Muhammad Spreads Islam

Muhammad(570 AD to 632 AD)

Muhammad founded the religion of Islam, but…

He’s NOT the GOD of Islam!

He’s considered a PROPHET

What’s a PROPHET?

Somebody who SPEAKS TO GOD

Here’s the Story…• Muhammad was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 570 AD.• Like all good Arab boys, he became a caravan trader.• Why?

The Silk Road

Because Mecca was close to the Silk Road, for trading!

What other religions do you think he learned about from trading along the Silk Road?

Judaism!

Christianity!

Both Monotheistic religions!

Muhammad’s Religious Experience!

Muhammad experienced a series of visitations from Allah (God).

He recorded all God told him in a book, the Qu’ran.

The Qu’ran is the holy book of the Muslim religion!

The Qu’ran is considered to be the actual word of God and was supposed to never be translated out of Arabic, so that God’s words and meaning might not be changed in any way!

Because of this all Muslims had to learn Arabic!

How’d this new religion thing work out for Muhammad?

• He converted many people to Islam.

• Muhammad became the supreme religious leader, the leader of the government AND the leader of the army!

Mecca became the holiest city in Islam. Mecca during the Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Mecca

What Happened Next???

By 750 AD, the Islamic empire had spread to Spain in the west and India in the east.

Basic Characteristics of Islam

• Islam is based on equality for all• Each Muslim must live according to the 5 Pillars!• Muhammad preached TOLERANCE for other

monotheistic religions• He called Christians and Jews “people of the

book”• Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, but NOT

GOD.

How did the religion of Islam and the language of Arabic unify people within the Islamic Empire?

The Islamic Empire existed until 1919!! (1300 years)