The Emergence of Islam: Classical Traditions in Contemporary Perspective is a well-written book by the author, Gabriel Said Reynold. Reynold explains the story of Islam in this book from the very beginning of Muhammad’s early life. The first chapter of the book is Muhammad in Mecca which are then divided into several subchapters and sub-subchapters which are Monotheism and Paganism in Muhammad’s Arabia (Muhammad and the Monk, The Pagan City of Mecca and the War of the Elephant), Muhammad’s Early Life (Childhood and Marriage and Call to Prophecy), Muhammad’s Conflict with the Pagans of Mecca (The Infidelity of the Qurasy and The Satanic Verses), A Heavenly and an Earthly Journey (The Prophet’s Journey to Heaven and The Prophet’s Journey to Medina)
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A few miracles happen when Muhammad was in his childhood age which one of them happened to Halima, a Bedouin woman who first hesitated to take Muhammad. One of the miracles was that before she took Muhammad in, she was unable to nurse but miracle happened when she was finally able to nurse not only Muhammad, but also her own child. As for Muhammad’s marriage life, he was married to Khadija, famous for her dignity and wealth. Even though Muhammad married many woman in his history of life, but while Khadija was still his wife, he remained monogamous. The first time Muhammad received the word from God was when he was forty through the angel Gabriel which was the word “Read!”. In the first chapter also includes the conflict between Muhammad and the Pagans of Mecca. The conflict started when Muhammad began preaching Islam, a group of the Quraysh complained to his uncle, Abu Talib, declaring: “Your nephew has cursed our gods, insulted our religion, mocked our way of life and accused our forefathers of error!” (Ibn Ishaq, 119). On a second occasion they came to Abu Talib and complained, “By God, we cannot endure that our fathers should be reviled” (Ibn Ishaq, 119). The Quraysh refused to follow the Islam rules and that was why conflict happened. It was not an easy path for Muhammad during that time because he had to endure a lot of hardships to preach Islam. However, even though Muhammad had to suffer so much, God was still supporting him, to give him courage and not to give up because of the Satan or even because of the Quraysh. One of the miracles that happened to Muhammad includes the journey of him to the heaven which is when he had the chance to meet God and receive the obligation to pray five times a day. The chapter continues with the story of Muhammad’s journey to Medina. Before he went for hijra to Medina, he was able to protect himself from being killed by the Quraysh as he was aware of the plot because
A few miracles happen when Muhammad was in his childhood age which one of them happened to Halima, a Bedouin woman who first hesitated to take Muhammad. One of the miracles was that before she took Muhammad in, she was unable to nurse but miracle happened when she was finally able to nurse not only Muhammad, but also her own child. As for Muhammad’s marriage life, he was married to Khadija, famous for her dignity and wealth. Even though Muhammad married many woman in his history of life, but while Khadija was still his wife, he remained monogamous. The first time Muhammad received the word from God was when he was forty through the angel Gabriel which was the word “Read!”. In the first chapter also includes the conflict between Muhammad and the Pagans of Mecca. The conflict started when Muhammad began preaching Islam, a group of the Quraysh complained to his uncle, Abu Talib, declaring: “Your nephew has cursed our gods, insulted our religion, mocked our way of life and accused our forefathers of error!” (Ibn Ishaq, 119). On a second occasion they came to Abu Talib and complained, “By God, we cannot endure that our fathers should be reviled” (Ibn Ishaq, 119). The Quraysh refused to follow the Islam rules and that was why conflict happened. It was not an easy path for Muhammad during that time because he had to endure a lot of hardships to preach Islam. However, even though Muhammad had to suffer so much, God was still supporting him, to give him courage and not to give up because of the Satan or even because of the Quraysh. One of the miracles that happened to Muhammad includes the journey of him to the heaven which is when he had the chance to meet God and receive the obligation to pray five times a day. The chapter continues with the story of Muhammad’s journey to Medina. Before he went for hijra to Medina, he was able to protect himself from being killed by the Quraysh as he was aware of the plot because