Muhammad is one of the most enigmatic, charismatic individuals of world history. Uniting a warring fractured nation into one integrated whole that, at one period, almost conquered the world and achieved epic proportions, Muhammad has gained renown to a great proportion of the world as being one of the greatest of all prophets and second only to Allah Himself. Many consider Mohammed worthy of emulation and great pains, indeed, are taken to collect and interpret memoirs of his personality (in the shape of hadiths) so that his followers can as closely as possible emulate him. The following essay seeks to investigate how Muhammad succeeded in forming Islam; particularly his success in converting non-Arabs to Islam and in transforming a network of scattered, warring nations into one integral whole.
Islam was created by a devout businessman, Mohammed ibn Abdullah, on 17th Ramadan in 610 CE. One night, he awoke to "find himself overpowered by a devastating presence, which squeezed him tightly until he heard the first words of a new Arabs' scripture pouring from his lips" (Armstrong, 2000, p.4). His wife, Khadja, and her cousin, Waraqa ibn Nawfal encouraged him in his revelations, and in 612 he acquired his first converts, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abu Bakr, and Uthman ibn Affan. Mohammed did not think he was founding a new religion (Armstrong, 2000; Hourani, 1991). His teachings recreated Judaism and Christianity, only placing Ishmael, alleged father of the Arabs as the focus. Mohammed asserted that he was merely bringing the old faith to the Arabs, who had never had a prophet before.
Facing initial opposition to his teachings and living first in Mecca before migrating to Medina with his sizeable number of followers, Muhammad began his first steps towards consolidating a nation by drafting the Constitution of Medina that established "a kind of alliance of federations" among the eight Medinian tribes and his own followers which combined both practical polity and religious concerns into establishing that which effectively became the first Islamic state (Peterson, 2007). The Medinian tribes (largely influenced by conversion of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh) gradually accepted Islam and with Muhammad instituting a spirit of brotherhood, charity, and morality (as opposed to the anarchic, warlike spirit that had, heretofore, prevailed), Islam became a viable growing option for many.
As part of survival tactic, the Medinian immigrants were encouraged by Muhammad in their war against Mecca. These, particularly the Battle of Badr, strengthened Muhammad's position and made Islam grow. Heretics were killed and pagans subdued.
Expert strategist and war man, Muhammad prevented alliances from forming against him and devised new military techniques to defend median from siege. Later treaties negotiated, particularly with the Quraysh, further cemented regard for Mohammad, as well as guaranteeing military security for his empire way into the future (Peterson, 2007)
The conquest of Mecca, in 630, resulted in minimal casualties since most of the Meccans converted to Islam. His famous speech, known as the Farewell sermon, abolished the system of traditional blood feuds and disputes and established the fundamentals of a moral, socially concerned society.
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