Muhammad & the Foundation of Islam

Europe Asia Africa Arabian Peninsula – Crossroads of 3 Continents? Influences came from all parts of the known world! Israel

Arabian Peninsula ● 1. Nomadic Pastoralists ● 2. Caravan trade with Byzantine and Sasanid Empire ● 3. Mecca caravan trading city ● 4. Various religions Christianity, Judaism Semitic polytheism ● 5. Hanifs & idea of Monotheism ● 6. Ka'ba (Kaaba) Ishmael

Bedouins ● Nomads ● Desert Dwellers ● survive on gifts of Oasis ● Clans & Tribes ● Great fighting ability ● Ideals of courage & loyalty to family influence Islam

Mecca ● Important stop on trade routes ● Pilgrims worship at ancient house of worship ● the Ka’aba ● Arabs associate Ka’aba w/Abraham ● contained idols representing polytheistic religions.

Hanifs ● Hanifs ● Arabs who believed in only one God – Allah – Arabic for God ● Christians & Jews also resided on Peninsula

Muhammad ● Born 570 CE to powerful Meccan family ● Orphaned at an early age: raised by Grandfather & Uncle ● Worked in caravan trade ● Married a widowed woman who owned the business – Khadijah.

The Revelations ● Always had interest in religion ● Age 40, voice called to him while he meditated outside a cave ● Voice was angel Gabriel ● ‘revealed’ messages of God ● Muhammad to deliver messages to people ● Gabriel delivered many messages (Revelations) to Muhammad ● Muhammad convinced he was last of the prophets

The Revelations ● Allah ● one & only God ● other gods must be abandoned ● Islam = submission to the will of Allah ● Muslim = one who submits to will of Allah ● Rejection ● Fear that Mecca would be rejected as pilgrimage center ● Followers persecuted. (5:32)

Essential Knowledge 145. Who was considered the ‘last & the greatest’ of the prophets? 146. What are God’s messages to Muhammad called? 147. What is the shrine in Mecca called? 148. What is the Arabic word for God?

The Hijrah ● Muhammad faced adversity. In fear of hostility he and his followers escaped Mecca ● settled in city of Yathrib (Medina) ● This migration is called the Hijrah which also marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. ● In Yathrib, Muhammad found acceptance as both religious & political leader ● Yathrib renamed Medina – City of the Prophet ● Significance? = Islam is preserved.

Return to Mecca ● Accepted by Bedouin tribes ● Muslims & Meccans continued to fight until Mecca’s decline ● 630 CE- Muhammad & followers march to Mecca – Meccan leaders surrendered ● Muhammad goes to Ka’aba ● Destroys idols ● made call to prayer from roof ● Meccans accept Muhammad’s leadership & convert to Islam

Essential Knowledge 149. What is Muhammad’s migration to Yathrib called? ● 150.What name means, ‘city of the prophet?’ ● 151.Term which means, ‘submission to the will of Allah.’ ● 152.Term which means, ‘one who submits to the will of Allah.’