Islam and the Muslim World

World HistoryCoach Gahan

The Rise of Islam

Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes

1. On the Arabian Peninsula, groups of Bedouins (nomadic tribes) were organized into tribes and groups called clans.

2. The clan provided security and support in the extreme desert conditions

3. Bedouins ideas of courage and loyalty to family, along with their warrior skills, would become a part of Islamic life.

4. Tribes of Bedouins would settle in areas with fertile soil and a water supply—large trading centers grew in the 600s along the western coast of Arabia.

Islam

Crossroads of Trade and Ideas

1. As a bridge from Asia, Africa, and Europe, goods were traded and new ideas were shared.

Mecca

1. The Ka’aba was a center of worship for many idols and gods. (over 360 different idols).

2. However, Christians and Jews also lived there, who practiced monotheism. This was a “melting pot” for all different types of religions.

3. In 570 AD, Muhammad was born.

The Prophet Muhammad

Muhammad

1. Born into a powerful and influential Meccan family, orphaned at six—he was raised by his grandfather and uncle.

2. He began work early as a merchant, by 25 he worked for a business manager named Khadijah, she was about 40 years old—later they would marry.

Revelations

1. Muhammad studied religions and spent a lot of time alone in prayer and meditation.

2. About the age of 40, while Muhammad was meditating in a cave outside of Mecca, the voice of the angel Gabriel came to him and told Muhammad to be a messenger of Allah (God).

3. The revelations of Muhammad through Gabriel make up the Koran or Quran or Qu’ran

4. Muhammad came to believe the Lord who spoke through Gabriel was Allah, the one and only God.

Cont’d

Also, Muhammad was to be the last and greatest prophet.

His teachings were called Islam and his followers Muslims—his wife Khadijah along with several close friends and relatives were his first followers.

By 613, Muhammad was teaching publicly in Mecca—he met with hostility, but his family helped protect Muhammad.

The Hijrah

Muhammad decided to flee Mecca in 622 along with a band of followers to Medina, located north of Mecca.

In Medina, Muhammad was an accepted leader; he united the Jewish and Muslim community and became a military leader in the growing conflict between Mecca and Medina.

Returning to Mecca

In 630, Muhammad returned to Mecca facing overwhelming forces, Mecca surrendered—Muhammad was triumphant. He destroyed the idols in the Ka’aba along with winning many converts.

Muhammad died two years later, but Mecca would remain a holy place for Islam to this day.

Beliefs and Practices

The Five Pillars

1. Faith (Shahada) — the believer testifies, in Arabic, that "There is no god but God and that Muhammad is His messenger."

2. Prayer (Salat) — pray 5 times a day facing Mecca

3. Alms (Zakat) —giving to those in need (tithe)

4. Fasting (Sawm) — to abstain from food and drink, as well as smoking and sex, between sunrise and sunset during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Muslim calendar.

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj) — once in your life (if you can afford) travel to Mecca

Way of Life

There are other customs, morals, and laws for Islamic society— Islam is not only a religion, but a way of life.

Believers are forbidden to eat pork, or drink intoxicating beverages.

Friday afternoons are set aside for worship.

Muslims are expected to worship Allah directly, but there is a scholar class of religious teachers who help apply the words and deeds of Muhammad to everyday life.

Source of Authority

Allah is above all others, who expressed his will through Gabriel and revealed it through Muhammad—recorded in the Qu’ran

The Qu’ran is written in Arabic and they worship in Arabic

Muslims pray five times a day, clean their hands and feet before prayer and remove their shoes.

Islam Expands

Muhammad’s Successors Spread Islam “Rightly Guided” Caliphs

Muhammad died in 632 without a successor to lead Islam or instructions how to choose the next leader. This is a big problem!

A close personal friend of Muhammad was chosen, he was the first caliph or “successor.”

Under the next four caliphs, collectively known as the “caliphate”—they expanded the Muslim Empire 6,000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indus River.

Internal Conflict

The murder of the ruling caliph in 656 begins a civil war, fighting for power.

Uthman was the natural choice as Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, his authority was challenged by a Syrian governor—war continued.

As the Umayyads came to power, they moved the capital of the Muslim Empire from Mecca to Damascus. As the Umayyad rulers surrounded themselves with wealth—unlike previous Muslim leaders—divisions in Islam continue to grow.

Sunni-Shi’a Split

Most accepted the Umayyads rule in favor of peace, the Sunni

Those who rejected it wanted a caliph with direct lineage from Muhammad, the Shi’a

A third group pursued a life of poverty and devotion to a spiritual path, Sufi

Religious and political opposition to the Umayyads led to their downfall in 750, the Abbasids took control of the Islamic Empire

Control Extends

Abbasids consolidate Power

The Abbasids ruthlessly murdered all remaining Umayyads, one prince fled to Muslim controlled Spain and survived

The Abbasids moved their empire from Damascus to Baghdad, a city more centrally located in the empire for control

The Abbasids had an extensive network of workers to control taxes, army, and diplomatic relations.

Rivals Divide Muslim Lands

The Abbasids controlled the Muslim Empire from 750 to 1258

Even thought the Empire did not keep total political control, they remained in power for so long by associating themselves with religious leaders.