Is Muhammad a prophet of God?

[eahaddix]

To any and all Muslim lurkers: How do you know that Muhammad is a prophet of God?

:popcorn:

[Street Sweeper]

There is no doubt that Mohammed’s legacy has had a huge impact on the world. I don't believe Mohammed is a prophet either, but what were the circumstances that led him to be regarded as a prophet by so many people? The following is my own speculation. I’d be interested in whether this makes sense to everyone, and if there is information available which could confirm the various suggestions

My limited understanding is that the seventh century Arab world had no effective form of governance. Tribal groups such as the Quraish managed their own internal affairs and perpetuated what seems to have been an ongoing state of hostility with anyone not part of their immediate community.

Christian influences at the time were also spreading throughout the Middle East and on to Asia, however the message of salvation was being clouded by the competing views of Gnosticism and Orthodox Christianity.

Suggestions that he was an epileptic and that the words now compiled into the Quran, were a by-product of his epileptic fits seem plausible.

It’s difficult to suggest what Mohammed’s motives were in this environment, or even if he initially pursued a deliberate strategy. It is clear that Mohammed had great concern about the fragmented Arab society and by drawing together the mixed ‘Christian’ messages in his ‘recitation’, along with his own directions and practices, a strategy for unification was possible.

Mohammed certainly faced some early difficulty in having his message accepted, but as he accumulated supportive people to his cause, simple strength of numbers matched with a traditional militaristic culture enabled very rapid growth of Islamic dominance. Unfortunately it seems that 7th century Arab hostility and practices are embedded within modern day Islam, making acceptance of other cultures problematic.

[CoreIssue]

I would add that he came from a priviledged family that, under the spread of Catholicism and other powers, had lost its power and status. He wanted it back.

Catholocism was impacting and reducing the Persian Mysticism he had a fascination for. Taking away the Perisan way of life and belief.

Notice he picked the parts of the OT that dealt with the beginnings of the the Arab peoples? And merged that with Persian Mysticism and the selected old gods?

That make his family lineage special again. And the Arab peoples he spoke to. It reinvigorated their will to create their own societies free of European influence.

Then the leaders who came after tailored and tweaked it. The Koran was more of a political move by future leaders than a creation of Mohammed. He was content with the oral traditions, as done of old. But it allowed them to create a mythology of their own.

My thinking anyway.