Muhammad Flashcards
Orphaned
Father died 6 months before birth, mum died when he was 6, grandfather died when he was 8. Raised by his uncle Abu Talib a wealthy merchant
Muhammad worked:
Caravan trade and business merchant
Married
Khadijah- 15 yrs + widower
Had 2/3 sons and 4 daughters, only Fatima survived longer than him.
Disturbed by changes in Makka:
- semi Rural to commercial
- polytheistic
- material possessions and idols
- divide between poor and rich
First revelation:
during Ramadan at Mt Hira 610 CE while meditating on Meccan changes. Visited by Jibril who put “words on his lips for proclamation”
(Believers wife, khadijah, Ali)
Controversy
- attacks on polytheism
- attacks on attitudes
- support of poor and taxes
- threat to rulers of Makka-> relied on pilgrimage to Makka
Night journey
620CE invited to be mediator in Medina (migration known as Hijira) Jibril took him to Jerusalem to the “dome of the rock” and to heaven past all the other prophets to God
Formation of Islam
Move to Mecca 622ce
Developed from a preacher to a political leader
Turned medina into a theocracy- Allah as ruler and m as interpreter of gods will
Prohibits:
Idols Sexual immorality Drunkeness Gambling Disadvantageous marriage and inheritance laws
Battles
1st battle of Badr 624 CE small band of Muslims defeated large army, plus three more successful battles. Followers saw this as evidence that Angels were fighting on the true Muslim side
Death
Died after a short illness in 624
Mecca captured
630 CE idols removed, Makka became holy city of Islam
Model for Muslim life:
- surrendered to will of Allah
- respect for prophet does not become worship
- last and greatest, ‘seal’ of prophets
- Hadith and Sunna used to learn from wisdom of the words and actions of m
- wise and capable leader
- person devoted to prayer and spiritual searching
- fearless preacher
- under his leadership Muslims had many strong characteristics: integrity, sexual morality, just and fair dealings, care for the poor
Born
Into Quraysh Tribe 570 CE
