The Prophet MuhammadThe Prophet Muhammad(Peace Be Upon Him)(Peace Be Upon Him)

Arabia before Muhammad

Mecca•important trade stop and religious center of Arabia•people settle there because of the fresh water well•location of Kabba (shrine with 300 religious idols)

Arabs•majority of Arabia’s first inhabitants were Bedouins•Biblical tradition: Arabs are Semites (descendants of Noah’s son •Koran tradition: Arabs are descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael•Valued camels above all else•no strong central government

Quraysh•powerful local tribe of Arabs•Encouraged Tribes to deposit idols in the Kabba and protect them for a feeCartoon

Muhammad’s call to ProphethoodMuhammed’s Early Life

•born into Hashim family of the powerful Quraysh tribe sometime between AD 570 and 580•angels told mother, Amina, to name child Muhammad (highly praised)•father died before birth, mother @ 4•raised by Uncle, Abu Talib•as a young man, he worked for a wealthy widow Khadija•married Khadija and had 7 children only one daughter Fatima survived•had reputation as a seeker of solitude

Spreading the word of Allah

Muhammad’s Teachings•Major points of Muhammad’s public teachings1.There was only one God (Allah) and all should submit to him2. all believers in God were equal3. the rich should share with the poor4. people should live righteously5. all people would be subjected to a Judgement Day

Miracles•passed through the seven levels of heaven in the “Night Journey”•brought forth a spring in Mecca

Disagreements

•wanted to abolish idolatry yet most people of Mecca did not•critical of wealthy merchants who controlled most of the money and power in Mecca

Protection for Prophet

•he was able to remain in Mecca because of his powerful and respected familyCartoon

Emigration to Madinah

Muhammad’s Welcome•Prophet was welcomed by Jews and Arabs of Yathrib•both groups hoped Muhammad could prevent a civil was from breaking out •renamed Yathrib - Medina•believers in Islam began to call themselves Muslims (those who submit to the will of God)

•Muhammad hoped Islam could win new converts•some Jewish leaders did not accept Muhammad as God’s latest prophet•Jews, who opposed Muhammad were expelled from Medina•at first Muhammad told Muslims to pray in the direction of Jerusalem but later changed it to the Kabba in Mecca

The Hijrah•Muhammed left after death of wife and Abu Talib•Traveled to oasis city of Yathrib•this journey marks the the beginning of Islam and the Muslim calendar

Conflict in Medina Cartoon

Return to Mecca

Outcomes of the Battle of Badr•more battles were fought in the years that followed the Battle of Badr•Medina taken over by angry Meccan’s•AD 630 Muhammad and supporters capture Mecca•idols and other pagan relics are destroyed and the Kabba rededicated to Allah•632 Muhammad makes his last journey to Mecca - called the hajj•every detail of his actions on the event were noted and imitated by his disciples•the rites and ceremonies of the hajj became standard practice for all Muslims

As more people accepted Islam, the Quraysh

became hostile toward Muslims

Muhammed’s army though

tremedsously outnumbered, won the Battle

of Badr

Battle of Badr

Cartoon

Islam as a Way of LIfeThe Five Pillars of Faith

Shahada Salat Zakat Sawm Hajj

Professionof faithThere isonly one

God (Allah) andMuhammadis his prophet

Daily Worship

Five times a day;

guided by a precise

setof rituals

Almsgiving

2 1/2 % ofa Muslimsincome or

1/40of all they

possessannually

Fast

From sunrise

to sunsetduring theholy time

of Ramadan

Pilgrimage to Mecca

undertakenonce in a lifetime;

reminder ofequalitybetween

all Muslims