Muhammad’s marriages are often viewed in political terms. The early biographers state that Muhammad consummated marriage with at least eleven women in Medina, most of whom survived him” (Gordon 16-17). Marrying all these different women was nothing but strategy. His wives were from prominent political tribes, which meant that Muhammad was securing and creating political bonds between all of them. This was a very smart move on Muhammad’s part. By marrying all these different women, he had the power to influence the women of political power and move them toward the Islamic religion. This was mapped as the starting point for Islam and it eventually spread through the

Muhammad, who is believed to be a prophet of God, is considered the last prophet sent by god to the Muslim people. Muhammad is believed to have brought the word of God through the Qur’an. The Prophets’ life started in Mecca where he grew up orphaned. During his life, specifically in the month of Ramadan, he would spend time in a cave outside Mecca where he originally received revelations about the sacred text. Originally Muhammad found little success preaching God’s word but eventually gained a following of Muslim people, which would turn into the tradition it is today.

Khadija was fifteen years older than Muhammad. Muhammad accepted work from Khadija and had led a few caravans for her. Credit should be given to Khadija for Muhammad’s success with Islam because it was her wealth that enabled him to spend a significant amount of time in religious meditation and isolation. Even though she was some years older than her twenty-five-year-old employee and had been married twice, she asked him to marry her (Phipps, 35).