9781422281161

14 T HE S TRUGGLE FOR I DENTITY : I SLAM AND THE W EST

tribes. However, when the project was almost complete, a dispute arose. The leaders could not agree which tribe should have the honor of replacing the sacred black stone. According to tradition, a man named Muhammad devised a solution that pleased everyone. He placed the black stone in the center of a large cloth. The leader of each tribe held one corner of the cloth, lifted the stone, and carried it into the Kaaba, where Muhammad slid the stone off the cloth and into place. This solution settled the argument fairly by allowing all of the tribes to share the honor of replacing the stone. Muhammad was much more than a man who could solve problems and help people work together. During his lifetime he spread the message that there is no god but Allah . The religion known as Islam developed from Muhammad’s teachings; Muslims believe these teachings came directly from Allah, and revere Muhammad as Allah’s last, and most important, prophet. The Life of Muhammad Muhammad ibn Abdullah was born in Mecca in CE 570. Throughout his childhood he experienced much sorrow. Muhammad never knew his father, who died just a few weeks before he was born. His mother died when he was just six years old. After his mother died Muhammad lived with his grandfather, who died when Muhammad was eight years old. After his grandfather died, Muhammad lived with his uncle. Because Muhammad had to help the family by taking care of sheep, he was not able to attend school. Consequently, he never learned to read and write. Because he had experienced so much tragedy in his own childhood, as Allah— “the God”; the one God that Muslims worship. mosque— Muslim place of worship. Ramadan— the month in which Muhammad received his first revelations; the traditional month of fasting for all Muslims. Words to Understand in This Chapter