Muhammad- The Founder of Islam

Galatians 1:6-10

Introduction

Our nation remains in a state of alertOur nation remains in a state of alert– Our ambassador to Libya was killed Our ambassador to Libya was killed

recentlyrecently

– If they are right in their beliefs, they would If they are right in their beliefs, they would be martyrsbe martyrs

Introduction

Martyrs or murderers?– Need to become familiar with Need to become familiar with

Muhammad, the man behind IslamMuhammad, the man behind Islam

– By some estimates, it is the fastest By some estimates, it is the fastest growing religion in the world.growing religion in the world.

Introduction

Consider these basic facts– 22ndnd largest religion behind Christianity largest religion behind Christianity– Over 65 nations in the world are IslamicOver 65 nations in the world are Islamic– There are 165 Islamic schools, 426 There are 165 Islamic schools, 426

Islamic association and 90 Islamic Islamic association and 90 Islamic publications in the U.S.publications in the U.S.

Introduction

Basic facts (Continued)– More Muslims than Methodists in the U.S.More Muslims than Methodists in the U.S.– More Muslims in the United Kingdom More Muslims in the United Kingdom

than Methodists and Baptists combined.than Methodists and Baptists combined.– Before 9/11/2001, very little was known Before 9/11/2001, very little was known

about Islam about Islam

Muhammad

Personal factsPersonal facts– Born about 570 A.D. in the Southern Born about 570 A.D. in the Southern

Arabia town of Mecca.Arabia town of Mecca.– His father, Abdullah, died before he was His father, Abdullah, died before he was

born, and his mother when he was sixborn, and his mother when he was six– He was raised by his grandfather and an He was raised by his grandfather and an

uncleuncle– In 595, he married Khadijah, a wealthy In 595, he married Khadijah, a wealthy

widow fifteen years older than him.widow fifteen years older than him.

Muhammad

Personal facts (Continued)Personal facts (Continued)– She died in 619, and he married a She died in 619, and he married a

woman named Sawdah, who was the woman named Sawdah, who was the first of many polygamous wives.first of many polygamous wives.

– In April 623, he married Aisha, who may In April 623, he married Aisha, who may have been only nine years old. He met have been only nine years old. He met with opposition in 627 when he married with opposition in 627 when he married to Zaynab, his cousin and the ex-wife of to Zaynab, his cousin and the ex-wife of his adopted son, Zayd. his adopted son, Zayd.

Muhammad

Personal facts (Continued)Personal facts (Continued)– He married eleven times, but never He married eleven times, but never

kept more than four official wives at a kept more than four official wives at a time, and fathered seven children.time, and fathered seven children.

– After threatening to divorce them all in After threatening to divorce them all in 630 because of their strife, he died in 630 because of their strife, he died in the arms of his favorite wife, Aisha, in the arms of his favorite wife, Aisha, in Medina on June 8, 632.Medina on June 8, 632.

Muhammad’s Claims

Claimed revelations from God Claimed revelations from God beginning in 610beginning in 610– These alleged revelations lasted until These alleged revelations lasted until

his death. his death. – In 613, he began to teach his In 613, he began to teach his

monotheistic message in and around monotheistic message in and around Mecca.Mecca.

Muhammad’s Claims

ContinuedContinued– The basis for Salmon Rushdie’s novel, The basis for Salmon Rushdie’s novel,

The Satanic Verses,The Satanic Verses, was an alleged was an alleged revelation in 613 that it was okay to revelation in 613 that it was okay to worship three idols, a revelation that he worship three idols, a revelation that he later said came from Satan.later said came from Satan.

Muhammad’s Claims

ContinuedContinued– In 620, he claimed that the angel In 620, he claimed that the angel

Gabriel took him by night to Jerusalem Gabriel took him by night to Jerusalem where he met Moses, Abraham, and where he met Moses, Abraham, and Jesus, and ascended by ladder through Jesus, and ascended by ladder through the seven heavens along with Gabriel.the seven heavens along with Gabriel.

The Movement

A movement growsA movement grows– In 622, after seven years of opposition, In 622, after seven years of opposition,

Muhammad and his followers moved to Muhammad and his followers moved to Medina, a city 250 miles north of Mecca, Medina, a city 250 miles north of Mecca, and the year of the emigration (hijrah) and the year of the emigration (hijrah) became year one in the Islamic became year one in the Islamic calendar.calendar.

The Movement

A movement growsA movement grows– Muhammad made his first military raid Muhammad made his first military raid

on a Meccan caravan in March of 623, on a Meccan caravan in March of 623, and began making military and political and began making military and political power a component in his quest for power a component in his quest for spiritual dominion.spiritual dominion.

The Movement

A change takes placeA change takes place– Early on he seemed to respect them, Early on he seemed to respect them,

and commended their sacred and commended their sacred writings, the Taurat (Torah) and the writings, the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel).Injeel (Gospel).

– After encountering opposition from After encountering opposition from these groups, he learned that he these groups, he learned that he could not peacefully coexistcould not peacefully coexist

The Movement

Change (Continued)Change (Continued)– Later on he openly showed his Later on he openly showed his

disdain for both Jews and disdain for both Jews and “Christians.”“Christians.”

– This may explain the contradictory This may explain the contradictory passages in the Koran (Qur’an) about passages in the Koran (Qur’an) about dealing with his enemies.dealing with his enemies.

Conclusion

Our next lesson will be about the Our next lesson will be about the KoranKoran

We need to know what motivates themWe need to know what motivates them