The messages of Allah continued to come to Muhammad as he made new rules for the city, and the new rules of the Qur'an had to be firmly enforced.
The messages of Allah continued to come to Muhammad as he made new rules for the city, and the new rules of the Qur'an had to be firmly enforced.
The Jews rejected Muhammad as a prophet and they rejected his teachings. This became a major factor and Muhammad’s initial sympathy for the Jews seems to have abated.
The opposition of the Jews caused Muhammad to kill some of them and force others to leave – without any of their possessions.
Early Christians saw Islam as a Christian heresy (cf John of Damascus etc.) just as Jews saw Islam as perverted Judaism. However Muhammad came into contact with comparatively few Christians compared to the significant number of Jews.
The new Muslims in Medina sent out armed expeditions to other tribes and these were often well received.
The new Muslims in Medina sent out armed expeditions to other tribes and these were often well received.
However a Muslim raid on a Meccan caravan south of Mecca Muhammad gained the new Muslims much booty and this boosted the new Muslims in the eyes of other tribes.
However this raid caused the Meccans to carry out a raid in retaliation – and the Muslims were defeated in this. The Meccans raised money for a larger attack, and Muhammad was defeated at Uhud in 625. Then the Meccans besieged Medina but due to new military tactics used by Muhammas and also due to extremely cold weather, the siege failed.
In 628, Muhammad took 1600 people on pilgrimage to Mecca. The Meccans sent out a force to stop him and the two sides met and talked. An agreement was reached for ten years of peace and to permit the Muslims to return the following year and make the pilgrimage to the Ka’bah.
In 628, Muhammad took 1600 people on pilgrimage to Mecca. The Meccans sent out a force to stop him and the two sides met and talked. An agreement was reached for ten years of peace and to permit the Muslims to return the following year and make the pilgrimage to the Ka’bah.
In 630, Muhammad led a force of 10000 men against Mecca. Mecca surrendered and Muhammad destroyed all the idols in the Ka’bah. He gave a truce to the Quraysh tribe, even those who did not become Muslims.
In 630, Muhammad led a force of 10000 men against Mecca. Mecca surrendered and Muhammad destroyed all the idols in the Ka’bah. He gave a truce to the Quraysh tribe, even those who did not become Muslims.
He returned to Medina and used both military force and persuasion to encourage almost all the Arab tribes to become Muslims. Muhammad died on June 8, 632ce.
The painting is from the C16th and is from the Siyer-I-Nabi gallery
Muhammad is held to have reached the highest heaven in a mystical journey in which he was taken from Medina and then to the ‘outer synagogue’ - later identified as Jerusalem - before ascending through the spheres (this was to influence the British artist William Blake)
Muhammad is held to have reached the highest heaven in a mystical journey in which he was taken from Medina and then to the ‘outer synagogue’ - later identified as Jerusalem - before ascending through the spheres (this was to influence the British artist William Blake)
He first met with previous prophets such as Abraham, Moses and Jesus and then glimpsed the pleasures of Paradise.
Finally, Muhammad enjoyed the rarest privilege of all - seeing Allah's unveiled face.
Muhammad is shown riding a fabulous creature called al-Buraq, meaning "Lightning." as he passes through seven heavens on his journey to the presence of Allah.
Muhammad is shown riding a fabulous creature called al-Buraq, meaning "Lightning." as he passes through seven heavens on his journey to the presence of Allah.
The name was well-chosen because al-Buraq could streak through the sky covering a distance as far as the eye could see in a single bound. Al-Buraq is shown with a woman's head and a mule's body. In other paintings, al-Buraq is sometimes shown with a peacock's tail.
Unlike the other angels in this painting Gabriel is surrounded by a halo of fire. The halo of fire is a symbol denoting Gabriel's holiness. As the chief of Allah's angelic servants, Gabriel has the honor of leading Muhammad on his ascent through the heavens.
Unlike the other angels in this painting Gabriel is surrounded by a halo of fire. The halo of fire is a symbol denoting Gabriel's holiness. As the chief of Allah's angelic servants, Gabriel has the honor of leading Muhammad on his ascent through the heavens.
