Download Origins of Islam Muhammad`s Early Life Early life was difficult – both

Origins of Islam
Muhammad’s Early Life
Early life was difficult – both parents died
Traveled with uncle as a merchant in a caravan
Married Khadijah (wealthy merchant)
Mecca became rich from caravan trade
Wealthy began to ignore the poor
A Message For Muhammad
Went to a cave to pray
Visited by an angel
Became a prophet – a person who tells messages from God
Islam – new religion formed by Muhammad, means “submit to to God.”
Muslim – follower of Islam
Quran – holy book of Islam
A Belief in One God
Muhammad taught that there was only one God
Monotheistic – belief in one god – same as Christianity and Judaism
All three recognize some of the same prophets
Muslims do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God
Muslims respected Jews and Christians; called them “people of the book.”
A Challenge to Old Ideas
Teachings not familiar to Arabs
Arabs believed in polytheism – belief in many gods
Arabs worshipped their gods at shrines – place where people worship a saint or a god
Kaaba – important shrine in Mecca
People traveled there every year on a pilgrimage
Muhammad’s teaching upset Arabs
Told to stop worshipping many gods
Stop paying money to buy statues – makes merchants mad
Told rich and poor should be equal – give money to the poor