The Middle East Association Presents:Muhammad, The Statesman

Born in Mecca, in the year 570 Father died before his birth Raised by his mother, then grandfather

and then uncle As a teen he worked as a shepherd and

in his twenties he worked for a wealthy business woman, who then proposed to him and they married.

Muhammad was disturbed by the Arabs materialism and idolatry.

Began preaching monotheism and a new moral way of life, at first the message was spiritual .

In 622 He and a few hundred of his followers fled Mecca to Medina.

In Medina he became not just a spiritual leader but this was the first instance of him as a political leader.

Muhammad as a moral reformer Muhammad improved life for the Arabs,

especially the poor, slaves and women Muhammad as a social reformer He set-up a new system of social

security and family structure for his people.

The Constitution of Medina- year 622 The documents main concern was to bring

an end to the bitter tribal fighting amongst the tribes in Medina.

This included Muslim, Jewish and Pagan tribes.

It instituted a number of rights and responsibilities for the Muslim, Jewish, and pagan communities of Medina bringing them within the fold of one community.

Muhammad died in Medina in 632 One hundred years after his death, his

teachings and way of life had spread to corners of Arabia and far off to Indo-China

Conquests of the Persian and Mesopotamia

These conquests brought great freedoms to Jews and Christians in these areas

Some even preferred the rule of the Muslims over that of the Byzantines

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