What you need to know about Islam #4

Today I want us to see how the mind set of Muhammad changed when he went from Mecca to Medina. It is ver important to understand this about the history of Islam.

In Mecca Muhammad never spoke of Jihad. He had no military power at this time to do so! But when He got to Medina and built military power the supposed revelation from Allah changed to jihad and fighting the enemy so the muslims would fight!
Here are some examples of what He did in Mecca and what he did in Medina:

*In Mecca he invited people to Islam by preaching. In Medina he persuaded people to convert by the sword.

*In Mecca he acted as a priest, praying, fasting, worshipping, and preaching. In Medina he became a military commander, personally leading 27 attacks. He also continued to preach but more about jihad!

*In Mecca he fought against idol worship. In Medina he fought agains people of the book(Jews and Christians).
It is very easy to see how Muhammad’s revelations from Allah went from peace to war quickly!

Muhammad ran into problems in Mecca that may have influenced this big change from peace to jihad. In Mecca his message of peace, patience, and forgiveness ran into disagreements with the tribe he came from which was called Quraysh. Many people were turning from their idol worship to Islam which other tribal leaders did not like. So the leaders of the tribe tried to compromise with Muhammad. The would make him a leader if he would stop teaching Islam. He refused and actually said “if they bring the sun and put it in my right hand and bring the moon and put it in my left hand, I will not give up my revelation.” He was not going to stop! So the tribe began to persecute him. Even to the point of trying to kill him several times. The Quran makes reference to this: 

Sarah 8:30, And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad ) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (from your home, i.e. Makkah); they were plotting and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of the planners.

Muhammad then left Mecca to Medina and built up military power. What do you think his first move was?

Next time we meet together we will see what Muhammad does next. 

Tom