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Hello everyone. This week you going to be learning more about Muhammed,
the man who was to become the Prophet and leader
of the formation and building of the first Islam
community. The story of his life
from orphan, to merchant, to messenger,
to statesmen and leader, will be addressed.
Muhammad's concerns for equality and access to society by
all its members will be studied. You will also learn
that Muhammad was a reluctant messenger of God.
At first, he thought he was going crazy; and it took him three years
to even express these revelations and messages,
except to his wife, to other people.
The early Muslim community with its struggles for the right to believe
something different, for its right to openly
express its ideas for peaceful
coexistence with those other faiths
or paganism and for a place to settle
where persecution did not occur, also was a time
when women was granted rights that they didn't have before,
where women were invited to lead prayers
and participate with men in worship, where baby girls were not buried
alive, where all were given some access to inheritance,
were among some of the positive impacts
that Mohammed's beliefs and teachings had on society at that time.
Some of these issues, of course, have changed over the years; mostly, though, not due to
religion
but due to culture, growing
governing powers of the state,
religious leaders with varying interpretations of Muhammad's revelation,
but mostly because of the common practices
at the time within society not related specifically
to religious beliefs, It should be noted, however,
that most inhabitants of the Near East
in the seventh century did take their religion seriously.
there was a heightened sensitivity to
apocalyptic fears and messianic expectations. In other words,
they were expecting the Second Coming of Jesus. They were expecting from
all faiths that who had been promised
by their Prophets. Many of the religious
traditions and faiths, particularly Christianity, Judaism
and Zoroastrianism emerged from this time
and their expectations for this time were heightened by the politics
of military chaos of this period. In addition to posting
this week's discussion forum in response to related questions,
you also have a Response Paper due at the end of the week
about some aspect of Muhammad's life andor or
early Muslim community. I won't be reminding you
every week of your papers that are due, so
make sure that you check the Course Calendar frequently.
In addition, I will give
extra credit to those who may need it at the end of the course
for completing or
adding to the Glossary, not the Glossary that you read in Module
1, but too a glossary that we're preparing
on Blackboard. I will give you more information about
this Glossary as we begin the course;
but please keep in mind this is your opportunity for extra credit.