The Battles Began

        Over the next three years battles arose among Medina and Mecca. The first battle took place in March of the year 624, and it was named "The Battle of Badr." Thankfully we took home the victory against Mecca in this first battle. We had a much larger army, but we honestly took this win as a sign that God was on our side. However, a subsequent battle was not victorious.

20120509-Mohammed_before_the_battle_of_Badr.jpg

       In March of 625, "The Battle of Uhud" took place and sadly my armies did not come out with the victory. Unfortunately during this battle I was also personally wounded. This loss made some of my people begin to rethink the presence of God with us. It was discouraging to know that we lost the second battle against Mecca, but I was reassured that it was not the end. 

       Although we had already undergone two battles, Mecca was still not satisfied. They attacked Medina once again in 627. This battle was called "The battle of the trench and the Siege of Medina." We came out on top in this war, and it was great to know that we had the victory on our side. I was not to lose again. 

     The balance of power was had shifted radically away from the once-powerful Mecca, towards the Muslims and I. It was great news that in March of 628 a treaty was signed between Mecca and Medina. The treaty recognized the Muslims as a new force in Arabia. The balance of power was had shifted radically away from the once-powerful Mecca, towards the Muslims and I. With the treaty in place my forces and I marched into Mecca in 630 and we were joined by tribe after tribe along the way. We enter Mecca without bloodshed and forgave our prior enemies. One of the main goals was to establish Islam definitively, and thankfully the tide did turn, most people began believing. I rededicated the Ka'ba temple to Allah, and witnessed nearly the entire Meccan population take part in conversion to Islam. After the major success in Mecca, I returned to Medina. 

      

Ka'Ba Temple in Mecca / kaaba.jpg

         I remained back in Medina for the next three years, and as a prophet I continued to spread the words of God. After consolidating most of the Arabian Peninsula, the majority was now under Islam. I traveled one last time to Mecca in 632 and performed a pilgrimage. Tens of thousands of Muslims joined me on that trip to support me in Mecca.

       As the last prophet, I honestly believe that I lived out the commands that God gave me, share the message. It was hard to believe that the words I heard from the Angel Gabriel that first time in the cave on Mount Hira would become the words written in the Quran after many more visits from the angels giving me revelations. I pray that I was the supreme example for all people, and led many to Allah.

My Adventure in Medina

        It was in the year 622 that my followers and I left Mecca and traveled to Yathrib where our new and better lives would hopefully begin. Yathrib was an oasis town where my father was buried, so it already held a lot of meaning for me. It was difficult to escape Mecca because the leaders had realized my people and I were planning to leave, so they were trying to prevent it in any way possible. Thankfully, their plans failed and my great friend Abu Bakr and I made a narrow escape north out of the city and arrived safely in Yathrib. The event of our arrival in Yathrib is now a celebration by muslims called Hijara. Also, the day we arrived was the start to the muslim calendar.
       The leaders in the city of Yathrib were suffering through a vicious civil war, and that is why they had invited me to act as a sort of mediator. As time passed, things began to become better in the city and it was renamed as Medina, "the city of the Prophet." I was eager to prove myself as an able politician and statesman as well as a prophet. I had high hopes for Medina and the people there, I was also excited to share the message.

ANCIENT YATHRIB / 06-oldmdna.jpg

          I remained in Medina for the next six years, and I continued to try and meet the goals I created from the beginning. Thankfully things worked out and we built the first Muslim community and gradually began gathering more and more people to my side. Being a messenger for God was important for me, and I was excited that other people were starting to hear the words of God.
         Sadly, my hometown, Mecca, was not taking my success in Medina lightly. I guess they weren't finished coming after me since the emigration. Things started to go slightly downhill in the year of 624 when some of the people of Medina accepted the challenge against Mecca, and battles began to occur.
       

Taking the Message to the Public

        Although taking in the fact that I was now appointed as a messenger of our God was difficult for me, I finally began to relay the words I was hearing to others. Visits from the angel was beginning to become a daily thing, and I had major support from my wife/kids and extended family as well. I decided to reveal the messages I was receiving to my tribe. As time passed I became more comfortable with relaying the words to my fellow countrymen.
        The message I was speaking of mainly was about converting from pagan polytheism, immorality  and materialism to the one true God. Also, for them to repent from evil and worship Allah alone. I felt strongly for the words I spoke among the people, and it was important to follow through with the commandment I was given by God. It was vital for me to constantly make it clear for others to see that I was merely a prophet and that was the role God had assigned me in His work. I was no angel, I did not possess the mind of God, and I did not work miracles. My main goal was to preach the words that I had received on the Mount.
     

Image of Muhammad Preaching: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Gagarin_PropovedMagometGRM.jpg

        Continuing to carry out my commandment, I preached the words I received as often as possible. In the first three years of my ministry, I gained only about 40 followers. Even though this was a small number, I knew that God was still using me to win over souls and that 40 was not the ending total. Trusting that God had a plan got slightly difficult when my teachings began to threaten the Meccan way of life.
         Although I was only teaching the things I was commanded too, it still went against the Meccan morals and economics. I received heavy persecution, as well as the followers I had gained. As I said before, it was very difficult to trust God in that situation, but I persevered and continued to follow his pathway for me. First, the Meccan's ridiculed me in the form of mockery, but that didn't last long. Soon, they began to be openly violent towards me and my followers. It was disheartening to see so many people rejected the good news and going against it among me.
        It got so bad that members of my small movement were being stoned, covered in dirt as they prayed, and beat with sticks. In some instances they were even thrown into prison and refused service by merchants. My tribe had even turned their back on me and created a ban on trade with my people, leaving us in near famine conditions. I lost my wife and uncle during this period and my heart was crushed at that point. The persecutions were become so brutal that I was close to questioning everything I was doing. Until I received some relieving news, I had gained followers in the city of Yathrib, 280 miles north of Mecca.
        The city of Yathrib was in need of a leader, a leader that would be strong and bold...they proposed that I take the job. In return, they pledged to worship Allah only, and to obey me and defend me alone with all of my followers to death. God soon made it clear to me that the emigration was approved, and we made plans to escape to Yathrib. I knew God had a plan all along!

My First Revelation

      I am about to tell you about one of the most significant and most memorable days of my life, the day I received my first vision, the first revelation. I was at the age of 40, normal day and normal visit to the Mount Hira cave to meditate...little did I know how much this one day would change my life.

Mount Hira Cave: http://www.mecca.net/Jabal-Nour-Cave-Hira-Thawr-Mountain-Cave-of-Thawr.html

        I had began to take longer retreats to the cave because Mecca's new materialism and its traditional idolatry began to extremely disturb me, and I always found peace during meditations. Fasting was another way I found peace among all of the disturbances in my town, kind of like my connection to the divine. I have experienced a number of indistinct visionary experiences, but nothing like what happened to me on this day in 610.

       An overpowering presence showed up in the cave with me, and I was in complete shock. It was the angel Gabriel. This strong force and angel began to instruct me to recite words that were overwhelmingly beautiful, they words were attributed to God. The entire experience put me into a state of complete shock, it shook me to my very core because I honestly had no idea yet how to interpret the words spoken so gloriously.

        Only seconds after the divine force left my presence I ran straight home in a daze. As soon as I entered the doors of my home I jumped into Khadijah's arms weeping. I distinctly remember saying, "Cover me! Cover me!" I know that my terror startled her, but she soothed and comforted me to the best of her ability in the situation. Eventually, I calmed down and was able to explain my fear to my wife. 

        I reported in a still trance-like state that the Angel Gabriel had appeared to me and said, "Proclaim!" I was reluctant because I did not think that I was a prophet so I replied saying "I am not a proclaimer." The angel persisted, and I repeatedly resisted until he finally commanded me saying:

                      

                      Proclaim in the name of your Lord who created!

                       Created man from a clot of blood.
                       Proclaim: Your Lord is the Most Generous, 
                       Who teaches by the pen; 
                       Teaches man what he knew not.

         After relaying the information to Khadijah, she then took me to her cousin who was a scholar well-versed in the Judeo-Christian scripture. I told him of my situation and he confirmed that my experience was Divine and that I was to be the Last Prophet. This confirmation was very comforting, exciting, and terrifying in itself. It was good to know that I wasn't going crazy, but scary to know the role I was about to enter. 

          I received amazing support from Khadija, and I also had additional angelic visits while at Mount Hira. Although the situation was still slightly intimidating, I was beginning to become more confident that I had indeed been chosen as a messenger of God, and I was ready to begin proclaiming His name, just as I had been commanded.

From work to Love

      I had the privilege to come across an amazing opportunity to begin working for a wealthy Meccan widow named Khadijah. She offered me a job as a merchant, I carried her goods to the north and returned with a profit. Khadijah and I were distant cousins. She was a highly respected, noble woman coming from a prominent family. I was only the age of 25 when I began working for her, and of course I didn't come from a very wealthy family, but she hired me due to the fact that others would say I was an honest man. It was nice to work for such a recognized woman.
    Upon arrival from my first business trip, I later learned that Khadijah's servant, whom went along with me, was asked how my work conduct was. The servant sent her an excellent report, thankfully, he said that I was the kindest, gentlest man he had ever met. I was grateful to hear that these kind words were spoken about me, and it was important for me to treat everybody with kindness in my work. Khadijah must have been thoroughly impressed with the report because she sent her sister to speak with me.
            She said, "Why are you not married, yet?"
           "For lack of means," I answered.
           "What if I could offer you a wife of nobility, beauty, and wealth? Would you be interested?"                          When those words escaped her mouth, I was in shock but of course I said yes, but at the mention of her sisters name, I chuckled in amazement. I couldn't imagine marrying such an amazing and noble woman. In response to her I said:
            "How could I marry her? She has turned down the most noble men in the city, much wealthier     and prominent that me, a poor shepherd."
In response to my insecurity, Khadijah's sister assured me that it would be okay, and taken care of.

     Not long after that conversation, Khadijah and I joined in marriage. Our marriage was pleasant and prosperous, many say it was one of the most sacred and happiest marriages in human history. Our love was deep and unconditional. We bore six children throughout our marriage, 2 sons and 4 daughters. Both of our sons sadly died in infancy.
     Throughout our marriage I always enjoyed retreating to Mount Hira to meditate and pray to the Lord. It was always important for me to seclude myself from the world in the cave on Hira to grow closer to my God. I enjoyed returning home to my supportive and loving wife who was always willing to listen to me about my time spent meditating.

My name is Muhammad Hāshim

        It was in the year 570 AD that I was born in the city of Mecca located in Saudi Arabia. The importance of Mecca to Muslims is inestimable. Non-muslims are not allowed to enter this sacred area.

http://evaser.com/6-places-to-give-yourself-a-spiritual-recharge-for-travel/

         My father passed away prior to my birth, and it was a shame that I didn't get to meet him. As a baby my mother, Aminah, followed tradition and put me into the desert as a baby because it is said that one would learn self-discipline, nobility, and freedom. It also gave me a chance to learn Arabic and Arabian traditions. Throughout the five years in the desert I was nursed by Halimah bing Abi who was a poor Bedouin woman from the tribe of Banu Sa'ad.

       At the age of five, I was reunited with my mother who took me to meet my extended family and introduced me to the city. We visited for a month, and sadly on the way back my mother took ill and passed away. Hilimah continued on the return home with me and placed me in the protection of my biological grandfather, Abdul Al-Muttallb. My grandfather was a respected leader of the pilgrimage center in Mecca, and under his care I learned a lot about the rudiments of statecraft. When I turned eight, my grandpa passed away and I was then put into the care of my uncle, Abu Talib. 

      Abu Talib was a leader of the tribe Quraish, and he worked as a merchant. As I got a little older I began to travel with him, I even went as far as Syria. I enjoyed traveling along with him because I met many people who seemed to recognize me as an honest, trustworthy, and reliable young man. It was nice to know that they thought so highly of me, and it allowed me to begin earning a small wage working alongside my uncle. I began to make a career out of managing caravans for merchants. 

       Now I am 20 years old, and I enjoy looking back on the past and my childhood. Although some may say my childhood was rough, I believe it has shaped me as a person. I now find peace when I retreat to Mount Hira to seclude from the world, and simply pray and meditate. I am excited to tell you about my life throughout this blog.