Download The Birth of Islam

The Birth of Islam
Pgs 286-291
Muhammad
• Born in 570AD in Mecca
• Orphaned at 6, raised by
his Uncle
– Leader of the Qurayrsh
– Very powerful tribe
• Worked leading caravans
across trade routes.
– Known as “Al-Amin” - the
honest
• Married Khadija
– Wealthy widow, had 3
daughters and adopted his
cousin Ali as his son.
Muhammad’s Revelation
• Praying (mediating) in a
cave outside Mecca.
• The angel Gabriel
appears in a dream.
• Gabriel tells Muhammad
that he is a prophet.
• Revealed that there is no
God but Allah.
• Started the religion of
Islam – people who follow
Muhammad were known
as Muslim.
The Revelation
Mecca – Holy City
• A main trading city
• People prayed at the
Kaaba – “cube”
– Square-shaped temple
that holds a sacred
black rock and the
gods & goddesses of
the tribes.
The Religion of Islam
• Muhammad wanted people to
give up their old
gods/goddesses and follow
Allah.
• Started to teach others about
Allah, and people began to
follow his ideas.
• Meccan tradespeople were
angry because they thought
that they would lose business.
• Criticized their way of life.
Hijra
• Meccan leaders were
threatening him,
Muhammed leaves.
• Travels to Medina in 622.
• Religious leader in
Medina.
• The trip from Mecca to
Medina (the hijra) starts
the Islamic calendar.
• Many people started to
follow him in Medina.
Return to Mecca
• Muhammad returns to Mecca with 10,000
followers and takes over the city.
• Smashes the idols in the Kaaba.
The Death of the Prophet
• Muhammad dies in 632 AD after uniting most of
Arabia.
• His followers wrote down his teachings after his
death.
– Called the Quran (Koran, Qur’an)
Quran
• Holy book of Islam
• Contains the
revelations of Allah to
Muhammad AND
• Serves as a guide for
living to the Muslims.
• Final revelations of
Allah.
Five Pillars of Islam
• Five duties of every
Muslim:
– Believe in one God,
Allah
– Pray five times (facing
Mecca) each day
– Give to those in need
– Fasting during
Ramadan
– Go on a hajj
(pilgrimage) to Mecca
at least once.
Islam Grows
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Islam spreads quickly through the Middle East.
5 billion Muslims today
Islam varies from country to country.
No clergy
Ramadan is a month long fast
Mecca
Women in Islam
• In the Quran, and in
Muhammad’s
teachings, women are
equal to men.
• In daily life, women
do not have many
rights.
• Public life is
restrictive. Family life
is more open.