Islam: The Prophet Muhammad

Muhammad is Islam's most important prophet. He lived in Makkah, which was a wealthy trading city, at a time when corruption and cruelty were commonplace. The rich merchants oppressed the poor, and the people had turned to gambling, drinking and fighting, which it seemed to Muhammad, only brought them misery. They pinned their hopes and their trust on many idols, believing that good fortune and prosperity would come to them only if their gods were appeased with sacrifices. They believed that if they displeased these gods it would bring them bad luck. Yet in spite of their efforts, their lives still seemed to lack the happiness, security and peace that they so desperately craved.

Muhammad felt sure that the people of Makkah were wrong to depend on many gods to fulfill their needs. He felt there had to be a deeper meaning to the purpose of life than this. He searched for meaning by going up into the mountains outside Makkah to meditate. It was on one of those visits that Muhammad had a vision. Gabriel (an angel) identified himself to Muhammad, telling him that he was a messenger of God, and that Muhammad must be reassured that there is only one God.

Gabriel then told Muhammad to recite what he was told, but Muhammad was so terrified that he froze and did nothing. Three times Gabriel instructed Muhammad to recite, until finally he had no choice but to obey.

The night when this vision appeared to Muhammad is known as the Night of Power by Muslims.

When Muhammad finally left the mountain, he returned to a life that would never be the same again. Over the years he experienced many more visions during which he felt God was giving him a message. He began to preach this message to the people of Makkah. The main point of him message was that there was only one God, Allah. He told the people to turn away from their frivolous and violent life style and turn to Allah.

In the name of God, the most merciful Lord of mercy,
Praise be to God the Lord of all being,
The merciful Lord of Mercy,
Master of the Day of Judgement.
You alone we serve and to You alone we come for aid.
Guide us in the straight path,
The path of those whom You have blessed,
Not of those against whom there is displeasure,
Nor of those who go astray.
_{(Surah 1:1-7)}

From reading about the Night of Power and the prayer from the Qur'an, describe the way in which you think Muhammad understood God. The word Qur'an comes from the Arabic word for read or recite, and Muslims believe it contains God's actual words. Write a letter from a Muslim to a new penfriend enclosing a copy of the Qur'an. Explain in your letter what the book is, how you feel towards it and how you hope it will be treated.

Cristianity: St. Paul

With the exception of Jesus, St. Paul is probably the most well known person from the Bible. He was originally a Pharisee (Jewish legal scholar) named Saul. Saul had a real dislike for the Christian community that was growing at that time, because he thought they were wrong in believing that Jesus was God. Saul thought Christians were heretics (those holding false beliefs) and that as such they threatened the Torah and the Jewish faith. To defend his faith, Saul persecuted, punished and killed Christians.

One day, as he approached Damascus, he was stopped by a light that shone so brightly it blinded him. Read the following account of this event.

As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed round him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?'

'Who are you Lord?' he asked.

'I am Jesus, whom you persecute,' the voice said. 'But get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you must do.'

The men who were travelling with Saul had stopped, not saying a word; They heard the voice but could not see anyone.

_{(Acts 9:3-7)}

Saul was taken to the house of Ananias, a Christian, and three days later his sight was returned. This experience affected Saul so strongly that he became a Christian. He was baptised, and began to use his Greek name Paul, and devoted his life to spreading the Christian message. Through this one experience, he turned from the persecutor of Christianity to the greatest evangelist.