Saturday, August 22, 2020

Fundamental Human Experience Essay Example

Central Human Experience Essay Example Central Human Experience Essay Central Human Experience Essay 1) What central human experience is being managed in this story The central human experience that is being managed in the story 1955 is that Traynor could or would achieve bliss through methods for material belonging and the gathering of riches. We see this thought create all through the story. In 1956 we discover that the melody bought from Gracie Mae Still for a negligible $500.00 is presently being performed on national TV. Little mother, little mom, thereâ„ ¢s a white man on TV singing one of your melodies! Turn on channel 5. Master, on the off chance that it wasnâ„ ¢t Traynor (Walker479). Traynor later comes back to Gracie Mae and the principal thing she sees is that Traynor appeared to be maturing constantly (480). Walker at that point continues to additionally portray Traynorâ„ ¢s weariness at the Mae house by specifying his stance. His head was pitched forward over his lap, his hands holding his glass and his elbows on his knees (480). The portrayal of how worn out and undesirable Traynor appears is promptly trailed by Traynor te lling Gracie Mae how much cash he is collecting off of her melody. Iâ„ ¢ve sung it and sung it, and Iâ„ ¢m making forty thousand per day offa it, and you recognize what, I donâ„ ¢t have the faintest thought what that melody implies (480). Traynors condition intensifies over the long haul and as he gets wealthier. Like Traynor is relapsing throughout everyday life, as opposed to advancing. Which one could discover odd being that Traynor is encircled by so much achievement and riches. This relapse is additionally validated in Gracie Maeâ„ ¢s portrayal of Traynor on one of his later visits. I had been distraught, however out of nowhere I quieted down. Traynor was talking groggily. It was dim however appears I could tell his eyeâ„ ¢s werenâ„ ¢t right. It resembled something was staying there conversing with me however not really with an individual behind it (483). Traynors character reliably deteriorates as his riches collects. Not once to seem cheerful or fulfilled. H e even admits to scarcely knowing his own better half, even the vast majority of the individuals around him. : 2) What understanding into the human condition does this story present The understanding into the human condition that this story presents is one of holding material belongings and riches as equivalent to oneâ„ ¢s self-esteem and satisfaction. We consider this to be the story as Traynor continually offers endowments to Gracie Mae. Decent vehicles, cash, an opportunity to sing in front of an audience, even a gigantic house. Be that as it may, not exactly as large as his. Gracie declines a portion of his endowments saying I donâ„ ¢t need this additionally continually inferring that she is content with what she has. This is a thought that Traynor neglects to get a handle on. Another increasingly unclear understanding into the human condition is the means by which human error doesn't separate among rich and poor. The greater part of the novel is committed to demonstrating how riches doesn't compare to joy through Traynorâ„ ¢s encounters. Gracie carries on with a less difficult, less affluent life yet is content. Walker depicts Gracie as astute and more in contact with the main thing in life when she expresses useful tidbits like you canâ„ ¢t rest through life on the off chance that you needs to live it (488). What's more, how she rejects endowments since she is content with what she has. Anyway approaching the finish of the short story we discover that Gracie Mae has additionally been enduring on account of her own impression of herself. She portrays to us that fat is the harmed I donâ„ ¢t concede, not even to myself, and that I been attempting to burry it since the day I was conceived (488). The words verbally expressed by Gracie Mae show that rich or poor being human is being human and alongside that comes the entirety of the conditions that we all must live with.

Thursday, July 16, 2020

20 Public Speaking Tips for Students

20 Public Speaking Tips for Students January 02, 2020 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Hero Images/Getty Images Public speaking tips for students aim to reduce anxiety that can interfere with giving presentations or speeches in class. These tips can also be helpful for those with social anxiety disorder (SAD)??  who have difficulty speaking in front of a group or telling a story among friends. If you suffer from SAD and need to give a speech  in elementary school, high school, college, or university, it helps to be as prepared as possible. Beyond preparation, however, there are strategies that you can use to reduce anxiety and fight the urge to stay home with a fake illness. Tips for Managing Public Speaking Anxiety Public Speaking Tips for Students Talk about what you know. If possible, choose a topic for your speech or presentation that you know a lot about and love. Your passion for the topic will be felt by the audience, and you will feel less anxious knowing that you have a lot of experience to draw from when other students ask you questions.Practice. Even great speakers practice their speeches beforehand. Practice out loud with a recording device or video camera and then watch yourself to see how you can improve. If you are feeling brave, practice in front of a friend or family member and ask for feedback.Visit the room. If you have access to the classroom where you will be speaking outside of class hours, take the time to visit in advance and get used to standing at the front of the room. Make arrangements for any audio-visual equipment and practice standing in the exact spot where you will deliver your speech.Tell someone about your anxiety. If you are speaking in front of a high school or college class, meet with your t eacher or professor ahead of time and describe your public speaking fears. If youre in elementary or high school, share your fears with your parents, a teacher, or a guidance counselor. Sometimes simply sharing how you feel can make it easier to overcome stage fright.Visualize confidence. Visualize yourself confidently delivering your speech. Imagine feeling free of anxiety and engaging the students in your class. Although this may seem like a stretch for you now, visualization is a powerful tool for changing the way that you feel. Elite athletes use this strategy to improve performance in competitions.Realize the other students are on your side. Think about a time when you have been an audience member and the student delivering the speech or presentation  was noticeably nervous. Did you think less of that student? More likely, you felt sympathetic and wanted to make that person more comfortable by smiling or nodding. Rememberâ€"other students generally want you to succeed and feel comfortable. If for some reason the audience is not on your side or you experience bullying or social exclusion, be sure to discuss this with a parent, teacher, or guidance counselor.Concentrate on your message. When you focus on the task at hand, anxiety is less likely to get out of control. Concentrate on the main message of your speech or presentation and make it your goal to deliver that message to the other students in your class.Rack up experience.  Volunteer to speak in front of your class as often as possible. Be the first one to raise your hand when a question is asked. Your confidence will grow with every public speaking experience.Observe other speakers. Take the time to watch other speakers who are good at what they do. Practice imitating their style and confidence.Organize your talk. Every speech should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Structure your talk so that the other students know what to expect.Grab the audiences attention. Most of your fellow clas smates will pay attention for at least the first 20 seconds; grab their attention during those early moments. Start with an interesting fact or a story that relates to your topic.Have one main message. Focus on one central theme and your classmates will learn more. Tie different parts of your talk to the main theme to support your overall message. Trying to cover too much ground can leave other students feeling overwhelmed.Tell stories. Stories catch the attention of other students  and deliver a message in a more meaningful way than facts and figures. Whenever possible, use a story to illustrate a point in your talk.Develop your own style. In addition to imitating good speakers, work on developing your own personal style as a public speaker. Integrate your own personality into your speaking style and you will feel more comfortable in front of the class. Telling personal stories that tie into your theme are a great way to let other students get to know you better.Avoid filler words. Words such as basically, well, and um dont add anything to your speech. Practice being silent when you feel the urge to use one of these words.Vary your tone, volume, and speed. Interesting speakers vary the pitch (high versus low), volume (loud versus soft), and speed (fast versus slow) of their words. Doing so keeps your classmates interested and engaged in what you say.Make the audience laugh. Laughter is a great way to relax both you and the other students in your class, and telling jokes can be a great icebreaker at the beginning of a speech. Practice the timing and delivery of your jokes beforehand and ask a friend for feedback. Be sure that they are appropriate for your class before you begin.Find a friendly face. If you are feeling anxious, find one of your friends in class (or someone who seems friendly)  and imagine that you are speaking only to that person.Dont apologize. If you make a mistake, dont offer apologies. Chances are that your classmates  didnt notice anyway. Unless you need to correct a fact or figure, there is no point dwelling on errors that probably only you noticed. If you make a mistake because your hands or shaking, or something similar, try to make light of the situation by saying something like, I wasnt this nervous when I woke up this morning! This can help to break the tension of the moment.Smile. If all else fails, smile. Your fellow classmates will perceive you like a warm speaker and be more receptive to what you have to say. A Word From Verywell Its natural to feel frightened the first time you have to speak in front of your class. However, if you fear continues, interferes with your daily life and keeps you awake at night, it may be helpful to see someone about your anxiety. Try talking to a parent, teacher, or counselor about how you have been feeling. If that doesnt get you anywhere, ask to make an appointment with your doctor. Severe public speaking anxiety is a true disorder that can improve with treatment. Understanding the Fear of Public Speaking

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Essay on Jet Blue - 1410 Words

Jet Blue has an opportunity to remain cutting edge in the airline industry by continuing to be low-cost and expanding carrier. A great market for Jet Blue to expand to would be towards the Caribbeans. As well as possibly lobbying Washington to lift travel sanctions in Cuba, which at one point was a major vacation getaway for Americans. This opportunity fits into Jet Blues current business model of short distance flights at a lower cost than the competition. Jet Blue is a shinning star in the gloomy airline industry. Jet Blue has been showing great earnings and growth since its incorporation in 2000. Jet Blue uses innovative strategies to further their success in a market, which has been showing nothing but losses across the board.†¦show more content†¦Along with reducing the amount of middlemen customers have to deal with, added to his reduced expense structure which in turn proved to be cost effective. David Neeleman originally worked for South West Airlines and helped increase there business, but wanted to venture out on his own. Neelemen experienced set backs because his prior employer made him sign a no compete contract for five years. During those five years Neeleman was able to complete a solid business plan, which would use South West Airlines business model but with better marketing strategies Jet Blue was built on a strong foundation with experienced and knowledgeable people making decisions. Neeleman felt that certain key employees needed to be put in place to have this organization grow the way it has. So a solid team was put in place and the machine has been oiled. In order for Jet Blue to have obtained such a significant market they needed unique marketing. Jet Blue approached and targeted specific markets which they serviced with certain marketing incentives. Jet Blue set up its main head quarters in New Yorks JFK which is one of the biggest airports in the world. This was a strategic plan due to the lack of domestic flights going in and out of JFK, that minimized there competition which allowed them to continue on a path which led them to there success. Through targeting specific markets and concentrating their efforts on those markets they gained a loyalShow MoreRelatedJet Blue2703 Words   |  11 Pagesï » ¿Derivatives Soluion: Application for Financial Futures Case Solution for Peoples Federal Savings Bank 1. Should Peoples Federal Savings have hedged its September 1 savings certificate rollover? Yes. The reasons are explained as below: Peoples had accumulated assets of $556m. These assets were funded by short term consumer deposits, consisting largely of 3-month fixed rate savings certificates. These savings certificates were highly affected by interest rate fluctuations. The long termRead MoreJet Blue Airways1881 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿ Jet Blue Airways DeVonne Boler Christina Brown Terrel Davis I. Problem Statement Jet Blue Airways owner, David Neeleman, understands the difficulty that comes with trying to break into the airline industry. Being as though the airline industry is expensive, will David Neeleman be able to start an airline that has low ticket costs, technology driven, and customer friendly atmosphere while still competing with other airlines? II. Analysis Jet Blue Airways was first introduced inRead MoreJet Blue and West Jet Essay833 Words   |  4 PagesJET BLUE AND WESTJET: A tale of two IS projects 1. How important is the reservation systems at airlines such as WestJet and JetBlue. How does it impact operational activities and decision making? Over the past years, customers have been heavily relying on airline reservation systems to book their tickets, reserve seats, pay for the tickets and also check-in online. For customers, this has been a very convenient method and they are able to easily plan their trips. For the Airline companiesRead MoreJet Blue Paper9528 Words   |  39 Pagesleather seats, increased leg room, free in-flight DirecTV, free in-flight XM satellite radio and free unlimited brand name snacks and beverages. JetBlue has also established a relationship with American Express for its customer loyalty program â€Å"True Blue.† The easy to navigate and innovative JetBlue website brings in 77% of total company sales booked. JetBlue has many advantages on its side. The company is well positioned in one of the largest travel markets, the New York metropolitan area. In 2008Read MoreSwot Analysis of Jet Blue1639 Words   |  7 PagesResources They formulated an operating strategy that had produced the lowest cost per available seat mile of any major US Airline in 2001 – 6.98 cents versus industry average of 10.08 cents. With its strong capital base, Jet Blue was able to acquire a fleet of new airbus A320 aircraft. Jet Blue’s fleet is not only reliable and fuel efficient than other airline fleets, but also attended greater â€Å"economies of scale†. Employees Strong people on top management, several JetBlue executives are former employeesRead MoreEssay on Jet Blue Case975 Words   |  4 PagesGlobal Business Fundamental Marketing Jet Blue Case â€Å"Delighting costumers through happy jetting† Questions for Discussion 1. Give examples of needs, wants, and demands that JetBlue customers demonstrate, differentiating these three concepts. What are the implications of each for JetBlue’s practices? Needs: * Food * To sit * Security Wants: * Coffee juices and snacks. * Comfortable sit * Entertainment * Variety of channels * Nice andRead MoreJet Blue Hits Turbulence964 Words   |  4 PagesSaul Ruiz MGMT 320 Jet Blue Hits Turbulence Case Study 1. What types of information systems and business functions are described in this case? The information systems and business functions described in this case are Transaction Processing Systems (TPS), Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM, and Executive Support systems (ESS). The TPS system is responsible for tracking ticket reservations and transactions. The CRM systems provide customers the ability to communicate withRead MoreHuy Jet Blue Essay720 Words   |  3 PagesCase 3: Jet Blue 1. What are key forces in the general and industry environments that affect JetBlue’s choice of strategy? Key forces that affect JetBlues choice are, for the low-cost airline industry, new entrants with more commercial experience might be the central issue. Sometimes, global forces are driving the way competitiveness is established in the low-cost airline industry such as the rising oil prices which are forcing some of the airlines to increase their charges. UnderstandingRead MoreJet Blue Case Analysis1001 Words   |  5 Pageshave better prepared for the storm by cancelling flights earlier and having extra staff on hand. Whomever was in charge of overall operations should have planned better and is the one who is the most responsible for the lack of preparation. Jet Blue did a great job handling the severe weather in February of 2007. They went above and beyond trying to compensate for the inconvenience and loss of time that their customers endured. They provided $26 million in refunds and vouchers to their passengersRead MoreJet Blue vs Delta2660 Words   |  11 Pagesassigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. Rivalry among Firms Jet Blue addresses rivalry among firms in the airlines industry by continually applying strategic maneuvers to keep their competitive advantage. Jet Blue appealed to customers with its initial promise To continue to bring humanity back to air travel. Jet Blue created original concepts for travel with improved service rather than cutbacks. Live DirecTV (owned by the airline), wide

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Risk Management ( Crown Challenger Services - Kitchen...

Kenneth Ross Jason C. Sy BIC03816 Assessment Task 2 – Project Part 1 ï  ¶ Risk Management (Crown Challenger Services – Kitchen Cleaning) When you are working at the cleaning industry of Crown they all fall under one Policy when it comes to risk management and it can also be applied in other areas not just the kitchens. During my induction and interview they asked me a series of question. Most of the questions revolved around safety and security for yourself and your fellow workmates. I learned most of these safety procedures from an online course all the new employees are required to take and accomplish. After the course you are required to complete a test with an overall mark of 100% so you have to really focus your attention and effort†¦show more content†¦If it is activated, leave the kitchen IMMEDIATELY. Pulling the lever next to the door by the large sinks can also activate this system. There is also a fire emergency exit procedure/plan posted on the walls near the doors in the kitchen. Please review the various emergency exits before you begin your event and explain to the remaining kitchen staff. Hour s of Operation the kitchen doors (3) must remain locked at all times due to safety and liability issues. Upon approved request to use the kitchen, the Maintenance staff at the Kitchen for you. 4. When you start your work for the kitchen you are given your staff ID which can open any door at Crown, you must not lose it Report it immediately if you do because anyone who finds it and uses it without your knowledge can have access to any area at Crown which will pose a security breach endangering the lives of the customers and other staff. 5. Always consult with your supervisor if unsure about doing a task 6. All staff must know the emergency number, be aware of the exit plans when an emergency or crisis arises, and report to the proper authorities of any suspicions activities. The kitchen at Crown is for the use and enjoyment of members organizations. Your help is needed and expected to keep and maintain this facility in an excellent condition to provide safe food service to all who use it. This is just a simple guide designed to provide you with all the information you will need to have access to the kitchens.Show MoreRelatedStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesYork San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services: Ashley Santora Acquisitions Editor: Brian Mickelson Editorial Project Manager: Sarah Holle Editorial Assistant: Ashlee Bradbury VP Director of Marketing: Patrice Lumumba Jones Senior Marketing Manager: Nikki Ayana Jones Senior Managing Editor: JudyRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pageshave Giardia. Ill take the first drink. Juanita winces. No, don’t do that, she says. Lets just pack up and go home. When you ask her why, she explains that a friend of hers got Giardia and had a bad experience with it. She doesnt want to risk having the same experience. When you hear the details, you understand why. The symptoms are chronic diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, and fatigue. Also, she says, the park signs about Giardia are probably posted because the organisms cannot

Discussion of the theoretical and practical implications Free Essays

criminology school of interpretation of crime The focal point of this paper is to present a discussion on the theoretical and practical implications under Marxist criminology school of interpretation of crime. This is to identify and evaluate the basic perception of crime from a perception of the Marxist philosophy. It can well be ascertained that Critical Criminology is moving on towards a new school of perception that originated during the advent of the 1990s. We will write a custom essay sample on Discussion of the theoretical and practical implications or any similar topic only for you Order Now Under this parameter Marxism is completely excluded as it is regarded as element of the old school by the new interpreters of criminology. However, it can also be mentioned that in spite of this theoretical shift in a fundamental sense Marxism is still a useful medium of interpretation of state intervention of crime along with ascertaining criminal justice system and crime analysis. It would be interesting to know that according to Stuart Russell, â€Å"as the hallucinatory effects of postmodernism wear off along with the illusions many still harbour that capitalism has a future, Marxism will once again be able to play the pivotal role it rightfully deserves in Critical Criminology.† (Russell, 130, 2) In the same context it is relevant to mention that though the method of analysis and class division interpretation system is an effective measure of evaluation of crime with capital based approach of breakdown of problems, Marxism, however, lacks the current up gradation needed for the 21st century. At the same time it is important to juxtapose the basic principals of other school of philosophies with the basic philosophies of Marxism to harvest better result in the overall sense. Thus a combination of Post-Critical Criminology and new Critical Criminology could be extremely fruitful in this context. (Kar, 241, 3-4) On the other hand the ideas of Regina Austin can also be taken into consideration where it is argued that there are certain racial inequalities within the judiciary system. Regina Austin mentions that the basic problem starts with the discriminating act by the government and this discrimination by the law ultimately leads to the point when the deprived community starts disobeying the law or judiciary system altogether as they bear little or no faith in the system. (Austin, 301, 2) it can be well ascertained that with the application of Marxist criminology this part of the unwanted judiciary system can well be eradicated. Thus the importance of Marxist philosophy within the parameters of criminology remains relevant till date and it would be most helpful to depend on the perception of Marxism in this context of studies. (Lamb, 32, 1) In the conclusion it would be relevant to quote Stuart Russell who mentions that â€Å"despite the cynical pronouncements of those who have prematurely buried Marxism, there is great hope for the future of Marxism in Critical Criminology.† (Russell, 130, 2) It is true that the relevance of Marxism in the field of Critical Criminology is yet to be utilized in its full extent but with better formulation and updated interpretation it is possible to reach its optimum point with positive impacts. However, it should also be noted that the formulation should be done with proper methodology that should be based upon the initial affirmative concepts of Marxism with proper implementation and alignment with the 21st century. (King, 143, 5) References: Russell, Stuart; The Continuing Relevance of Marxism to Critical Criminology; Critical criminology, Vol.11, No.2 (May) 2002. Richmond, BC: American Society of Criminology, Division on Critical Criminology, c1996-. pp.113-135. Austin, Regina; â€Å"The Black Community†, Its Lawbreakers, and a Politics of Identification; Critical race theory: the cutting edge / edited by Richard Delgado. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1995. Pp.293-303. Kar, P; History of Psychology and related application of Psychology; Dasgupta Chatterjee. 2006. Pg. 241 King, H; Criminology Today; HBT Brooks Ltd. 2001. Pg. 143 Lamb, Davis; Cult to Culture: The Development of Civilization on the Strategic Strata; National Book Trust. 2004. Pg. 32 (I am unable to use the third pdf article as it has been found to be decoded wrongly or is corrupted- as there is very little time to communicate and rectify I am giving it a go with the existing 2 pdfs. Plus I have incorporated 3 more books to defend the paper) How to cite Discussion of the theoretical and practical implications, Essay examples

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Muhammads Life and Its Significance

Introduction Muhammad was mainly a religious leader who made a significant contribution to the growth of Islam in the Saudi Arabia and the Middle East during his time. In 570 CE, Muhammad was born in Mecca where he grew up under Islamic traditions, which shaped his growth during childhood (Peterson 34). Muhammad was the only child of Amina bin Wahb and Abd bin Al-Muttalib.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Muhammad’s Life and Its Significance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Unfortunately, his parents died when he was barely six years, and thus Muhammad grew up under the care of his uncle, Abu Talib. Despite such a humble beginning, Muhammad grew up and became one of the most influential people in human history because he made a significant contribution to the development of Islam. Given that humanity had lost their way and indulged in wickedness, Muslims believed that God would send them a prophet who would come and show them a new way of life. According to Saleh, while Amina was pregnant, she saw a bright light on her belly and heard a voice, which informed her to dedicate her child to God and name him Muhammad (28). Such a divine revelation did show that Muhammad was a special person in human history because God had prepared him to guide humanity. In this view, this essay examines Muhammad’s life and experiences with a view of highlighting his significance in shaping human history and the growth of Islam. Early Life of Muhammad Examination of Muhammad’s life shows that he started from a humble background and gradually became a great person in the Saudi Arabia and across the world. In 570 CE, Amina bin Wahb and Abd bin Al-Muttalib gave birth to Muhammad in Mecca and brought him up under the influence of Islamic traditions. Before his birth, Muslims and other people had predicted that a prophet would be born in the Middle East, who would lead the people. Saleh examines t hat Muhammad life is unique because Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, and pagans predicted that a great religious leader would arise from the Middle East, and he would be a prophet and a messenger ordained by God (28). Since many people predicted his coming, it indicates that Muhammad was a divine leader. Like Jesus in the Bible, the wise men and magicians predicted that a great leader would emerge from the Middle East who would lead people into new life. Muhammad grew as an orphan under the care of his uncle because his parents died when he was barely six years old. This means that Muhammad grew up as an orphan and managed to become a great person in the Middle East. During his time, people regarded family lineage as an important parameter of gauging the significance or the status of a person in the society. As predicted, many people expected that the prophet would arise from a family with noble lineage. Saleh states that Muhammad emanated from a noble lineage of the Quraysh tribe, w hich was not among the wealthiest tribes (28). Hence, it implies that Muhammad originated from a poor family, which did not have sufficient riches to boost his significance in society.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Under the care of his uncle, Muhammad looked after his uncle’s cattle. As he looked after the cattle, Muhammad demonstrated that he was a hard working young boy during his teenage period. His uncle trusted him and let him to accompany other merchants as they traded with Syria. Other merchants recognized his industriousness and trustworthiness in trade, and thus admired his character. The industriousness and trustworthiness of Muhammad made him to gain recognition among great merchants. Khadija bint Khawalayd was one of the great merchants who recognized Muhammad and requested him to work for her. Khadija bint Khawalayd was a widow who was the wealthiest tr ader from a noble family in the Saudi Arabia. Muhammad worked very hard while trading with merchants from various regions in the Middle East and brought profits that he earned to his mistress. Working for Khadija bint Khawalayd, Muhammad continued to demonstrate industriousness and trustworthiness, which greatly attracted his mistress. When Khadija bint Khawalayd saw that Muhammad was a hardworking and honest young man, she decided to marry him at the age of 25 while she was at the age of 40. When he married Khadija bint Khawalayd, Muhammad entered into a noble family with great wealth, and thus he started to become a very influential person in the Middle East. Peterson holds that Muhammad married into a prestigious family, which helped him to pursue is career, dream, and vision in life. As a great merchant in the city of Mecca, Muhammad managed to enter into an elite class where he gained massive influence on the population. The influence that Muhammad had in Mecca due to social, e conomic, and political class made him gain recognition across the Middle East. The Revelation When in the city of Mecca, Muhammad obtained a revelation from God, which showed him iniquities that people performed in Mecca. The traditional idolatry dominated Mecca as people abandoned God and worshiped different idols. The revelation of iniquities and idolatry greatly troubled his heart and compelled him to fast and pray continually in solitary places (Peterson 179). Since Muhammad had never been a religious leader, he found it difficult to communicate his revelations. Muhammad continued to see visions and dreams, which revealed to him about the state of apostasy in the city of Mecca. Muhammad went into the wilderness where he meditated further about his visions and dreams. After three years, Muhammad started to publicize visions and dreams that God gave him in the wilderness. The first prophetic revelation took place in the wilderness when Muhammad was in a cave.Advertising We wi ll write a custom essay sample on Muhammad’s Life and Its Significance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Saleh, when Muhammad was in a cave, angel Gabriel visited him and commanded him to read a verse in the Quran (32). The experience of the visiting angle shocked Muhammad because he realized that the visions and dreams he has been experiencing for several years were from God. As the angel Gabriel commanded Muhammad to read a book, Muhammad was unable because he was illiterate. Illiteracy prevented Muhammad from reading the book that angle Gabriel brought to him. However, his illiteracy later confirmed that Muhammad was indeed a prophet that God had chosen to lead His people from idolatry into righteousness. When Muhammad encountered angel Gabriel, he became more determined than ever to exterminate the idolatry and evil in Mecca, which had permeated into the Arabian society. Saleh describes the vision of Muhammad in the cave that it was so overwhelming and remarkable as its main purpose was to convince Muhammad about his mission of leading humanity into righteousness (33). In this view, the first revelation of Muhammad indicates that Muhammad was a divine leader. Moreover, it shows that God bestowed literacy ability to Muhammad so that he could read the Quran and teach people the right way of life that God wants them to follow. Thus, the capacity to recite the Quran despite his literacy ability shows that Muhammad had supernatural powers. Muhammad’s Personality Muslims strongly believe that Muhammad was born around 570 CE at the time when diverse prophecies had indicated his coming. Although there is no ample evidence in the Quran about his date of birth, other books provides 570 CE as his date of birth in the Arabian city, Mecca. He was born to a poor family living in the desert and further lost his parents at a tender age. His uncle, Abu Talib, brought him up in the same city. At an e arly age, he portrayed a strong personality of independence and desire to do things in his own way. The personality of self-reliance and industriousness did set Muhammad apart from his peers, and propelled his recognition by his uncle and the merchants who interacted with him. Despite being a young merchant, he was still a shepherd as he looked after his uncle’s sheep and camels (Saleh 23). The personality of self-reliance and industriousness convinced his mistress to marry him at the age of twenty-five. Moreover, his personality of self-reliance made him to live a unique lifestyle and perform things independently. This is evident because Muhammad went into a solitary place as he fasted, prayed, and meditated in caves. Since he appeared unique and independent, people who were very close to him understood his personality and always allowed him to do things his own way, which illustrates that they admired his way of life and doing things (Peterson 41).Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More He continued to carry out his prayers in seclusion at the age of about forty, and he first came across the first God’s revelation in his life. He continued to have the revelations for a long time, but he did not reveal them to anybody until three years later. Muhammad kept the revelations secret because he was meditating on how he could reveal to the people. Hence, the personality of self-reliance enabled Muhammad to give his revelations in a timely manner for people to understand. Despite the fact that Muhammad grew up in a humble background, he had influential personality, which made him a legendary Muslim leader. Rubin (53) notes that Muslims believe that Muhammad was a prophet of God as well as a messenger, but they suppose that he was the strongest and the most influential among prophets. In the Muslim community, Muhammad is an influential icon just like Jesus is to the Christian community. According to Saleh, Muslims and Christians predicted the coming of Muhammad as a prophet from the Middle East. Muslims believe that his birth happened in 570 CE, and his parents named him Abu al-Qasim Muhammad, which is translated as Muhammad. Even though God used many prophets to deliver messages to his people, Muhammad is believed to have been the last and the most influential, as evidenced by his initiation of the Quran writing. Non-Muslims refer to Muhammad as the founder of the Islamic religion, but Muslims believe that he was not the founder of the Islamic religion, but rather he was a follower, and thus an Islam. In addition, Muslims took him as a restorer of the unaltered faith of Adam, Abraham, and other prophets like Elijah and Jesus (Peterson 61). Therefore, the influential personality of Muhammad made him to become a great religious leader in Mecca. Muhammad and the Quran Muhammad played a central role in the writing of the Quran because he received verbal revelation in the caves where he was fasting, praying, and meditating. When Muhammad experience d divine revelation about the apostasy in Mecca, he went into the wilderness and entered into the cave where he fasted and prayed constantly for several years. Saleh argues that the verbal revelations that Muhammad received while in the caves was called Quran because they formed the basis of the Quran teachings (34). According to the Islamic beliefs, during one of his praying sessions, the archangel Gabriel appeared to him in the year 610 and revealed God’s message to him. In the revelation, God commanded Muhammad to recite some verses, which was later written in the holy book of the Quran. Gabriel argues that since verbal revelations that God gave to Muhammad were written immediately, it implies that the Quran contains accurate revelations that God wants humanity to hear (2). This means that Muhammad left a great legacy to Muslims and Islamic religion because he acted as a messenger and a prophet that God used in delivering messages to the humanity Since Muhammad obtained ve rbal revelations, Muslims believe that he contributed significantly to the information in the Quran. Going back to his early life, his character of isolating himself from other people’s activities and going to the caves in the mountains played a major role in the development of the Quran. The Quran contains the revelations that Muhammad experienced while he prayed in the caves at the age of forties. Gabriel says that Muhammad had adopted the habit of fasting and praying regularly, as he often visited the caves in the mountains near Mecca (23). During the period of three years when Muhammad deeply meditated about the revelations and the apostasy that he saw in Mecca, the angel Gabriel approached him and commanded him to read a book (Saleh 25). Later Muhammad learnt that the angel wanted him to recite some verses in the Quran. The revelations that Muhammad experienced did shock him because he kept wondering how he could approach Meccans and warn them about an impending judgment if they do not leave idolatry. Muhammad could not help thinking that people would dismiss his claims and refer to him as an evil person. The fear of revealing the revelations explains why he took three years before publicly proclaiming about the true God and his revelation on the mountain. Muslims believe that the three-year period of silence that Muhammad took was a period of spiritual growth, which eventually ended when God commanded him to continue preaching. Hence, he initiated the writing process of Quran where his warning of unbelievers related to what he preached. Muhammad warned the Meccans that God was going to judge them if they do not turn away from the iniquities and idolatry, which had dominated their society. Since the warnings that Meccans received are in the Quran, they confirm that Muhammad’s revelations were meant to edify people (Peterson 68). However, critics argue that the Quran does not have accurate revelations because it took a period of more than thr ee years for Muhammad to reveal, which means that the revelations were prone to manipulations. According to the Quran, the name Muhammad refers to someone who is praiseworthy and is present four times. However, the Quran recognizes him a prophet and a messenger, which God sent to bring good tidings and warnings to his people. The Quran refers to him as the prophet, the messenger of God, or rather the announcer of God. However, the Quran says that God made some of his servants to excel above others and to that effect, Muhammad is the seal of all other prophets, and hence, the praiseworthy. Hence, his personality has made him to become praiseworthy in the Holy book, which he initiated its writing through his revelations. In this view, Muslims regard the Quran as a sacred book that details revelations that God gave to Muhammad when he fasted and prayed earnestly in the caves (Peterson 56). However, the Quran does not have the historical background of the life of Muhammad like in the ca se of bible having the history of Jesus Christ in the Christian faith. However, there are historical sources that talk about the history of Muhammad. Preaching about the Revelations After meditating for years about his visions and dreams, Muhammad decided to take the message to the people. At the age of about 40, Muhammad proclaimed about God and his anointment as a prophet and a messenger of God, and changed his lifestyle. He left the old way of life in which he was a merchant and a shepherd, and started preaching and prophesying to humanity (Peters 297). His conversion was not a surprise to the people close to him, and thus they followed him with less resistance, as he commenced his mission. However, some tribes in his home region of Mecca met him with hostility as they attempted to persecute him. They argued that prophets of God could not have come from his tribe and that he was opposing the principles of the ruling elites through his preaching, which could result in public anarc hy. However, Muhammad did not bow to the threats. His determination propelled him to continue preaching and prophesying about God while unshaken in the face of threats. Comparing his life to that of Jesus Christ, there are numerous similarities, as Jesus too had to flee to Egypt together with his parents to escape persecution from King Herod. In his first preaching known to the Muslims, he insisted on the oneness of God the creator and noted that humans should submit fully to His perfect will, as it is pleasing to Him. In addition, Muhammad proclaimed himself a messenger and a prophet of the true God, which he professed, but noted that he was the same as other Islamic prophets that existed before him (Gabriel 12). The closest people known to him did not hesitate to believe him due to his unique personality, which he had developed from early childhood. In addition, he was known to be a sober person who was also humble and he lived according to his standards. Hence, to them, he could not have lied about the revelations and the proclamation of the true God. In this view, Muhammad appears infallible regarding the revelations that he preached. Islamic traditionalists believe that the closest persons to Muhammad were the first to believe in his revelations and that he was a God chosen prophet. The first persons must have been Khadija and Ali ibn Abi Talib, who are believed to have comforted him during his depressed moments. Others are believed to have been Zaid, his adopted son, and closest friend, Abu Bakr, with whom they spent much time shepherding. The little support that he got from his family and close friends enabled him to begin the public preaching in Mecca where many opposed him violently (Peters 297). Interestingly, Islamic history holds that the first followers of Muhammad were mostly the poor people, young family members of great merchants with whom they had traded, and people who had failed to attain the highest ranks of their tribal ruling. His preachi ng condemned idolatry, which was the norm of the inhabitants of Mecca. However, Meccans felt insulted because they were unwilling to leave their religious tradition of polytheism and recognize God as one. With time, his followers increased rapidly to the point where he divided them into sub-groups and sent them to foreign missions across different regions. The rapid increase of his followers threatened the local merchants and the ruling elites, who then tried to convince him to abandon his new faith, which he refused. Rubin states that the ruling elites summoned Muhammad and â€Å"accused him of series of transgressions against their most sacred religious and moral values† (53). When they saw that Muhammad would not abandon his mission, the residents of Mecca started persecuting some of his followers, which threatened his life and made him flee to Medina, where he continued to preach and win more followers. However, the increased cases of persecution in Mecca did not stop him from preaching the good tidings and condemning idolatry. His followers continued to increase because most of them realized that Muhammad was God’s messenger, and thus inspired by his consistent teachings, which were in line with the Quran teachings. Muhammad’s Message to Meccans In his mission, Muhammad warned the Meccans about the pending judgment if they do not turn away from the idolatry and practice righteousness. The warning message was timely because Meccans had become an apostate community in the Saudi Arabia. Although most of the people in Mecca despised Muhammad as a junior person who came from a small tribe that is not noble, they did not bother to take his teachings seriously. In this view, Muhammad warned them against impending judgment if they do not turn away from the evil and the idolatrous practices. Rubin states that, during Muhammad’s Meccan mission, â€Å"he employed tactics of warning and good tidings that are designed to support the Qurani c monotheistic campaign† (40). The twofold mission of warning about judgment and promising mercy to the believers earned Muhammad enemies and followers alike. In this view, Muhammad endeared himself to the Quran teachings as he warned the unbelievers of the coming judgment while promising the believers of the great rewards that God has stored for them. Hence, Muhammad was a prophet who warned the people about the consequences of polytheism, idolatry, and apostasy, as depicted in the Quran. In Mecca, people claimed that Muhammad performed miracles, which proved that he had supernatural powers that came from God. The splitting of the moon is one of the alleged miracles that attracted diverse criticism from unbelievers in Mecca. Rubin states that moon splitting occurred prior to Hijra, which shows that Muhammad is a divine messenger with supernatural powers (52). While some critics regard the splitting of the moon as an eclipse, others regard it as a natural occurrence that has n othing to do with the miracles of Muhammad. When the Meccans realized that Muhammad had supernatural powers, they requested him to perform some miracles. For example, Meccans told him to resurrect their ancestors so that they could believe him. However, Muhammad did not succumb to their demands, but instead continued preaching the good tidings that God had sent him to spread in Mecca and around the world. As Meccans remained stubborn, Muhammad prayed and asked God to cause drought in Mecca, and â€Å"the famine, which causes a smoke like haze that dims the eyes† apparently occurred after Muhammad ended his prayer (Rubin 51). The drought that befell Mecca during the time of Muhammad was attributable to his supernatural powers, which Muhammad had acquired from God. Thus, the miracle of moon splitting and drought are some of the miracles that Muslims claim to demonstrate that Muhammad had supernatural powers, and thus was a God’s messenger who came to warn people and prea ch good tidings. Muhammad Migrated to Medina Owing to numerous challenges, Muhammad decided to migrate to Medina in 622 CE and escape persecution. However, before his migration to Medina, Muhammad had gained numerous followers, and thus sent some of them to Abyssinia for a preaching mission. Since his father was buried in Medina, Muhammad took the opportunity of commemorating his father to become a peace messenger and mediated peace talks among the warring communities of Medina. As God inspired his mission, Muhammad continued to preach and prophesy despite the death threats and other challenges, Muhammad spread prophetic messages to all people as he carried out his mission even to regions beyond Mecca. Muhammad’s zeal inspires Muslims because the manner in which he executed his mission to the God’s people. The migration journey of Muhammad is very significant to Islamic faith, as the Islamic calendar recognizes it as the Hijra, a period that marks the beginning of a ne w Islamic year (Saleh 27). In addition, Medina was also not a peaceful region for his mission due to tribal intolerance, but he worked tirelessly in mediating peace talks among warring tribes and bringing peace to Medina. His ability to bring the tribes together offered him a great opportunity to preach and prophesy the will of God to the people, which increased the number of his followers. After gaining more followers in Medina, Muhammad felt inspired to get back home and preach to people based on the belief that he could overcome the ruthless reaction of the tribes through battles. The tribes of Mecca worshiped idols and this practice had contributed to the heightened hostility of the people towards the prophets of God. Hence, Muhammad wanted to eliminate apostasy, destroy the idols, and preach the message of one and only God to his people (Peterson 89). On getting back to Mecca together with his followers, tribes of Mecca opposed and fought them continually in a fierce battle, wh ich they retaliated and continued to fight for over eight years. By the eighth year of fighting, Muhammad’s followers had grown to thousands of people in Mecca, which enabled them to take control of Mecca in a peaceful conquest. Thereafter, Muhammad destroyed the idols that the tribes of Mecca worshiped. He also proclaimed the God’s message to his people without experiencing any form of resistance. He later returned to Medina after staying in Mecca for about ten years, but unfortunately, he fell ill and died unexpectedly. Conclusion Examination of the life and significance of Muhammad depicts that he was not only a religious leader, but also a God’s messenger and a prophet. Although Muhammad started from humble family background, his struggles across life made him to be a great person who shaped human history. Muhammad grew as an orphan from a humble background, but later became one of the members of noble and rich families when he married Khadija bint Khawalayd . While in Mecca, Muhammad received revelations, which compelled him to preach against apostasy that had dominated the city of Mecca. In his teachings, Muhammad warned people against an impending judgment and implored them to shun evil and idolatry. The verbal revelations became the cornerstone of the Quran because Muslims believe that they are pure and unadulterated revelations from God. However, Meccans turned against him and his teachings as they attempted to persecute him. Then, Muhammad migrated to Medina where he gained more follows and established an Islamic community, which cherished the Quran’s teachings. Overall, examination of Muhammad’s life, experiences, and his significance shows that he has made a significant contribution to the development of Islamic religion and the Quran. Works Cited Gabriel, Richard. Muhammad: Islam’s First General. Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma, 2011. Print. Peters, Francis. â€Å"The Quest of the Historical Muhammad.â₠¬  International Journal of  Middle East Studies 23.3 (1991): 291-315. Print. Peterson, Daniel. Muhammad, Prophet of God. Michigan: WM.B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007. Print. Rubin, Uri. â€Å"Muhammad’s Message in Mecca: Warnings, Signs, and Miracles.† The  Cambridge Companion to Muhammad. Ed. Jonathan Brockopp. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. 39-60. Print. Saleh, Walid. â€Å"The Arabian Context of Muhammad’s Life.† The Cambridge Companion  to Muhammad. Ed. Jonathan Brockopp. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. 21-38. Print. This essay on Muhammad’s Life and Its Significance was written and submitted by user Elliot Davidson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.