Who is Muhammad?

2. Who is Muhammad?

3. EARLY LIFE • Born in A.D. 570 at Mecca, Arabia • As an orphan, he was raised by his uncle • Became a successful merchant and trader • Married Khadijah and had kids • He was not happy with the life he saw around him

5. The Hills • In 610 A.D. he went to the hills to pray • There he saw an angel • The angel told him to preach Islam • Islam means “surrendering to the will of Allah” • Allah is the Arabic word for “God” • He was the last prophet to be sent by Allah.

7. His Teachings • He told people to destroy statues of the false gods • Worship only Allah, the one true God • All people were created equal • Rich should share their goods • Wealth was not as important as leading a good life • God would reward the good and punish the evil

9. Opposition to Islam • Family members and poor people began believing his message • Wealthy merchants and religious leaders did not like his message • They made his life difficult, beat and tortured followers

10. Hijrah • In 622 A.D., Muhammad and his followers left Mecca • They moved north to Yathrib • This journey became known as the Hijrah • Hijrah means “breaking off relationships” • 622 A.D. became the first year of the Muslim calendar • Yathrib became known as Medina “the city of the prophet” • In 630 A.D., the leaders of Mecca agreed to give Muhammad control of the city • Islam began to spread

13. TEACHINGS OF ISLAM • Islam, Judaism, and Christianity have some beliefs in common • All believe in one God • God has all power • Created the universe • Determines right and wrong • Speaks to people through prophets • Holy scriptures

14. THE QURAN • Muslims wrote down the messages that Muhammad said he received from Allah • These writings became the Quran • The Quran is the holy book of Islam (Bible) • Quran is very similar to the Bible • be honest, good, honor parents, give to the poor • no murder, lying, stealing • rules that apply to daily life • no pork, liquor, gambling • family, marriage, divorce, business practices

15. The Five Pillars Belief: Muslims must declare that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is his prophet. Prayer: Muslims must pray five times a day, facing Makkah Charity: Muslims must give to the poor Fasting: Muslims must not eat from dawn to dusk during the sacred holiday of Ramadan Pilgrimage: Muslims should visit Makkah once in their lifetime

16. Sunna • Customs based on Muhammad’s words and deeds. • The Quran and Sunna covers all areas of daily life • It applies to daily life, business, and government • Quran: your journal • Sunna: customs and laws that we live by after reading about your example in your journal • Example: • “Today I saw a homeless person on the way to work and gave them my lunch” (Journal) • We should all give to the poor and needy (Book of Customs)

19. THE SPREAD OF ISLAM Arabs spread Islam through teaching, conquest, and trade.

20. Life After Muhammad • After Muhammad’s death, Abu Bakr became the first caliph (KAY-luf), the title that Muslims use for the highest leader of Islam. • Caliphs were not religious leaders, but political and military leaders. • The first four caliphs were called the Rightly Guided Caliphs because they tried to follow in Muhammad’s footsteps. • Each of them had a personal connection to Muhammad.

21. THE RIGHTLY GUIDED CALIPHS

22. Expansion • In order to expand their empire, Muslim armies conquered Persia, Syria, Jerusalem, Egypt, and all of southwest Asia.

23. After the First Four Caliphs • The Umayyads, a family of talented military leaders, took control of the empire and ruled from 661 to 750. • They chose the city of Damascus to be their capital, not Makkah. • Muslims began to spread into India and North Africa

25. Why were the Arabs successful? • They also let conquered peoples practice their own religion • Called Christians and Jews “People of the Book” • Non-Muslims were not treated equal, had to pay a special tax