Islam Origins/Founders
Muhammad was born in Mecca, in what is today Saudi Arabia. Much of what we know about him comes from his sermons and revelations in the Muslim Sacred Book, The Qur'an, and from the hadiths, the remembrances of him by his early followers. At the time of Muhammad's birth, Mecca was already a center of religious pilgrimage. Located in Mecca was a black meteorite that had fallen to earth long before Muhammad's time (it was believed to have been sent from heaven).
As a religious person, Muhammad spent time pondering and meditating. To do this, he frequently went to caves in the hills surrounding Mecca that had long been used for prayer. when he was 40 during a religious retreat in a cave at Mount Hira, he received his first revelation, as recorded in the Qur'an. (A bright presence came to him and held before his eyes a cloth covered with writing. it commanded three times he recite was written) |
At, first Muhammad doubted the nature of this his revelation, and confided to his wife. But she knew him well and encouraged him to accept his experience as a true communication from God. He became convinced that the bright presence was the presence was the angel Gabriel, and when his closest friends and his family members particularly his wife, and his cousins and friends. They became the first Muslims, meaning "people who submit" to God (Allah).
When Muhammad began to proclaim his revelations more openly, he was not well received. Muhammad viewed himself, as did his followers, as the last of the long line of prophets who transmitted God's word to humanity. He did not consider himself to be divine but simply an instrument in the hands of God, a messenger transmitting God's will to the human world.
Muslims view Muhammad as a man who showed perfection in his life, and they revere him as an ideal human being, a model for all believers.
When Muhammad began to proclaim his revelations more openly, he was not well received. Muhammad viewed himself, as did his followers, as the last of the long line of prophets who transmitted God's word to humanity. He did not consider himself to be divine but simply an instrument in the hands of God, a messenger transmitting God's will to the human world.
Muslims view Muhammad as a man who showed perfection in his life, and they revere him as an ideal human being, a model for all believers.
Sources Derived:
World Religions Text book Islam pages 411-415