The Rise Of Islam

570-632 A.D.• Born in Mecca• Belief: Angel

Gabriel delivered a message by Allah

• Revelations were written down

• Holy text became the Qu’ran (Koran)

• Muhammad: Founder of Islam

• Islam = Submission to the will of Allah

• Those who practice Islam are called Muslims

• Muhammad seeks to teach others.

• After three years, he had only 30 followers!

The Life of Muhammad

• Muhammad leaves Mecca and goes to Yathrib (Medina)

• Eight years later, the number increased to 10,000.

• He returns to Mecca and takes over.

• Converts the rest of the population.

• Muhammad dies two years later, but not without impact.

• His return was instrumental in the spreading of Islam.

• How does Muhammad compare to Jesus?

The Significance of MeccaThe Significance of Mecca

• MeccaMecca, Saudi Arabia• Islam's holiest city • Birthplace of the

prophet MuhammadMuhammad • Over a billion

Muslims around the globe face Mecca in devout prayer five times daily.

Holy pilgrimageHoly pilgrimage• The Qur’an dictates that

all Muslims in good health with adequate finances must make a pilgrimage (called the Hajj) to Mecca at least once in their lifetimes.

• About two million Muslims (from some 100 countries) make this religious journey each year.

What are they going to see?What are they going to see?• Mecca's sacred black

Ka'bahKa'bah (see photo). • Outdoor, near-cubic

structure is draped in black

• It housed the holy Black StoneBlack Stone that Muslims believe was given by heaven to the prophet Abraham.

• As they pray, many pilgrims are shoulder-to-shoulder as they circle the Ka'BahKa'Bah.

• The Ka'BahKa'Bah is surrounded by the Great Mosque, which in turn is encircled by the city of Mecca.

Aerial View of MeccaAerial View of Mecca

The The SignificaSignifica

nce of nce of MedinaMedina

• Medina, Saudi Medina, Saudi ArabiaArabia

• The second holiest city

• The city of the prophet

• Medina is significant as the city to which Muhammad fled when he was initially driven out of Mecca as well as the place where he attracted his first followers.

Basic Ethical Code of theBasic Ethical Code of the--Five PillarsFive Pillars of Islam- of Islam-

1.1. Belief in AllahBelief in Allah and in and in Muhammad as his Muhammad as his prophetprophet

2.2. Standard Standard prayerprayer five five times a day and times a day and public prayerpublic prayer

3.3. Observation of the Observation of the holy month of holy month of RamadanRamadan (the 9 (the 9thth month in the Muslim month in the Muslim calendar) “calendar) “FastingFasting””

4.4. If possible, making a If possible, making a pilgrimage pilgrimage to Mecca to Mecca

5.5. Giving Giving almsalms to the to the poor and unfortunatepoor and unfortunate

Basic Ethical Basic Ethical CodeCode

•The The Shari’ahShari’ah is the is the Islamic system of law. Islamic system of law. Unlike the western Unlike the western world, the world, the Shari’ahShari’ah did did not separate church and not separate church and state. state. •Much of the guidelines Much of the guidelines came from the Qur’an.came from the Qur’an.Guidelines under the

Shari’ah•Muslims were forbidden to gamble, eat pork, drink alcohol, or engage in dishonest behavior•Marriages were arranged•Contacts between unmarried were discouraged•Men could have more than one wife as long as they could adequately provide for them.

Islam After Islam After MuhammadMuhammad• When Muhammad died, there

needed to be a sucessor.• After much debate, the new leader

appointed, was his father in-law, Abu BakrAbu Bakr

• Abu BakrAbu Bakr was named Caliph Caliph (leader of the Islamic community)

• Under Abu Bakr, the Islamic movement began to grow.

• Abu Bakr continued with jihadjihad as Muhammad did.

• According to the Qu’ran, jihadjihad means struggle or striving in the way of (Allah).

• The concept of JihadJihad is left up to numerous interpretations.

• JihadJihad is often translated as holy war

• Bakr will help expand the Arab Empire

• He will die two years after being named caliph.

Who is the next Who is the next leader?leader?

• Ali, Muhammad’s son in law, was chosen as the caliph.

• There was a great dispute about Ali being chosen.

• Ali is the central figure at the origin of the schism that led to Shi’ite / Sunni Muslims.

• Schism means a division of a group into opposing factions. (This is similar to the different branches of Christianity.)

• Shias/Shi’ite Muslims feel that Ali should have been the first caliph and that the caliphate should pass down only to direct descendants of Muhammad

• The death of Ali: A supporter murders him, but motive is left unclear.

• The emergence of Mu’awiyah Umayyad (oo-my-ad)

• Umayyad will create a hereditary caliphate in his name.

• Thus created the Umayyad Dynasty

Sunni and Shia MuslimsSunni and Shia Muslims

• Sunni MuslimsSunni Muslims are are the largest the largest denomination of denomination of Islam. Islam.

• The caliph should be The caliph should be chosen by Muslim chosen by Muslim leaders.leaders.

• They also believed They also believed that the Qu’ran was that the Qu’ran was the only guide they the only guide they needed between Allah needed between Allah and his followers. and his followers.

• Shia MuslimsShia Muslims are are second to the Sunnis second to the Sunnis in denomination.in denomination.

• The caliph must be a The caliph must be a descendant of the descendant of the prophet Muhammad.prophet Muhammad.

• They also believed a They also believed a person had to act as a person had to act as a guide between Allah guide between Allah and his followers.and his followers.

ISLAM OVERVIEWISLAM OVERVIEWMuhammadMuhammad & Four& Four

CaliphsCaliphs1.1. Abu BakrAbu Bakr2.2. UmarUmar3.3. UthmanUthman4.4. AliAli

Umayyad DynastyUmayyad Dynasty• Mu’awiyah Mu’awiyah

UmayyadUmayyad• Hussein, Ali’s second Hussein, Ali’s second

son, will attempt to rise son, will attempt to rise up against the Umayyadup against the Umayyad

• Hussein and his army of Hussein and his army of 72, will be slaughtered72, will be slaughtered

• Move capital city from Move capital city from Medina to Damascus, Medina to Damascus, SyriaSyria

• Set up city in Spain Set up city in Spain (Cardoba) (Cardoba)

• MoorsMoors are Muslims in are Muslims in Spain.Spain.

Abbasid DynastyAbbasid Dynasty• Built capital city in Built capital city in

BaghdadBaghdad, on the Tigris , on the Tigris RiverRiver

• Continued extension of IslamContinued extension of Islam• Decline of moral values lead Decline of moral values lead

to another takeoverto another takeoverSeljuk TurksSeljuk Turks

• Take over and establish a Take over and establish a SultanSultan- “Holder of Power”- “Holder of Power”

• Turks will take over a great Turks will take over a great portion of the Byzantine portion of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) -Islam out West-Empire) -Islam out West-

• The Byzantine Empire will The Byzantine Empire will call for help from the West.call for help from the West.

• Next focus will be the West, Next focus will be the West, and the two worlds colliding.and the two worlds colliding.

ContributionsContributions

In c. 800 AD the In c. 800 AD the mathematicalmathematicaldiscipline of discipline of

Algebra Algebra was created. was created.

Ibn SinaIbn Sina

Devised medical textbook used until 1650 in European

Universities

Challenge of Challenge of the rise of the rise of

IslamIslam •The greatest threat The greatest threat came from the Seljuk came from the Seljuk Turks (Remember Turks (Remember them?)them?)•The Byzantine The Byzantine Empire will lose key Empire will lose key battles forcing new battles forcing new emperor, Alexius I to emperor, Alexius I to ask for support. ask for support. •This support will This support will eventually lead to eventually lead to what is called, “The what is called, “The Crusades”.Crusades”.

The Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire and Islamand Islam