In the city of Medina, Muhammad united the warring tribes. Following eight years of fighting Mecca tribes the Muslims conquered Mecca. In the year 632, after returning to Medina from a farewell pilgrimage to Mecca, Muhammad became ill and died. At the time of his death, almost all of the Arabian Peninsula had converted to the Islamic faith. He had united the Arabian tribes into a single Muslim religious polity hegemon (ibid, 34-40).
The revelations Muhammad reported receiving until his death in 632 form the body of the Qur'an, regarded by Muslims as the "Word of God" and around which the Muslim religion is built upon. In addition to the Qur'an, Muhammad's life and traditions are observed by Muslims. These stories discuss Muhammad and the other prophets with reverence, adding the phrase peace be upon him whenever his name is mentioned. His life and deeds have been debated and criticized by followers and opponents over the centuries.
The Qur'an that he produced is not a book of history. Rather, muslims see it as a rule book from God for his people to conduct themselves according to. The Qur'an presents the five pillars, as well as duties and prohibitions that accompany them as a framework for divine worship and a sign of commitment to the Islamic faith. These include the shahada (creed), daily prayers (salat), fasting during the time of Ramadan (sawm), almsgiving to the poor (zak-t) and the pilgrimage to the central shrine at Mecca (hajj) at least once iin one's life. This represents the ideal olam (world) where everyone is in submission to Islam (ibid, 46).
Unity was not the rule in the Islamic world. The book explains the major divisions between Sunni and Shia Muslims as well as Islam in the Arab and non-Arab worlds. Shiite Muslims came to regard Ali as the second most important figure after Muhammad. On several occasions, Muhammad suggested that Ali should be the leader of Muslims after his death. Therefore, Shiites see Ali as successor of Muhammad, ruler,...
This meant that he was God's ordained first Imam (ibid, 52). In contrast Sunnis feel the traditions where the Hadith (law) is largely narrated by the Prophet Muhammad's companions. Needless to say, the interpretations of the Qur?
n and Hadith interpretation and differences in the transmitters of the Hadith are the main differences between Shias and Sunnis (ibid, 64-67). As Islam spread out from the Arabian peninsula and conquered non-Arab areas from Spain to China and Indonesia. During the Abbasid period, as more and more non-Arabs became Muslims, the concept of the Muslim world as Arab empire came to be one of Muslim empire (ibid, 80).
D. Conclusion
Again, Mohammad is proof that one dedicated person can do to change the society and world around him. By any standard, his achievements are impressive. During the 23 years of his tenure as a prophet, Mohammad accomplished what must be considered among the most significant achievements of human history. First, he dictated thetext of the Qur'an and Secondly, he established a comprehensive body of Sunnah and Hadith that are after the Qur'an) the significant sources for all things Islamic. Finally, he formed a brand new society thereby unifying Arabia into a socio-political state based on the Qur'an and laid the foundation of an empire of faith for his followers who took his message to the corners of the Earth (Braswell, 2000, 133-136) .
This author can therefore argue that Mohammad made a mark on history was as profound and enduring as anything recorded in the pages of human history. His followers continue to spread his revolutionary method to this very day.
Works Cited
Braswell, G. (2000). What you need to know about islam and muslims. New York, NY: B&H Book.
Goldschmidt, A., & Davidson, L. (2005). A concise history of the middle east. (9th
ed.). Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
