Sixty Muslim Families From Makkah To Yathrib example essay topic

Mohammed Mohammed was the only man in history who was both a successful political and religious leader. Mohammed founded one of the world's greatest religions: Islam. Today, thirteen hundred years after his death, our world is still influenced by him. Mohammed was born around 570 in Makkah, Southern Arabia. At the age of six he became an orphan and was raised by his uncle. He is believed to have been illiterate.

During his teen years, Mohammed was an honest and reliable person while working as a leader for a prosperous trade route. When he was still young, a wealthy old widow, Khadija, put him in charge of her business affairs. Later, when Mohammed was 25, he married Khadija, which eliminated all his financial worries. This arrangement gave him time to reflect on the meaning of life. From then on, he spent much of his life fasting and praying in a cave outside of Makkah. In 610 AD, Mohammed experienced one of two revelations.

The prophet heard a voice calling to him, Allah, which is the Arabic word for God. Allah commanded Mohammed to spread the word of God. In the second revelation, Allah told Mohammed that he needed to warn others about divine judgement. Mohammed gradually accepted his mission from Allah.

Mohammed began to preach to the people of Makkah, telling them that there was only one God whom everyone should worship and obey. Many of his first followers were the poor. The poor were attracted to Mohammed because of his call for social justice. The wealthy disliked Mohammed for his attacks on the images at the Kaaba (Arab's most holiest shrine). They feared that monotheistic worship could end the pilgrimages to Makkah, and threaten their livelihood. By 622, Mohammed sent about sixty Muslim families from Makkah to Yathrib.

Shortly after, Mohammed followed the families in secret because his life was in danger in Makkah due to disagreements between two rival tribes. The people of Yathrib agreed to protect Mohammed. This move wa known as Hijra h, or emigration; it marks the beginning of the Islamic era, and is the first year on the Muslim calendar. One of Mohammed's accomplishments was the Madinah Compact. The Compact stated that all Muslims were to place loyalty to the Islamic community above loyalty to their tribe. The Madinah Compact sought to end tribal feuds.

These disagreements were generally solved by Mohammed, under divine laws given to him and recorded in holy scriptures. The Madinah Compacts shows that Mohammed was skilled as a political organizer as well as an inspired prophet. By 630, Mohammed had gained enough supporters to take over Makkah. This time, Makkah accepted Mohammed's rule. The entire Arabian Peninsula was included under Mohammed's empire by 631. A brief illness ended Mohammed's life in 632.

He spent his last 2 and one-half years converting Arab tribes to the new religion. Mohammed's successors and friends continued to follow his beliefs. Mohammed inspired the Arabs to conquer all of Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine. Thousands of years later, Mohammed still influences our society today through the Islamic religion..