Nation of Islam — Part 1

125 pages · May 11, 2026 · Broad topic: Religion & Belief · Topic: Nation of Islam · 118 pages OCR'd

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sf ry ¢ Mass conversions are rarely made without bloodshed, and Islam was no exception. A series of savage conflagrations accompanied the rapid spread of the new religion over the sands of Arabia. Perhaps _ the most significant of these pattles occurred between three hundred of Mohammed's men and one thousand Meccans at a place called Badr. The victory of Mohammed's inferior force was interpreted as a divine sanction of the new faith. ‘Previous to this battle, Islam was & religion with a state; after this it became a state. But the tides of war were not always 60 favorable to Mohammed. More than a year later, amid the beating of timbrels, Mohammed's army was cut to ribbons on the plains of Ohod by hostile tribes, and only saved from complete annihilation by the exhaustion of the enemy. In 629 A.D., after a pilgrimage which Mohammed had sent to Mecca returned unharmed, he decided to venture there himself. His pilgrimage was made without incident and be won valuable converts in the city of Mecca, among whom were some who had previously fought against him, In 630 A.D.,he marched against Mecca, which fell without a struggle. Pagan Arabia had been converted, and the missionaries of Islam were free to carry the Prophet's word to the Eastern Empire, Persia and Ethiopia. 4 Within a hundred years after Mohammed's death, in 632 A.D., not merely Arabia, but Syria, Persia, Egypt, Northern Africa and Spain -3- aE ARN prorat eet mie orate i ane Dd thes BS FE A De eed 7a) ee a, ©

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Mass conversions are rarely made without bloodshed, and
Islam was no exception. A series of savage conflagrations accompanied
the rapid spread of the new religion over the sands of Arabia. Perhaps

_ the most significant of these pattles occurred between three hundred of

Mohammed's men and one thousand Meccans at a place called Badr. The

victory of Mohammed's inferior force was interpreted as a divine sanction

of the new faith. ‘Previous to this battle, Islam was & religion with a state;

after this it became a state. But the tides of war were not always 60
favorable to Mohammed. More than a year later, amid the beating of
timbrels, Mohammed's army was cut to ribbons on the plains of Ohod by
hostile tribes, and only saved from complete annihilation by the exhaustion
of the enemy. In 629 A.D., after a pilgrimage which Mohammed had sent
to Mecca returned unharmed, he decided to venture there himself. His
pilgrimage was made without incident and be won valuable converts in the
city of Mecca, among whom were some who had previously fought against

him, In 630 A.D.,he marched against Mecca, which fell without a struggle.

Pagan Arabia had been converted, and the missionaries of Islam were free

to carry the Prophet's word to the Eastern Empire, Persia and Ethiopia. 4

Within a hundred years after Mohammed's death, in 632 A.D.,

not merely Arabia, but Syria, Persia, Egypt, Northern Africa and Spain
-3-

aE ARN prorat eet

mie orate

i
ane

Dd thes BS FE A
De eed

7a)
ee