Sirah

The Prophet Muhammad’s Biography

 Pre-Islamic Arabia
• Etiquette
• Tribalism and Raids
• Religion
• Language
 Pre-Islamic Arabia
• Etiquette
– Honor
– Generosity
• Tribalism and Raids
• Religion
• Language
 Pre-Islamic Arabia
• Etiquette
• Tribalism, Raids, and Security
– Family Connections
» Brother, Cousin, Foreigner
– Protection:
» Bedouin Guides and Trade Centers: Symbiotic relationship
» Battles over pasture, livestock, slave-raiding, etc.
» Orphans
» Infanticide
• Religion
• Language
 Pre-Islamic Arabia
• Etiquette
• Tribalism and Raids
• Religion
– Polytheists, Jews, Christians, Hanifs
• Language
 Pre-Islamic Arabia
• Etiquette
• Tribalism and Raids
• Religion
• Language
– Arabs had “colonized” other lands
» Nabatea (Jordan)
» Parts of Ethiopia (Axum)
– Language was the high art in Arabia
» Poetry
• Boasting
• History
• Commemorating Kings
 Pre-Islamic Arabia
• Etiquette
• Tribalism and Raids Common Themes in the Qur’an
• Religion
• Language
 Muhammad’s Early Years
• 570 AD (approx): Muhammad’s Birth:
– Hashim clan (poorer), tribe of Quaraysh (powerful and
respected tribe)
– Orphaned at early age, raised by his uncle Abu Talib
– Tradesman
» Al-Amin (The Trustworthy)
» Traveled to Syria
• 595 AD: Marriage to Khadija (age 25, she was 40*)
– Six Children:
» Four Daughters: Zanab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum, Fatima
» Two (or more) Sons: Al-Qasim, ‘Abdallah, Ibrahim, Tahir,
Tayyab…
 Beginning of Prophetic Career

– Mt. Hira and First Revelation: 610

– Public Preaching Begins: 613
– First Emigration to Abyssina 613
– Isra and Mi’raj [sometime before 620]
– Deaths of Khadijah, Uncle Abu Talib, less
protection 619
– Tries to Leave Mecca: 619
– First Contact With Medina/Yathrib: 621
 Beginning of Prophetic Career

– Mt. Hira and First Revelation: 610

– Public Preaching Begins: 613
– First Emigration to Abyssina 613
– Isra and Mi’raj [sometime before 620]
– Deaths of Khadijah, Uncle Abu Talib, less
protection 619
– Tries to Leave Mecca: 619
– First Contact With Medina/Yathrib: 621
 Beginning of Prophetic Career

– Mt. Hira and First Revelation: 610

– Public Preaching Begins: 613
– First Emigration to Abyssina 613
– Isra and Mi’raj [sometime before 620]
– Deaths of Khadijah, Uncle Abu Talib, less
protection 619
– Tries to Leave Mecca: 619
– First Contact With Medina/Yathrib: 621
 Beginning of Prophetic Career

– Mt. Hira and First Revelation: 610

– Public Preaching Begins: 613
– First Emigration to Abyssina 613
– Isra and Mi’raj [sometime before 620]
– Deaths of Khadijah, Uncle Abu Talib, less
protection 619
– Tries to Leave Mecca: 619
– First Contact With Medina/Yathrib: 621
 Emigration and Return
– Hijrah: 622
– Self-defensive battles: 624 onwards
– Treaty of Hudaybiyah: 628
– Qiblah changed from Jerusalem to Mecca: 629
– Return and Conquering of Mecca: 630
– Death of Muhammad: 632