The Prophet Muhammad

Slide Lecture

1.2A Arabia Before Muhammad

1.2A (cont’d)

A. Makkah• Important Trade stop• Religious center (Kaaba)• Fresh water• Diverse population

B. ArabsArab (abhar= to move or pass)• Bedouins first inhabitants• Origins uncertain• Valued camels and swords • No strong central gov.• polytheistic

1.2A (cont’d)

C. Quaraysh• Powerful local tribe• Deposit idols in Kaaba and

promised protection for a fee

1.2 B Muhammad’s Call to Prophethood

1.2BMuhammad’s Early Life• Born into Hashim family or

Quraysh tribe• Muhammad means highly

praised• Dad dies before he was

born; mom when he was six• Raised by uncle• Worked for Khadija, a

wealthy widow• Married her; had 7 children-

1 survived

The Divine Revelations

• First revelation on retreat to Mt. Hira

• Neighbor convinced him he was a prophet

• Revelation that sinners must submit to mercy of God (islam)

• First converts: wife, cousin, slave, and friend- Abu Bakr

• Not depicted in artwork

1.2 C Muhammad Spreads the Word of Allah

1.2 CA. Muhammad’s Teachings

• Major Points1. only one god2. all believers equal3. rich should share with poor4. live righteously 5. all subjected to judgment day

• Miracles– Passed through seven levels of

Heaven– Brought spring to Makkah

B. Angry Makkans• M. wanted to abolosh idols-

Makkans did not want to• Critical of wealthy

merchants

C. Protection for the Prophet• Able to remain in Makkah

because of his powerful and respected family

1.2 D The Emigration to Madinah

1.2DThe Hijrah• Muhammad decided to leave

after death of wife• Traveled to Yatrib• Journey marks the beginning

of Islam calendar

Conflict in Madinah• Muhammad hoped Islam

could win converts• Jewish leaders did not

accept him as a prophet• Jews who opposed

Muhammad expelled from city

• First Muhammad instructed prayer toward Jerusalem then changed to the Kaaba

Muhammad’s Welcome• Accepted by Yatrib Jews and

Arabs• Both hoped he could prevent civil

war• Renamed city to Madinah (City of

the Prophet)• Believers call themselves Muslim

(those who submit to god’s will)

1.2 E The Return to Makkah

1.2 EOutcomes• More battles fought in years

following• Makkans sieged Madinah in 627–

Battle of Trench• 630- Muhammad captured

Makkah• Idols in the Kaaba were

destroyed• 632- Muhammad led the Hajj• Dies @ 63 in Mecca, no successor• Told followers to spread

message.

The QurayshBecame more hostile towards Muslims

Muhammad and his followersMuhammad’s army, though outnumbered won the Battle of Badr

1st 3 Caliphs: “Khalifa” = “Successor”

1. Abu Bakr: 632-634• Close friend and father in law of

Muhammad• 2 problems\– Tribes began leaving after M. died.– Others wanted Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-

law/cousin• Expanded Muslim community into

Persia and Byzantium (Modern day Iraq and Syria).

1st 3 Caliphs, Part 2

• Umar 634-644• Defined Dar al Islam (A) and Dar al

Harb (B)• Successfully expanded empire into

Egypt, Jerusalem, eastern Mediterranean

• Organized empire with governors (emirs) and a tax system

• Assassinated by a non-Muslim slave.

1st 3 Caliphs, Part 3

• Uthman 644-656• Muhammad’s son-in-law• From powerful Umayyad family in Syria• Accused of nepotism (giving jobs to

relatives)• Too much poverty while rulers super

rich• Murdered by Egyptian rebels during a

protest

Ali’s Caliphate and the division between Sunnis and Shi’as

• Ali 656-661• Also a son-in-law and a cousin of Muhammad• Heavily opposed, even by Muhammad’s wife– Clan (Hashim) rivals of Uthman’s clan, wanted his

death avenged, Ali couldn’t act fast enough• Moved capital• Lots of rebellion• Asked to resign, then rival claimed caliphate,

then assassinated by another group

Ali’s Cliphate and Division Between the Sunnis and Shi’as

Umayyad Clan: leader, Mu’awiya, also Syrian governorClaimed Caliphate from AliBecame SUNNI

Civil War Between Muslims• Mu’awiya and Ali’s armies fought at Siffin

• Both asked to resign• Neither do, Kharijites attempt to kill both

• Only kill Ali• Conflict over caliphs creates a permanent split

Hashim Clan: Ali a memberMuhammad’s cousin, memo’d Qur’anBecame caliph, but murderedBecame SHIA

A Pivotal Point in Muslim History

Sunni: “custom or practice”• Any devout Muslim could

be caliph• Accepted rule of 1st 3

caliphs• Accepted Umayyad rule• Believe in idea of

“consolidated majority”• Make up 80% of current

world population

Shi’a: “shia’t Ali” = Party of Ali• Only relative of Muhammad

can be caliph• Ali should have been 1st caliph• Ali’s son, Hussein, should have

been next caliph, never Umayyads.

• Only imams (leaders) can interpret Qur’an

• Make up 15% of current world population