Muhammad and the Believers

HIST 10079/9/13

History Club Meeting

• 5:30-7:00, Wed. Sept. 11• McMicken Room 357

Syria and the United Stands: Internal and International Politics of Crisis and Intervention

• 4:00-5:30, Thur. Sept. 12• 800 Swift Hall• Panel including– Elizabeth Frierson (History)– Richard Harknett (Political Science)– Andrew Lewis (Political Science)– Stephen Porter (History)– Robert Haug (History) (moderator)

Markets of the Arabs

Ghassanids and Lakhmids

Poetry and Arab Culture

• Oral culture• Dialects and literary language• Mu`allaqat• Seven qasida, best poems of pre-Islamic era• The Hanging Poems

The Major Clans of Quraysh in the 7th Century

Banu Quraysh

Banu Abd al-Dar

Banu Abd Manaf

Banu Nawfal

Banu Muttalib

Banu Hashim

Banu Abd Shams

Banu Umayyah

Banu Makhzum

Banu Zuhrah Banu Taym Banu Adi Banu Asad Banu

Jumah Banu Sahm

The Historical Muhammad

• Why is it difficult to study the history of a figure like Muhammad?

• Qur`an• Hadith• Sira• Maghazi

Muhammad (ca. 570-632)

• Banu Hashim clan of Quraysh• Orphaned, raised by his grandfather and uncle (both

shaykhs of the Banu Hashim)• Commercial trader• al-Amin and al-Sadiq• 595CE – Marries Khadijah• Hanif

Revelation

• 610 CE: Muhammad receives first revelations from Jibrail • Shares revelation withrelatives and close companions• Khadijah is first convert• `Ali and Abu Bakr are firstmale converts

Muhammad and Jibrail

Preaching and Persecution

• ca. 613: Muhammad begins openly preaching• Reaches outcasts of society– Orphans, widows, younger sons, slaves, etc.

• Faces opposition from Quraysh, challenge to authority• Protected by Abu Talib• ca. 615: emigration to Ethiopia

Bilal al-Habashi, first muezzin

Emigration

• 619: Abu Talib and Khadijahdie• Loss of protection for Muhammad and Muslims• 622: Hijra to Yathrib (Medina)• Foundation of first Muslim community• Muhammad as statesman

Medina in 19th century painting and1940 photo

Muhammad in Medina

• Muhajirun and Ansar• Shaykh of a growing confederation• Alliances with nearby tribes• Must provide for the well being of his followers• Quraysh confiscate property in Mecca

Confrontation with Quraysh

• 624: Battle of Badr

Muhammad standing over `Ubaydah.Image from ‘Siyer-i Nebi’

14th century Persian depiction of thebattle.

The Site of Badr

Qur`an 3:122-125‘Two of your battalions were about to lose heart, and

Allah was their Protector. In Allah let the believers put their trust!

Allah had already given you victory at Badr, at a time when you were still powerless; so fear Allah that perchance you might be thankful!

When you were telling the believers: ‘Is it not enough that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?’

Yes, if you forbear and fear Allah and the enemy attack you at once, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand marked angels.’