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The Seven Phases of Prophet Muhammads Life.
The Seven Phases of Prophet Muhammads Life.
Traditional scholarship's divides Prophet Muhammad's life into Makkan and Madinahn phases.
This is chronologically valid and represents the two broad aspects of his life before and after the
watershed event of the Migration. It is historically important and marks the beginning of the
Islamic calendar. Additionally I believe Muhammad's struggle can be naturally divided into
seven phases. Each phase brings forth a different aspect of his personality and highlights a
different facet of his mission. Studying the Messenger's mission for its various phases and
analyzing its internal dynamics is important as it gives the narrative relevance for today. Since
his life is better documented than the lives of other prophets and leaders of major world
religions, it is possible to build this analysis on a historical foundation.
As his biography (Seera) is recorded we find Prophet Muhammad pondering over societal ills
for years. The society he was born in was in a state of moral, religious, economic and social
chaos. It is difficult to resist drawing analogies between the seventh century world and the state
of the human morality in today's world at the beginning of the new millennium. The nuclear
man-woman two-parent family, as a core unit of society has eroded seriously in the West.
Brazen sexual exploitation in the media is commonplace and illicit sex condoned and even
accepted. Violence at home, against women, children, and violence in the streets, is frightfully
routine. Substance abuse is widespread, with United States as the largest consumer of drugs in
the world. Alcoholism is rampant, especially among college students, with only feeble attempts
being made to address the problem. African- Americans have been liberated as slaves for a
century and a half, yet many are still trapped in an unending cycle of poverty and discrimination,
which is in a way a form of economic slavery. Because of a system that allows unrestrained
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growth of wealth without encouraging proper redistribution, economic disparities and injustices
continue to grow at an alarming rate.
There are many excellent characteristics in Western societies, especially in the US that include
the freedom of thought, speech and assembly, a tolerant attitude toward eccentricities in human
nature and an ambition to be a just and compassionate society. These qualities of the ordinary
American however are not always reflected in the policy makers and political leaders.
The unraveling of the moral fabric in today's society must weigh heavily on the minds of
individuals with insight. They can draw personal solace and inspiration from the Prophet's life.
The Arab tribal society of the Seventh century, whose structure was based on greed,
debauchery, and violence, was changed in a very short time, by the Prophet, into a society with
one of the highest moral standards in history. Compassion, humility, devotion to God and
egalitarianism replaced the old well-entrenched tribal attitudes of pride in wealth, family and
class and self-centered behavior. Women, for the first time in history, had rights and dignity, and
the vulnerable and weak sections of the society were protected. Sexuality was removed from
public prurience and became private and wholesome. Wealth was re-circulated so that even the
poorest segments of the society were infused with energy and indigence became nearly extinct.
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had to lay his life on the line and on several occasions the nascent Muslim community faced the
possibility of total extinction. Fortitude in the face of adversity is the salient feature of this phase.
The patience and stoicism Muhammad displays during this phase has been a source of strength
to many a Muslim who has found himself beleaguered by apparently hopeless circumstances
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Wealth is allowed to be accumulated but has to be circulated fairly into even the tiniest
capillaries of the community's economic system. It is an egalitarian society with equity and
justice for all, governed by mutual consultation, equality before the law and protection of its
most vulnerable members, women, children, orphans, indigents and slaves.
As illustrated by many incidents from this phase of his life, the Prophet proves to be an
exemplary statesman. He mediates disputes, defuses potentially explosive situations with ease,
allowing the parties to the conflict to walk away as friends and allies. He is unafraid to take risks
but is never reckless and compromises for the sake of peace. His emissaries to other nations
bring with them a message of cooperation seeking common ground. When he gives a pledge,
he always keeps it. If the other party breaks the pledge, he does not flinch from measures that
are appropriate to maintain the sanctity of the pledge.
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