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Muhammad & the Birth of Islam
Directions:
Today we will learn the history of Muhammad and the birth of Islam. Create a
short skit with your partners to teach the class your section of the story. Elect one group
member to be the narrator, who will read the information aloud while the rest of your group
acts out the story; no dialog is needed.
1
By the Middle of the 500s, three major oasis cities developed on the Arabian Peninsula. They
were Yathrib, which today is Medina, Ta’if, and Mecca. Of the three, Mecca was the largest and
the richest. Mecca was supported by trade and religion. Traders stopped there on their way
north to Constantinople. Arab pilgrims, or travelers to a religious shrine, came there to
worship. Arabia’s holiest shrine, the Kaaba stood in the center of Mecca. It was believed that a
black stone fell from paradise and was set in one of its walls. Muslims believe the Kaaba was
first built by Adam, the first man. Later, Abraham and his son Ishmael rebuilt it. They had it
dedicated to the worship of one God. Eventually it was filled with idols that represented the
gods and goddesses of different tribes.
2
In 570, Muhammad was born and he was raised by an uncle who was a trader. He mastered
the skills of leading caravans. Writings say that his skills caught the eye of a wealthy widow and
merchant, Khadija. On her behalf, Muhammad would travel to the Fertile Crescent to trade
goods. When he returned from his journey, they were married. Muhammad’s marriage to
Khadija gave him wealth and respect in Mecca.
According to Muslim beliefs, Muhammad had a revelation or vision in 610 CE. It is said that he
3
heard the voice of the Angel Gabriel telling him to preach about God. He concluded that there
was only one God, Allah, the same god as the God of Jews and Christians. When Muhammad
told Khadija what happened she went to see a holy man hoping he could explain it to her. The
Muhammad & the Birth of Islam
Directions:
Today we will learn the history of Muhammad and the birth of Islam. Create a
short skit with your partners to teach the class your section of the story. Elect one group
member to be the narrator, who will read the information aloud while the rest of your group
acts out the story; no dialog is needed.
holy man told her that the angel speaking to Muhammad was the same one who had visited
Moses and the other prophets
4
Muhammad’s teaching greatly upset the leaders of Mecca. At first they laughed at him but they
eventually felt threatened. The leaders felt that if people stopped coming to Mecca, the city’s
economy would be ruined and the leaders would no longer be rich. They started to persecute
Muhammad and his followers.
5
In 620, Muhammad preached to a group of pilgrims from Yathrib. They invited him to come
there and be their leader. During the summer of622, he and several hundred followers fled
from Mecca to Yathrib. The year 622 was called the year of the Migration and the city was
renamed for the city of the prophet, Medina. He became a successful leader in the city of
Medina.
6
Muslim scholars say that in 624 Muhammad led attacks on Meccan caravans, cutting off Mecca’s
source of income. In 630, he signed a peace treaty and triumphantly entered their home city,
Mecca. Muhammad forgave those who persecuted him. Within 2 years all the tribes of Arabia
declared their faith in Islam and their loyalty to Muhammad. In 632 Muhammad died.