Muhammad the Prophet

Life and Times of Muhammad – “The Praised”

Mecca

• Crossroads for trading • Birthplace of

Muhammad – 570 A.D.• Major pilgrimage site –

the Hajj• The Kaaba• Polytheism

Birth of Mohammad – 570 A.D.

Main Sources for Muhammad’s Life :• Quran or Koran - Muslim “Word of God” as revealed through the angel Gabriel • Early Biographies• Hadith – Saying, Act, or Islamic Law seen as coming directly from Muhammad. • Christian Byzantine Sources - (Different Perspective Obviously) They indicate that

both Jews and Christians saw Muhammad as a deceiving prophet, or at least certain circles did. “Do prophets come with a sword and chariot?”

Muhammad - Childhood

• Father died just before his birth• Mother died before six years old• Sent out of Mecca to get a better

education in a healthier environment

• Grandfather sent him to work with the Bedouins until. Grandfather died.

• Uncle – Abu -Talib was a merchant• Much of what we know could be

considered legend.

The Legend -

• While sitting at the Ka’bah Muhammad’s Grandfather was worried about his birth.• Father died before

his birth.

The Legend Continued • Birth and named

“Muhammad” or “Praised One”

• The donkey overtaking the others.

• Five year dream of Angels cleansing his heart.

• Christian Hermit saw a mark of prophethood between his shoulders.

Marriage - Khadijah

• Muhammad ran caravans for widow named Khadijah

• She proposed marriage • Muhammad was 25• Khadijah was 40• Supposedly a happy marriage• 2 sons – died in childhood• 4 daughters • Died after 25 years of

marriage.

40 years old – Idol Worship• The Ka’Bah• Build by Abraham• Mecca• Corruption and Idol

Worship• Muruwwah Code• Nomads –

Polytheistic and believed in jinns or genies.

• There were Jews, Christians, and Hanifs who were all Monotheistic.

The Ka’Bah

Black Stone - al-Ḥajar al-Aswad

Muhammad the Prophet and Angel Gabriel – “Night of Power”

• 610 AD during the Arabic month of Ramadan

• The Cave of Hira• Muhammad chosen as

the last “seal of the prophets”

• Revealed the Qur’an to Mohammad

Abu-Talib and Ali

• Abu-Talib – Muhammad’s Uncle – Never Converted

• Ali – First Male Convert• Early convert to Islam• Muhammad’s cousin/son-in-law – Married

to Fatimah – Muhammad’s daughter• Shia Muslims Follow Ali - “Shia Ali” means

“followers or faction of Ali”• The first or 12 Imams• Shia Muslims do not follow the Caliphs

(Elected Leaders)of Sunni Islam Sunni Muslims see Ali as the 4th Caliph

Muhammad Returns to Mecca

• Driven out of Mecca shortly after 620 – abt. 622 - Hijra

• 630 AD – Muhammad returned to Mecca and destroyed the idols in the Ka’Bah or Kaaba

Isra - A Journey on a Winged Horse

• Told Meccans he had a night journey (Dream) on winged horse - Isra

• Started in Jerusalem• Went through the

seven levels of Heaven. • Received from God the

fundamentals of the Islamic Creed or beliefs.

• The Foundation Stone• Wailing Wall

A Journey on a Winged Horse

Al- Buraq – The mythological winged steed that transported the prophets to Heaven.

Jerusalem - Revered by Three Religions – Jews – Christians - Muslims

The Hijra: The Turning Point – Year 1 Muslim Calendar

• “Islam” – Arabic word for “submission” inferring submitting to God.

• “Muslim” Arabic word for “submitter” – one who submits to God.

• *Controversy – “Submit” by the sword? Or Submit willingly?

• Ummah – Muslim Community / Nation• New teachings angered Meccans. They threatened

murder.• Left Mecca for Yathrib in 622 (Later called Medina or “City

of the Prophet)• This journey became known as the “Hijra”.• The Muslim Calendar – Year 2011 = 1432• This is why Muslim holidays are not sincrinized with our

Gregorian Calendar. • 619 – Khadijah (Wife) and Abu Talib (Uncle) died.

Early Survival • Reaction by early Jews and

Christians• Meccan Emigrants refused to

farm • Attacking Caravans (page 33)• Attacking during the Hajj

month.• Victory at Badr• Controversy - “Does a prophet

come with swords and chariots?”

• This is where Jews and Christians disagree about Muhammad being a prophet.

• Picture: Massacre of the Banu Qurayza

Muslim Life in Medina

• Established laws about marriage, divorce, inheritance, theft and punishment for crime, etc.

• The Quran is mostly silent on these issues. • Most of this comes from the Hadith – the teachings

and actions supposedly attributed to Muhammad. • Some modern day criticisms.• To be fair - *Remember we a judging a 7th

century man and traditions by modern standards and many of these traditions were found in early Jewish and Christian traditions.

• Treatment of Women• Muhammad’s plural marriages - polygamy• Treatment of Jews – massacres etc.

Criticisms – Modern IssuesWomen’s Rights

Criticisms – Modern IssuesBlasphemy

Criticisms – Modern IssuesPolygamy and Honor Killings

Criticisms – Modern IssuesIntolerance for Other Religions

Baminyan Buddhas in Afghanistan Ground Zero - 911 Memorial Mosque

On the eve of expected city approval of a mosque and Islamic center two blocks from Ground Zero, backers of the project are pledging to include a memorial to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks as part of an effort to allay opponents' complaints that the mosque's location is insensitive. Called - Cordoba House – Carl Palodino - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Paladino"We've heard and felt their pain, and we're extending ourselves," said Daisy Khan, a partner in the building and the wife of the cleric leading the effort. "We want to repair the breach and be at the front and center to start the healing."

Return to Mecca

• 628 – returned to Mecca and signed a peace treaty with the Meccans – the Meccans saw Muslims as equals now.

• 629 – came back as part of the Hajj• 630 – Returned with an Army• Muhammad required the Arab

tribes to accept Islam and pay taxes to support Islam.

• 632 – Nearly all Arabs tribes were Muslim. (By Traditional Accounts)

Death of Muhammad• Appointed Abu-Bakr to lead the public worship• Final pilgrimage – Hajj – to Mecca establishing this as

one of the Five Pillars of Islam. • Final sermon – “every Muslim is a brother to every

other Muslim and that you are now one brotherhood – Connection – “The Muslim Brotherhood”

• Died 8 June 632• The Quran was

compiled after his death.

Caliphs and Early Converts

• Head of an Islamic state or Ummah and Islamic community –

• Means – “Successor” or “Representative” – “Commander of the Faithful”

• Not Prophet – Muhammad is the last.• Big argument over who rules after

Muhammad’s death• Abu-Bakr – Muhammad’s wealthy

best friend – 1st Caliph• Umar – 2nd Caliph• Uthman – 3rd Caliph

Read Page 256 - 257

Sultan

• Arab for “strength” and Authority

• Later lesser governor under a Caliphate.

• Not a religious but a political leader

• Turkey - The title has been defunct since the Republic of Turkey abolished the Ottoman Caliphate in 1924

Emer

• Prince• Commander• General• High Ranking Sheikhs – • Sheikhs mean “Elder”

a position of honor in a tribe

The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire Splits East and West – 395 A.D.

The Roman Empire Constantinople –

Justinean I and Constantine I

The Fall of Constantinople – Istanbul

The Spread of Islam

The Ottoman Empire – 1453-1922

Muslim World Today and Modern Turkey - 1923