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Social Studies 9R – Mr. Berman Aim #2: How did Muhammad develop and spread the Muslim religion? Reading adapted from the Metropolitan Museum of Art website (http://www.metmuseum.org/learn/for-educators/publications-for-educators/art-of-theislamic-world/unit-one/the-prophet-muhammad-and-the-origins-of-islam) Share Introduction The rise of Islam is intrinsically linked with the Prophet Muhammad, believed by Muslims to be the last in a long line of prophets that includes Moses and Jesus. Because Muhammad was the chosen recipient and messenger of the word of God through the divine revelations, Muslims from all walks of life strive to follow his example. Early Life Muhammad was born into the most powerful tribe in Mecca (in modern day Saudi Arabia), the Quraish, around 570 A.D. The power of the Quraish derived from their role as successful merchants. Several trade routes intersected at Mecca (the area circled on the map), allowing the Quraish to control trade along the west coast of Arabia, north to Syria, and south to Yemen. Mecca was home to several polytheistic religions whose gods were thought to protect its lucrative trade. After being orphaned as a young boy and being raised by his grandfather and uncle, he worked for several years as a merchant. He was eventually hired by Khadija, a wealthy widow, to ensure the safe passage of her caravans to Syria. They eventually married and had seven children. 1. Where was Muhammad born? Why will this be a perfect location for Muhammad to eventually start and spread a new religion (consult the map)? 2. What were Muhammad’s early years like? 3. When Muhammad was growing up, what religious beliefs did most people have in Mecca? Why? Divine Revelations When he was roughly forty, Muhammad began having visions and hearing voices. Searching for clarity, he would sometimes meditate at Mount Hira, near Mecca. On one of these occasions, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him and instructed him to recite "in the name of [your] lord." This was the first of many revelations that became the basis of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. These early revelations pointed to the existence of a single God (called Allah), contradicting the polytheistic beliefs of the pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula. The angel Gabriel told Muhammad that it was now his responsibility to spread this monotheistic belief in the one true god throughout the Arabian Peninsula and the world. Initially overwhelmed by the significance of what was being revealed to him, Muhammad found unflinching support in his wife and slowly began to attract followers. His followers became known as Muslims, and the religion they followed was called Islam (“submission to the will of Allah”). His strong monotheistic message angered many of the Meccan merchants. They were afraid that trade, which they believed was protected by the polytheistic gods, would suffer. From that point forward, Muhammad was ostracized in Mecca. For a time, the influence and status of his wife and his uncle, Abu Talib, the chief of the clan, protected Muhammad from persecution. After they died, however, Muhammad and his followers were in constant danger. 4. What did Muhammad learn when he was visited by the Angel Gabriel? How was his life changed by this event? 5. Why did Muhammad encounter so much opposition to his ideas in Mecca? The Hijrah and the Spread of Islam Emigration became the only hope for Muhammad and his followers' survival. In 622, they headed to Medina, another oasis town, where they were promised freedom to practice their religion. The move from Mecca to Medina is known as the hijrah—the flight—and marks year 1 of the Islamic calendar. Medina was a community plagued by constant wars and conflicts between different tribes. Muhammad’s new religion of Islam offered the people of Medina a way to overcome their rivalries and finally achieve true unity and peace. As a result, thousands of people began to convert to Islam, and for the first time, Muhammad’s new religion became a major force on the Arabian peninsula. The conflict with the Quraish in Mecca continued, and eventually war broke out between the Quraish and Muhammad’s followers. Although Muhammad’s forces were initially outnumbered, they won several incredible victories on the battlefield and eventually conquered Mecca in 630. Muhammad and his followers destroyed all the pagan idols in the Kaaba, the city’s main temple, but otherwise treated the people of Mecca with mercy and did not slaughter them. Muhammad now controlled the governments of both Mecca and Medina and could continue to spread the belief in the one god Allah without any interference. It was the beginning of a Muslim empire that would soon spread across the Arabian peninsula and beyond……. 6. What was the Hijrah? Why did it lead to Muhammad ultimately gaining thousands of new followers? 7. How did Muhammad ultimately treat Mecca after he conquered the city? Why do you think he behaved in this way? 8. Concluding Question: Based on what you have learned about Muhammad in this reading, how are his actions and accomplishments similar to those of Jesus? How are they different?