From the Migration to Medina to the End of His Life

From the Migration to Medina to the End of His Life

With Abu Talib's death, Muhammad lost his protector.  As Muslims came under more attacks, Muhammad sought a new home.  A group of Arab pilgrims from a town called Yathrib visited Mecca and converted to Islam.  They asked Muhammad to move to Yathrib to bring peace between feuding tribes and, in return, they pledged to protect him

Multiple Choice

Who was Abu Talib to Muhammad?

• His grandfather

• His uncle

In 622, Muhammad and his followers left Mecca on a journey known as the hijrah (HEEJ-rah). Yathrib was renamed Medina (also spelled Madinah), short for “City of the Prophet.”  The year of the hijrah later became the first year of the Muslim calendar.

Over the next several years in Medina, Muhammad developed a new Muslim community as more Arabs converted to Islam.  Muslims pledged to be loyal and helpful to each other.  They emphasized the brotherhood of faith over the ties of family, clan, and tribe.  Even though Muhammad and the Qur'an criticized Jews and Christians on some aspects of their beliefs, Muhammad asked his followers to respect Christians and Jews.  Like Muslims, these “People of the Book” believe in one God, and Muhammad asked that they be treated as lawful members of society.

As the community in Medina grew and became stronger, the Meccans felt increasingly threatened.   In 624, fighting broke out between the Muslims and Meccans,  and the Muslims won that battle.  A few years later, the Meccans staged a  siege  of Medina, but failed to capture the city.

siege:

a military action in which a place is surrounded and cut off to force those inside to surrender]

Victories against the Meccan troops—and the ideas of charity, generosity, and forgiveness that Muhammad preached—convinced other tribes to convert to Islam.  As Islam spread across Arabia, the Meccans agreed to a truce that would allow the Muslims to make their pilgrimage to Mecca.  Around 630, however, they broke the truce.  In response, Muhammad's army marched on Mecca, and the city's leaders surrendered without a battle.  Muhammad and his followers entered the city, destroyed the idols (statues of gods) at the Ka'bah, and rededicated the shrine solely to one God.  Muhammad then forgave his former enemies.  The war had ended.

In March 632, Muhammad led his final pilgrimage to Mecca.  In the town of his birth, he delivered his final sermon.  He reminded Muslims to treat each other well and to be faithful.   Shortly after his return to Medina, Muhammad died.

Multiple Choice

Muhammad died...

• in war...

• after his return to Medina

Multiple Choice

Muhammad died in

• 619

• 632

• 777

The Prophet’s Mosque in Medina contains Muhammad’s tomb. During his lifetime, Muhammad stayed in Medina, where he helped develop a strong Muslim community.

Multiple Choice

Muhammad lost his protection following the death of ..

• hijrah

• Medina

• Yathrib

• Abu Talib

• Meccans

Multiple Choice

Muhammad lost his protection following the death of Abu Talib

, and moved to the town of____

• hijrah

• Medina

• Yathrib

• Ka'bah

• Meccans

Multiple Choice

Yathrib, was later named

• hijrah

• Medina

• Yathrib

• Ka'bah

• Meccans

Multiple Choice

His journey there is called the

• hijrah

• Medina

• Yathrib

• Ka'bah

• Meccans

Multiple Choice

After he defeated the

• hijrah

• Medina

• Yathrib

• Ka'bah

• Meccans

Multiple Choice

Muhammad destroyed the idols within the _____

• hijrah

• Medina

• Yathrib

• Ka'bah

• Meccans