This was a very positive presentation where I learned same great info about the Muslim faith and people. This is a continuation of my notes of the week before. Any inaccuracies is the fault of the note taker.

Overview of the life of Mohammed:

Mohammed was born in Saudi Arabia and at age 6 he lost both his parents. He went to live with his uncle. It was the culture between the tribes that if one person killed a member of another tribe of blood feuds would begin that could last decades. Natural resources in the country was scarce so tribes a very protective of the limited resources they had.

At Mecca (current name) is believed to be the place of the burial of Abraham. Inside one of the buildings there were many idols one of which represented all.

Mohammed was known to be very trustworthy and has excellent skill of settling disputes. Many people came to him for help. He was involved with other traders. One of which was an older woman that come to love him and propose marriage to him. He accepted. I think she was 40 and he was 25. They love each other very much.

Mohammed would meditate and at one point (in a cave I think) had an experience where he talked to the Angel Gabriel. He was really upset and went home and told his wife. His wife said that with his integrity that maybe he had been chosen and that he should listen to the messenger. Mohammed told the people that your idols or fake. The tribes got upset at him and tried to get Mohammed stride to agree that they would not avenge his death if he was killed. The uncle/tribe leader did not accept that request.

Mohammed got support from Mesodania. He agreed that he and his limited followers would come if they would offer protection. (I believe this represents year one of the Muslim colander and may be 22 A.D.?)

News of his followers/Muslims being slaughtered reached him and God/Allah said to go to war. The guest speaker made a comparison of how the Israelites of the Old Testament were told to wipe out the fellow countries so that Israelites could occupy the land. 300 followers fought against 1000 enemy. The war lasted three years.

As news spread other tribes joined. Eventually leading up to 14,000 Muslims.

In the end, Mohammed won. When he arrived into Cabba? He circled it seven times and then went inside and destroyed every idle.

Tribal code dictates that the victors kill the man and the wife and children can be sold into slavery and the possessions of the losers become the possessions of the victors. But when Mohammed gained a victory he told his followers not to hurt the survivors of the war. The losing soldiers did flee anticipating execution.