Prof: Need to learn about Muhammad to understand Islam
The department of religious studies sponsored Daniel Peterson, BYU professor of Islamic studies, to speak Wednesday to the community, student body and faculty of Utah State as their last speaker of this year’s series.
Peterson is considered one of the most important experts on medieval Islamic studies in the world.
The speech preceded a book signing in which nearly all of Utah State’s copies of Peterson’s biography, “Muhammad, Prophet of God,” were sold.
“Thank you for my only sales this year,” Peterson said jokingly.
Peterson gave a brief analysis of Muhammad’s life and put it into context during his speech.
“If you want to understand Islam, you must understand Muhammad,” Peterson said.
Peterson explained Muhammad’s life from a young age. He said Muhammad was orphaned at the age of six and was raised in the drastically changing society of Mecca.
“One thing that is clear about Muhammad is that he was a person of unusual character; he had integrity and charisma,” Peterson said.
Throughout his speech and analysis of Muhammad, Peterson said he would try to give an overview of the history of the people in Muhammad’s region at the time of his birth and throughout his life.
“Mecca was settled around a well and was the center for religious pilgrimage … There was an expectation at this time for a prophet. I think Muhammad appeared as this in a way,” Peterson said.
Peterson said Muhammad grew up in a society that didn’t take proper care of its people.
“He lived in a time when they seemed to be more concerned with wealth than with helping others,” Peterson said.
He said that is a reason why Islam is centered around taking care of the poor and needy.
Peterson spent a lot of time discussing common misconceptions of Islam in a predominantly Christian society and the similarities in beliefs of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
“Judaism and Christianity are very similar to Islam, more so than Buddhism and Hinduism are because of their belief that God does miracles in history and gives revelation to the prophet,” Peterson said.
He also said there was a misunderstanding about the Islamic belief in God.
“Allah is not the name of God, but rather God with a capital ‘G,’ meaning the true God, the one God,” Peterson said.
Peterson’s biography of Muhammad helps to convey many more Islamic beliefs and to portray Muhammad’s life more in-depth than what he talked about Wednesday, he said. Copies of his work can be found in the USU Bookstore.
–beck.turner@aggiemail.usu.edu