Tuesday may 28,2002 Religions of the Middle East.
Islam = Name of religion
Muslims= Followers of Islam
Sacred text= the Koran
Founder = Mohammad (Mohammed, Mahomet)
Lived aprox=570-632 A.D.
Claimed to be Prophet or Apostle
For ref. 2000 B.C. = Abraham


Pre Islamic Arabia = waring tribes
Pagen Polytheistic, religions.
Allah= The god
He was the moon god
Allah was the patron god of Muhammads tribe.
Allah has three Daughters= Allat, Al-Uzza, Manat.
Power layers are such that Allah is at the top followed by His daughters then minor gods, then the Jin.

Temple in Meccah called the Kabbah (or Cube) contains 360 gods (one for every day of the year)

Mohommed's father dies before he is born, his mother is a spiritualist who dies when he is five. After his mothers death he is shuffled around until he settles with his uncle.
Was very interested in cave exploration. The first time he is given a vision he is in a cave. dreams that a angel is stirring his insides.
Age 25-40 he marries Khadijah and becomes a caravan owner. At age 40 he gets " the night of power"
Mohammeds dreams could be Epilepsy. Even Mohammed himself has doubt.
saying that it could be Demon possession, or mental illness. He has suicide attempts but the angel Gabreal saves him from falling.
Main points he was trying to make = There is only one God, He associated with the god of the Jews and of the christians.
When asked if Muslims can worship the daughters of allah he was guided by Satan to allow them to.
He was driven out of Meccah to the city of Ta-if