The life of Muhammad and the Early Muslim Community.

Question 1

What dates are pre-islamic arabia?

Answer 1

Arabia before 610

Question 2

between which competing empires was pre-islamic arabia situated

Answer 2

Pre-Islamic Arabia surrounding Empires included the Persian Empire and Byzantine Empire

Question 3

in what ways can the significance of kabab be explored

Answer 3

economical, cultural and religious importance

Question 4

what was the economical significance

Answer 4

neutral ground for tribes - became a hive for trade because annual trade fair after pilgrimage

Question 5

cultural importance?

Answer 5

different tribes, with different ways of expression and oral history - Each tribe would have a shape - elder and a structure where the elder is respected by all the people in the tribe - who would say praises. The power of Arabic language - poetry at heights for pagan Arabs

Question 6

religious importance?

Answer 6

idols were worshipped and the suspended odes show the arabic poetry

Question 7

socio-economic structure

Answer 7

there were a lot of trade routes.

Question 8

what was religion like in pre-islamic arabia

Answer 8

• idol worship and polytheism
• jews and christians
• hanifs
  the main religions were judaism, christianity and some Iranian religions as well as paganism

Question 9

what does Muhammads name mean

Answer 9

‘praised one’

Question 10

when was he born

Answer 10

c. 570

Question 11

family?

Answer 11

was an orphan and grew up without a mother or father. he was also illiterate and could not read or write.

Question 12

before becoming a prophet was was his life like?

Answer 12

he was a hanif, a trustworthy merchant

Question 13

when did he start receiving revelations

Answer 13

610 - became a prophet and the messenger of Islam - this is the mark that starts his journey

Question 14

how did Muhammad transform the Arabian society

Answer 14

supra-tribal unity -> muslim umma (community)

Question 15

change in pov of Gods

Answer 15

allah is now the only God, not a high God among the multitude of Gods, no intercessor Gods
beliefs on the afterlife also changed - afterlife going beyond tribal life and identity

Question 16

how did the law change

Answer 16

sunna (customs) of the Prophet replaced the sunna of the tribe

Question 17

how does the Kaaba purpose change

Answer 17

symbolic house of the only God, no longer storing idols -

Question 18

what was the prophets new notion on war

Answer 18

previously if a tribe won a war and occupied territories the people there were obliged to also follow such religious beliefs of the winning time - but the prophet brought about the notion that no matter who conquered, individuals can believe what they want - no Arab is superior to a non Arab therefore he presents the idea of equality

Question 19

overall what did the Prophet do

Answer 19

he changed social norms, restored the weak, elevated status of the people, did away with oppressive practices against women and brought about the idea of afterlife as pagan Arbs did not believe in the afterlife - in turn he introduced a sense of moral responsibility and repercussions of moral judgement