Background Arabian Peninsula – Southwest Asia, AKA the Middle East Serves as a bridge between Africa, Asia, and Europe, allowing goods and ideas to be shared.

Background Mostly desert & most people are nomadic “Bedouins” were organized into clans – tribes and groups that provided security and support in the harsh conditions

Background By the early 600s, many Arabs settled in an oasis or market town Permanent trade routes develop between the Byzantine and Persian Empires & along the Silk Roads Traded spices, incense, silk, and other products Camels used to transport goods

Revelation City of Mecca was along the trade routes Traders would stop at the Ka’aba, adding idols to be worshipped along with many gods and spirits

The Kaaba (Al Kaaba Al Musharrafah - The Holy Kaaba) at the center of Islam's most sacred mosque, Al-Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca. It is the most sacred site in Islam and is considered the "House of Allah (God)" and has a similar role to the Tabernacle and Holy of Holies in Judaism. Wherever they are in the world, Muslims are expected to face the Kaaba when performing salat (prayer). From any point in the world, the direction facing the Kaaba is called the qibla.

Revelation Born in Mecca around 570; little known of his early life No formal education Worked as a trader for a wealthy widow caravan owner, Khadijah Muhammad’s parents were not poor, he born into a prominent clan of Quraysh tribe in a Bedouin encampment where he spent the first 6 years of his life Father died before he was born and mother died shortly after his birth, adopted by his uncle.

Revelation Muhammad became distressed with the idol worship of Arabs, so he began to fast and meditate about the fate of his people  At about 40, Muhammad heard the voice of the Angel Gabriel telling him that there was only one God, Allah Muhammad believed he was the last and the greatest in a series of prophets - starting 1st with Abraham and including Moses & Jesus Picture: Jabal al-Nour “The Mountain of Light“ is where Muhammad is believed to have received the first revelation of God through the Archangel Gabriel.

Muhammad is a descendant of Abraham, and his beliefs are based on Abraham’s prophecy Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all Abrahamic faiths, and their “God” is the same Picture: 1787 Ottoman Turkish map of the Great Mosque of Mecca and related religious sites

Muhammad began to preach Islam in 613, but was met with hostility and rejection in Mecca Many thought it would hurt Mecca as a trading and pilgrimage center  Muhammad left Mecca in 622 and began the Hijra, or “flight” to Yathrib, which was renamed Medina Hijrah

Return to Mecca In Medina, Muhammad joined Arabs, Muslims and Jews together into one community, or “umma.” In 630, Muhammad led 10,000 followers to return to Mecca Many Meccans converted to Islam and join the umma.