Muhammad as a Historical Figure Every historical figure becomes obscured by time, and inevitably even more by the efforts

of their supporters and detractors. Nowhere is this more destructive to the true identity of a person than the prophet Muhammad. He faces the same problem as other religious figures in that he was either telling the truth, or deliberately lying, and in either case he was possibly insane. The nature of his claims does not allow for much of a middle ground. For those who believe, he is a messenger who communed with god himself, and he demonstrates the ideal way to live. For those to whom Muhammad is just a man tend to have more negative appraisals. Particularly among Christians, starting a religion after Christianity, led all contemporary European theologians to label him a heretic and some to take it as far as calling him the antichrist, an appraisal that still survives among some fundamentalist Christians today. For the past 1,600 years both have tried to make their interpretation the dominant one. With all of the distortions and in some cases outright lies, it is impossible to know who the man was. He has transcended the status of person and become a concept, and now it is more valuable, if not significantly less difficult to understand that concept, and what his life means to the 1.2 billion people who believe what he taught.

Muslims think of Muhammad in a similar way that Christians think of Christ. Every year thousands of pilgrims come to see his tomb. It is the second most common site for religious pilgrims among Muslims. At times extremists angered by criticisms or humor at the expense of the prophet turn to violence.

Arabian Childhood Arabia in the 6th century was an inhospitable place. A vast desert, which no one person, or group could maintain control over it. Women were considered property, there was a proud tradition of chattel slavery, and political control was split among dozens of squabbling tribes. Muhammad was born into the most powerful tribe the Quraysh, in the city of Mecca. The city which would one day become the holiest in Islam, was at this time a center for idols. The spiritual beliefs were as diverse as the people, while there were some monotheistic faiths: Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians, most people practiced a personal forms of idol worship.

The Kaba is the holiest site in Islam, and is faced by billions five times a day in prayer. Before Muhammad had control of Mecca it was the home of 360 idols, and a major source of income for the city. When Muhammad returned he destroyed the idols.

Among the Bedouin Muhammads father died before he was born, so he was sent by his mother, to live among the Bedouin. Living in the desert for a time was a way to learn to speak proper Arabic, and to escape the corruption of city life. It was in the desert that Muhammad had his first spiritual experiences. The most significant in which two angels came to him split open his chest and washed his heart with snow. Telling this story to his guardians, they thought it would be best if they took him back to Mecca. He was soon orphaned his mother dying when he was six. He grew up under the care of his grandfather, and later his uncle. Marrying the first time when he was 25. His wife was much older and fairly prominent in the Meccan community, he became a prosperous businessman known for his honesty, and was sought for advice and to mediate disputes. Partially based on his time in the desert, Muhammad was a very spiritual person.

There are still Bedouin throughout the Middle East. Their numbers have dwindled due to population growth, drought and the lure of the cities. Approximately 3 million remain roaming the desert in search of pasture for their animals. There way of life has adopted few modern innovations, and is similar to how Muhammad lived. The biggest difference being that most of them practice Islam.

The Most Important Time in the History of the World Frequently, he would retreat into the surrounding caves to pray. It was during one such Ramadan, a traditional religious month even in those days, in 610 that he was visited by an angel Gabriel, in the form of a man, and told that he was going to be a prophet of the true god. He thought he had been possessed, and ran from the mountain after which Gabriel showed his true form, an immense angel, terrifying him further. When he returned to his home he discussed what had happened with his wife. She called for her cousin, a christian, who confirmed that Muhammad had now been chosen. What would follow is to muslims the 23 most important years in the history of the world, as the Qur'an was slowly revealed. When Gabriel turned into his true form the sky became green, which is now the official color of Islam. Featured in many of the flags of countries where Islam is the national religion. Depictions of Muhammad were not always considered offensive. There is still disagreement in the Muslim community about what is acceptable. This provides ample opportunity for extremists to kill people.

Early Persecution Despite its popularity now, Islam was not an overnight sensation. The new belief system was threatening to the powers in the region. Mecca was an important center for idols and its leaders feared that it would be displaced as a site of pilgrimage if monotheism was allowed to spread. Muhammad was the first to make a religion centered around Arab life, with the potential to unify people beyond their tribes. Even in its infancy its potential was evident, and worrying to those with vested interests in the status quo. His followers were persecuted, tortured and killed. He was safe, being a member of an important family, but personal tragedy also came, as his uncle and his first and at that time only wife died.

Despite the early persecution of Muslims, it has not stopped modern Muslims from discriminating against other religions. Pictured here is a Bahai cemetery which was destroyed by the Iranian government. Bahai is a religion founded in Iran in the 1800s it believes in one true relgion which has had different messengers, not too different from the way in which Islam considers people like Jesus. Nevertheless, following the Iranian cultural revolution hundreds have been killed and thousands imprisoned or intimidated.

Ascension to Heaven These hardships were soon to be followed by the greatest of his spiritual experiences on earth, his ascent to heaven. Once again Gabriel came to him, this time with a winged horse. Flying to Jerusalem from the rock where the jews believe Abraham had offered Ishmael they rose. There he saw god in person. Upon his return to earth he felt the need to spread his religion beyond Meccas city walls. This has always been taken as a powerful testament of his role in gods eyes, but modern Muslims have differing opinions about whether this was just a vision or a physical reality.
Regardless of their feelings on whether or not it was a physical journey, the site, now the dome of the rock is considered sacred to all Muslims. It is also sacred to Jews, since it is the believed site of an event that was fundamental to their religion. They also believe that it is, or is near, the site of the holy of holies of their now destroyed temples. Where only the high priest was allowed, also being in Jerusalem, it has been a continual source of conflict.

Time in Medina Up to this point Islam had been a Meccan religion, but word of it had spread. A city to the North called Yathrib offered Muhammad a political position (having heard of his fair judgment) and promised safety for his followers. Leaving the city brought out assassins eager for a chance to take Muhammad out while he was vulnerable. After a few close calls and possibly a few miracles. He arrived in Yathrib, a diverse city with a prominent oasis, in many ways it was

like Arabia with different groups constantly fighting for control, having heard of his leadership skills they hoped he might find a way to bring order. Under his influence the city was brought into order, slowly winning over almost all of the Arab population. The first mosques were built and the new religion a chance to put down some roots. The city was renamed Medina, City of the Prophet. Medina is 2nd holiest city in modern Islam, after Mecca. It contains many important sites, such as: the tomb of Muhammad, and the first mosque. Fortunately, the site holds no religious significance for other religions, and there is little conflict.

The Right Path This was not the end of opposition, a fundamental division remained in Medina even as most Arabs accepted Muhammad, the sizeable Jewish population of the city was not so easily won over. Even with attempts to bring Islamic practices closer to their hearts by having prayer be in the direction of Jerusalem. After a year he, or god, changed the direction to that of Mecca. He wrote the Constitution of Medina, believed by Muslims to be the ideal Islamic society. Islam had come into its own as a distinct religion. In the minds of Muslims a return to the original and correct form or worship, and of the correct deity, that was practiced by Abraham. One of the main theologcical differences between Islam and the other Abrahamic faiths is that Muslims believe that Abraham took Ishmael, a son by his concubine Hagar to be sacrificed instead of Issac. It is believed that Abraham abandoned Hagar with Sarah and the stuffle of Hagar to provide for Ishmael is brought up during the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca required of all muslims who can afford it.

Wars of Survival The contention between Muhammad and his former tribe grew. Muslims had been harassed and killed. Motivating small bands of Medians operating independently to attackMeccan trading caravans. Muhammad wanted to wait for a larger fight, preferably one instigated by them, a helpful Qur'anic verse was revealed sanctifying war if it was defensive, and that god would be on the side of the victims.When the time came instant entrance into heaven was promised to those who died and a force of approximately 300 muslims clashed with 1000 of the Meccans. They won. It wasnt the end of the conflict, the two groups had several more battles. After discovering that the Jews of Medina had been aiding the Quraysh the men were put to death and the women and children enslaved. With the Jews out of the way, Medina was no longer divided. Muhammad wanted to make use of the Kaba, and he made an attempt at pilgrimage but he and his entourage were stopped. Deciding to end the violence he sent a man to negotiate peace, it worked and while he was unable to complete the pilgrimage at that time a 10 year treaty was agreed on. While Islam would eventually unite most of the Arab world, and beyond, the conflict with Jews would continue and increase. Shown here Israeli soldiers battling with Hamas.

The Final Verse With some new time on his hands he used his forces to capture a city, making a special tax for monotheistic non-Muslims, but otherwise allowing them to live in peace. He sent letters to persuade political leaders in the surrounding area to convert, and a year after his first attempt completed his pilgrimage. The religion continued to spread with increasing speed. A lucky break, the treaty was broken by the Quraysh by that time he had a powerful enough force to crush them. Islam was now unstoppable, it spread across the Arabian peninsula with little opposition, whenever it did come up it was swiftly dealt with. In 632 Muhammad's mission was completed, he performed the first hajj, where he received the final verse of the Qur'an. Soon after becoming sick and dying quickly. His body is buried in Medina in his house, sanctifying it as the second most holy city in Islam.

Shown here is Muhammads name written in Arabic, a representation allowed under all Muslim traditions. The religion he founded would become among the most widespread of the world. Far beyond the boundaries at his death, given that Islam believe that everyone should follow Muhammads teachings. It still quite a way to go yet.

Death and the Future His death came at an inconvenient time, he had no surviving sons and had not made clear his desired successor. While the sect continued to flower it would no longer be able to do so as one body. The Sunnis followed Abu Bakr, Muhammad's father-in-law as he was supported by the majority. The Shiites disagreed and wanted to put his son-in-law and cousin Ali in command, believing that as direct a line of succession as possible should be created. The tension between the two groups continues to hold their common cause of Islam back. Their conflict is more than just a spiritual completion. Pictured here are some of the coffins of 19 people, Sunni, massacred by Shiites in Pakistan, in October 2012. This is not an isolated incident, and the atrocities are far from one sided. Endless sectarian conflict continues to cause many unnecessary deaths.