1. The Rise of Mohammedanism Key source: F. W. Mattox, The Eternal Kingdom: A History of the Church of Christ, Delight, Arkansas: Gospel Light Publishing Company, 1961.

2. Mohammed’s Birth and Early Years Mohammed was born in April, 570 A.D. in the city of Mecca, Arabia. His father, Abdullah, died two months before his birth. His mother, Amina, died when he was six years of age. She gave him to his grandfather. Two years later, at his grandfather’s death, he was given to an uncle.

3. Mohammed’s Trade Mohammed’s uncle, a merchant, showed great interest in him by taking him on caravans and teaching him a trade. At twenty-five, he became the chief merchant and camel driver for a rich widow, Khadija. –She wanted him to carry on the business her husband left. –She offered him double wages to conduct a caravan to Syria. –She was so pleased with his work that she gave him double that amount.

4. Mohammed’s Marriage and Vision Khadija fell in love with the handsome Mohammed. –She sent her slave, Maisara, to propose marriage for her. –He accepted the offer. Following the marriage, Mohammed spent a great deal of time in meditation in a cave near Mecca. –He claimed God, through the angel Gabriel, gave him revelations concerning doctrines and precepts that heaven designed for his countrymen. –Though she did not believe him at first, his wife and servant were finally converted.

5. Mohammed’s Religion Mohammed, at thirty-eight, stayed in a cave for two years. –At forty, he assumed the title, Apostle of God, with only his wife, his freed slave and his nephew, Ali, as converts. The leading ideas of his discourses were: –God is one and he the prophet of God sent to declare his will to men –He opposed idolatry

6. Early Religious Work After one year of public work, he had only eight converts. After three years, he announced he would overthrow the 360 idols of Mecca. This created such opposition that he, with about 80 men and 7 women, fled to Medina. –This flight, known as the Hejira, took place on July 16, 622, which became the beginning of the Moslem calendar.

7. Developments at Medina By eloquent preaching, he converted the whole city of Medina, except the Jews, and became the dictator. He set forth a six-fold program. –We will not worship any but the one God. –We will not steal. –We will not commit adultery. –We will not kill our children. –We will not slander. –We will not disobey the prophet in anything that is right.

8. A Growing Following Whole caravans were converted, with all others being killed. –Since anyone who died fighting would have a place in paradise, the men fought valiantly. In 630, he set out against Mecca. –One of the town leaders was captured and converted. –He proclaimed his faith and asked Mohammed not to destroy the city. –He said he would spare the city if they would accept the faith. –Little blood was shed.

9. Mohammed’s Actions Mohammed destroyed all the images of the Caaba and proclaimed the ground between Medina and Mecca holy ground. –No non-believer should put foot on it. He persecuted the Jews and reduced Christians to dependency. He unified Arabia and set the pattern followed by his successors who conquered three continents before fanatical zeal was lost.

10. The Koran The sacred book is the Koran, or “thing read.” It is made up of speeches, statements and prayers of Mohammed. –Some were dictated and some were written from memory. –After his death they were gathered up and arranged according to length. –The book contains many contradictions, but there is no way of separating early teaching from later teaching.

11. Teachings of the Koran The Koran recognizes Adam, Abraham, Moses, Christ and John the Baptist as prophets, but considers Mohammed the last and greatest. –Many ideas are taken completely from the OT, such as the idea of God, the Devil and the creation. –The concept of heaven is that of a continuation of earth with all its sensual pleasures and the absence of evil. –Marrying and childbirth will continue in heaven with each faithful man possessing a harem of beautiful ladies.

12. Obligations There are five obligations each Moslem must assume. –Recite the Creed, “There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is the prophet of God.” –Pray five times a day facing Mecca. –Partake of no food from sun-up till sun-down during the month of Ramadan. –Give alms to the poor. –If at all possible, make a pilgrimage to Mecca during one’s lifetime.

13. Rules and Results Friday is the day for public worship with every Moslem acting as his own priest. There is a strict moral code which allows no gambling or the use of wine. Pork is not to be used as food. No images Children were to reverence their parents.

14. Rules and Results Protection was given to widows and orphans and charity extended to the poor. Kindness was to be shown to slaves and animals. Wives were to be treated as property. The husband was allowed only four wives at a time, though there was no objection to making changes.

15. Rules and Results The heathen who did not accept the new religion were allowed to worship as they pleased so long as they paid the required taxes. –This alone was a great incentive to convert. In less than twenty-five years from the Hejira, the followers of Mohammed had taken control of Egypt, Palestine, Persia and Syria. Within another one hundred fifty years, North Africa and Spain were included.