Names and Appellations in the Quran

Names and appellations in the Quran The name Muhammad written in Thuluth, a script variety of Islamic calligraphy. The name Muhammad (/mʊˈhæməd, -ˈhɑːməd/)24 means "praiseworthy" and appears four times in the Quran.25 The Quran addresses Muhammad in the second person by his various appellations; prophet, messenger, servant of God ('abd), announcer (bashir)Quran 2:119, witness (shahid),Quran 33:45 bearer of good tidings (mubashshir), warner (nathir),Quran 11:2 reminder (mudhakkir),Quran 88:21 one who calls unto God (dā‘ī),Quran 12:108 light personified (noor)Quran 05:15, and the light-giving lamp (siraj munir)Quran 33:46. Muhammad is sometimes addressed by designations deriving from his state at the time of the address: thus he is referred to as the enwrapped (al-muzzammil) in Quran 73:1 and the shrouded (al-muddaththir) in Quran 74:1.26 In Sura Al-Ahzab 33:40 God singles out Muhammad as the "Seal of the Prophets", or the last of the prophets.27 The Quran also refers to Muhammad as Aḥmad "more praiseworthy" (Arabic: أحمد, Sura As-Saff 61:6). Sources for Muhammad's life Main articles: Historiography of early Islam and Historicity of Muhammad Quran A folio from an early Quran, written in Kufic script (Abbasid period, 8th–9th century) The Quran is the central religious text of Islam. Muslims believe that it represents the words of God revealed to Muhammad through the archangel Gabriel.282930 Although it mentions Muhammad directly only four times,31Quran 3:144Quran 33:40Quran 47:2Quran 48:29 there are verses which can be interpreted as allusions to Muhammad's life.14n 4 The Quran, however, provides minimal assistance for Muhammad's chronological biography; most verses in the Quran do not provide much in the way of historical context.3233 Early biographies Main article: Sirah Rasul Allah An important source may be found in the historic works by writers of the 2nd and 3rd centuries of the Muslim era (AH – 8th and 9th century CE).34 These include the traditional Muslim biographies of Muhammad (the sira literature), which provide additional information about Muhammad's life.35 The earliest surviving written sira (biographies of Muhammad and quotes attributed to him) is Ibn Ishaq's Life of God's Messenger written c. 767 CE (150 AH). Although the work was lost, this sira was used verbatim at great length by Ibn Hisham and Al-Tabari.3637 Another early history source is the history of Muhammad's campaigns by al-Waqidi (death 207 of Muslim era), and the work of his secretary Ibn Sa'd al-Baghdadi (death 230 of Muslim era).34 Many scholars accept the accuracy of the earliest biographies, though their accuracy is unascertainable.36 Recent studies have led scholars to distinguish between the traditions touching legal matters and the purely historical ones. In the former sphere, traditions could have been subject to invention while in the latter sphere, aside from exceptional cases, the material may have been only subject to "tendential shaping".38 Hadith Main article: Hadith Another important source may be found in the hadith collections, which are accounts of the verbal and physical teachings and traditions of Muhammad that were compiled several generations after his death by notable individuals such as Muhammad al-Bukhari, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, Muhammad ibn Isa at-Tirmidhi, etc.39 Some Western academics view the hadith collections with caution as accurate historical sources.39 Scholars such as Madelung do not reject the narrations which have been compiled in later periods, but judge them in the context of history and on the basis of their compatibility with the events and figures.40 Pre-Islamic Arabia Main tribes and settlements of Arabia in Muhammad's lifetime Main articles: Pre-Islamic Arabia, Jahiliyyah and Arabian mythology The Arabian Peninsula was largely arid and volcanic, agriculture was difficult except near oases or springs. The landscape was dotted with towns and cities; two of the most prominent being Mecca and Medina. Medina was a large flourishing agricultural settlement, while Mecca was an important financial center for many surrounding tribes.41 Communal life was essential for survival in the desert conditions, supporting indigenous tribes against the harsh environment and lifestyle. Tribal grouping was encouraged by the need to act as a unit, this unity being based on the bond of kinship by blood.42 Indigenous Arabs were either nomadic or sedentary, the former constantly travelling from one place to another seeking water and pasture for their flocks, while the latter settled and focused on trade and agriculture. Nomadic survival was also dependent on raiding caravans or oases, the nomads not viewing this as a crime.4344 Politically Arabia at the time was divided between two tribal confederations, the Banu Qais, loosely allied with Byzantium and who were originally powerful in Northern and Western Arabia, and the Banu Kalb, who had originally come from Yemen, and were loosely allied with Sassanid Persia. In pre-Islamic Arabia, gods or goddesses were viewed as protectors of individual tribes, their spirits being associated with sacred trees, stones, springs and wells. As well as being the site of an annual pilgrimage, the Kaaba shrine in Mecca housed 360 idol statues of tribal patron deities. Three goddesses were associated with Allah as his daughters: Allāt, Manāt and al-‘Uzzá. Monotheistic communities existed in Arabia, including Christians and Jews.45 Hanifs – native pre-Islamic Arabs who "professed a rigid monotheism"46 – are also sometimes listed alongside Jews and Christians in pre-Islamic Arabia, although their historicity is disputed among scholars.4748 According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad himself was a Hanif and one of the descendants of Ishmael, son of Abraham.49 Life In Mecca hideTimeline of Muhammad in Mecca Important dates and locations in the life of Muhammad c. 569 Death of his father, Abdullah c. 570 Possible date of birth: April 19 570 dC, 12 Rabi al Awal: in Mecca Arabia 576 Death of his mother, Aminah c. 583 his grand father transfers him to Syria c. 595 Meets and marries Khadijah 597 Birth of Zainab, his first daughter, followed by: Ruqayyah, Umm Khultoom, and Fatima Zahra 610 Qur'anic revelation begins in the Cave of Hira on the Jabaal an Nur the " Mountain of Light" near Mecca 610 Prophethood begins at 40 years old: Angel Jebreel (Gabriel) said to appear to him on the mountain and call him: The Prophet of Allah 610 Begins in secret to gather followers in Mecca c. 613 Begins spreading message of Islam publicly to all Meccans c. 614 Heavy persecution of Muslims begins c. 615 Emigration of a group of Muslims to Ethiopia 616 Banu Hashim clan boycott begins 619 The year of sorrows: Khadija (his wife) and Abu Talib (his uncle) die 619 Banu Hashim clan boycott ends c. 620 Isra and Mi'raj (reported ascension to heaven to meet God) 622 Hijra, emigration to Medina (called Yathrib) 624 Battle of Badr 625 Battle of Uhud 627 Battle of the Trench (also known as the siege of Medina) 628 The Meccan tribe of Quraysh and the Muslim community in Medina signed a 10-year truce called the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah 629 Conquest of Mecca 632 Farewell pilgrimage and death, in what is now Saudi Arabia This box: view talk edit Main article: Muhammad in Mecca Muhammad was born in Mecca and lived there for roughly the first 52 years of his life (c. 570–622). This period is generally divided into two phases, before and after declaring his prophetic visions. Childhood and early life See also: Mawlid and Family tree of Muhammad Muhammad was born about the year 5708 and his birthday is believed to be in the month of Rabi' al-awwal.50 He belonged to the Banu Hashim clan, one of Mecca's prominent families, although it appears less prosperous during Muhammad's early lifetime.1451 The Banu Hashim clan was part of the Quraysh tribe. Tradition places the year of Muhammad's birth as corresponding with the Year of the Elephant, which is named after the failed destruction of Mecca that year by the Aksumite king Abraha who supplemented his army with elephants. An outbreak of smallpox among the Aksumites may explain the failure of the invading army.52 20th century scholarship has suggested alternative dates for this event, such as 568 or 569.53 Miniature from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's Jami al-Tawarikh, c. 1315, illustrating the story of Muhammad's role in re-setting the Black Stone in 605. (Ilkhanate period)54 His father, Abdullah, died almost six months before Muhammad was born.55 According to Islamic tradition, soon after Muhammad's birth he was sent to live with a Bedouin family in the desert, as desert life was considered healthier for infants.56 Muhammad stayed with his foster-mother, Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb, and her husband until he was two years old.10 Some western scholars of Islam have rejected the historicity of this tradition.56 At the age of six, Muhammad lost his biological mother Amina to illness and he became orphaned.1057 For the next two years, he was under the guardianship of his paternal grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, of the Banu Hashim clan, but when Muhammad was eight, his grandfather also died. He then came under the care of his uncle Abu Talib, the new leader of Banu Hashim.1053 According to Islamic historian William Montgomery Watt there was a general disregard by guardians in taking care of weaker members of the tribes in Mecca during the 6th century, "Muhammad's guardians saw that he did not starve to death, but it was hard for them to do more for him, especially as the fortunes of the clan of Hashim seem to have been declining at that time."58 While still in his teens, Muhammad accompanied his uncle on trading journeys to Syria gaining experience in commercial trade.1058 Islamic tradition states that when Muhammad was either nine or twelve while accompanying the Meccans' caravan to Syria, he met a Christian monk or hermit named Bahira who is said to have foreseen Muhammad's career as a prophet of God.59 Little is known of Muhammad during his later youth, and from the fragmentary information that is available, it is difficult to separate history from legend.1058 It is known that he became a merchant and "was involved in trade between the Indian ocean and the Mediterranean Sea."60 Due to his upright character he acquired the nickname "al-Amin" (Arabic: الامين), meaning "faithful, trustworthy" and "al-Sadiq" meaning "truthful"61 and was sought out as an impartial arbitrator.91462 His reputation attracted a proposal in 595 from Khadijah, a 40-year-old widow. Muhammad consented to the marriage, which by all accounts was a happy one.1060 Several years later, according to a narration collected by historian Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad was involved with a well-known story about setting the Black Stone in place in the wall of the Kaaba in 605 CE. The Black Stone, a sacred object, had been removed to facilitate renovations to the Kaaba. The leaders of Mecca could not agree on which clan should have the honour of setting the Black Stone back in its place. They agreed to wait for the next man to come through the gate and ask him to choose. That man was the 35-year-old Muhammad, five years before his first revelation. He asked for a cloth and put the Black Stone in its centre. The clan leaders held the corners of the cloth and together carried the Black Stone to the right spot, then Muhammad set the stone in place, satisfying the honour of all.63 Beginnings of the Quran See also: Muhammad's first revelation, History of the Quran and Wahy The cave Hira in the mountain Jabal al-Nour where, according to Muslim belief, Muhammad received his first revelation. Muhammad adopted the practice of praying alone for several weeks every year in a cave on Mount Hira near Mecca.6465 Islamic tradition holds that during one of his visits to Mount Hira, the angel Gabriel appeared to him in the year 610 and commanded Muhammad to recite verses which would later be included in the Quran.66 There is a consensus that the first words of the Quran to be revealed were the beginning of Surah 96:1.67 Upon receiving his first revelations, he was deeply distressed. After returning home, Muhammad was consoled and reassured by Khadijah and her Christian cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal.68 Waraqah is variously described as an Ebionite priest (possibly of Mecca) or Nestorian. He also feared that others would dismiss his claims as being possessed.44 Shi'a tradition maintains that Muhammad was neither surprised nor frightened at the appearance of Gabriel but rather Muhammad welcomed him as if he was expecting.69 The initial revelation was followed by a pause of three years (a period known as fatra) during which Muhammad felt depressed and further gave himself to prayers and spiritual practices.67 When the revelations resumed he was reassured and commanded to begin preaching: "Thy Guardian-Lord hath not forsaken thee, nor is He displeased."707172 A depiction of Muhammad receiving his first revelation from the angel Gabriel. From the manuscript Jami' al-tawarikh by Rashid-al-Din Hamadani, 1307, Ilkhanate period. ×Ads by Lights Cinema 1.5betaSahih Bukhari narrates Muhammad describing his revelations as "sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell". Aisha reported, "I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over)".73 According to Welch these descriptions may be considered genuine, since they are unlikely to have been forged by later Muslims.14 Muhammad was confident that he could distinguish his own thoughts from these messages.74 According to the Quran, one of the main roles of Muhammad is to warn the unbelievers of their eschatological punishment (Quran 38:70, Quran 6:19). Occasionally the Quran did not explicitly refer to Judgment day but provided examples from the history of extinct communities and warns Muhammad's contemporaries of similar calamities (Quran 41:13–16).26 Muhammad did not only warn those who rejected God's revelation, but also dispensed good news for those who abandoned evil, listening to the divine words and serving God.75 Muhammad's mission also involves preaching monotheism: The Quran commands Muhammad to proclaim and praise the name of his Lord and instructs him not to worship idols or associate other deities with God.2676 The key themes of the early Quranic verses included the responsibility of man towards his creator; the resurrection of the dead, God's final judgment followed by vivid descriptions of the tortures in Hell and pleasures in Paradise; and the signs of God in all aspects of life. Religious duties required of the believers at this time were few: belief in God, asking for forgiveness of sins, offering frequent prayers, assisting others particularly those in need, rejecting cheating and the love of wealth (considered to be significant in the commercial life of Mecca), being chaste and not to kill newborn girls.14 Opposition See also: Persecution of Muslims by the Meccans and Migration to Abyssinia According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad's wife Khadija was the first to believe he was a prophet.77 She was followed by Muhammad's ten-year-old cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib, close friend Abu Bakr, and adopted son Zaid.1177 Around 613, Muhammad began to preach to the public (Quran 26:214).78 Most Meccans ignored him and mocked him,76 though a few became his followers. There were three main groups of early converts to Islam: younger brothers and sons of great merchants; people who had fallen out of the first rank in their tribe or failed to attain it; and the weak, mostly unprotected foreigners.79 The last ayah from the sura An-Najm in the Quran: "So prostrate to Allah and worship Him." Muhammad's message of monotheism (one God) challenged the traditional order. According to Ibn Sad, the opposition in Mecca started when Muhammad delivered verses that condemned idol worship and the Meccan forefathers who engaged in polytheism.7680 However, the Quranic exegesis maintains that it began as Muhammad started public preaching.81 As the number of followers increased, he became a threat to the