Download The Prophet Muhammad

The Prophet Muhammad
Arabia Before Muhammad
What do you see here?
What skills would a person need to survive
and prosper in this environment?
A. Makkah
Important trade stop and religious center
of Arabia
People settled there because of the fresh
water well
Location of the Kaaba
Population very diverse: Arabs,
Christians, Jews, etc.
B. Arabs
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Arab (abhar = to move or pass)
Majority of Arabia’s first inhabitants were
Bedouins (nomadic Arabs)
Origins: Africa or Mesopotamia?
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Biblical tradition: Arabs are Semites (descendants
of Noah’s son)
Qur’anic traditiion: Arabs are descendants of
Abraham’s son Ishmael
B. Arabs
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Valued camels and swords
above all else
Had no strong central
government
Practiced animistic
polytheism (many gods)
C. Quraysh
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Powerful local tribe of Arabs
Encouraged tribes to deposit idols in the
Kaaba and protected them for a fee.
Muhammad’s Call to Prophethood
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What do you see here?
What might the geometric shape on the right
represent?
The one on the left?
Any ideas as to why the shapes are there?
Muhammad’s Early Life
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Born into the Hasim family of the powerful
Quraysh tribe sometime between AD 570 and
580
Angels told mother, Amina, to name child
Muhammad (highly praised)
Father, Abdallah, died before Muhammad’s
birth; mother, Amina, died when he was six
Muhammad’s Early Life
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Raised by uncle, Abu Talib
As a young man, he worked for a wealthy
widow, Khadija
Married Khadija; had 7 children (only 1
daughter – Fatima- survived)
Had reputation as a seeker of solitude
The Divine Revelations
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Tradition has it, at the age of 40 Muhammad
was alone in a cave outside Makkah seeking
solitude (which was usual for him) and was
visited by the angel Gabriel
Muhammad was instructed to teach humanity
more about God and how to worship Him.
The Divine Revelations
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Muhammad, like the prophets who preceded
him, taught people to believe in One God (in
Hebrew is “Eloh” and in Arabic is “Allah”).
Muhammad’s miracle was the Qur’an itself,
which Muslims consider to be the final
message from God to humanity.
At first not many believed Muhammad.
The Divine Revelations
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Geometric shapes cover the images of
Muhammad and Gabriel in this picture,
because Muslims believe that depictions of
the prophets of God and other respected
persons are not acceptable and they request
others respect their view on this matter.
Muhammad Spreads the Word of
Allah
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What do you see here?
What do you think the two geometric shapes
on the left represent?
What are the men on the right doing?
Muhammad’s Teaching
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Major points of Muhammad’s public teaching:
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There was only one God and all should submit to
him
All believers in God were equal
The rich should share with the poor
People should live righteously
All people would be subjected to a judgement day
Muhammad’s Teachings
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The Prophet’s companions credited him with
miracles:
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Passed through the seven levels of heaven in the
“Night Journey”(in 619)
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Miraj in Arabic
Gabriel led way - Buraq, the winged horse, carried him
from Makkah to Jerusalem and then to heaven where he
traveled through the 7 levels of heaven meeting Adam,
John, Jesus, Joseph, Idris, Aaron, Moses and Abraham.
Baraq took him to Paradise to meet God
Caused a dry well in Makkah to gush water
Angry Makkans
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Muhammad’s preaching angered many of the
people of Makkah:
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Wanted to abolish idolatry yet most Makkans did
not want to give up their idols
Critical of wealthy merchants who controlled most
of the money and power in Makkah
Protection for the Prophet
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He was able to remain in Makkah because of
his powerful and respected family
The Emigration to Madinah
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What do you see here?
Where in the picture is Muhammad?
Why would it have been necessary for
Muhammad to leave Makkah?
Why would these people be eager to have
Muhammad enter their community?
The Hijrah
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Muhammad decided to leave Makkah after
death of wife,Khadija, and uncle,Abu Talib
Traveled to oasis city of Yathrib
This journey (hijrah, in Arabic) marks the
beginning of Islam and the Muslim calendar
Muhammad’s Welcome
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Prophet was welcomed by Jews and Arabs of
Yathrib
Both groups hoped Muhammad could
prevent a civil war from breaking out
Renamed Yathrib to Madinaht unNabit, which
means “City of the Prophet”
Believers in Islam began to call themselves
Muslims (those who submit to God’s will)
Conflict in Madinah
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Muhammad hoped Islam could win new
converts
Some Jewish leaders did not accept
Muhammad as God’s latest prophet
Jews who opposed Muhammad were
expelled from Madinah
At first, Muhammad told Muslims to pray in
the direction of Jerusalem, but later changed
it to the Kaaba in Makkah
The Return to Makkah
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What do you see on the left?
Where is Muhammad represented in this
picture?
What do you think Muhammad and his
companions are doing?
Why would the group of soldiers want to
attack them?
The Quraysh
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As more people accepted Islam, the Quraysh
became hostile towards the Muslims
Muhammad and his followers
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Muhammad’s army, though tremendously
outnumbered, won the Battle of Badr
Outcomes of the Battle of Badr
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More battles were fought in the years that followed
the Battle of Badr
Makkans laid siege on Madinah in AD 627, in the
Battle of Trench
In AD 630, Muhammad and his supporters captured
Makkah
Idols and other pagan relics were destroyed and the
Kaaba was rededicated to God
In 632, Muhammad led the hajj, commonly called
“the pilgrimage of farewell,” for it was his last
Every detail of his actions on this event was noted
and imitated by his disciples
The rites and ceremonies of hajj became standard
practice for all Muslims
Islam as a Way of Life
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What do you see here?
Which structure is the most important?
What is covering the structure?
Why do you think so many people are
gathered at this location?
Without using force of intimidation, how could
these people be kept orderly and peaceful?
The Five Pillars of Faith
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Muhammad’s companions desired to
maintain an Islamic community
Recorded his revelations into Qur’an; his
personal deeds into the Sunna
Sunna and Qur’an provide guiding rules and
principles for all Muslims
The most basic rules of the Sunna and
Qur’an are summarized in the five pillars
Shahada (profession of faith)
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“There is only one God and Muhammad is his
prophet.”
Salat (daily worship)
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Five times a day
Guided by a precise set of rituals
Zakat (almsgiving)
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2.5% of a Muslim’s income, or 1/40 of all they
possess annually
Sawm (fast)
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From sunrise to sunset during the holy time
of Ramadan
Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)
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Undertaken once in a lifetime
Reminder of equality between all Muslims