Islam

• Muhammad is the founder of Islam. he was born in 570 C.E. in Saudia Arabian Peninsula.
• He was born in the city of Mecca, one of the most important trading centers.
• Was born into a tribe called the Quraysh (keepers of the Kaaba).
• Muhammad has no dad and his mom dies at 6 years old.
• His grandpa took care of him until he got sick . His uncles then took care of him.
• His uncles were traders.
• Muhammad became a shepherd and took care of sheeps and goats.
• He then became a trader until the age 25 where he meets a wealthy widow. she was in charge of caravans and asked Muhammad to take care of them. she then asked to marry him and he said yes.
• The Kaaba is a big black box. It has statues of god inside.
• The Silk Road caused the spread of the Islamic religion.
• Silk Road comes from Chang’an, China (Xi’an).
• Some products traded were spices, silk, gun powder, metals, dyes such as purple, jewels and medicine.
• Cippangu (Japan)
• The wealthy widows name is Kadi’Jah.
• Muhammad would go to Mt. Hira to relax in the cold caves, where he gets a message from angel gabriel (a revelation).
• Christianity, Judaism, and zoroastrianism were already around in Persia(modern day Iran).
• Gabriel says to Muhammad “Allah is one” and Muhammad is his profit and that he is one of the last profits.
• Islam is monotheistic
• Suras (revelations) the qur’an is their bible. Also spelled Kor’an.
• Qur’an means reciting.
• God spoke to Gabriel in Arabic
• The qu’ran started with oral tradition. It wasn’t written until Muhammad died.
• Muhammad died in 632 C.E. at 62.
• Islam means obedience
• Muslim means one who obeys
• there are 114 suras
• Even though there is a human dimension and there are differences, it doesn’t mean it’s all wrong. We should have a dialogue about the differences.
• The school of translators started in Toledo Spain.
• Gabriel also tells Muhammad “read” three times then says recite.
• All suras are in Arabic and Muslims believe god speaks Arabic
• If the suras are translated, it’s just an interpretation.
• Qur’an was made 20 years after his death.
• Qur’an is written in terms of length. The long revelations are in the beginning then the shorter ones are towards the end. Its in the order in which muhammad heard from god.
• Muhammad was attacking the gods in the Kaaba because he was told that god is one. He tells the people of Mecca to get rid of everything.
• Muhammad goes to Medina because he was kicked out of Mecca.
• A hajj is a pilgrimage to mecca, in which all Muslims must do at least once.
• The people of Medina worshiped Muhammad because he said that god said that they can defend themselves
• Mecca wins one battle because Muhammad wasn’t following god.
• Muhammad goes back to Mecca and tells them to only put one statue.
• Muslims worship in mosques