Life of Muhammad

Press, 6 December 1979, Page 20

Life of Muhammad

Sir, — I read the article by Dr Shepard on Muslimism (“The Press,” November 27). He states: “Muhammad was born into one of the poorer branches of the ruling tribe but by the age of 40 he had achieved a life of relative comfort largely due to a reputation for integrity and competence.” If I remember correctly most lives of Muhammad attribute this life of relative comfort to his marrying a wealthy widow 15 years his senior. Are all these biographies wrong or is Dr Shepard right? — Yours, etc., A. P. O’SHEA, Wellington. November 27, 1979. [Dr Shepard replies: “All of the biographies are not wrong, but neither am I wrong. It was Muhammad’s integrity and competence that gained him the marriage to the wealthy widow and also the general respect of the community which made that feasible. According to the traditional account, the widow said that she would marry him ‘because of our relationship and your high reputation among your people, your trustworthiness and good character and truthfulness.’ Muhammad had taken charge of at least one of her caravans. More generally, according to the traditional account, Muhammad’s conduct had earned him the reputation of ‘alamin’ (the trustworthy one).”]