Unit: The Rise and Spread of Islam

Lesson Title: Origins of Islam(See textbook pages 59-63)

Muhammad was the founder and most important prophet of the religion of Islam.

A prophet is someone who speaks about what they believe is right and true, and condemns what is wrong and false. Some believe prophets speak for God.

Mohammad was born in Mecca around A.D. 570.

Mecca is located in the modern country of Saudi Arabia.

Why is this part of the world important

to Americans? (Clue: Look at the

countries that border Saudi Arabia.)

Mecca was a wealthy city at the time of Muhammad because it was crossed by many trade routes. Mecca was an important center of trade.

Mecca was also an important place of worship.

People believed that it was in Mecca that the Prophet Abraham was tested by God, and told to abandon his wife Hagar and their son.

Abraham casts out Hagar and Ishmael

Abraham? What religions recognize him as a prophet?

People believed that Abraham built the house of worship called the Kaaba (a cube shaped shrine)in Mecca.

By the time of Muhammad, the Kaaba had become a shrine to worship many traditional gods instead of the single God of Abraham. Many people made yearly pilgrimages (religious journeys) to the Kaabato worship these traditional gods.

Muhammad came from a family of merchants. His parents died when he was a child, so he was raised by his grandfather and uncle.

As a youth, Muhammad worked on caravans(groups of traders that travelled together) and eventually became a merchant himself. He travelled as far as Syria and Jerusalem.

How could travel affect a young person?

Muhammad came to believe in a single God (like Abraham did). He was troubled that people worshipped many “false” gods at the Kaaba.

Muhammad was also troubled by how well the wealthy people lived in Mecca, and how they cared little for the great suffering of the poor people in the city.

In class reading assignment

Read “A Message for Muhammad” on page 60.

Answer these questions:

1. What is the difference between the terms “Islam” and “Muslim”?

2. How long after the beginnings of Christianity were the beginnings of Islam? (see time line)

3. Which is the oldest religion among Islam, Judaism, and Christianity?

4. What is the Qur’an?

Muhammad’s Timeline

Muhammad’s Timeline

570 -Mohammad born

576 -Mother dies

595 -He gets married

610 -He meditates in a cave

613- He tells others of his message

622- Leaves Mecca for Medina (hegira)

632 -Dies

Review: Muhammad , a merchant from Mecca ,

Mecca

ARABIA

went to a cave outside Mecca, where he said an angel appeared and told him to tell his people to believe in ONE god , called Allah.

The messages from the angel to Muhammadwere written in the Qu’ran—the holy book of Islam.

In class reading - part 2

Read “Muhammad’s Teaching” and

”Belief in One God” on page 61.

Answer these questions:

1. What prophets do both Christians and Muslims recognize?

2. What is one major belief that is the same for Judaism, Christianity and Islam?

Muhammad’s teachings had similarities to Judaism and Christianity. All three religions believe in ONE GOD,

Let’s check our answers and compare the religions:

All three religions have a holy book.

The Jews have the Torah,

The Christians have the Bible,

The Muslims have the Qu’ran—the holy book of Islam.

Three religions, Three Holy books

Muslims believe that God spoke to Muhammad and gave him instructions for all people, which are written in their holy book, the Qur’an, which they believe is the true word of God.

Muhammad told his followers (Muslims) to believe in the Bible’s prophets who spoke for God.

Abraham Moses

Right Side Notebook Activity

Create a graphic organizer with 3 triangles

to represent Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Show what is common to all three.

Judaism Christianity

(in common)

Islam