Muhammad
Early life
• Born into Quraysh tribe btwn 570-580
• Father died before he was born
• Age 6 – mom dies
• Raised by Uncle Abu Talib
• Worked for and later married Khadija
• 7 children only 1(Fatima) survived
• Liked being by himself
Call to prophethood
• Age 40-in spent time in a cave on
Mount Hira
• A voice (Angel Gabriel) told
Muhammad to recite
Muhammad Spreads the
Word -teachings
• 1. there was only 1 God (Allah) and all
submit to Him
• 2. All believers in God are equal
• 3. rich should share with the poor
• 4. People should live righteously
(good)
• 5. all people face a judgment day
Teachings Cont.
• Companions credited Muhammad
with miracles
– Passed through the 7 levels of heaven
“night journey”
– Brought a spring into Makkah (Mecca)
Angry Makkans
• Preaching angered Mecca
– Wanted to abolish (get rid of) idolatry
– Critical of rich merchants who controlled
most of the money and power in Mecca
Protection for the Prophet
• His powerful and respected family kept
him safe
• After Uncle and wife died fled to
Madinah
Emigration to Madinah
• Traveled to Yathrib
• Journey (hijrah) marks beginning of
Islam/Muslim calendar
Muhammad’s welcome
• Was welcomed by Jews and Arabs
• Thought Muhammad would stop a civil
war
• renamed city Yathrib Madinaht
(Madinah)
• Believers began to call themselves
Muslims (those who submit to God’s
Will)
Conflict in Madinah
• Muhammad wanted new converts
• Some Jewish leaders did not accept
Muhammad as a prophet
• Expelled (kicked out) Jews who
opposed Muhammad
• Muhammad told followers to pray
toward Mecca not Jerusalem
Return to Mecca
• Quraysh
– Became more hostile as more people
became Muslim
• Muhammad’s followers
– Were outnumbered but won the battle of
Badr
Battle of Badr
Outcome
• More battles fought in yrs that followed
• Makkans laid siege on Madinah in 627
• 630 captured Makkah
• Destroyed all idols and pagan relics –
dedicated Kaaba to Allah
• 632 Muhammad's last hajj (pilgrimage)
• Rites and ceremonies of the hajj
became standard practice for Muslims