The Middle East Association Presents: Muhammad, The Statesman

1. The Middle East Association Presents: Muhammad, The Statesman

2. Born in Mecca, in the year 570 • Father died before his birth • Raised by his mother, then grandfather and then uncle • As a teen he worked as a shepherd and in his twenties he worked for a wealthy business woman, who then proposed to him and they married. Muhammad's Early Life

3. Muhammad was disturbed by the Arabs materialism and idolatry. • Began preaching monotheism and a new moral way of life, at first the message was spiritual . • In 622 He and a few hundred of his followers fled Mecca to Medina. • In Medina he became not just a spiritual leader but this was the first instance of him as a political leader. Muhammad Becomes a Leader

4. Muhammad as a moral reformer • Muhammad improved life for the Arabs, especially the poor, slaves and women • Muhammad as a social reformer • He set-up a new system of social security and family structure for his people. Leading the muslim nation

5. The Constitution of Medina- year 622 • The documents main concern was to bring an end to the bitter tribal fighting amongst the tribes in Medina. • This included Muslim, Jewish and Pagan tribes. • It instituted a number of rights and responsibilities for the Muslim, Jewish, and pagan communities of Medina bringing them within the fold of one community. Treatment of non-muslims

6. Muhammad died in Medina in 632 • One hundred years after his death, his teachings and way of life had spread to corners of Arabia and far off to Indo-China • Conquests of the Persian and Mesopotamia • These conquests brought great freedoms to Jews and Christians in these areas • Some even preferred the rule of the Muslims over that of the Byzantines The nation after his death

7. His leaderships’ effects today

8. Questions? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?