Download Slide 1 - Episcopal Academy, The

Chapter 4 –
Muhammad
and the Nation
of Islam
Mr. Gibbs
Winter 2007
Founding of Islam
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Monotheistic
Only one God – “Allah”
OT and NT are revelations of God
Jesus is not the son of God – a prophet
Muhammad – last and most complete
Koran – a collection of God’s teachings –
as revealed to Muhammad
Muhammad’s Birthplace
• Mecca
• already a religious and trading center prior
to Muhammad’s birth
• Kaaba
• Yemen to Syria
• International crossroads – goods and
ideas
Life and times
• Born in Mecca 570 A.D.
• Early life
– Cultural “Religious” Exchange
• Marriage
– Children
• 611 A.D. first revelation
– Ramadan
Preachings
• Oneness of God
• Evil of worshipping Idols
• Judgement Day
• # of followers began to grow
Problems
• Early success = hatred
• Wealthy merchants and town leaders
• $$$
Solution
• 622 A.D. - fled from Mecca
• Headed for Medina
• Called the “hijra” (HIJ-rah)
Happy Home
• In 622, Muhammad and his few hundred
followers left Mecca and traveled to Yathrib, the
oasis town where his father was buried. The
leaders there were suffering through a vicious
civil war, and they had invited this man well
known for his wisdom to act as their mediator.
Yathrib soon became known as Medina, the City
of the Prophet. Muhammad remained here for
the next six years, building the first Muslim
community and gradually gathering more and
more people to his side.
Islamic Dating Systems
• After the Hijra
• A new era – the Islamic calendar starts
here – in 622 AD
• AH after the Hijra
Muhammad
• Supreme judge
• Ruler
• Commander in Chief
– Led raids vs. caravans into Mecca
– Battle of Badr – 300 vs 1000 – a sign of God’s
support
630 AD
Muhammad conquered Mecca
Smashed idols set up around the Kaaba
Continued to gain followers
Set up a code of conduct for Muslims
Good website: Timeline of Muhammad’s life
http://www.pbs.org/muhammad/timeline_html.shtml
Kaaba
5 Pillars of Israel
• 5 main duties of a Religious Muslim
• Given in order of importance
– Shahala
– Salat
– Sawm
– Zakat
– Hajj
• What is a “pillar”?
Shahada
• A statement of faith
• Most basic principle of Islamic Faith
• There is no God but God, and Muhammad
is the Messenger of God”
Salat
• “Prayer”
• Kneel, face Mecca, pray – 5 times a day
• Muezzin – calls them to prayer from the
top of the minaret
• Wherever they are
• Special rug or mat, used only for prayer, or
in a “clean place”
Sawm
• “Fasting”
• Ramadan – the month when God revealed
himself to Muhammad
• Dusk until dawn
• End of day: great meals, groups, family,
friends
• End of month: large festive holiday
Zakat
• “charity”
• Those less
fortunate need to
be helped
• Duty for Muslims
to give a % of
income to charity
Hajj
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“pilgrimage”
Once a lifetime: take a trip to Mecca
Mecca – birthplace pf Muhammad
Kaaba – (KAH-buh) – large cube shaped
structure – housing shrines, a sacred
black rock, and covered with a special
black cloth
• located in the center of the great Mosque
The Koran
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Collection of Muhammad’s revelations
God – Gabriel – Muhammad
Not written down until after 632 AD
Completed circa 652
“recite”
114 chapters
Al-Fatiha
• “The opening”
• “the essence of the Koran”
• No business or contract is done without
reciting this
• First line of every book, walls, houses,
shops, cars,