1. Muhammad
Founder of Islam

2. Muhammad Born in Mecca around 570 C.E.
He was orphaned when he was young and his uncle’s family looked after him.

3. When people speak his name they say “Muhammad – peace be upon him”
No image of him may be drawn, painted or represented in dance

4. Growing Up
Muhammad started work in his uncles business – driving camels and trading across the deserts of Arabia
Honest & Trustworthy – people called him Al-Almin (‘The Trustworthy One’)
During his travels he met Jews & Christians and they discussed their beliefs & customs

5. Life in Mecca
At 25, Muhammad married Khadijad, a rich widow and they had 6 children
He became a successful business man as Mecca was a busy trading city and there were lots of pilgrims crowded around the Ka’ba
However he didn’t agree with everything that went on in Mecca

6. Things that troubled Muhammad:
Traders were greedy and dishonest and
cheated the poor
People spent too much time drinking and fighting
Women and children were badly treated

7. His Beliefs He often spent time in the hills (Mount Hira)
outside the city thinking about life and praying
He was a religious man – but he did not agree with worshiping the idols and gods on the Ka’ba – he believed that type of worship was the root of many problems in Mecca
He came to believe that there was only one God, called Allah (the same God Christians and Jews worship)

8. Vision/Dream
One night on Mount Hira, when he was about 40, Muhammad was praying alone in the cave
Muslims believe an angel appeared to him in a dream.
He was told he was chosen to be a prophet – God’s messenger on earth
Muslims call this night – The Night of Power and Excellence

9. Muhammad was really worried and rushed home to speak to his wife
She convinced him that he had received a message from God
Khadijah had great faith and was the first convert to the Islam religion

10. Muhammad continued to receive messages throughout his life
Khadijah and some other converts learned them off by heart until they were written down
These messages later became the
Qur’an – sacred text of Islam

11. Prophet Muhammad became a prophet
His role was to let everyone know the will of God
He began preaching in Mecca

12. His Message: Must worship one God – Allah – not the
360 idols in the Ka’ba
Must listen to Muhammad because he is
the prophet of Allah
People should live good lives, be honest, share with the poor and look after women and children
Any wrongdoing in this life would be punished by God in the next life