Annaliese Roegner

Dr. Cynthia Bisson

HIS 1010
14 March 2023
Special Credit Assignment on Islam Empire of Faith
1. What was Arabian society and religion like before Islam?
It was in a state of constant war and savagery. It was an oral culture, some of the most important
people in the tribe were the poets. Every person had to learn to fight and to defend themselves
both against people and against the elements. Everyone had to defend on their tribe in order to
find water and keep this precious land. Water was highly regarded and worshipped in many
tribes. Each tribe had their own gods and kept a shrine to them in Mecca. Abraham built the
Cava before and this is where the Mecca was built around. It was one of the only places with
peace and truces amongst the people and differing tribes. This is the one place where trading was
done, the Mecca was important not only towards the spiritual side of life but also towards the
practical side of life. It became a rich mixture of many different cultures. In the Arabian world
there was heavy trade amongst many different religions.
2. What did you learn about Mohammed’s life and what led him to his new beliefs?
He is known as the messenger and was born around 570 A.D. Raised amongst the Bedowan,
both his parents died when he was 6. He was an orphaned outsider, this gave him a unique
perspective. He learned to adapt and became a child of everybody. Mohammed eventually
became a merchant and at the age of 25 his talents were noticed by a wealthy woman who then
proposed marriage to him. She became a huge mentor to Mohammed along with being a wife to
him. Mohammed was a very intelligent and open minded man that could communicate with
many people, he acted as a peacemaker and helped to unite the peoples. He eventually became
known as Al Amin: the trusted one. He talked to Arabs, Christians, and Jews. One night while
meditating he had an extraordinary vision in which he became the last prophet. He was told to
profess God and received more revelations, these where what led to his new beliefs. In 619 A.D.
Mohammed’s wife and uncle died. He was an overall extremely humble person who dealt with
many challenges in following his call to teaching the message.
3. Why did the authorities in Mecca want to destroy him and his followers?
As Mohammed’s community grew his opposition also grew. People asked him where his
“miracle” was, he answered that the Koran was his miracle, however, this was not enough for the
authorities within the Mecca. They were also appalled by the idea of life after death. They
viewed the new religion as a dismantling of their customs, they viewed the new increase in his
following as a threat. When Mecca began changing the authorities tried to run Mohammed out of
town and then tried to plan his death. This in turn created tribal war. Mohammed’s followers
were forced out of the marketplace and starved and then those without the protection of tribes
were tortured and killed. When Mohammed’s Uncle and Wife died he was left unprotected till a
refuge was opened to Mohammed and his followers in a nearby town, Yathrie. Even after they
left the city however those in Mecca still plotted against them. They fought three wars and each
time the Muslims held out against the Meccans despite the huge odds. The peoples of the dessert
saw the working of God in these battles and the tide began to turn as the Muslim army grew. In
635 A.D. Mohammed finally took back Mecca with an army 10,000 strong. Upon his return
Mohammed now embraced and welcomed the people who had tried so hard to harm him before.
3. What are some of the beliefs of Islam presented in this film? How will those beliefs change
Arabia, its society, and end its traditional beliefs?
One of the most important parts of the Islamic belief was the unity of God, and the focus that the
people must have in their life. This also led to the destruction of tribal feuds and united the
people. Islam became a new way of life in which everyone was equal. The faith spread rapidly
because of its universal appeal. Mohammed’s following soon became known as the Muslims.
They created the Koran in order to spread the message. So that the original message was retained
it was no longer transmitted primarily orally. Everything: society, faith, and nature, was meant to
work in unity. They were also careful not to anthropomorphize God and only used the Koran as a
just representation of him. There were also only historical representations of Mohammed. The
ultimate test of devotion to this new faith was when the followers were forced out of Mecca and
left all of the ancestors, family, and culture behind in order to travel to Yathrie. In Yathrie unity
and peace were then spread, when his work succeeded the city became known as the city of the
prophet: Medina. Those following his teaches still treated people of other religions with respect.
Here the first Mosque was developed. Upon his people’s return to Mecca he smashed the idols of
his ancestors and forever changed the tribal system.