The Life of Muhammad

1
The Life of Muhammad

• The Rise of Islam

2
Arabia before Muhammad

• Arabs are the people of Arabia. The word Arab
  means to move or pass meaning these people
  were nomadic.
• They were also known as Bedouins
• They were sheep and goat herders, spoke Arabic,
  were skilled at warfare and practiced Polytheism

3
Arabia before Muhammad continued

• A powerful Arab tribe called the Quraysh settled
  at an oasis called Makkah. This eventually
  became the city of Mecca.
• The Quraysh were polytheistic and made a shrine
  with over 300 idols called the Kaaba or Kaba
  that was at the center of the city.

4
Muhammads Early Life

• Born in Mecca around 570 to a poor family.
• His parents died and he was given to his uncles
  nomadic family in the desert.
• He learned Arab traditions of helping needy
  members of society- the poor, widows, orphans

5
Early Life continued

• While living with his uncle, he was a shepherd
  and later became a successful trader of goods.
• He was known for being honest.
• When he was about 25 he married a wealthy widow
  named Khadija and became wealthy as a merchant.

6
Call to Prophethood

• Muhammad had always been a seeker of solitude.
• Around 610 Muhammad went to pray in a cave in the
  mountains.
• According to Islamic teachings he was visited by
  the angel Gabriel who told him he should recite
  and become a messenger of God.

7
Prophet

• Muhammad was scared he was going crazy, but he
  eventually believed he should reveal Gods
  message.
• His wife was the first convert to Islam a
  monotheistic religion with the same God as
  Christianity and Judaism.

8
Muhammads Teachings

• Muhammad believed that God had many prophets
  (including Jesus and Moses) and that he was the
  last one. His main teachings include these ideas

• There is only ONE God. (Allah)
• All believers are equal.
• The rich should take care of the poor.
• People should live righteously.
• All people would be subjected to a Judgment Day

9
The 5 Pillars of Faith

• The most basic rules of Islam are summarized in
  the 5 Pillars called

• Shahada is the declaration of faith (only one
  God, Allah, and his prophet is Muhammad)
• Salat is the daily prayers (5 times a day)
• Zakat is almsgiving or charity
• Sawm is fasting during the holy month of Ramadan
• Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca undertaken at
  least once in a lifetime, followers go to touch
  the black stone at the Kaaba.

10
The Quran

• Muhammad could not read or write, but he
  remembered the messages by heart.
• His followers wrote them down and they became
  known as the Quran.
• The beauty of the words and poetry of the book
  helped to convert more people.

11
The Sunnah

• The Sunnah is a book that includes the words and
  actions of Muhammad. It gives a guideline for
  how to live a good Muslim life and some of
  Muhammads interpretations of the Quran.

12
Teachings meet rejection

• Around 613 Muhammad started to teach to other
  Meccans. He told them to pray to ONE God, to
  give to the poor, and that all people were equal.
  
• This upset the wealthy leaders of the community
  and they threw him out.

13
Rejection continued

• In 622, Muhammad and his followers moved from
  Mecca to Medina (Yathrib). This journey is
  called the Hijrah. They increased the number of
  Muslims and although many Jewish leaders didnt
  think he was a prophet Muhammad took military
  and political control of Medina.

14
The Battle of Badr

• Muhammad built up his followers and army and
  after many battles and confrontations he finally
  returned to Mecca and defeated the powerful
  Quraysh tribe who controlled it.

• Muhammad took over Mecca in 630 A.D.
• He banned the worship of idols and old gods and
  rededicated the Kaba to Allah.
• The word Islam means Surrender to God

15
Muhammad dies

• After forgiving his former enemies, and with the
  wars over, Muhammad returned to Mecca in 632 to
  give his Last Sermon.
• He reminded his followers to treat each other
  well and be faithful to their community.