While studying history, several times I have been fascinated with the stories and legends of Mohammad, the founder of the Islam religion. He is one of my favourite characters of World history. I thought to share some of my own knowledge and information about this great person whose life and activities had changed the face of the human civilization.
Muhammad Ibn `Abd Allāh Ibn `Abd al-Muttalib was the original name of Muhammad. He was born on 26th of April, 570 CE in the Arabian city of Mecca. His parents were Abdullah and Aminah Bint Wahb. His family belonged to the Banu Hashim Clan, a part of the Quraysh tribe. However, the early death of his parents left him orphan and hence his childhood days became stormy and naturally he had to struggle enough to survive the rough situations of life. Ultimately he was nurtured by an uncle named Abu Talib. As his uncle was a merchant, Mohammad used to go on long business trips Syria on caravans. At the age of 25, he came in close contact with a woman merchant named Khadija Bint Khuwaylid. Both Muhammad and Khadija used to share their views and found each other very close to their heart. Though she was fifteen years older (Y.O.B 555 CE) than Muhammad, they soon decided to get married and a new chapter began in both of their lives. They both led a happy family life.
Soon after, Mohammad started losing interest in worldly matters and became absent minded. He used to go to a mountain cave called Hira, a few kilometers from Mecca, located on a mountain called Jabal Al-Nur (present day Hejaz region in Saudi Arabia), and spent his time thinking about life, truth and religion. His meditation and reflection brought about a radical change in his life. At the age of 40, during the month of Ramadan, it is said that he received his first revelation from Angel Gabriel (Jibril). After this, he started preaching these revelations in public, proclaiming that God is One, it is necessary that we all surrender ourselves before Him. Most Islamic religious scholars accept him to be the last prophet of God and the restorer of an uncorrupted monotheistic faith (Islam) of Adam, Noah (Remember Noah’s Ark), Abraham, Moses (Remember the Ten Commandments), Jesus and other prophets.
It is an interesting fact to understand that both Christianity and Islam have originated from the Jewish tradition, as both Jesus and Mohammad share the same ancestry.
Khadija was the very first person to accept Mohammad as the Prophet and she was historically the first person in the world to accept the Islam religion. Apart from her, Mohammad’s 10 year old cousin Ali Ibn Abi Talib, closest friend Abu Bakr and adopted son Zaid became Mohammad’s followers. His preaching soon angered the leaders of the Arabian tribes and they plotted to kill Mohammad in 622 CE. However, Mohammad and Abu Bakr were successful to escape from Mecca and later travel down to Medina 320 Kilometers away. This migration starts the Islamic Hijira calendar. It is from Medina that Mohammad started his crusade and gradually more and more people embraced Islam religion as their faith.
Mohammad died on 8th of June, 632 CE, but his philosophy became a way of life for millions of people all over the globe. His life and works do charm people like me who love to explore into human characters and bring out their psychological instincts and characteristic attributes.
Five main Principles of Islam:
Among many other principles, the main principles are-
1. There is only one God 'Allah' and Mohammad is a Prophet (Shahada)
2. A true Muslim should pray five times a day (Namaaz) facing towards Mecca (Salat)
3. A Muslim shoud keep fast (Roja) from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadan (Sawm)
4. A pious Muslim should donate generously to the poor and the downtrodden (Zakat)
5. A Muslim must try to visit the Kaaba at Mecca atleat once in his lifetime (Hajj)
Quran clearly states that there is Paradise (Jannah) for the righteous people and Hell (Jahannam) for the bad.
What is the importance of 786?
Since many centuries, Muslim people mostly in the Indian Sub continent believe the number 786 to be extremely lucky. Nevertheless it is considered mystical and religiously significant. However, scholars opine differently about its origin or significance. There are many speculations about it and none is authentic. Many regard that Allah had created the world in 786 days. Even the famous poem Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim, which praises Allah, has exactly 786 letters! The Arabic version of the Koran also contains 786 imprints on them, though so far it is not known if any of the Arabic scholars had been able to determine its significance. It is well known that Mohammad had no idea of letters or numbers, so 786 cannot be related with Mohammad or his life.
It is very interesting to note that this magical number 786 is the Vedic holy letter “OM” written in Sanskrit. If it is read backwards in the Arabic way, the mystic number 786 appears…
Hinduism and Islam: A Strong Bond persists...
In medieval Indian subcontinent, the Bhakti exponents like Kabir, Ramdas, Tukaram, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Guru Nanak as well as all the Islamic Sufi saints like Moinuddin Chisti, Baba Fakruddin and Salim Chisti have spread the same message that ‘God is One’ and we have to surrender ourselves before the Almighty. Even modern spiritual leaders like Ramakrishna Paramhansa Dev and Sirdi Sai Baba have preached that all religion of the world is same. It is our devotion and love to God that purifies our mind and soul.
There is also a striking similarity between Hinduism and Islam. Both Hinduism and Islam believe in the theory of Heaven and Hell. Both the religion also believe in the doctrine of 'Karma' and its reward or punishment by God.
A major portion of the population in our Sabarna Roy Choudhury family Jaigir, that extended from Halisahar in the North to Diamond Harbour in the South, were Muslims. The long 150 years (1608-1757) of our reign had never witnessed any dissidence between the Hindu and the Muslim subjects, thanks to the efficient administration and vision of my forefathers, rather both these communities lived in the utmost harmony and shared their social and economic life. Our Sabarna Roy Choudhury family had never differentiated between a Hindu and a Muslim. The Muslim subjects used to particiapate in all our social events and they were very closely associated with our family. The reason why I narrated the history of my family is simply because I want to focus on the truth that it is the self interest, dishonesty and corrupt practice of the ruling class (think politicians) that creates a tension and terrible situations between communities, otherwise every common man whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Parsee lives in a peaceful and harmonious society. There can be no hatred or dissidence unless it is plotted by rulers or politicians.
Therefore to me, all religion spreads the message of truth and peace. We may follow different religions, but our inner soul meets at the same point where love and devotion exists in the purest form…
[Special thanks to Sanjog Kesar and Wikipedia for providing useful information]
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