1. The Prophet Muhammad

2. Arabia Before Muhammad
What do you see here?
What skills would a person need to survive and prosper in this environment?

3. A. Makkah Important trade stop and religious center of Arabia
People settled there because of the fresh water well
Location of the Kaaba
Population very diverse: Arabs, Christians, Jews, etc.

4. B. Arabs Arab (abhar = to move or pass)
Majority of Arabia’s first inhabitants were Bedouins (nomadic Arabs)
Origins: Africa or Mesopotamia?
Biblical tradition: Arabs are Semites (descendants of Noah’s son)
Qur’anic traditiion: Arabs are descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael

5. B. Arabs Valued camels and swords above all else
Had no strong central government
Practiced animistic polytheism (many gods)

6. C. Quraysh Powerful local tribe of Arabs
Encouraged tribes to deposit idols in the Kaaba and protected them for a fee.

7. Muhammad’s Call to Prophethood
What do you see here?
What might the geometric shape on the right represent?
The one on the left?
Any ideas as to why the shapes are there?

8. Muhammad’s Early Life
Born into the Hasim family of the powerful Quraysh tribe sometime between AD 570 and 580
Angels told mother, Amina, to name child Muhammad (highly praised)
Father, Abdallah, died before Muhammad’s birth; mother, Amina, died when he was six

9. Muhammad’s Early Life Raised by uncle, Abu Talib
As a young man, he worked for a wealthy widow, Khadija
Married Khadija; had 7 children (only 1 daughter – Fatima- survived)
Had reputation as a seeker of solitude

10. The Divine Revelations
Tradition has it, at the age of 40 Muhammad was alone in a cave outside Makkah seeking solitude (which was usual for him) and was visited by the angel Gabriel
Muhammad was instructed to teach humanity more about God and how to worship Him.

11. The Divine Revelations
Muhammad, like the prophets who preceded him, taught people to believe in One God (in Hebrew is “Eloh” and in Arabic is “Allah”).
Muhammad’s miracle was the Qur’an itself, which Muslims consider to be the final message from God to humanity.
At first not many believed Muhammad.

12. The Divine Revelations
Geometric shapes cover the images of Muhammad and Gabriel in this picture, because Muslims believe that depictions of the prophets of God and other respected persons are not acceptable and they request others respect their view on this matter.

13. Muhammad Spreads the Word of Allah
What do you see here?
What do you think the two geometric shapes on the left represent?
What are the men on the right doing?

14. Muhammad’s Teaching Major points of Muhammad’s public teaching:
There was only one God and all should submit to him
All believers in God were equal
The rich should share with the poor
People should live righteously
All people would be subjected to a judgement day

15. Muhammad’s Teachings
The Prophet’s companions credited him with miracles:
Passed through the seven levels of heaven in the “Night Journey”(in 619)
Miraj in Arabic
Gabriel led way - Buraq, the winged horse, carried him from Makkah to Jerusalem and then to heaven where he traveled through the 7 levels of heaven meeting Adam, John, Jesus, Joseph, Idris, Aaron, Moses and Abraham. Baraq took him to Paradise to meet God
Caused a dry well in Makkah to gush water

16. Angry Makkans
Muhammad’s preaching angered many of the people of Makkah:
Wanted to abolish idolatry yet most Makkans did not want to give up their idols
Critical of wealthy merchants who controlled most of the money and power in Makkah

17. Protection for the Prophet
He was able to remain in Makkah because of his powerful and respected family

18. The Emigration to Madinah
What do you see here?
Where in the picture is Muhammad?
Why would it have been necessary for Muhammad to leave Makkah?
Why would these people be eager to have Muhammad enter their community?

19. The Hijrah
Muhammad decided to leave Makkah after death of wife,Khadija, and uncle,Abu Talib
Traveled to oasis city of Yathrib
This journey (hijrah, in Arabic) marks the beginning of Islam and the Muslim calendar

20. Muhammad’s Welcome Prophet was welcomed by Jews and Arabs of Yathrib
Both groups hoped Muhammad could prevent a civil war from breaking out
Renamed Yathrib to Madinaht unNabit, which means “City of the Prophet”
Believers in Islam began to call themselves Muslims (those who submit to God’s will)

21. Conflict in Madinah 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 Madinah
At first, Muhammad told Muslims to pray in the direction of Jerusalem, but later changed it to the Kaaba in Makkah

22. The Return to Makkah What do you see on the left?
Where is Muhammad represented in this picture?
What do you think Muhammad and his companions are doing?
Why would the group of soldiers want to attack them?

23. The Quraysh
As more people accepted Islam, the Quraysh became hostile towards the Muslims

24. Muhammad and his followers
Muhammad’s army, though tremendously outnumbered, won the Battle of Badr

25. Outcomes of the Battle of Badr
More battles were fought in the years that followed the Battle of Badr
Makkans laid siege on Madinah in AD 627, in the Battle of Trench
In AD 630, Muhammad and his supporters captured Makkah
Idols and other pagan relics were destroyed and the Kaaba was rededicated to God
In 632, Muhammad led the hajj, commonly called “the pilgrimage of farewell,” for it was his last
Every detail of his actions on this event was noted and imitated by his disciples
The rites and ceremonies of hajj became standard practice for all Muslims

26. Islam as a Way of Life What do you see here?
Which structure is the most important?
What is covering the structure?
Why do you think so many people are gathered at this location?
Without using force of intimidation, how could these people be kept orderly and peaceful?

27. The Five Pillars of Faith
Muhammad’s companions desired to maintain an Islamic community
Recorded his revelations into Qur’an; his personal deeds into the Sunna
Sunna and Qur’an provide guiding rules and principles for all Muslims
The most basic rules of the Sunna and Qur’an are summarized in the five pillars

28. Shahada (profession of faith)
“There is only one God and Muhammad is his prophet.”

29. Salat (daily worship) Five times a day
Guided by a precise set of rituals

30. Zakat (almsgiving)
2.5% of a Muslim’s income, or 1/40 of all they possess annually

31. Sawm (fast)
From sunrise to sunset during the holy time of Ramadan

32. Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)
Undertaken once in a lifetime
Reminder of equality between all Muslims