Islam Islam

Rise of the CrescentRise of the Crescent

The Arabs before IslamThe Arabs before Islam• Nomadic peoples

from Arabian Peninsula

Arab SocietyArab Society• Divided and ruled

by Tribes

–The Sheik

• Towns develop on caravan routes

–Beduins

–Camels domesticated 1000 BC

Arab PolytheismArab Polytheism• Found gods in

nature and extraordinary natural events

• Supreme god is Allah

• The Ka’aba

Enter MohammedEnter Mohammed• From Mecca

• Married widow Khadija (caravan owner)–Wealth & power

Mohammed’s ConversionMohammed’s Conversion• Visions from Gabriel

• Wrote down the Quran (Koran)

• Completed God’s revelations

–Jews – part I

–Christians – part II

–Islam – part III

What Gabriel SaidWhat Gabriel Said• The Five Pillars of Islam

1. Shahada- Pledge to Allah

2. Salat- Pray 5 times / day

3. Zakat- Give alms to poor

4. Sawm- Fast in Ramadan

5. Hajj- Pilgrimage to Mecca

The Pledge, “The Pledge, “ShahadaShahada””

•“La Illaha illah Allah Mohammad Rasul Allah”

• There is no god but Allah and Mohammad is his Messenger

The New The New Holy PeopleHoly People

• Muslims - the 12 tribes of the desert

–Ancestry of Arabs through Abraham’s son Ishmael and his mistress Hagar

Jews are sons of Abraham and his wife Sarah (with back turned here) through Isaac (Tribes of Israel)

Changing Arab animists to IslamChanging Arab animists to Islam• Allah is not king of

gods, the ONLY god

• The Kaaba was a gift from Allah

• Mohammed not divine (unlike Jesus)

• Politics and Religion are the same Muslims at the Kaaba

Reaction to IslamReaction to Islam• Polytheists despise

him–Disrupts economy,

society, tradition and politics

• Chase him from Mecca -the Hijrah–622 AD = year 1 Story of Mohammed

and the Spider on the Hijrah

Mohammed strikes backMohammed strikes back• Medinah gives

him shelter

• Builds followers and an army

• Conquers the Middle East in name of Allah

Islamic SocietyIslamic Society• Governed by Shari-ah

–Regulates all aspects of life

• Food, Gambling, Sex, family

business and government

–INTERPRETED BY SCHOLARS!!!