Islam

muslims-followers of Islam
founder of Islam - Muhammad (Mohammed/Mohamet)

sacred text: The Qur`an (Koran)
"The recitation or reading"

Muhammad
- prophet (old testament sense)
-apostle (new testament sense)
-Quaryesh tribe (Koriesh)

Pre-Islamic Arabia
-waring desert tribes
-no central government/authority
-paganism
-polytheism (hierarchy of gods)

Allah
-name of the moon god
-patron god of Muhammad's tribe
-"the god"
-Allah has 3 daughters: Allat,Aluzza,
& Manat

Jinn - spirits, genies, Djinn
The Kabah - ("Cube") huge square temple in Mecca 360 idols in Kabah

The life of Muhammad b.570-632 AD
Father dies before birth, "spiritualist mother. Orphaned at 5, shuffled around then raised by uncle.
- cave exploration
-Early vision - insides stirred by angel
Age 25 marries Khadijah, 40, becomes caravan owner.
Age 40 prophetic call - "The night of power"
vision comes from angel Gabriel
Muhammad's visions - epilepsy??
Muhammad's doubt
-demon possession?
-mental illness?
suicide attempts thwarted by Gabriel

Muhammad's preachings:
-there is no god but Allah
-associates Allah w/ the god of the Jews/Christians
Question: Can we worship Allah's 3 daughters?
Muhammad under pressure is tricked be satan into revealing false Qur`anic verses which say it is ok.

The satanic verses
Flight to Ta-if
The preaching Jinn
Flight to Medina(Yathrib) - success
Caravan looting and pilaging
Plundering of the Jews
Defeat by the Meccans, Muhammad nearly killed at Uhod.
Muhammad regroups, rebuilds army
Treaty w/Mecca then conquest of Mecca