Thoughts on Mecca and Muhammad

It is my opinion that the people of Mecca were saved by Muhammad and his prophecy could not have been timed any better. Just as God had intended, as I’m sure is believed by the majority of people of this faith.

The notion of turning Mecca into a trading and revenue stream may have been called ingenious from a capitalist view point. What a misfortune to misuse power in such that people had to pay to pray. From past to present it seems human nature is to find ways to make a profit and Mecca is the result of that attitude. These few ruling Quraysh families saw an opportunity to rule over the clans and take control of the city, and then decided to monopolize the bodies of the Gods “of the time” and entomb them together so you would have to pay the price to pay. The history of Mecca and the Ka’ba reminds me of the priests that were telling people that for a price they could pray to get ancestors removed from purgatory. People can be corrupt and it is unfortunate that they take advantage of others, but even more so when religion should come from a place of good and just and not used for corruption.

No matter the religion it seems that there are misuses like this that happen and have happened from the beginning of time. The modern day issues that society faces may have been influenced by the religious structures from the past. We definitely can see patterns of bad behavior then and now, such as slavery and oppression.

I think Muhammad was and is relatable to people because he came from a place of misfortune and became very successful and this lack of balance caused him deep struggle. He had a very difficult time balancing his life between trying to sustain his wife’s business and his need to provide generosity to others. I think people are sometimes given monetary success, so that they can help others. Only those that are truly generous can help provide for the less fortunate and refrain from greed. Muhammad may not be so relatable in the facts of his marriage. What a time for a reversal in roles, this was and still is a time in society where the men are looked at to be the financial providers. Here is an established woman though, who is highly sought, who finds Muhammad and supports him in every way. Muhammad needed her, without her he probably would have tried harder to take his life once getting his first vision.

I cannot begin to imagine the pain and confusion he must have felt with his first vision. I wonder if people are still messengers of God and how they would be accepted by society today. If Muhammad had a hard time then, when visions and prophecy were more common, what are we doing with modern day visionaries? Are they cast aside to be ignored? It would be most helpful today if we could see war coming, as Muhammad did. I am not sure how we would react to the information though, surely not as calmly as he. The entire Qur’an fell on his shoulders and he really did shape the future of Muslims.