Islam

A man named Muhammad brought a new religion to Arabia. Much of what we know about him comes from religious writings.

• Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca around 570. As a child, he traveled with his uncle’s caravans. As an adult, Muhammad managed a caravan business.

• Muhammad was upset that rich people did not help the poor. He often went to a cave to meditate on this problem.

Origin of Islam

• According to Islamic belief, when Muhammad was 40, an angel spoke to him.

• Muhammad taught that there was only one God, Allah. The belief in one god was a new idea for many Arabs.

• Before this time, Arabs prayed to many gods at shrines. The most important shrine was in Mecca. Many people traveled to Mecca every year on a pilgrimage. Muhammad also taught that the rich should give money to the poor. But rich merchants in Mecca rejected this idea. Slowly, Muhammad’s message began to influence people.

• The rulers in Mecca felt threatened by him. Muhammad left and went to Medina. His house became the first mosque, or building for Muslim prayer. After years of conflict, the people of Mecca finally gave in and accepted Islam.

Islam

• Muhammad began to preach in Mecca. He claimed that an angel spoke to him and made him a prophet.

•He taught that there was only one god and the Arabian people should stop worshipping idols and pagan gods and submit to Allah (God).

• Muhammad, left Mecca and took his message to Medina, where he converted many people. His followers were called Muslims.

• This move to Medina is called the hegira, or journey.

Geography and Timeline of Islam

•Muhammad continued to receive messages from the angel and to preach in Medina. His home became the first mosque and the messages were collected in the Qur’an.

• Between 622 AD, and the death of Muhammad in 632 AD, the Islamic religion had spread to half of the Arabian Peninsula.

• After Muhammad’s death, many of his words and deeds were recorded as a guide to the way Muslims should live. This was called the Sunnah.

632 AD

Timeline of Islam Creation

• The messages from Muhammad form the basis of a religion called Islam.

• A follower of Islam is called a Muslim. The messages were written in the Qur´an (kuh-RAN), the holy book of Islam.

More Info on Islam…

Basic Facts• Tenets: – is monotheistic– belief in the Prophet Muhammad and one God

called Allah– adheres to the Five Pillars of Islam; the Sunnah

guides Muslims’ behavior • Supreme Being: Allah• Sacred Text: The Qur’an • 1.5 billion adherents

Basic Facts of Islam

Basic Facts• Place of Worship:

Mosque• Holy Land: – Mecca– Additional pilgrimage sites

include the Al Quds mount in Jerusalem (The Dome of the Rock) and the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia

Basic Fact of Islam

The Qur’an• Final Word of God• Authoritative only in Arabic• Protected from change/corruption• Supercedes previous revelations (such as the

Old and New Testaments)• Only text Muslims turn to today• 114 chapters/varying lengths

Basic Facts of Islam

Dome of the Rock

Islam

Dome of the Rock and Western Wall

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5 Pillars of Islam Directions: As you watch this video, write down ONE facts that you learn about each of the 5 Pillars of Islam. After the clip is over, you will reflect on what you learned by explaining your feelings about each fact and making a connection to another religion that you are familiar with.

Five Pillars of Islam

1. Confession of Faith: “There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Prophet of God”

2. Ritual Prayer (5x/day)

Five Pillars of Islam

3. Almsgiving(2.5% of wealth)4. Fasting5. Hajj

Hajj

The Hajj

• Shed evidence of wealth/poverty

• Dressed in white• Day One—travel from

Mecca to Medina• Day Two—Day of

Arafat (forgiveness and mercy)

Hajj

• Day Three—– Throwing stones at pillars that represent

seductions of Satan– Slaughter animal and give meat to poor.– Seven turns around the Ka’aba– Trek between to small hills to honor Hajar’s

(Hagar) search for water

Islam

Islam

Fasting During Ramadan• 9th month on Islamic calendar (lunar calendar)• Fasting is from sun up to sun down• Intended to teach patience, modesty, and

spirituality• Is ended with the Festival of Eid ul-Fitr (the

Festival of Breaking the Fast)

Fasting

• With your group open the envelope and make some PREDICTIONS by placing the event of Islamic Expansion in the order you think they should go.

• Once you are done look at the Timeline and check your answers to make sure your events are in the correct order.

• Discuss with your groups what you observed.

Islamic Expansion

Separate branches emerged over who should lead the faith after the Prophet’s death• Shi’ia (Shi’ite)—Muslim leadership should

stay in Muhammad’s family– Today, this is 10% of Muslims

• Sunni—most qualified should be selected to lead – Today, this 90% of Muslims

Islamic Expansion

Spread of Islam

• Muslim Empire had spread across all of North Africa and into Spain in the west. Further Muslim conquest was stopped at the Battle of Tours, in western France.

• To the east, the Muslim Empire spread across the Indus River and into western India.

•Between 632 AD, and 661 AD, the Islamic religion had spread to Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Iran, west to Tripoli (Libya), north to the Taurus and Caucasus Mts (Turkey and Georgia) and east to Pakistan.

• After Muhammad’s death, his successors were called caliphs. There was disagreement over who should lead. This caused a split between the Sunni and Shiites that continues to the present day.

732 AD

Battle of Tours

Spread of Islam

661 AD

Expansion Through Trade: Arab merchants took Islamic beliefs and practices with them to new lands. Coastal trading cities developed into large Muslim communities. Muslims generally practiced tolerance, or acceptance. They did not ban all other religions in their lands. More people began speaking Arabic and practicing Islam. The Arabs also took on non- Muslim customs. Cultural blending changed Islam into a religion of many cultures. The development of Muslim cities like Baghdad and Córdoba reflected this blending of cultures.

Islam Expansion

Expansion Through Conquer: After Muhammad’s death Abu Bakr (UH-boo BAK-uhr) was the leader of Islam. He was the first caliph (KAY-luhf). This title was used for the highest Islamic leader. Abu Bakr unified Arabia. The Arab army conquered the Persian and Byzantine empires.Later caliphs conquered lands in Central Asia, northern India, and North Africa. They controlled eastern Mediterranean trade routes. After many years of fighting, the Berbers of North Africa converted to Islam. A combined Arab and Berber army conquered Spain and ruled for 700 years.

Islam Expansion

Muslims• Defeated the Persian

and Byzantine Empires but allowed Jews and Christians to practice their religion.

• Grew into three separate empires: Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal.

Islam

Ottoman EmpireIn the 1200s, Muslim Turks known as Ottomans attacked

the Byzantine Empire. They trained janissaries, boys from conquered towns who were enslaved and converted to Islam. In 1453 the Ottomans took Constantinople and renamed it Istanbul. This ended the Byzantine Empire. By 1566 the Ottomans took control of the eastern Mediterranean and part of Europe.

Islamic Empires

Central Asia /

EuropeNorthAfrica

Safavid EmpireThe Safavids (sah-FAH-vuhds) gained power in the east. They soon

came into conflict with the Ottomans. The conflict stemmed from an old disagreement about who should be caliph. In the mid- 600s, Islam had split into two groups—the Sunni and the Shia. The Ottomans were Sunni, and the Safavids were Shia. The Safavid Empire conquered Persia in 1501 and soon grew wealthy, building glorious mosques in Esfahan, their capital.

Islamic Empires

Iran

Mughal EmpireEast of the Safavid Empire, in India, lay the Mughal

(MOO-guhl) Empire. The Mughals united many diverse peoples and were known for their architecture—particularly the Taj Mahal. Under the leader Akbar, the Mughal Empire was known for its religious tolerance. But more restrictive policies after his death led to the end of the empire. Mughal Empire represents present-day Pakistan.

Islamic Empires

India/ Pakistan

Muslim Populations

Islam Today