Life of the Prophet of Islam

Born in 570 AD in Mecca

Orphaned by age 6 – brought up by his uncle Abu Talib

Trained to lead trading caravans – traveled throughout the Middle East

As a young man, he gained a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness – “Al Amin”

Birth of Muhammed

MeccaCenter of trade in the Arabian PeninsulaDominated by the Quraysh tribe, who

controlled the Ka’abaPeople were mostly pagan – primarily

worshipped three goddesses – but there were over 350 statues in the Ka’aba!

Minority of Jews and Christians

The Ka’abaShrine believed to be

built by Abraham and Ishmael to Yahweh

Held images of pagan deities and even some Christian icons

Black Stone – believed to have been given to Abraham by Gabriel

Under the control of the Quraysh tribe – who became wealthy because of pilgrimages to the shrine

Marriage to KhadijahKhadijah bint Khuwaylid –

a wealthy widow who owned a trading company

Hired Muhammed to operate her caravans to Syria

Proposed to him a few years later – she was several years older than he was

Their marriage as extremely happy

She was his greatest supporter

He married no one else while she was still alive

Night of Power and Excellence

Often went to a cave on Mt. Hira to pray and meditate

Vision of Gabriel (Jibril)“Recite” – the first

words of the Qur’anMuhammed thought he

was going insaneKhadijah reassured him

that his vision was real

Muhammed's revelations will continue for the rest of his life – sometimes on Mt. Hira but also at other times and places

Muhammed began preaching in Mecca

His first disciples were his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib

The Qur’anMuhammed’s

revelations would be memorized by his followers

After his death, they were written down

Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the Word of God dictated to Muhammed

Preaching in Mecca

Muhammed begins preaching the belief in One God = Allah

Opposition from Quraysh tribe who control the Ka’aba

Muhammed’s followers begin to be persecuted, but Muhammed is protected by his uncle who is head of the Hashem Tribe

“Year of Sorrows” (619)Khadijah diesAbu Talib diesThe new leader of Muhammed's tribe

(the Abu Hashem) does not believe in Muhammed's Revelations

Muhammed and his followers begin to be persecuted in Mecca

The Isra and Mi’rajMohammed's

supernatural journey to heaven and hell

In a vision, he is taken to Jerusalem

Ascends to heaven from the Temple Mount

Visions of Abraham, Moses and Jesus

The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Built on the Temple Mount on the site where Muhammed is believed to have ascended into heaven

The HijraBy 622, persecution of

Muhammed's followers increased in Mecca

Many Muslims flee to Yathrib, where they are welcomed

After an assassination attempt, Muhammed also flees

Hijra becomes year one in the Muslim calendar

Muhammed welcomed in Yathrib (later renamed Medina)

As a neutral person, he is often asked to arbitrate disputes between various tribes

Muhammed eventually becomes the ruler of Medina and most people there become his followers

Battles Between Muhammed and the Quraysh of Mecca

Battle of BadrBattle of UrhudBattle of the TrenchBattle for Mecca

Muhammed Conquers MeccaMarches on Mecca

with an army of 10,000

Meccan troops refuse to fight

Muhammed takes the Ka’aba and “purifies” it by emptying it of pagan idols and dedicating it to Allah

Muhammed’s Family

Six children by his first wife, Khadijah

Two sons, both died young

Daughter Fatima was his favorite

She married Muhammed’s cousin, Ali

WivesAfter Khadijah’s

death, Muhammed married 11 other women

Most were widows of his followers who had been killed in battle

His favorite was Aisha, the daughter of one of his first followers, Abu Bakr

Unification of the Arabian Peninsula

By the time Muhammed died, his followers had unified the entire Arabian Peninsula either through preaching or through conquest.

It was the first time the Bedouin tribes of the peninsula had ever been united.

The Farewell Sermon (632)

Lays out the basic beliefs of Islam

Muhammed's last sermon (although he didn’t know it at the time)

Muhammed’s Death

Fell ill in the house of his favorite wife, AishaDied and was buried in MedinaThe “Mosque of the Prophet” was later

built over his grave

Mosque of the Prophet

Medina

The green dome marks the place where the Prophet is buried

AccomplishmentsThe Qur’an Introduced monotheism to the pagan Arab

tribesEthical lawsRaised the status of womenUnited the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula for

the first time

Some felt that Muhammed’s son-in-law and cousin Ali should succeed as

leader of the Muslims

Most Muslim leaders preferred to follow Muhammad's father-in-law and one of his earliest followers, Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr becomes the first of the “Rightly Guided Caliphs”

The Four “Rightly Guided Caliphs” with Muhammad