The Birth of Islam: Muhammad and the Jews | The Jewish Story | Unpacked
# The Birth of Islam: Muhammad and the Jews
## The Early Life of Muhammad
In 610 CE, after years of oppression by the Byzantine Christians, the Jews of the Arabian Peninsula were living in relative safety as respected craftsmen, metalworkers, and jewelers. Meanwhile, in a cave near Mecca, Muhammad, the founder of Islam, claimed he had received regulatory visions that would indirectly impact Jewish life forever.
Muhammad ibn Abdullah was born in 570 in the Arabian town of Mecca. Raised by an uncle, a merchant who taught him many tricks of the trade, Muhammad quickly learned and earned the nickname El Amin, the one you can trust. As he grew older, Muhammad became aware of the moral deficiency of his fellow Meccans and began to spend more time alone, meditating and fasting.
## The Revelation and Spread of Islam
According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad received a life-changing revelation from the angel Gabriel, commanding him to spread the belief in one God, Allah, and recite divine verses that would later be included in the Qur’an. Despite opposition from the merchants of Mecca, Muhammad managed to convert around 40 people and eventually fled to Medina in 622 with his followers.
## Relations with the Jews
In Medina, where the people responded more favorably to Muhammad’s message due to their contact with the monotheistic Jewish tribes in the region, Muhammad adopted many Jewish customs and beliefs. However, the Jews resisted Muhammad’s claims of prophecy, leading to conflicts and massacres.
## Conquest and Islamic Rule
After Muhammad’s death, his followers continued to conquer the Middle East, advancing across North Africa and eventually conquering Spain. By the middle of the eighth century, 90% of the world’s Jews were living under Muslim rule. While Jewish life under Islamic rule varied depending on the rulers, Jews were generally treated as second-class citizens and subject to strict rules.
In conclusion, the birth of Islam and the rise of Muhammad had a significant impact on Jewish life, leading to conflicts, massacres, and changes in the status of Jews under Islamic rule.
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