muhammad and his teachings

@mmw12

byzantine-sasnid conflict

• pushed sassanids back, left both of them exhausted and vulnerable to new power

hijaz corridor

• trade route that became used because the byzantine-sasanid conflict pushed it there

bedouin tribalism

• valued cooperation and tribal unity, key source of social organization, focus on consensus

significance of raiding

• customary process, led to interchange between tribes, necessary for survival

majlis

• council of tribal elders

sheikh

• "first among equals", no absolute authority, generally temporary power

pre-isalmic ka’ba and all’at

• important sites for polytheism religion

mecca as haram

• sanctuary that was a place where no violence took place, people could worship who they wanted

jinns

• nature spirits, can be good or evil

qur’an

• islamic holy text, organized shortest to longest, longer ones are later in medina, shorter are earlier in mecca

suras or “revelations”

• The words of Allah that angel Gabriel revealed to Muhammad in order for him to write it down, considered direct verbatim of Allah's words

hadiths or '“traditions”

• deeds/sayings of muhammed, compiled in 9th C

quraysh of the outisde

• poorer section of quraysh tribe

• tribe of muhammed

khadija

• muhammad’s first wife

• rich widow

• originally his employer

retreat on mount hira

• went up with his family, had a fit and saw gabriel commanding him to recite

angel gabriel

• appears to muhammed and tries to get him to recite

“the seal of the prophets”

• muhammad held this title

• last of the prophets of god before him

  • made it difficult to assign leader after his death because you can’t declare another prophet if he is the last

abraham as muslim

• muhammad believed abraham was muslim

jesus in qur’an

affirms jesus as the messiah

fall of iblis

• the angel iblis refuses to bow before adam making him a fallen angel

• synonymous with satan

friday as day of prayer

• the last abrahamic religion comes first

• is believed to be the day when Adam was created, entered Paradise, and was expelled from it, making it a particularly significant day for Muslims

muhammad’s view on polygamy

• no favorites 

• limited to 4 wives, they all must be treated equally, men should think before marrying women

rules regarding marriage consent and dowry

• arranged marriage requires consent, all women must be age of 9 to consent to marriage

a’isha as “mother of the faithful”

• Muhammad's favorite wife, framed with defying Muhammad's bed, Muhammad shares half his revelation with her, took authority, making her known as mother of the faithful, her authority was challenged and she lost

the hijra 622

• first pilgrimage, beginning of islamic calendar, muhammed declares himself prophet

umma

• muslim community, first established when muhammad fled to medina so muslims could freely worship

hilm

• One of the qualities of the ideal of the sheikh, stands for fairness and forbearance, meaning that one must possess both traits when deciding what is best for the community

banu qurayza

• Muhammad ordered the massacre of males of this tribe because it was accused of betraying Muslims by backing the Quraysh led forces, Jewish clan that clashed and forced Muhammad to separate Islam and Judaism

change in qibla

• direction of prayer, shift from jerusalem to mecca after clash with jews