Download Muhammad was born on the Arabian peninsula, in the holy city of

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The story of Muhammad
Muhammad was born on the Arabian peninsula, in the holy town of Mecca around 570
C.E. Arabia is mostly desert, and the Arabs were most nomadic herdsmen who were
separated into various tribes. Born into a poor tribe, Muhammad was an orphan by age
six, and he was raised by his uncle, who was a shepherd. At age twenty-five, he married
his boss, a wealthy businesswoman named Khadija, who was fifteen years his senior. He
was upset by the stark difference between wealthy, settled Arab and those that were poor
nomads.
Mecca was bustling town, where camel caravans would stop and trade. It was home to an
important shrine, the Kaaba, which was said to house 360 idols, including images of
Abraham, Mary (Jesus’ mother), and Jesus. Believers think that Abraham’s other son,
Ishmael, traveled with Abraham to Mecca to build it. The structure has been rebuilt
many times; the current Kaaba is large, but it would have been smaller during
Muhammad’s lifetime.
After his marriage, Muhammad would seek thoughtful solace in the hills and caves
around Mecca. One day in 610 CE, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him in a cave.
Gabriel informed Muhammad that Muhammad was the messenger of God and that he
must recite what would be revealed to him. For the next two decades, Muhammad would
hear and repeat these revelations. After his death in 632, his followers wrote down these
recitations, creating the Qur’an
Muhammad began sharing his revelations with any Arabs who would listen. He
preached: there is no God but the one God, Allah. That he, Muhammad, is God’s
messenger and last prophet. That the Day of Judgment is approaching. After death,
believers would go to paradise, while punishments were waiting for nonbelievers. These
concepts are at the heart of Islam, which means “submission” (to the will of God). Its
followers are Muslims, “those who submit.”
A Growing Faith
The first adherents were young men. The revelations recited by Muhammad were often
specifically directed against the most powerful clans, particularly in the direct commands
to redistribute wealth. Because of this opposition to the wealthy clans, Muhammad's new
religion largely appealed to the unfortunate of Mecca: foreigners who were not protected
by any clan, members of poor clans, and the children of the wealthiest clans who had
fallen out of favor or somehow lost their inheritance.
Give to the near of kin his due, and also to the needy and the wayfarers. Do not
squander your wealth wastefully; for those who squander wastefully are Satan's
brothers, and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord (17:26 - 27)
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Charity is meant only for the poor and the needy and those who are in charge
thereof, those whose hearts are to be reconciled; and to free those in bondage, and
to help those burdened with debt, and for expenditure in the way of Allah and for
the wayfarer. This is an obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
(9:60)
He left Mecca, and traveled to Medina, an important moment called the hegira. He began
with raids on Meccan trading caravans. Battle with the Meccans was inevitable, and in
624, Muhammad, with only 300 men, defeated a Meccan force of over 900 men. He was
a disenfranchised son of a poor clan. He had received messages from God and established
a new religion. Cast out from his clan's protection, he fled to Medina where his religion
grew quickly. He unified the warring tribes, and many converted to Islam. Muhammad
was likely a profoundly charismatic man and was the undisputed core of revelation, as
well as being a keen military leader. However, he was also humble; he lived simply with
in wives in a clay home, eating simple food.
There was conflict after Muhammad’s death. Although he had bequeathed a religion on
his people and had brilliantly conquered and ruled over an Arabian unity founded in the
city of Mecca, he left no political mechanism in place for either political or religious
succession. Who would rule in his place? Who could keep the alliances together? Most
importantly, what would happen to the religion he founded? Since Muhammad was a
source of constant revelation, what would happen to the Islamic world when cast adrift
from the source of their religious ideas and revelation?
Building an Islamic Empire
The Arabs, ruled by leaders called caliphs, now began a dazzling set of conquests. The
Muslim soldiers were expert riders on horse and camels, and brilliant fighters. Within
fifteen years, they conquered Egypt, which was part of the Roman Empire, and the
Persian Empire (now Iran).
The Muslims were not fanatics, bent on winning souls. Even so, many millions of the
people whom the Arabs conquered did convert to Islam. They may have reasoned that
Allah must be strong indeed if His people won so many wars. The Qur’an described a
beautiful life-after-death for the faithful.
Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among
their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring: and angels shall enter unto them
from every gate (with the salutation): Peace unto you for that ye persevered in
patience! Now how excellent is the final home!"(Qur'an 13: 23-24)
For those that did not convert, Muslim conquered collected taxes on non-believers, which
may have been another factor.
By the early 700s, the Muslims had conquered much of Northern Africa and Central Asia
(all the countries ending in “stan”). And they had pushed into Spain and ruled Spain for
hundreds of years.
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ISLAM/MUHAM.HTM
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