Bedouins of Arabia and Muhammad Notes

BEDOUINS OF ARABIA AND MUHAMMAD NOTES

A. Arabia before Muhammad

1. Place of crossroads.

a. Intersection of three continents.

b. Land and sea routes.

c. People introduced to new products and ideas. (good location for a site of encounter – Mecca).

2. Nomads

a. Tribes offer protection.

3. Bedouins

a. First inhabitants.

b. Camels were very valuable.

c. No strong central government.

3. Towns

a. People were sedentary.

b. Around oases.

c. Caravans travel in and out.

4. Mecca

a. Trade and religious center.

b. Location for the Ka’aba (a shrine).

c. Bedouins did an annual pilgrimage.

5. Quraysh

a. Powerful tribe in Mecca.

6. Muhammad’s Early Life

a. Muhammad born C.E. 570 into Quraysh tribe.

b. Worked for and married Kadija, a wealthy widow.

c. Reputation as a seeker of solitude.

d. Went to a cave to meditate about problems and ideas.

6. Call to Prophethood

a. Muhammad said a supernatural force he called the Angel Gabriel appeared to him in the cave, C.E. 610.

b. Told Muhammad he (Gabriel) was a messenger for God (one god).

7. Message/Teaching of Muhammad

a. Islam = to submit to God.

b. Muslim = a follower of Islam.

c. Qur’an = holy book of Islam; filled with the word of God told to Muhammad.

d. There is only one God. (Allah is Arabic for God.)

e. All believers (Muslims) are equal before God.

f. Judgment Day for all people.

g. Muhammad was the last prophet.

h. People of the Book = Jews and Christians who taught many similar ideas as Muhammad.

8. Hijrah

a. Journey that Muhammad made in C.E. 622 from Mecca to Medina. His life was threatened.

9. Muhammad Returned to Mecca

a. C.E. 630.

b. Destroyed all Bedouin idols (images of their gods) at the Ka’aba.

c. Muhammad dedicated the Ka’aba to Allah.

d. Died C.E. 632.