THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAM

Muhammad ibn Abdullah

• Was a merchant born in 170 C.E.
• Got kicked out of Mecca because they rejected his religion.
• He didn't plan to start a new religion, but to change others.
• Believed he was the last prophet or the seal of prophets.
• Believed that idols that worshiped other gods were bad, and the people in Mecca disagreed with him.

Spiritual Transformation of Muhammad

• Muhammad believed that only one god, Allah, rules the universe.
• Allah would soon bring his judgement to the people.
• Told to spread his knowledge by the archangel Gabriel.

Mecca

• A city with many merchants and is the link between China and India and is between Persia and Byzantine.

The Hijra

• The pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina and the year that started the Islamic calendar.

MEDINA

• Followers organized into ummah
• Prayed daily and fought to spread Islam

Muhammad's Return To Mecca

• Make pilgrimage to Mecca then conquer it, removing all idolatry but leave the Kaa'ba.

THE KAA'BA

• Large building originally made to worship other gods, but now is to worship Allah in order to keep the structure.
• Becomes part of the pillars of faith (pray 5 times facing the kaa'ba and make pilgrimage there at least once).
• 5 pillars: Believe in God (only Allah), pray 5 times facing the kaa'ba, give alms, fast in Ramadan, and make pilgrimage to Mecca.