The Life, Events, and Beliefs of Mohammad

Paper Summary:

This paper is a biographical overview of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. It begins with his birth, family and upbringing as a sheepherder. It covers his calling as a spiritual leader, his struggle against the dominant society, and the roots of the religion he founded. Finally, the paper criticizes some of the recent reinterpretations of Muhammad's teachings used to justify militant political motivations, such as in the case of Ayatollah Khomeini and Osama bin Laden.

From the Paper:

"In time, Muhammad had developed a reputation for "honesty and trustworthiness" (Emerick 186) and moreover, he never developed a taste for "idol worship," which many during that time believed in. On pages 270-271, Emerick takes readers through Muhammad's early life, pointing out that his grandfather died a couple years after Muhammad's mother had died, and at that point he was given over to his grandfather's son Abu Talib. The young Muhammad thus had been orphaned three times by the time he was 10 years old (Emerick 271). And as was noted, Muhammad was raised a sheepherder; other boys his age grew up drinking, fighting, and paying visits to prostitutes."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aslan, Reza. No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam. New York: Random House, 2005.
• Emerick, Yahiya. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam. Indianapolis: Alpha, 2002.
• Sardar, Ziauddin. What Do Muslims Believe? The Roots and Realities of Modern Islam. New York: Walker & Company, 2007.
• Zepp, Ira G. A Muslim Primer: Beginner's Guide to Islam. Fayetteville: The University of Arkansas Press, 2000.

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