The Birth of Islam

The Birth of Islam

Essential Questions:Muhammad built an empire that lasted 1200 years!!How did he do it??How did the religion of Islam start?

Muhammad(570 AD to 632 AD)

Muhammad founded the religion of Islam, but…

He’s NOT the GOD of Islam!

He’s considered a PROPHET

What’s a PROPHET?

Somebody who SPEAKS TO GOD

Here’s the Story…• Muhammad was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 570 AD.• Like all good Arab boys, he became a caravan trader.• Why?

The Silk Road

Because Mecca was close to the Silk Road, for trading!

What other religions do you think he learned about from trading along the Silk Road?

Judaism! Christianity!Both Monotheistic religions!

Muhammad’s Religious Experience!He was visited by the angel Gabriel (Jibreel).

Gabriel told him to spread the word of ALLAH, the “one true God.”

Muhammad experienced a series of visitations from Allah (God).

He recorded all God told him in a book, the Qu’ran.

The Qu’ran is the holy book of the Muslim religion!

The Qu’ran is considered to be the actual word of God and was supposed to never be translated out of Arabic, so that God’s words and meaning might not be changed in any way!

Muhammad’s Family Tree (according to Muslims)

Muhammad

How’d this new religion thing work out for Muhammad?

The rulers in Mecca were opposed to monotheistic religions.

WHY???

The town of Mecca was the site of a religious shrine to the polytheistic gods.

This place is called the Ka’bah

Every year there was a pilgrimage and a celebration in Mecca.

Ending the polytheistic religion would end the fun!

What happened to Muhammad?

They ran Muhammad and his followers OUT OF TOWN!

Next stop for Muhammad…

• Medina• He converted many people to

Islam.• Muhammad became the supreme

religious leader, the leader of the government AND the leader of the army!

• 3 powers for 1 person…OUCH!• In 630 AD, when they were strong

enough, they went back to Mecca with their army.

Flash ahead to today: Leaders in Muslim countries tend to be all-powerful, like Muhammad with his 3 powers in one person.

How’d it work out for him this time???

You know we kicked their BUTTS!

The Prophet Muhammad rode into the Ka’bah and

SMASHED the pagan idols

Mecca is now the holiest city in Islam!

Non-Muslims not allowed in Mecca

That’s not the end of the storyBy 750 AD, the Islamic empire had spread to Spain in the west and India in the east.

Question: What do you think was the key to the empire’s success?

Muslim Distribution Today

Final Personal Reflection on Today’s Lecture

How was Muhammad able to build an empire that lasted so long?