Reading Questions
1) Explain the life and characteristics ascribed to Muhammad. According to Smith, why was he called ‘the True,’ ‘The Upright,’ ‘the Trustworthy One’ (Smith 221-28)? Also explain the details of Muhammad’s call to serve Allah. What specifically was he called to do? Lastly, what was the original message Muslims believe the angel Gabriel conveyed to Muhammad? What was the initial general reaction of his contemporaries to this message (Smith 225-28)? Please reference one or more relevant assigned surah/chapter(s) from the Qur’an that support these biographical details.
Q1a) Muhammad was born in Mecca to the leading tribe. His family dies while he was very young. His dad dies prior to his birth, his mom passed away when he was
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Q1c) Muhammad led the Muslims to proclaim God as Allah. Allah was known as the one true God.
Q1d) In the beginning Muhammad’s contemporaries refused to hear his message due to several reasons. Initially the Meccan’s were unwilling to accept the thought that there was only one God due to the Meccan’s profited from a polytheistic society. The second reason was that Muhammad’s version of morality that he preached was not accepted by the degenerate public due to they were known to enjoy their gambling’s and orgies. Lastly since this was a class driven society the privileged refused to believe that Allah saw all people as equals.
Q1e) In chapter 81 it references Gabriel’s message to Muhammad.
2) (Smith 228-31) Why did Muhammad go to Yathrib? Why was it re-named Medina? Why is Medina now such an important city for the Muslim
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First they must profess their faith to God also known as the Shahadah. The second Pillar is of Islam which is the canonical prayer. Third Pillar of Islam is charity and is stated that those that have a lot in life should lift the burden of the less fortunate. The fourth Pillar of Islam is the observance of Ramadan, during this time all Muslim’s will fast for a period of time, which will promote compassion for those that are hungry. The final and fifth Pillar of Islam is the pilgrimage that once during every Muslim’s life they are expected to take a journey to Mecca which is the sight that revealed God’s last