The Muslim WorldThe Muslim WorldChapter 11Chapter 11

Islam emerged in Islam emerged in the Arabian the Arabian Peninsula.Peninsula.

The Arabian The Arabian Peninsula is mostly Peninsula is mostly desert, but farming desert, but farming is possible through is possible through irrigation or in irrigation or in scattered scattered oasesoases..

Nomadic herders, Nomadic herders, called Bedouins, called Bedouins, used camels to cross used camels to cross the scorching heat the scorching heat in search of seasonal in search of seasonal pasturelands.pasturelands.

Bedouins traded with other Arabs who had settled in oasis towns. One of these towns was Mecca.

MeccaMecca

bustling market bustling market town at the town at the crossroads of two crossroads of two main caravan main caravan routesroutes

thriving pilgrimage thriving pilgrimage center – Arabs center – Arabs came to pray at came to pray at the Kaabathe Kaaba

MuhammadMuhammad Born in MeccaBorn in Mecca In his youth, he worked as a In his youth, he worked as a

shepherd among the Bedouins.shepherd among the Bedouins. Later, he led caravans and became a Later, he led caravans and became a

successful merchantsuccessful merchant At age 25, he married Khadija, a At age 25, he married Khadija, a

wealthy widow who ran a prosperous wealthy widow who ran a prosperous caravan business.caravan business.

Troubled by idol worship and moral Troubled by idol worship and moral ills of societyills of society

Messenger of GodMessenger of God

At age 40, Muhammad went to a cave At age 40, Muhammad went to a cave to meditate.to meditate.

He received a message from the angel He received a message from the angel Gabriel that he was to become the Gabriel that he was to become the messenger of God.messenger of God.

Muhammad was frightened but Khadija Muhammad was frightened but Khadija encouraged him to accept his call.encouraged him to accept his call.

She became the first convert to Islam, She became the first convert to Islam, which is Arabic for “submission.”which is Arabic for “submission.”

Muhammad’s rejection Muhammad’s rejection of traditional Arab of traditional Arab gods angered Meccan gods angered Meccan merchants.merchants.

Muhammad and his Muhammad and his followers moved to followers moved to Yathrib, a journey Yathrib, a journey known as the known as the hijrahijra..

In Yathrib (now called In Yathrib (now called Medina or “city of the Medina or “city of the prophet”) Muhammad prophet”) Muhammad was welcomed and was welcomed and thousands of Arabs thousands of Arabs converted to Islam.converted to Islam.

After eight years, Muhammad returned to Mecca and destroyed the idols in the Kaaba.

He worked to unite Arabs under Islam until his death two years later.

Islam is both a religion and a way of life.Islam is both a religion and a way of life. Over time, Muslim scholars developed an Over time, Muslim scholars developed an

immense body of law, called the immense body of law, called the ShariaSharia, , interpreting the Quran and applying it to interpreting the Quran and applying it to daily life.daily life.

The Sharia does not separate religious The Sharia does not separate religious matters from criminal or civil law.matters from criminal or civil law.

Five Pillars of IslamFive Pillars of Islam

Declaration of FaithDeclaration of Faith Daily PrayerDaily Prayer Charity to the PoorCharity to the Poor Fasting during Fasting during

RamadanRamadan HajjHajj (pilgrimage to (pilgrimage to

Mecca)Mecca)

Islam After MuhammadIslam After Muhammad

Under the first four Under the first four caliphscaliphs, Arab armies , Arab armies marched from victory to victory.marched from victory to victory.

Muslim leaders were tolerant of the Muslim leaders were tolerant of the different beliefs under their rule.different beliefs under their rule.

Movements within IslamMovements within Islam

SunniSunni Caliph should be chosen by Muslim leaders.Caliph should be chosen by Muslim leaders. 90% of Muslims today90% of Muslims today

ShiitesShiites Caliph should be descendent of Muhammad.Caliph should be descendent of Muhammad.

SunniSunni Caliph should be chosen by Muslim leaders.Caliph should be chosen by Muslim leaders. 90% of Muslims today90% of Muslims today

ShiitesShiites Caliph should be descendent of Muhammad.Caliph should be descendent of Muhammad. Today most are in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, & Today most are in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, &

Yemen.Yemen.

UmayyadsUmayyads

Capital at DamascusCapital at Damascus Carried Islam from Atlantic to Indus Carried Islam from Atlantic to Indus

ValleyValley Only about 10% of conquered peoples Only about 10% of conquered peoples

converted to Islam.converted to Islam. Vast wealth from conquestsVast wealth from conquests When conquests slowed economic When conquests slowed economic

tensions increased.tensions increased.

Umayyad Empire at its PeakUmayyad Empire at its Peak

After the fall of the Umayyad dynasty, After the fall of the Umayyad dynasty, one member escaped to Spain to found one member escaped to Spain to found a Umayyad principality there.a Umayyad principality there.

AbbasidsAbbasids Abu al-Abbas captured Damascus and Abu al-Abbas captured Damascus and

began Abbasid dynastybegan Abbasid dynasty Moved capital to Baghdad which will Moved capital to Baghdad which will

become a center of learning and artsbecome a center of learning and arts Many non-Arabs converted to Islam, and Many non-Arabs converted to Islam, and

social discrimination against non-Arab social discrimination against non-Arab Muslims gradually faded.Muslims gradually faded.

Baghdad reached its peak under the reign Baghdad reached its peak under the reign of caliph Harun al-Rashid.of caliph Harun al-Rashid.

After collapse of Abbasid dynasty, the After collapse of Abbasid dynasty, the Islamic empire will splinter into fragments Islamic empire will splinter into fragments led by different families.led by different families.

Muslim women fared better legally under Muslim women fared better legally under Islamic law than did Christian and Jewish Islamic law than did Christian and Jewish women under their religious codes.women under their religious codes. Daughters inherited half of what sons did.Daughters inherited half of what sons did. Inheritance remained their private property.Inheritance remained their private property. Women could remarry after divorce and could Women could remarry after divorce and could

initiate divorce under certain conditions.initiate divorce under certain conditions. Women could practice birth control.Women could practice birth control. Women could testify in court although their Women could testify in court although their

testimony counted as half that of a man.testimony counted as half that of a man.

Islam allowed slavery but forbade Muslims Islam allowed slavery but forbade Muslims from enslaving other Muslims or so-called from enslaving other Muslims or so-called People of the Book – Jews, Christians, and People of the Book – Jews, Christians, and Zorastrians.Zorastrians.

Conversion did not require extensive Conversion did not require extensive knowledge of the faith. To become a knowledge of the faith. To become a Muslim, a person simply stated the Muslim, a person simply stated the declaration of faith in the presence of a declaration of faith in the presence of a Muslim.Muslim.

In many areas, converts migrated to an In many areas, converts migrated to an Arab governing center. This led to rapid Arab governing center. This led to rapid growth of Muslim cities and helped growth of Muslim cities and helped reinforce the urban orientation of Islam.reinforce the urban orientation of Islam.