Huston Smith Section I (221-231)

The Seal of the Prophets/Background
Why is Muhammad called "the seal of the prophets?" and how was Muhammad raised, how did he become the prophet he is best known for being, and what were the initial reactions to the rise of Islam?

-Muhammad is referenced to as the seal of the prophets because he was the last "valid" prophet. There were prophets before him, but none had as much influence.

-Muhammad was brought up in a tumultuous time, the prevailing polytheistic religion focusing mostly on spirits and demons known as jinn. As he grew he frequently visited a cave on Mount Hira, where he began to realize the truth about Allah: that he was the God, the only God, etc. One night he was confronted by an angel where he was told to "proclaim!" meaning, acknowledge and praise Allah. He became his prophet to the people, yet only produced a few followers over the years.

-The initial reactions to the uprise of Islam were not friendly. Muhammad and his followers were severely persecuted, by being ignored, beaten, and out-casted.


The Migration That Led to Victory
What was Muhammad's "migration" all about? What victory came from it?

-Muhammad traveled to Medina (Yathrib) because he had a strong group of followers there. Once there, he became a sort of politician, controlling government, etc, and bringing together the 5 tribes in the area, an unheard of feat.

-The Meccans came to Medina multiple times and tried to force all the Muslims out, and get rid of Muhammad, but failed each time. Muhammad's empire of Muslims had expanded throughout all of Arabia and into North Africa and parts of Europe. In short, where he was once persecuted, he then controlled.