Prophet Muhammad

Prophet Muhammad

1. Major division of Islam

   • When Muhammad died there was a big dispute over who would be his heir and take charge of Islam, the two possibility were:
     • Sunni: Abu Bakr- Muhammad's closest friend. Father-in-law to Muhammad. Married to Khadija and they had a daughter Fatima. 90% of muslims today follow this division
     • Shi'ah: Ali- son-in-law married to Fatima-Muhammd's daughter. 10% of mulsims today follow this division

2. His life

   • Born in Mecca in CE 570
   • His father died before his birth and he lived with a Bedouin woman until he was six
     • His mother died the year he returned to her
   • His grandfather then looked after him but then he died, so he lived with his uncle
   • He married Khadijah
   • He didn't like how people drunk and gambled in Mecca so he went to the mountains to meditate
   • Angel Jibril delivered the Qur'an to him and ordered him 3 times to read it but he couldn't then he suddenly could and was told he a prophet
     • The Qur'an was dictated to him over 23 years
   • He began to preach and moved to Medina in 622 CE- this event has called 'Hijrah'
   • People excepted Islam as their religion and he died there in 632 CE