REL S 101 Chapter Notes - Chapter Islam: Interfaith Alliance, Medina, Quraysh
Textbook Notes
Islam
Sita im Leben
Hijaz region was the meeting place of many religions in the 7th century
Ka’aba - worship site said to contain 360 idols, representative of the various tribes and their deities
Was said to be the worship site built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, and the presences of idols only
came about when later generations stayed from monotheism
Haeresium fera - mother of all heresies
Birth and Life of Muhammad
Born in the city of Mecca
Maturity required for acknowledged leadership and scholarship was deemed to be forty in the Judeo-Christian
lore
Said to be born in year 570 CE and started teaching 610 CE
Abdul Mutatlib - his grandfather
Abu Talib - his uncle
Qur’an - Islam’s scripture
Khadijah - rich widow that he was employed by to take care of her trading caravans
Ali - his cousin
Abu Baker - close friend
Those who opposed the new father were adamant, however, that it not spread and devised all sorts of means to
oppress the followers of Muhammad
Ethiopia was the first place where Muslims found refuge
620 CE – Delegation from Yathrib visited Mecca and after being impressed by Muhammad’s teachings, invited
him to come to their city
People were trying to plot Muhammad’s death, but was able to flee
This happened in year 622, it is so significant that the Muslim calendar starts from this year
Known as Hijrah (Arabic word for emigration)
City of Yathrib was later named Medinat al-Nabi and has retained that name ever since
Medinat al-Nabi - City of the Prophet
Constitution of Medina, probably the world’s first agreement on anything resembling an interfaith alliance
Decided that Muslim, Christian and Jew would defend their new state, and that a wrong committed
against one was as a wrong committed against the entire state
Muhajirun - the emigrants that fled from Mecca to Medina leaving behind their wealth and belongings
Ansar - the helpers
Quraysh in Mecca were not happy with these developments, especially with Muhammad gaining allies
from surrounding tribes
Battle of Badr - Muslims repulsed their enemy
627 CE – Meccan's again sought to overrun Muhammad and attacked Mecca with 10,000 fighting men
Battle of the Trench
Quraysh persuaded some Jewish tribes that had professed their allegiance with Muhammad to renege on
their promise
Document Summary
Hijaz region was the meeting place of many religions in the 7th century. Ka"aba - worship site said to contain 360 idols, representative of the various tribes and their deities. Was said to be the worship site built by abraham and his son ishmael, and the presences of idols only came about when later generations stayed from monotheism. Maturity required for acknowledged leadership and scholarship was deemed to be forty in the judeo-christian lore. Said to be born in year 570 ce and started teaching 610 ce. Khadijah - rich widow that he was employed by to take care of her trading caravans. Those who opposed the new father were adamant, however, that it not spread and devised all sorts of means to oppress the followers of muhammad. Ethiopia was the first place where muslims found refuge. 620 ce delegation from yathrib visited mecca and after being impressed by muhammad"s teachings, invited him to come to their city.
