How Islam Began - In Ten Minutes

Summary

This video provides a concise overview of how Islam began, starting with the birth of Muhammad in Makkah in 570 CE. It highlights key events in Muhammad's life, including his early hardships, the first revelations from the angel Jibra'il, the challenges faced by early Muslims, and the pivotal battles that shaped the Muslim community. The video emphasizes Muhammad's dedication to monotheism, the significance of the Qur'an, and his ultimate triumph in Makkah, where he re-dedicated the Ka'bah to Allah, marking the spread of Islam.

Takeaways

• 📜 Makkah around 570 CE was home to the Ka'bah and the birthplace of Muhammad (PBUH).
• 🕋 The Ka'bah, once a temple to worship God, had become filled with 360 idols by the time of Muhammad’s birth.
• 👶 Muhammad (PBUH) grew up as a poor orphan and was raised by his grandfather and then his uncle, Abu Talib.
• 💍 Muhammad (PBUH) worked as a businessman, earning a reputation for honesty, leading to his marriage with Khadijah, a wealthy widow.
• 👼 The angel Jibra’il (Gabriel) appeared to Muhammad (PBUH) and revealed the first message from Allah, marking the beginning of his prophethood.
• 📖 Over Muhammad’s lifetime, he received and recited the revelations that were later compiled into the Qur'an, Islam’s holy book.
• 🏙️ The message of Islam, focused on monotheism and fairness, was initially rejected by Makkah’s ruling families, leading to persecution of early Muslims.
• ✈️ Muhammad’s Night Journey, involving a miraculous visit to Jerusalem and ascent to the heavens, is a significant event in Islam.
• 🚶 The Hijrah, or migration from Makkah to Yathrib (later Madinah), marked a turning point as Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers established a new community.
• ⚔️ After several battles and a peace treaty with the Makkans, Muhammad (PBUH) returned to conquer Makkah, cleansing the Ka'bah of idols and dedicating it to Allah alone.

Q & A

What is significant about Makkah around the year 570?

Makkah was significant because it housed the Ka'bah, an ancient temple built to worship God, and it was the birthplace of Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Why can't Muhammad be visually depicted in the video?

Muhammad is not depicted visually to avoid any risk of idolization, as Islam emphasizes the worship of the one unseen God, Allah.

What challenges did Muhammad face growing up in Makkah?

Muhammad grew up as a poor orphan in a lawless Makkah, where the ruling families wielded power and filled the Ka'bah with idols. His belief in one God, Allah, set him apart in a society that worshipped many idols.

How did Muhammad's career begin before becoming a prophet?

Muhammad started as a shepherd and later became a successful businessman. His honesty and skill impressed a rich widow named Khadijah, leading to their marriage.

What was the significance of the Night of Power for Muhammad?

The Night of Power was when the angel Jibra'il (Gabriel) appeared to Muhammad, commanding him to 'Read!' This marked the beginning of Muhammad receiving revelations from Allah, eventually leading to the creation of the Qur'an.

Why did the ruling families of Makkah oppose Muhammad's message?

The ruling families opposed Muhammad's message because 'Islam' means obedience to Allah, and they didn't want anyone obeying anyone but them. They saw his teachings as a threat to their power.

What was the Hijrah, and why was it important?

The Hijrah was the migration of Muhammad and his followers from Makkah to Yathrib (later Madinah). It marked a significant turning point for Islam, as it allowed the Muslim community to grow and thrive.

What miraculous event is associated with Muhammad's escape from Makkah?

During his escape from Makkah, Muhammad and his friend Abu Bakr hid in a cave. A spider's web and a bird's nest at the cave entrance fooled the trackers, leading them to believe Muhammad couldn't be inside.

What were the outcomes of the three major battles between the Muslims and the Makkans?

The Muslims won the Battle of Badr against overwhelming odds, suffered losses due to disobedience in the Battle of Uhud, and successfully defended Madinah during the Battle of the Trench.

How did Muhammad finally gain control of Makkah?

Muhammad led over ten thousand men to Makkah, where the ruling families surrendered. He peacefully entered Makkah, circled the Ka'bah, and destroyed the idols, rededicating it to Allah.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Early Life of Muhammad and the Origins of Islam

This paragraph provides an overview of the early life of Muhammad, born in Makkah around 570 AD, and the significance of Makkah as the location of the Ka'bah, a temple dedicated to the worship of God. It describes the challenges Muhammad faced growing up as a poor orphan who believed in one God, Allah, unlike the polytheistic practices prevalent in Makkah at the time. It recounts Muhammad's upbringing by his grandfather and uncle and his early career as a shepherd and businessman, leading to his marriage to Khadijah. The paragraph concludes by highlighting the event of 'The Night of Power,' where Muhammad received the first revelation from the angel Jibra'il, marking the beginning of his role as a prophet.

05:02

🏃‍♂️ The Hijrah and the Struggles in Madinah

This paragraph narrates the challenges faced by Muhammad and his followers after they decided to migrate to Yathrib (later renamed Madinah) due to increasing hostility from the ruling families of Makkah. It details the events surrounding Muhammad's escape from an assassination attempt, his journey to Madinah, and the protection he received through divine intervention. The paragraph also describes the three significant battles between the Muslims and the Makkans: the Battle of Badr, the Battle of Uhud, and the Battle of the Trench. Despite facing setbacks, the Muslims ultimately emerged victorious, gaining the support of local tribes, leading to the eventual peaceful conquest of Makkah by Muhammad and his followers. The paragraph concludes by explaining Muhammad's actions in Makkah, where he cleansed the Ka'bah of idols and reaffirmed the monotheistic worship of Allah.

Keywords

💡Makkah

Makkah is a city in Arabia that plays a crucial role in the narrative. It is the birthplace of Muhammad and the location of the Ka'bah, an ancient temple significant in Islamic tradition. In the video, Makkah is depicted as a lawless place dominated by powerful families, where Muhammad grows up and eventually spreads his message of Islam.

💡Ka'bah

The Ka'bah is an ancient temple located in Makkah, central to Islamic worship as the house dedicated to Allah. The video explains that during Muhammad's time, it was filled with idols worshipped by the people of Makkah. Later, Muhammad purifies the Ka'bah by removing these idols, re-establishing it as a place for the worship of the one true God, Allah.

💡Muhammad

Muhammad is the central figure in the video, introduced as the prophet of Islam. Born in Makkah, he receives revelations from Allah through the angel Jibra'il. His teachings and life events, including the Night of Power and the Hijrah, are pivotal to the spread of Islam. The video emphasizes his role in receiving and conveying the Qur'an, and his leadership in uniting the Arabian Peninsula under Islam.

💡Allah

Allah is the Arabic term for God, and the central deity in Islam. Muhammad's message revolves around the worship of Allah as the one and only God, opposing the polytheistic practices of the Makkans. The video discusses how Muhammad receives revelations from Allah, which later form the Qur'an, and how the Ka'bah is re-dedicated to Allah after the idols are destroyed.

💡Qur'an

The Qur'an is the holy book of Islam, believed to be the literal word of God as revealed to Muhammad. The video describes how Muhammad recited the revelations he received from Allah, which were later compiled into the Qur'an. It is named 'Recitation' because Muhammad would recite the messages, and it serves as the foundation of Islamic faith and practice.

💡Night of Power

The Night of Power, or Laylat al-Qadr, is a significant event in Islamic tradition where Muhammad receives his first revelation from Allah through the angel Jibra'il. The video describes this event as a transformative moment for Muhammad, marking the beginning of his prophethood and the revelation of the Qur'an. It is considered one of the most important nights in Islam, celebrated during Ramadan.

💡Hijrah

The Hijrah refers to Muhammad's migration from Makkah to Yathrib (later called Madinah) to escape persecution. The video explains that this event marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar and symbolizes a significant turning point in Islamic history, where Muhammad's community grew and Islam gained more followers. It underscores the importance of perseverance and faith in the face of adversity.

💡Battle of Badr

The Battle of Badr is one of the first major battles between the Muslims and the Makkans, highlighted in the video as a miraculous victory for Muhammad and his followers despite being outnumbered. This battle is significant in Islamic history as it demonstrated the strength and determination of the early Muslim community and solidified Muhammad's leadership.

💡Madinah

Madinah, originally called Yathrib, is the city that invited Muhammad and his followers to migrate from Makkah. The video describes how the city's name was changed to Madinat-ul-Nabi, meaning 'City of the Prophet.' It became the center of the early Muslim community and the base from which Islam spread across Arabia. The Hijrah to Madinah marks a pivotal moment in Islamic history.

💡Idols

Idols refer to the statues and images that were worshipped by the people of Makkah before the advent of Islam. The video explains that the Ka'bah was filled with 360 idols, representing various gods, which Muhammad later destroyed to purify the Ka'bah and dedicate it solely to the worship of Allah. This act symbolizes the rejection of polytheism and the establishment of monotheism in Islam.

Highlights

Makkah is important because the Ka'bah, an ancient temple built to worship God, is there, and Muhammad, peace be upon him, was born there.

Muhammad was a poor orphan raised by his grandfather and then his uncle, who protected him from the powerful ruling families of Makkah.

Muhammad, who believed in one unseen God, started as a shepherd and later became a successful businessman, eventually marrying a wealthy widow named Khadijah.

The Angel Jibra'il (Gabriel) appeared to Muhammad in a cave and commanded him to 'Read,' marking the beginning of the revelations from Allah that continued throughout Muhammad's life.

The messages Muhammad received from Allah were later compiled into the Qur'an, the Muslim holy book.

Muhammad's message of Islam, meaning obedience to Allah, was not well received by the ruling families of Makkah, leading to persecution of Muslims.

Muslims faced severe hardships, with some fleeing to Abyssinia (Ethiopia), while Muhammad continued to endure personal losses, including the deaths of his wife and uncle.

Muhammad experienced 'The Night Journey,' where he was taken by the angel Jibra'il on a winged horse, Al-Buraq, from Makkah to Jerusalem, then to the heavens and Paradise, where Allah instructed him to pray five times a day.

The Hijrah, the migration of Muslims from Makkah to Yathrib (later Madinah), marked a significant turning point for the Muslim community.

Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by hiding in a cave, where they were protected by a spider and a bird.

The Muslims faced three major battles against the Makkans: the Battle of Badr, the Battle of Uhud, and the Battle of the Trench, each with varying outcomes.

The Battle of Badr was a miraculous victory for the Muslims, despite being outnumbered.

In the Battle of Uhud, the Muslims faced defeat due to disobedience among Muhammad's men.

The Battle of the Trench saw the Muslims successfully defend Madinah by digging a trench, forcing the Makkans to retreat.

Muhammad's peaceful conquest of Makkah, where he destroyed the idols in the Ka'bah and rededicated it to Allah, marked a significant victory for Islam.

Transcripts

How Islam began in under ten minutes.

Not a problem. We've started?

Okay, so travel back in time with me to a land far, far away

and long, long ago.

Makkah in Arabia, about the year 570.

Makkah is important for two reasons:

one, The Ka'bah is there - an ancient temple built to worship God;

and two, Muhammad - peace be upon him - was born in Makkah.

Now, problem: I can't show you Muhammad 'cos it wouldn't be right.

I'll tell you why in a bit;

but in the meantime, here's his name in Arabic - nice.

Back in the day Makkah was a lawless place.

The only way to be safe was to have back-up,

lots of rich big brothers who would beat up anyone who got in your way.

So the place was ruled by the most powerful families

who could do pretty much what they wanted

and religion didn't help.

By this time the Ka'bah had been filled to overflowing with 360 idols

that did nothing to help anyone,

so it was a tough place to grow up

if, like Muhammad, you were a poor orphan

and believed in just one God you couldn't see,

like the Jews and the Christians.

He called him Allah - 'the God' - in Arabic there.

Muhammad's dad died before he was even born

and his mum died when he was just six.

He was brought up by his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib,

and then when he died too, by his uncle, Abu Talib,

who had the respect of the city's ruling families,

so Muhammad was safe, for the time being.

Muhammad started out as a shepherd and then became a businessman

travelling about buying and selling stuff for rich clients.

When he did some work for a rich widow called Khadijah,

she was so impressed by his honesty and skill that they ended up getting married,

and for a while it looked like Muhammad was going places.

Well, he was, but not how you think.

Every year in the month of Ramadan,

(different calendar, different names for the months),

there was a big party around the Ka'bah

when people made sacrifices to the idols.

Muhammad hated it, so he'd get out of town

and sleep in a cave he'd found on top of a nearby mountain.

One night, Muhammad's praying to Allah,

when WHAM! There's the angel Jibra'il - you might say Gabriel -

standing right in front of him.

'Read!' says the angel, but Muhammad couldn't read,

no schools you see.

Jibra'il keeps on at him. Three times he says,'Read!'

Then he grabs hold of Muhammad and WHAM!

Again! It's like Muhammad's learned the words off by heart.

So he recites the message out loud,

'Read in the name of your Lord, who created Man from a drop of blood.

Read, for your Lord is most generous.

He who taught by the pen, taught Man what he did not know'.

It was a message from Allah!

God was speaking to him just like he'd spoken

to the prophets in the Jewish and Christian holy books,

which meant he was a prophet too!

The messages continued for the rest of Muhammad's life.

Allah gave him the words to say and the Prophet recited them.

The words were written down by his friends

and years later they were collected together

and became the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an,

which means 'Recitation',

because Muhammad recited it, you see?

Anyway, that was much later, so back to 'The Night of Power'.

Muhammad tells his family,

then his friends and eventually everyone about Allah,

that he's the one and only God, that he wants everyone to be treated fairly.

And long story short, it didn't go down well with the ruling families of Makkah,

who liked things just the way they were, thank you very much.

You see, 'Islam' means obedience to Allah,

and 'Muslim' means someone who obeys Allah,

and the ruling families didn't want anyone obeying anyone else but them.

So the people who believed in Muhammad's message, the Muslims,

were given a hard time, some were even tortured and killed.

A few of them managed to escape to Abyssinia - Ethiopia -

but most were stuck in Makkah.

Muhammad also had to cope with the death of his wife

and then just a few weeks later, his uncle too.

Feeling very down he went to the Ka'bah to pray to Allah one night

then, the weirdest thing happened.

Jibra'il turns up, sits him on a winged horse called Al-Buraq,

and flies him all the way from Makkah to Jerusalem.

He prays with all the prophets who have ever lived,

then, he's taken up to the heavens to chat with some of the prophets,

and then into Paradise itself,

where Allah tells Muhammad to pray five times a day and to stay strong.

He's returned to Jerusalem and then flies back to the Ka'bah in Makkah.

We call it The Night Journey,

and Muslims still argue whether it was a real experience or a vision.

But whatever, it gave Muhammad a much needed boost,

and just as well, because there more were tough times ahead.

So, there was this other city called Yathrib,

the people there had heard about Muhammad and his message

and invited him and his followers to join them.

A few at a time, the Muslims left Makkah

and made the dangerous journey across the desert to Yathrib.

It's known as the Hijrah which means 'migration', you know, like birds do.

Muhammad and a few of his friends stayed in Makkah until everyone had got away

and then made plans for their own escape.

But, the ruling families wanted to kill Muhammad while they still could,

so seven sons, one from each family,

were sent in the middle of the night to stab the Prophet while he slept,

but he was way ahead of them,

and when they burst into the house, Muhammad was gone.

Trackers were sent out to hunt him down.

Muhammad and his best friend, Abu Bakr,

took a roundabout route to try and shake off the pursuit,

but the trackers were too good and slowly gained on them,

so Muhammad and Abu Bakr hid in a cave and prayed that no-one found them.

The trackers found the cave all right, but they didn't bother going in to search.

There was no way Muhammad could be inside, they thought.

There was a spider's web over the mouth of the cave,

and a nesting bird at the entrance,

he must have given them the slip, so off they went

leaving Muhammad and Abu Bakr protected by a spider and a bird.

Muhammad made it safely to Yathrib, which was renamed Madinat-ul-Nabi -

the City of the Prophet - but most people just call it Madinah,

but Muhammad's worries weren't over yet.

There were three big battles between the Muslims and the Makkans.

First, the Battle of Badr,

when Muhammad and just 313 men faced 1000 Makkan soldiers.

Miraculously, the Muslims won.

Then, there was the Battle of Uhud, which didn't go so well.

Some of Muhammad's men disobeyed his orders,

and ran off during the battle to raid the Makkans' camp,

and so the Muslims were out-manoeuvred.

Then, there was the Battle of the Trench.

Madinah was protected on three sides by mountains,

so when the Makkan forces advanced on the city,

the Muslims just dug a deep trench.

The Makkans made camp but the weather was terrible.

Pouring rain put out their fires and howling winds blew down their tents.

Eventually, they gave up and went back to Makkah.

It was all a bit embarrassing!

They were losing the respect of the local tribes

who were flocking to join the Muslims.

So a peace treaty was signed at Hudaibiya,

but it wasn't long before the Makkans broke it.

Muhammad decided that enough was enough.

By now he had over ten thousand men, so he led them across the desert to Makkah.

The ruling families realised they'd made a huge mistake, but it was too late!

All they could do was surrender

and hope that the Muslim army killed them quickly,

but Muhammad said there should be no more fighting.

He rode into Makkah and went straight to the Ka'bah.

He circled it seven times anti-clockwise and smashed all the idols,

re-dedicating the Ka'bah to Allah,

and that's why I'm not going to show you Muhammad.

The Muslims wanted to make it totally clear

that they only worship the one unseen God,

so they didn't have any pictures of Muhammad

in case anyone thought he was an idol,

and they didn't have any pictures of Allah,

because he's like nothing on Earth.

So it would be impossible to draw him anyway.

So there you go...

How Islam began, in under ten minutes.

How did I do?