Early Muslim Community

1. Early Muslim Community Hijrah (migration of the Prophet to Yathrib (Medinah), marks beginning of calendar (1979=1400 AH – year of the hijrah)

2. Madinah “the city” • 622: the Prophet invited to arbitrate between two feuding tribes in Yathrib (400km north of Makkah) • Unites tribes into new Muslim community, understood as beginning of Muslim history • Islamic commonwealth: headed by a prophet understood to be ruling according to divine scriptures – theocratic state viewed as ideal which many Islamic states have sought to emulate • Jewish community granted religious freedom and equality in return for support of state. • Jewish influences (fast of Day of Atonement becomes fast month of Ramadam). Originally Muslims may have faced Jerusalem for prayer, but eventually this shifted to the Ka’bah in Makkah

3. Makkah • Economic and military pressure on Makkans – Muslims defeat Makkans in the battle of Badr in 624 • Islam spreads quickly throughout Arabia with Makkah conquered definitively in 630 (viewed as God’s victory) • God’s messenger plays role of ruler and military leader • Spends last two years of his life in Medinah, but makes final pilgrimage to Makkah with sacred shrine instituting the ritual • Dies in 632: Within 80 years, Empire extends from southern borders of France through North Africa and the Middle East into Central Asia and India

4. Prophets • Prophetic history: Prophets warn of the need to worship God alone and of moral and religious obligations. God communicates through prophets (scriptures and sacred laws) and does not become incarnate as in Christianity • Beginning with Adam, according to Islamic tradition God sends 124,000 prophets at various times but on 26 are mentioned in the Qur’an by name (mostly biblical figures) • Messengers are prophets sent by God to a specific community to who communicate sacred law (e.g. Moses, Muhammad)

5. Major Prophets • Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad • Focus on miracles of Jesus, asceticism, and devotion to the poor • Jesus declares in the Qur’an: “I shall confirm the Torah that was before me, and will make lawful for you the things which were before unlawful for you.”

6. Muhammad • Described as the seal of the prophets. Understood as receiving the sacred book directly from God – Qur’an – final revelation • Prophets protected from sin and error • Spiritual experiences, including heavenly ascent • After mention of his name: “peace and blessings of God be upon him.”

7. The Qur’an • Muhammad receives revelations over a period of twenty-two years • Revelations eventually take the form of the verses and surahs (chapters of the Qur’an): We (that is God) address you (that is the Prophet) to say… Content almost as long as the New Testament • Qur’an is not meant to be read silently, but rather to be recited/chanted aloud • Role in creating an “ummah” (community)

8. Qur’an: Continued • Muhammad believed to be a prophet who could neither read nor write, but dictates revelations to scribes immediately. Understood to be pure receptacle for the divine Word • Parallel in some senses between the theological function of Christ (logos in Gospel of John) and Qur’an • Importance of Arabic: Translation is considered interpretation • Recited at every major occasion • Calligraphy: Words of Qur’an central motif in religious art – decorates mosques and homes

9. Qur’an Continued • When Prophet dies in 632: Qur’an reportedly in scattered fragments • Task of standard or official translation may have been initiated by Abu Bakr (first caliph or successor [632-34]), but completed under third caliph (Uthman b. Affan [r.644-56]). Generally arranged from longest to shortest chapter (not unified story, but unified message) • Tradition of Islamic commentary – “tafsir”