The Lives of Leaders: Jesus and Mohammed

The Lives of Leaders: Jesus and Mohammed

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The lives of Jesus and Mohammed reveal similarities and differences that explain why the two religions overlap and also oppose each other. Both founded religions that had a worldwide impact and both were charismatic leaders who inspired trust and loyalty. Yet the two men had different ideas about what God/Allah wanted from the world’s people and both took different paths to spread their message.

The story of Jesus begins with the angel, Gabriel who told Mary that she would be the mother of God’s son through an immaculate conception. According to the tale, Jesus Christ was born without a biological father in the human sense. His origins are humble, being place in a manger in Bethlehem as a baby. His parents, Joseph and Mary, had not yet married and were unable to find a room for the night, so Jesus was born in a stable. Several miraculous events occurred at his birth, including a bright star that guided the “Three Wise Men” to him as well as angels who appeared to tell people of a savior’s birth. These events indicated that Jesus wasthe human incarnation of God that had been predicted by prophets in the Old Testament. His youth was also a humble one, spent helping his father in the carpentry business. At the same time, however, many stories state that Jesus lectured Jewish leaders and criticized the ways in which those who worshipped God were not following the right path. As a young man, Jesus gained disciples and followers who learned about his reform ideas through his miracles and his parables. The twelve disciples stayed with him and studied his ideas, many of whom recorded these teachings and thus formed the basis of New Testament. According to the New Testament, Jesus performed many miracles while alive, such as walking on water, healing the sick, and even raising the dead. This evidence seemed to confirm that Jesus was the son of God. Although he only lived to age 33, Jesus expanded his cohort of believers across the modern day region of Israel-Palestine. His main message rested on the principles of love and forgiveness. His personal life is much more difficult to discern, as some argue that he had a wife, while others say he never married and had no children. Little concrete evidence suggests that he did have a family, but in the future more documents or even DNA testing may change that interpretation.

Mohammed also began his life as a poor child, born to a family that had little wealth or connections. His father died prior to his birth and inexplicable events began while he was still a baby. The wet nurse lacked enough milk, but,when feeding Mohammed, she was able to produce plenty of milk. Later, he grew up under his uncle’s care. One story explains that during a hot desert journey with his uncle, a trader, clouds moved so that Mohammed was protected from the blazing heat. As a young man he earned the reputation of an honest person, he followed in his uncle’s footsteps by becoming a trader, and he married wives and had children. During his trading travels, he studied the religions of Judaism and Christianity and decided that, contrary to popular contemporary ideas, only one God existed.

When he was 40, Mohammed became ill and had fevers, during which he also had visions. He claimed that the angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that he had been chosen by God. He would be the final prophet on earth and needed to teach people to submit to the will of God (Allah). Over the next 23 years, Mohammed received revelations and, despite his illiteracy, was able to read and write. Through this interaction, he composed what became the Koran (Qu’ran) and memorized God’s words. He repeated them to his followers, establishing a tradition of memorizing the Koran that would continue up to the present day, and later people wrote down what he had said, which became the Koran. In 622, he had to leave his home in Mecca and refugee to the northern city of Medina because many opposed his teachings. At that time, Arab groups often had multiple gods and they objected to this new religion that told them to rely on only one. Priests of the many gods especially felt threatened and they encouraged opposition to the teachings of Mohammed. Because of the threats and persecution, he developed an army and destroyed all the idols in Mecca. He also emphasized determination and discipline, even seeing to prayers while fighting battles. Exiled to Medina, Mohammed built the first Muslim temple, or mosque. In order to continue his efforts, Allah permitted Mohammed to begin a holy war, or jihad. He fought and won, afterwards granting pardons to those who had opposed him. Mohammed promoted brotherhood across all classes and races and believed in equality, as exemplified by the practice of prayer. Muslims pray three to five times a day and all are welcome, whether wealthy or poor, black or white.

For Muslims, Mohammed represents the most significant figure besides God. He exemplified the best virtues of a Muslim, including honesty and sincerity. They call him the Prophet as well as several other names such as Messenger of God, the General, the King, the Warrior, the Businessman, the Preacher, the Philosopher, the Statesman, the Orator, the Refuge of orphans, the Protector of slaves, the emancipator of women, the Law-giver, the Judge, and the Saint. His example of leadership provides all Muslims with the model life and ideal actions. This is similar to Jesus, who also is imbued with such characteristics. Additionally, similar to Jesus, Mohammed performed miraclesduring his fighting. Yet while Mohammed had to fight violent struggles, Jesus always preached peace and tolerance, even turning the other cheek. Whereas Jesus started teaching his views as a young boy, Mohammed did not begin his religious work until he was 40. Both men followed a life of simplicity, characterized by their pious natures and generous spirits. At the same time, neither could avoid persecution, as both lived in contexts that rejected what they preached. Jesus would be persecuted and finally executed by the Romand, even denied by his own people, the Jews. Mohammed would have to leave his home and fight military battles to stay alive, although he managed to die a natural death as an old man. Upon death, people said that Jesus rose from the dead after being entombed for three days, even appearing to his friends before he ascended to heaven. According to Muslim sources, Mohammed went straight to paradise to be with Godwhen he died.

The death of Jesus by crucifixion serves as the focal point of Christianity. According to Christian beliefs, Jesus experienced death just like any other human, an act that he willingly undertook in order to save all of humanity from their sins. His death meant that symbolic offerings like slaughtered animals were no longer necessary to worship God. He instead represented the ultimate sacrifice and thus ultimate salvation for all people who believed in him. By demonstrating his love for humanity in this way, God himself made the supreme sacrifice. Moreover, the death of Jesus served to reinforce the enduring commitment that God had made to his people. After his death, however, split and factions developed among believers, especially in regards to how the church should wield its power as well as over rituals and interpretations of the Bible. These divisions resulted in the major split during the Protestant Reformation at which time ChristHis death strengthened the foundation of Christian religion believing Jesus as the God the Son who sent the God the Holy Spirit after His resurrection. Many disputes evolved later ending up Christian belief in many denominations. Mohammed's death was the loss of a significant leader. His death caused a remarkable chaos among believers. Some followers relapsed into idolatry or turned to Judaism and Christianity while the leadership question divided the faith as the caliphs fought. Now there are Sunnis recognizing the succession of Caliphs to lead the faith, while Shias resist believing that the leadership over the religion should only be accomplished by Prophet Mohammed's descendants.

Both men differ in that Jesus serves as a deity whereas Mohammed remains human. During his life, people respected Jesus and revered him as the son of God. After his death and resurrection, believers increased their faith in him and used his life as model. Many Christians today, for example, ask themselves “what would Jesus do?” to help in decision-making. Mohammed was also respected, but as a prophet without any deification. While Jesus gained followers early in life, Mohammed only began his work in middle age. Mohammed still receives high respect from Muslims as Allah’s final prophet and messenger, but no Muslim would pray to him. In contrast, Christians do pray to Jesus. Both men are the most important figures in their respective religions, but Mohammed never obtained divine status, whereas the symbolic value of Jesus rests on his familial connection to God..

Today, Christianity remains the largest religion, but Islam is expanding. The teachings of both religions through the Bible and the Koran are available through print publication and also the internet and other modern technologies. Those who wish to worship as well as those who are merely curious can gain access to these holy works easily. Additionally, both religions have been fortunate to have active leaders and believers who are willing to help spread their truth to non-believers. Such aspects of both religions explain why they are still popular up to recent times. Yet neither religion could have ever made its start without strong and charismatic leaders. Both men advanced their causes differently, and yet both made an impact that has changed the world.

References

History of Jesus Christ. Retrieved August 2, 2009.

The Life of Mohammad.Retrieved August 2, 2009.

Questions about the Events Surrounding the Life of Jesus. Retrieved August 2, 2009.