Islam’s Historical Background

Introduction This presentation includes: Muhammad’s early life and his “call” Activities in Mecca, Hijra and Medina Muhammad’s rule in Mecca, completion of the Qur’an. The early caliphs, power struggles, the Sunni vs. Shi’a split, the growth of the Islamic empire. The Umayyad & Abbasid caliphates.

Muhammad’s Early Life Born 570 CE in Mecca, Arabia. Taken into care by his uncle following the deaths of his father, mother and grandfather. Worked as a shepherd for his uncle, then accompanied him on trading routes. Never attended school. Became known as “The Trustworthy”. Became aware of different religions. Age 25 – married his employer, Khadijah. They had six children – two sons and four daughters. Muhammad played a role in the civic life of the city. Assisted the dispute of who should set the Black Stone in place after the Ka’abah caught fire.

The First Revelation Age 40, 610 CE – Muhammad went to a cave on Mount Hira. Muhammad was troubled by Mecca’s new-found wealth and the idolatry. He thought about creation, purpose of life and good versus evil. He saw visions of the angel Gabriel, who told him to preach the word of Allah to the world. Muhammad rushed home and told his wife about the revelation. Khadijah was the first to convert to Islam. Muhammad did not speak of the revelation outside of his family for several years. 1. Studies of Religion, Louise Fleming, p145.

Founding of Islam & The Qur’an After several revelations, Muhammad met with Khadijah’s cousin, Waraquh, who was Christian. Came to interpret the messages as those sent by God to the Jews and Christians. Regarded himself a Prophet after these findings. Quickly told friends, who accepted his Prophet claim, and joined him in worship and prayers. 613 CE – Muhammad began preaching publicly. Gained followers, including sons and brothers of richest men in Mecca. The revelations continued for 23 years, each revelation being a painful experience for Muhammad. These revelations were to be the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam. Muhammad was not learnt in reading and writing, therefore he recited to those who were literate and they wrote it down. The Qur’an was compiled 20 years after Muhammad’s death.

Muhammad’s Preaching & Pilgrimage Muhammad began preaching that idolatry was the greatest sin of Islam to the Meccans, who were intolerant of the judgment of their gods. Muhammad was persecuted and tortured, along with his followers. Muhammad endured this persecution for 13 years, losing his beloved Khadijah and Abu Talib along the way. The Prophet left Mecca, trying to make a fresh start in the town of Taif, but he was rejected. He was eventually invited to move to Yathrib with followers in 622 CE, after discovering that the Quraysh tribe were planning to kill him. Yathrib changed its name to Madinat al-Nabi (The Town of the Prophet), now shortened to Medina. Muhammad’s move from Mecca to Medina is known as the Hijra. Muhammad became the leader of Medina and created a “constitution to unite all the disputing tribes and factions.” 2 2. Studies of Religion, Louise Fleming, p146.

The Wars Muhammad wished desperately for peace, but attacks from the Quraysh tribe meant that he had no choice but to take part in warfare. Won the Battle of Badr in 624 CE, lost the Battle of Uhud in 625 CE. In both cases, Mecca attacked Medina. These battles resulted in the rules of war and treatment of prisoners to be compiled, known as the rules of jihad (meaning ‘direct struggle’). Jihad is referred to as fighting for defensive reasons and justice only, not war of aggression or be used to oppress, either politically or religiously (and has come to be misunderstood in Western society this century).

The Wars (cont.) 627CE – an army advanced on Medina, assisted by a Jewish tribe. Muhammad’s forces were victorious, Muhammad agreeing to spare them if they repented and agreed to live by Muslim law. They refused, thus having their own law applied to them and were killed CE – Muhammad and a large number of followers set for Mecca unarmed. Negotiated the Treaty of Hudybia with the Quraysh tribe, who allowed them to visit tribal holy places (amongst other things). The Meccans attacked one of the tribes after repeated violations of the Treaty. Muhammad gave the Meccans an ultimatum – respect the Treaty or declare it null and void. The Meccans decided on the latter.

The Prophet’s Final Pilgrimage Muhammad organised an army in Medina to go to Mecca and they conquered the city in 630CE. Muhammad went to the Ka’abah and circled it seven times. He then entered the shrine and destroyed all the idols. Muhammad returned to Medina, and in 632CE, he made his only true pilgramage to the Ka’abah shrine, known as the Hajjat ul-Wida or Final Pilgrimage. During this, the rules of the Hajj were given to Muhammad. Only Muslims were allowed into the city of Mecca. Muhammad delivered his Final Sermon to 124,000 Muslims in the valley of Arafat. Muhammad became ill and at the age of 63, in 632CE, he died. Buried in Aisha’s (one of his wives) rooms – now a shrine and part of the modern mosque at Medina.

The Caliphs ‘Caliph’, the English form of Arabic word Khalifa, short for Khalifatu Rasulil-lah, meaning “Successor to the Messenger of God.” Caliphs who truly followed in Muhammad’s footsteps are called ‘The Rightly-Guided Caliphs’. There are only four of these Caliphs, all of them closest companions to Muhammad. Lived simple lives, and strove hard for the religion of God. They were one with the people, kind and merciful. The later Caliphs assumed manners of kings and emperors. The mission of Muhammad (and therefore the Rightly-Guided Caliphs) was not political, social or economic reform, only to deliver the message of God to the world.

The Four ‘Rightly Guided’ Caliphs Abu Bakr (632CE to 634CE) –First adult male convert. –Father-in-law of Aisha –Companion of Muhammad on the hijra –Had been asked by Muhammad to lead prayer when Muhammad himself was too ill. –Known as As-Siddiq, ‘Witness to the Truth’. –Honest, compassionate leader. –Established Muslim domination in Arabia. –Nominated Umar al-Khattab as his successor.

The Four ‘Rightly Guided’ Caliphs Umar al-Khattab (634CE to 644CE) –Good administrator, political leader and military general. –Caliphate was spent in warfare. –Conquered Syria and part of Egypt & Mesopotamia. –Assassinated by a Persian Christian slave. –Great religious splits after Umar’s death.

The Four ‘Rightly Guided’ Caliphs Uthman bin Affan (644CE to 656CE) –Controversy began with the appointment of Umar, as many believed that Ali bin Talib, Muhammad’s cousin and husband of his daughter Fatimah, should be the new caliph. –Member of the Meccan Umayyads, had been a husband of two of Muhammad’s daughters. –Chosen by a group of six people. –Gentle, generous and enterprising leader. –Promoted too many of his own relatives. –Eventually murdered by a group of Ali’s followers.

The Four ‘Rightly Guided’ Caliphs Ali bin Talib (656CE to 661CE) –Known for his bravery, humility, unworldliness and literary expression. –Faced powerful enemies, such as the Umayyad governor of Syria, Muawiyah. –Aisha opposed him because he did not seek the killer of Uthman. –Went to war with Mawiyah and his armies. –Agreed to arbitration. –Muawiyah became the next caliph.

The Sunni and the Shi’a Split Sunni –The Sunni Muslims make up most of the Islamic population. –Believe Abu Bakr to be the legitimate successor to Muhammad. Shi’a –The Shi’ites were opposed to Ali’s standing down. Were known as the Kharijites, then formed the Shi’at Ali (Party of Ali and his descendants) when Muawiyah’s son, Yazid, became caliph, and not Ali’s son Hussain. –680CE – Battle of Karbala, split the Muslim community into the Sunni and the Shi’ite.

In Conclusion… Like all world religions, Islam has an extensive history, despite being the youngest worldwide religion. Islam is not an evil religion, but like all religions, evil people are allowed to corrupt it, making it a widely misunderstood faith. By looking at the history, we’ve discovered that all dynasties have their power struggles with the world, Westernised civilisation fails to understand the concepts behind Islam and therefore brand it as heresy. THE END