By: Kara and Tal

M UHAMMAD ’ S C HILDHOOD Muhammad was born in A.D.570 or 580 into the family Hashim. His father died before he was born. He was sent to the desert to be taken care of. It was custom that mothers in the city send their babies to the desert because air was healthier. He returned five years later to his mother who died a year later, when he was six. He was then taken care of by his grandfather and uncle who adopted him.

B EFORE M UHAMMAD ' S PROPHETHOOD He found work tending sheep and buying and selling goods for a wealthy widow named Khadija. Khadija was impressed with his work and when Muhammad was 25 she offered him the opportunity to be her husband. They had seven children: 3 boys and 4 girls. All the boys died in infancy and only one girl, Fatima, lived long enough to marry. He had a reputation as a seeker of solitude and spirituality. He meditated in a cave on Mount Hira outside Makkah every year. One time when he was there he heard a voice commanding him to recite… Recite-in the name of thy lord! Who created man from blood coagulated Recite! Thy lord is wondrous kind Who by pen has taught mankind Things they knew not (being blind). Ammer Ali, The Spirit of Islam, 52.

M UHAMMAD ' S T EACHINGS Muhammad believed he was either a prophet or one possessed (gone mad). People concluded that Muhammad was chosen by Allah (G-d) as a prophet. Like Moses, David, and Jesus, Muhammad- whose Muslims believed was to be the last of the prophets- was given scriptures through the Angel Gabriel. He continued to receive messages from Allah. He was told by Angel Gabriel that it was his duty to spread the word and oneness of G-d and of the existence of Judgment Day and resurrection. To escape the divine wrath of and eternal fire, Muhammad taught, the sinner must repent and throw himself upon the mercy of G-d.

T HE F IRST C ONVERTS In the beginning, not many people believed Muhammad. The first converts to the religion by Muhammad where his wife, his cousin, Ali ibn Abi Talib, the former slave, Zayd ibn Haritha, and Muhammad’s friend Abu Bakr. Unlike other followers, Abu was a respected government person. He became Muhammad’s closest companion and advisor. Even though, not many people believed what he was saying, he continued to preach the message revealed to him. He was considered to be handsome with dark bushy eyebrows and dark eyes. However not many pictures of the prophet exist. Muslims believe that depictions of the prophet of God and other respectable figures were not acceptable.

M UHAMMAD ’ S MAIN TEACHINGS Muhammad’s teaching stressed 5 main points: Allah was the one and only G-d and all should submit and be thankful to him All believers in Allah are equal under him The rich should share their money People should chose their own path All would be subjected to Judgment Day

T HE E MIGRATION TO M ADINAH The day Muhammad arrived in Madinah, a group of his followers guided him into the city. The same year of the Night Journey, Muhammad’s uncle Abu Talib, died. Abu Talib had used his power to protect Muhammad against other people, but when he died Muhammad had to flee. The journey, known as hijra in Arabic, marks the introduction of Islam to humankind. Muhammad was optimistic, he hoped the people of Madinah would become believers in Islam After the rejection of the Prophet by Jewish tribes, Muhammad told Muslims that the Qiblah ( direction of prayer ) was changed from Jerusalem to the Kaaba in Makka.

T HE R ETURN TO MAKKAH As more people accepted Islam of their own free will, the Quraysh and other pagan tribes became increasingly alarmed and hostile towards the Muslims, to the point of inflicting torture. After being constantly challenged to battle by the Quraysh and allies, Muhammad lead his army to attack and capture a Makkan caravan. Muhammad's army, though outnumbered, won the Battle of Badr overwhelmingly. The success lead to Islam gaining more followers. Then Makkans wanted revenge for their loss. Many battles were fought between the Makkans and Muhammad and his army. In A.D. 630, Muhammad, with an army of 10,000 captured Makkah The Kaaba became the new religious center for all Muslims. In March A.D. 632 Muhammad led the hajj, or great pilgrimage to Makkah. Sometimes this was called the pilgrimage of farewell for it was his last. On the return to Madinah he fell ill and requested Abu Bakr to lead prayers in his place. On June 8, A.D. 632, he died in the house of one of his wife's, A’isha.

I SLAM AS A WAY OF LIFE After being invited by the people to lead their city, Muhammad began to establish an Islamic community with unique customs. During his 23 years of prophet hood, Muhammad received revelations from G-d. These were recorded by companions and put into a book called the Qur’an. When he died, they put his personal words and deeds into a book called the Sunna One of the most basic rules are the Five Pillars of Faith: first pillar- shahada profession of faith second pillar- salat daily worship third pillar- zakat almsgiving fourth pillar- sawm fast ( sunrise to sunset ) fifth pillar- hajj pilgrimage to Makkah (undertaken once in lifetime)

I RRIGATION TECHNIQUES AND UNDERGROUND WELLS Because water was so scarce in the desert regions of the Islamic Empire, Muslims developed ingenious irrigation techniques and utilized underground wells. Dams, reservoirs, and aqueducts were constructed throughout the Islamic Empire as early as the 10 th centaury. Much of the agriculture of the Islamic Empire was dependant on irrigation techniques and underground wells, as were most of the Muslim people. Chess The game of chess was introduced to the Muslim world by the Persians, who had it imported it first from India. The game became widely popular because of its difficulty and intellectual challenge. Eventually, they introduced chess to the Europeans, who played it widely from the 13 th centaury on.

Z OOLOGY Muslim scholars made great advances in zoology, the scientific study of animals, during the Golden Age. Because for years, the Muslims’ lifestyle and economy were dependant on animals for trade and travel, there was an interest in the study of animals. Al-Jahiz was one of the foremost scholars to explore zoology. Calligraphy Calligraphy, which means beautiful handwriting, is the art of elegant handwriting. Calligraphy was first used by Muslims when the Arabs began preparing copies of the Qur’an. The words of the Qur’an were written in calligraphy because only calligraphy was considered worthy of the word of G-d.

G EOMETRIC AND F LORAL D ESIGNS Muslim art was mostly abstract. During the golden Age of the Muslims, these arts flourished throughout the Islamic world. Banking System During the Rule of the Abbasids of Baghdad, a banking system was developed that helped to end confusion caused by the many forms of money. House of Wisdom The House of Wisdom was an educational institution founded in Baghdad by the Abbasid calip al- Ma’mun. The library was a model for other large library through out the Islamic world. Bookmaking During the rule of the Addasids, Chinese soldiers captured during a battle in central Asia were discovered to be artisans skilled in paper making. The Chinese prisoners taught their captors how to make paper, and this new skill spread through the empire.

W AS M UHAMMAD SENT TO THE DESERT ? I F SO, W HY

Yes. It was custom for mothers in the city to send their babies in the desert because desert air was healthier.

H OW MANY POINTS DID M UHAMMAD ' S TEACHINGS STRESS ? N AME ONE ?

Muhammad's teaching stressed 5 main points. Allah was the one and only G-d and all should submit and be thankful to him All believers in Allah are equal under him The rich should share their money People should chose their own path All would be subjected to Judgment Day

A S MORE PEOPLE ACCEPTED THE NEW RELIGION OF I SLAM, WHAT TRIBE BECAME HOSTILE ?

The Quraysh.

W AS WATER SCARCE IN THE D ESERT ? I F SO, W HAT DID THEY DO TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM ?

Yes. The Muslims created irrigation techniques and underground wells.

D ID THE M USLIMS LIKE CHESS ? W HO DID THEY INTRODUCE IT TO ?

Yes. They introduced it to the Europeans in the 13 th century.

I S M UHAMMAD EVER SHOWN IN PICTURES ? I F SO, WHY ?

No. Muslims believed that pictures of the prophet of God were unacceptable.

T HE E ND