How do we know what we know about Muhammad and early

Muslims?

Task 1: Looking at the Historical Documents about Muhammad

Directions: Read the excerpts below and respond to the questions.

Where do we find most of the information about Muhammad and early Muslims?
Much of what we know about Muhammad and the early days of Islam comes from three sources:
● Qur’an: word of God as revealed to Muhammad
● Hadith: the recorded sayings and actions of Muhammad
● Sira: biographies of the prophet

Quran The Qur’ān literally means "the recitation" and it is the central religious text or
Scripture of Islam. Muslims believe it to be verbatim the word of Allah,
revealed to Muhammad by Gabriel over a period of 23 years between 610
and 632 C.E. Tradition says that Muhammad recited the content to his
companions, some of whom were later permitted to record verses. This
exercise was often repeated to ensure accuracy of transmission. However,
no single copy existed during his lifetime as those verses that were recorded
were written on a wide variety of materials.

Muslims view the Qur'an as God's final revelation and complete message to
humanity. Many events from Jewish and Christian scriptures are retold,
sometimes in distinctive ways, while other events are referred to obliquely.
11th-century North African Quran The Qur’an informs Muslim conduct, law, faith and practice across the whole
in the British Museum spectrum of religious and dailyl life.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran#/media/File:IslamicGall
eryBritishMuseum3.jpg Source: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Quran_(Koran)

Hadith Hadith are the recorded sayings and actions of Muhammad.

Each hadith is based on two parts, a chain of narrators reporting
so that the reader knows who is telling the story and the text
describing Muhammad’s actions or words. Individual hadith are
classified by Muslim clerics and jurists as authentic or weak
Gharib al-Hadith, by Abu `Ubayd because there was concern over people fabricating or making up
al-Qasim b. Sallam al-Harawi (d.
stories about Muhammad. There is no overall agreement on
223/837). The oldest known dated
Arabic manuscript on paper in which Hadith represent the authentic sayings and actions of
Turkey libraries (dated 319 (931 Muhammad.
AD) Different groups and different individual scholars may classify a
Source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gharib_al-Hadith- hadith differently. The hadith literature was distributed after the
page0019.jpg
death of Muhammad. Unlike the Qur’an, the Hadith is not a
direct revelation and they were not compiled by a central
authority. The Hadith were evaluated and gathered into large
collections during the 8th and 9th centuries.
Adapted from: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Muhammad#The_Hadith_Literature

Sira Sira are traditional Muslim biographies of Muhammad. The

earliest surviving biographies are the Life of the Apostle of God,
by Ibn Ishaq (d. 768), edited by Ibn Hisham (d. 833); and al-
Waqidi's (d.
822) biography (sira) of Muhammad. Ibn Ishaq wrote his
biography some 120 to 130 years after Muhammad's death.
 What can historians learn from the Qur’an, Sira What limits do the the Qur’an, Sira and Hadith
and Hadith? have as a historical source?

Even though there are limitations to the Qur’an, Sira and Hadith as a historical source, why do you
think historians continue to use these texts as a source of information about early Muslims?

How can we place the origins of Islam in context with other events in
the world at the time?

Task 2: Read about the most significant events in the beginnings of Islam and create a parallel
timeline.

The history of the Islamic Faith is an incredible story. From small, but dedicated, origins, the faith
spread rapidly until the empire around Islam was bigger than the Roman Empire. People in the West
should not allow themselves to be ignorant about Islam (which literally means Peace, surrender of
one's will to God). One in five people in the world is a Muslim. It is the world’s fastest growing religion
- by the year 2000, for example, Islam had become the second largest religion in America.

The Prophet Muhammad

The Vision in the Cave

Muhammad was born in Mecca in Saudi Arabia in 570 CE. Orphaned as a child, Muhammad spent
several years among the Bedouins of the desert. He was a deeply spiritual man, and often spent time
in meditation in a cave on Mount Hira. It was here, in 610 CE that he was visited by the angel Gabriel
who ordered him to "recite." Once Gabriel mentioned the name of Allah (Arabic for “the sole god”),
Muhammad began to recite words which he came to understand were the words of God.

The Qur'an

During the rest of his life Muhammad continued to receive these revelations. The words were
remembered and recorded, and form the text of the Holy Qu'ran, the Muslim scripture. The Koran is
composed of 114 chapters or Suras. Unlike the Christian Bible, The Qu’ran is believed to be the
actual word of god as revealed by God Mohammed.
Preaching

Realizing that God had chosen him as his messenger Muhammad began to preach what God had
revealed to him. He started to preach in Mecca, the town in which he had grown up. Many rich people
in Mecca disliked what Muhammad had to say. Because of the Ka’ba, Mecca was an important
pilgrimage town that charged worshipers a fee to enter the city. Muhammad’s message threatened
this valuable source of income for the Quraysh tribe. Additionally, he opposed the worshipping of
idols and said that it was wrong to be greedy.

Poorer people in Mecca soon started to believe in Muhammad and soon there was a small group of
Muslims following Muhammad.

The Hijrah

Facing increasing opposition in Mecca, Muhammad, concerned for the safety of his followers and
himself, escaped to Medina in 622. In Medina people were much more welcoming to Muhammad and
the first Muslim community was established. In fact, the community he established in Medina was
more like a mini empire than a simple religious group.

This journey from Mecca to Medina is called the Hijrah (migration) and the event was seen as so
important for Islam that 622 is the year in which the Islamic calendar begins.

The Return to Mecca

Within ten years Muhammad had gained so many followers that he was able to return to Mecca and
conquer it as the general of a powerful army. His people destroyed the idols in the Ka’ba and
established a Muslim community that was both a powerful religious and political force. From this time
on he was generally accepted as the true final Prophet of God. Muhammad continued to lead his
community both spiritually and in earthly matters until his death in 632.

Assignment: Parallel Timeline

A parallel timeline shows links between cultural or geographic groups. You will be creating a
parallel timeline comparing Muhammad's life from 570 CE (Muhammad's birth) to 632 CE
(Muhammad's death) with other events that were occurring at the same time outside of the
Arabian Peninsula. These other events should be related to one other person, culture, or
geographic region of your choosing. This can be from any continent, so perhaps try
something you are not very familiar with.

Requirements:

 Use this website to create your timeline (If you have any issues using it, just do it using
Word or google docs).:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/
 Choose a minimum of six events on each portion of the timeline (six for Muhammad,
and six for the other person, culture or geographic region.)
 Plot the events near the appropriate dates on the timeline and summarize the events in
your own words (around 50 words each).
 Use three visuals for events relating to Muhammad, and three for the other portion of
the timeline. The visuals need to show a clear connection to the events they represent.
 Send your timeline to my email: mdean@aosr.org when you are done.
What are the most significant events in the life of Muhammad?
Task 3: Read and watch the video clips from The Message. Answer the questions that follow.
2. Muhammad’s Early Life

Watch the excerpt of The Message and respond to the questions. (02:26-04:00)
Context: The film, The Message is a 1976/1977 film and Quranic epic directed by Moustapha Akkad. It
chronicles the life and times of Muhammad and serves as an introduction to early Islamic history. In
accordance with Muslim beliefs regarding depictions of Muhammad, he was not depicted on-screen nor
was his voice heard because Islamic tradition generally forbids any direct representation of religious
figures.

02:26 Why will Prophet Muhammad’s face not

be shown in this film?

570 C.E. | Born approximately in 570 CE in the Arabian city of Mecca,

Muhammad was orphaned at an early age. He was raised under the care of his
paternal uncle Abu Talib. After his childhood, Muhammad primarily worked as a
merchant.
03:30 How long after Jesus’ time was
Muhammad born?

Pre-Islamic Arabia gods or goddesses were viewed as protectors and their spirits were
associated with sacred trees, stones, springs and wells. The Kaaba shrine in Mecca
housed 360 idols.
02:45-3:25 What was the name of the city
Muhammad was born in? Were the
people there monotheistic or
polytheistic? How do you know?

3. The Revelation in Cave Hira

Watch the excerpt of The Message and respond to the questions. (10:30-11:50)

595 C.E. | Muhammad, a merchant, meets a rich merchant named Khadijah. She was a
wealthy widow and their marriage improved Muhammad’s status in society. Muhammad begins to
occasionally retreat to a cave named Hira in the mountains for several nights of seclusion and
prayer to meditate on many of the problems he saw in Mecca.

610 C.E. At the age of 40, Muhammad is visited by the angel

Gabriel while on retreat in a cave (Hira) near Mecca. The angel
recites to him the first revelations of the Quran and informs him that
he is God's prophet. According to Muslim belief, the angel Gabriel
ordered him to:

Recite in the name of thy lord who created,

Created man from a clot;
Recite in the name of thy lord,
Who taught by the pen,
The cave Hira in the mountain where,
Taught man what he knew not.
according to Muslim belief, Muhammad
received his first revelation.
Source: This was considered the first revelation of the Qur’an.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad#/medi
a/File:Cave_Hira.jpg

10:30-11:50 According to the film, what did Angel Gabriel say to Muhammad in the cave?

How does Muhammad respond?

4. Muhammad Begins Spreading Islam

Watch the excerpt of The Message and respond to the questions. (15:00-
16:00; 20:00-22:00; 25:00-34:00; 37:00-39:00)

610-612 C.E. Muhammad is told to call his people to the worship of the one God, and he
begins to spread this new message throughout Mecca. Shortly after his revelation in 610, he
begins in secret to gather followers in Mecca.

15:00-15:40 What does Muhammad’s uncle, Abu Bakr warn him will happen if he continues
to speak about his revelation and his new religious ideas?

How does Muhammad respond to this warning?

20:05-22:00 What new and “dangerous ideas” has Muhammad been spreading
throughout Mecca?

610-612 C.E. | Muhammad slowly began to attract some followers. Muhammad began to
criticize the traditional polytheism of his Meccan town. The rich and powerful merchants of Mecca
grew angry because the gods and idols are their source of income. The merchants earned income
from pilgrims to its polytheistic shrine, the Kaaba. If there was only one God and polytheism did
not exist as Muhammad preached, they would lose pilgrims and thus lose lots of money. The
ruling elite rallied against Muhammad and his followers, and began to persecute them.

Why did the rich and powerful merchants dislike How did the ruling elite respond to Muhammad and
his Muhammad? followers?

25:45 In the scene where a follower of Muhammad’s teachings is being questioned by

the ruling elites, what do we learn of Muhammad’s teaching about equality?
26:22 When the slave named Bilal is told to
whip the follower of Muhammad’s
teachings, what does he do? Why does
he make this decision?

27:20-28:40 What happens to Bilal as a

consequence of his choice? What does
he say while he is enduring his
consequence?

613 C.E. | Muhammad begins publicly spreading the message of Islam to all Meccans.

29:50-30:50 How do the ruling elites respond to

Muhammad spreading Islam publicly
throughout Mecca?

31:00-34:00 How do the Meccans treat Muhammad

and the early followers of Islam?
37:00-39:00

How is this similar to the ways early

Christians were treated?

Why are they treated in this way?

5. The Hegira
 622 C.E. | The local rulers of Mecca forced Muhammad and his
small group of followers to leave the city. After enduring persecution in
The Hegira and Early Migrations Mecca, Muhammad and his followers migrated to the nearby town of
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegira#/media/Fil Yathrib (later to be known as Medina). Here, the people accepted Islam.
e:Hejaz622.jpg
This migration is called “the hegira.” In Medina, Muhammad was able to
establish an Islamic state based on the laws revealed in the Quran. He
and his followers continued to spread Islam to the other tribes in Medina.

6. Battles Why did Muhammad and his followers What did Muhammad do when he
leave Mecca? Where did they go? arrived in the new town?

How did “the Hegira” spread Islam?

622-628 C.E. | Relations between Mecca and Medina

rapidly worsened after Muhammad and his followers left. Meccans
confiscated all the property that the Muslims had left in Mecca.
Because Muslims owned no land in Medina, they would have to live
on charity and on the rare chance for wage labor. Muhammad began
to engage in the old Arabian practice of raiding caravans bound for
Mecca for money. These raids led to battles between Meccans and
Muslims. In 624, near a place called Badr, the Meccans and the
Muslims clashed again. Even though the Muslims were outnumbered,
they were successful. The Battle of Badr was the beginning of
successful Muslim military campaigns. The victory strengthened
Muhammad's position in Medina and he became the unofficial ruler of
the city. After the victory of the Meccans in the Battle of Badr, the
Meccans continued to fight with Muslims in future battles.

Why was there fighting between the Muslims in Medina and the Meccans?
Battle of
Badr Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Badr#/media/Fi
le:Siyer-i_Nebi_-_Imam_Ali_und_Hamza_bei_dem_vor
gezogenen_Einzelkampf_in_Badr_gegen_die_G%C3 Why was the Battle of Badr an important point in Islamic history?
%B6tzendiener.jpg

628 C.E. | The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was signed between

Muhammad, representing the state of Medina, and the Quraish tribe
of Mecca. This treaty reduced fighting between the cities.
 Why was the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah important?

7. Return to Mecca
630 C.E. | Muhammad returns to Mecca with a larger number of his followers. Pr

after Muhammad's arrival in Medina, it became the Muslim Qibla, or direction for prayer (salat). The Kaaba has been rebuilt several times; the present structure was built in 1629.
ile:Kabaa.jpg

7. Muhammad’s Death and the Sunni/Shi’ite Split

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi ("the Prophet's mosque") in Medina, Saudi Arabia, with the Green Dome built over
Muhammad's tomb in the center.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad#/media/File:Madina_Haram_at_evening.jpg

632/33 C.E. | After a short illness, Muhammad died in the city of Medina at the age of 63.
Before Muhammad’s death, he united the tribes of Arabia into a single Arab Muslim religious
government. With his death, disagreement broke out over who his successor would be. The once
unified Arab Muslim community broke apart into two groups: Sunni Muslims and Shiite Muslims.
The majority of Muslims who became known as Sunni Muslims believed that the community of
Muslims should determine who would succeed him. However, the Shiite Muslims, the smaller group
of Muslims, believed that only descendants and family members of Muhammad should be the
successor. The Sunnis prevailed and selected the first caliph or successor to Muhammad.
Eventually, Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-law) was chosen as the fourth caliph but the division between
Sunni and Shiites created repeated tension and violence. The violence and war split the small
community of Muslims into two branches that have never reunited.

What happened to the unified Muslim community when Muhammad died?

Text adapted from: http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2007/02/12/7332087/the-origins-of-the-shiite-sunni-split,

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Muhammad, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/teach/muslims/timeline.html,
http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/profilesmuhammed.html