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[[File:Mohammad.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Among Muslims, imagery of Muhammad is widely considered [[idolatry]].]]

[[File:Mohammad.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Among Muslims, imagery of Muhammad is widely considered [[idolatry]].]]

'''Muhammad''' (also spelled '''Mohammed''' or (archaic) '''Mahomet'''), A.D. 570-632) was the founder of [[Islam]], one of the world's major religions.

'''Muhammad''' (also spelled '''Mohammed''' or (archaic) '''Mahomet''') (A.D. 570-632), was the founder of [[Islam]], one of the world's major religions.

Regarded by [[Muslim]]s as [[Allah]]'s final and greatest [[prophet]], Muhammad claimed in Allah's [[revelation]]s, via the angel [[Gabriel]], that [[Judaism]] and [[Christianity]] had grown corrupt, and that Muhammad was to restore the religion God intended. However, common criticisms of Mohamned are: his marriage to a nine-year-old girl was inappropriate; his authorization of the beating of disobedient wives given in the [[Quran]] is unacceptable; and he was a vengeful, man of war (Mohammed said, “If God gives me victory in Quraysh [Muhammad’s own tribe in Mecca] in the future, I will mutilate 30 of their men.”).<ref>

Regarded by [[Muslim]]s as [[Allah]]'s final and greatest [[prophet]], Muhammad claimed in Allah's [[revelation]]s, via the angel [[Gabriel]], that [[Judaism]] and [[Christianity]] had grown corrupt, and that Muhammad was to restore the religion God intended. However, common criticisms of Mohamned are: his marriage to a nine-year-old girl was inappropriate; his authorization of the beating of disobedient wives given in the [[Quran]] is unacceptable; and he was a vengeful, man of war (Mohammed said, “If God gives me victory in Quraysh [Muhammad’s own tribe in Mecca] in the future, I will mutilate 30 of their men.”).<ref>

== After Muhammad's Death ==

== After Muhammad's Death ==

Muhammad's death at an early age caused the splintering of his religion into new sects, over the question of succession.  The groups called themselves the [[Sunnis]] and the [[Shiite|Shi'as]]. Many attribute this split to the high degree to which authority was centered in the powerful character of Muhammad himself: without his powerful personality, the movement could not survive intact.,<ref>[[Bernard Lewis]], ''What Went Wrong''</ref> however this depiction is not accurate in some lights. The [[Shi'as]] came into the picture much later than the death of Muhammad, and were first a nuisance group thought to be started by a Jew by the name of [[Abdullah ibn Saba]] who was burned at the stake by [[Abu Bakr]] for proclaiming [[Ali]] was God. Note that Ali disagreed with the punishment, because fire is a punishment only for [[Allah]].

Muhammad's death at an early age caused the splintering of his religion into new sects, over the question of succession.  The groups called themselves the [[Sunnis]] and the [[Shiite|Shi'as]]. Many attribute this split to the high degree to which authority was centered in the powerful character of Muhammad himself: without his powerful personality, the movement could not survive intact.,<ref>[[Bernard Lewis]], ''What Went Wrong''</ref> however this depiction is not accurate in some lights. The [[Shi'as]] came into the picture much later than the death of Muhammad, and were first a nuisance group thought to be started by a Jew by the name of [[Abdullah ibn Saba]] who was burned at the stake by [[Abu Bakr]] for proclaiming [[Ali]] was God. Note that Ali disagreed with the punishment, because fire is a punishment only for Allah.

The failure or splintering of movements, such as personality cults, built around a charismatic leader is a recurring sociological problem, often studied by psychologists, and referred to as the problem of the [[routinization of charisma]].<ref>Maximillian Weber, ''Theory of Social and Economic Organization,'' in the chapter "The Nature of Charismatic Authority and its Routinization," see also Len Oakes, "Prophetic Charisma: The Psychology of Revolutionary Religious Personalities"</ref>

The failure or splintering of movements, such as personality cults, built around a charismatic leader is a recurring sociological problem, often studied by psychologists, and referred to as the problem of the [[routinization of charisma]].<ref>Maximillian Weber, ''Theory of Social and Economic Organization,'' in the chapter "The Nature of Charismatic Authority and its Routinization," see also Len Oakes, "Prophetic Charisma: The Psychology of Revolutionary Religious Personalities"</ref>