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What was happening on the Arabian peninsula before the time of Muhammad?. Before Muhammad most Arabs were Bedouins. Nomadic herders Scattered tribes Warriors raided other tribes and waged war against each other. Polytheistic. Muslims trace their heritage through biblical tradition.
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What was happening on the Arabian peninsula before the time of Muhammad?
Before Muhammad most Arabs were Bedouins. • Nomadic herders • Scattered tribes • Warriors raided other tribes and waged war against each other. • Polytheistic
Muslims trace their heritage through biblical tradition. • The Qur’an uses the same creation story and early histories found in the Jewish/Christian holy books. • Muslims trace their family lines to one of Noah’s sons (Shem). • The Qur’an teaches that Arabs are descended from Abraham (called the father of Judaism). • Abraham’s first son, Ishmael was banished when his legitimate son, Isaac, was born. • Ishmael is said to have been sent to Makkah.
Makkah (Mecca) was an important city. • Makkah became well-known as a trading stop on the way to Constantinople. It’s fresh water well was an important draw. • It was made a very important city by a tribe called the Quraysh in the 5th century. • As a trade city, it had a very diverse population (Arabs, Christians and Jews).
Makkah was a religious center. • We know that even before the Quraysh took power, local tribes stored their religious idols in the shrine called the Kaaba. • Tradition says that the kaaba was dropped from heaven. • By the 600s, more than 300 idols were stored inside.
