Islam 101
The man Muslims follow
An orphan, a trader, a prophet: one life, sixty-three years.
6 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 5
Muhammad began life as an orphan. Born in Makkah around 570, he lost his father before birth and his mother at six. Raised by his grandfather, then his uncle, he became a trader known as al-Amin: the trustworthy.
Lesson
Before he was a prophet, Muhammad was known for being honest.
Part 2 of 5
The trader known as the trustworthy often withdrew to reflect. At about forty, in a mountain cave near Makkah, he experienced what Muslims believe was the angel Jibril bringing the first words of the Qur'an: "Read."
Qur'an 96:1-5
ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ١ خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ ٢ ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ ٣ ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ ٤ عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ ٥
1 Read in the name of your Lord Who created, 2 created man from a clinging clot. 3 Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous, 4 Who taught by the pen, 5 taught man what he did not know.
Lesson
The first word of the Qur'an was a command to read.
Part 3 of 5
Why would a message of one God cause trouble? Makkah's leaders had wealth resting on the idols at the Ka'bah. Muhammad's followers were mocked, boycotted and tortured, and some fled to Christian Abyssinia for safety.
Lesson
Islam began in Makkah as a persecuted minority.
Part 4 of 5
In 622 Muhammad left Makkah for Madinah, a move called the Hijrah that starts the Islamic calendar. There he led a community of Muslims, Jews and others, and faced wars with Makkah.
Lesson
Muhammad forgave the city that had driven him out.
Part 5 of 5
Muhammad died in Madinah in 632. Muslims revere him but do not worship him: the Qur'an has him say "I am only a man like you." His example, the Sunnah, shapes Muslim life today.
Qur'an 18:110
قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرࣰ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمۡ إِلَٰهࣰ وَٰحِدࣰۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلۡيَعۡمَلۡ عَمَلࣱا صَٰلِحࣱا وَلَا يُشۡرِكۡ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدَۢا ١١٠
110 Say, “I am only a man like you; it has been revealed to me that your God is One God. So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and associate none in the worship of his Lord.”
Lesson
Muslims follow his example; they worship only God.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
An orphan, a trader, a prophet: one life, sixty-three years.