1. The Origins of Islam
Chapter 4 Section 1 pgs

2. History, Location, and Geography
1) The religion of Islam arose in the harsh climate of Arabia in the AD 600’s and is the world’s second largest faith.
2) Arabia is located south of modern day Iraq and across the Red Sea from eastern Africa.
3) The geography influenced its culture:
Deserts – Empty Quarter and Rub al-Khali and no rivers helped keep foreigners out
Settlements occurred around oases in the Hijaz, mountains near western coast
Rain in modern day Yemen to support agriculture
Trade across the seas with East Africa, India, China

3. Arab Life
4) Arabs practiced two different ways of life in ancient times. Some were nomads and others were sedentary.
5) Bedouins were skilled warriors. They raided other tribes for animals and goods.
Arabia’s main trade route passed through Hijaz on the western coast. Trade brought wealth and travelers. Many Christians and Jews settled in Mecca, the largest city in the Hijaz area

4. Muhummad
6) Muhammad was born around 570 AD in the largest city named Mecca.
7) Muhammad was the first person to preach the religion of Islam. Muslims believe that he was the messenger of God.
8) He married a wealthy, widowed merchant named Khadija, and she helped him prosper in business.
Muhammad was critical of Meccan society due to the greed, corruption, and violence he witnessed. He often retreated to a cave to pray.

5. Muhammad and the Quran
9) Muslims believed that in 610, the Angel Gabriel appeared before Muhammad in the cave and told him to recite a message from God. Over time he received many messages from God.
10) These messages were written down in Islam’s holy book called the Quran.
11) Muhammad began to preach in the streets, and while he respected Christianity and Judaism, he also believed that he had the responsibility of clarifying God’s truth.

6. The Battle for Mecca
12) Muhammad and his followers fled Mecca when they started to oppose his teachings. The Meccans thought the Muslims would anger the gods and take away power, so they began to persecute the Muslims.
13) The move to Medina was called the Hijra, the Arabic word for migration.
Muhammad continued his preaching and gained more followers. The Meccans tried to take over Medina, but after several battles, the Muslims were victorious.
14) Muhammad returned to Mecca as its ruler in 630 AD.
15) The Kaaba became an important place for Muslim pilgrimages.

7. Vocabulary
1) Oasis – place in a desert where water can be found, usually from a spring
2) Bedouin – skilled warriors and Arab nomads that raided other tribes for animals and goods
3) Hijra – Arabic word for migration
4) Kaaba – a place for Muslim pilgrimages, people traveling for religious reasons.

8. Video How Islam Began in 10 Minutes