The Birthplace of Islam MECCA AND YATHRIB The Birthplace of Islam
Middle East: Physical Geography
Middle East: Agriculture
Arabian Peninsula Jazirat al-’Arab
Arabian Peninsula: Modern States and Cities
Mecca 1945
Mecca 1850
The Kaaba (Contemporary)
The Kaaba (19th Century)
Al-Madina Yathrib Oasis Madinat al-Nabi Map 1946
Medina ca. 1945
Madina-Mt Uhud
Madina: Mosque of the Prophet ca. 1945
Madina: Mosque of the Prophet contemporary
Madina: Mosque of the Prophet contemporary (aerial)
Muhammad’s Life Key themes and problems What do we really know? The problem of sources. The Qur’an The biography composed by Ibn Ishaq (704-767) A weird “document”: the so-called Constitution of Medina
Key themes and problems Muhammad’s Arabia: oasis settlers and bedouins societies based on lineage Contacts with the outside world: Rome, Iran, Ethiopia, Indian Ocean basin In short a classic borderland
Middle East: Physical Geography
Muhammad’s Life: the traditional chronology 570 birth in Mecca: Father died before birth, mother soon after. Raised first by his grandfather, then (from age six) by his paternal uncle Abu Talib. 595 marriage to Khadija, a widow and successful merchant 610 first revelations, in cave on Mt Hira outside Mecca 614 public proclamation of the new message
Life of Muhammad (2) 619 death of Abu Talib; senior members of clan of Hashim refuse to protect him 622 HIJRA: Muhammad and his followers migrate to oasis town of Yathrib (later Medina) New confederation (UMMA) of believers established on basis of a formal compact: Meccan refugees, Medinan allies, Jewish clans in Medina as client members. Muhammad, as prophet, head of the Umma Confederation bound by religion, not kinship
Life of Muhammad (3) 624-630 War against Quraysh of Mecca Crisis points: Badr, Uhud, Trench, Hudaybiya 630: Occupation of Mecca 524-627 Conflict with the Jewish clans of Medina 628-632 Muhammad establishes paramountcy over oasis settlements and bedouin tribes of West Arabia, Yemen to Aqaba