Page 111 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

Here is a map of the Middle East countries:

A Short History of Islam
Islam began in the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi
Arabia) when the prophet Muhammad
received the first revelation from the angel
Gabriel in the cave of Hira in the month of
Ramadan. According to tradition, he was
supposedly commanded by Allah to convey
this message to the people, and to be patient
with those hostile to it. Tradition maintains
that he received a series of revelations
dictated by Gabriel over roughly 20 years.
These revelations, codified and put into
writing after Muhammad’s death, compose
the Quran and is accepted by Muslims as the
final Revelation of God. After 13 years of spreading this message, despite increased persecution by the
Quraysh, the ruling tribe of Mecca, Muhammad and his followers migrated to Medina to establish a new
state under the prophet’s leadership and away from persecution. This migration, called the Hijra, marks
the first year of the Islamic calendar. Islam was the spread to other parts of the Arabian Peninsula over
the course of Muhammad’s life.

After Muhammad died in 632, his successors continued to lead the Muslim community based on his
teachings and guidelines of the Quran. Muhammad is said to be the last and greatest of the prophets.
The majority of Muslims consider the first four successors to be chosen by Allah. The Arab Muslims
were unable to conquer the entire Christian Byzantine Empire in Asia Minor. The Muslims attempted
two failed sieges of Constantinople in 674 and 717. Meanwhile, the Muslim community tore itself apart
into the rivaling Sunni and Shia sects since the killing of caliph, Uthman in 656 resulted in a succession
crisis that has never been resolved to this date.

Islam’s Major Beliefs
Muslims believe that there is one God (monotheism) who is the creator of everything that exists. They
say this God is sovereign, but in no place in the Quran is Allah identified with love, nor does it command
its followers to love God. They believe that God has given a special revelation to humanity through the
prophet Muhammad as written in the Quran. They believe that Jesus Christ was Messenger, prophet,
servant, Word, and Spirit of God. They believe He was virgin born. But they deny that He is the “Son of
God.” They deny that He died on the cross. In Islam there is no need for something like Christ’s atoning
death, for each person is responsible for his or her own actions, period! Sin isn’t a matter of the total
depravity of the human nature, but is more a weakness, defect, or flaw in human character.

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