The Muslim WorldThe Muslim World

The Rise of IslamThe Expansion of Islam

The Muslim Culture

Geography of ArabiaGeography of Arabia

Crossroads of Africa, Asia, and EuropeLocation made trade a huge part of life for

the people of ArabiaOceans and seas AND land trade through

caravan routes and the silk roadsClimate- deserts, Bedouins (nomads),

clans, farming communities in oases- farming and market towns

MeccaMecca

Arabia’s most important cityReligion- location of the KaabaThe Kaaba was an ancient shrine that held

and honored many idols to the gods- many people visited the Kaaba to pay their respects to these gods

Commerce- being located on the Red Sea and land trade routes made this a major trade city

The KaabaThe Kaaba

The Prophet MuhammadThe Prophet Muhammad

Birth- Mecca- orphaned at age 6, raised by grandfather and uncle with little education

Young man- worked on the caravan routes- married an older business woman, Khadijah

Revelations- a voice, he believed was Gabrielle, said Allah was the only true god and Muhammad was the last of his prophets

Terms to KnowTerms to Know

Islam: submission to the will of Allah

Muslim: one who has submitted- or the followers of Islam

Allah: the one and only true God

Early HostilityEarly Hostility

613- preaching belief in one god

Leaders in Mecca feared he would lead to the neglect of the other gods

Why would this be a problem?

People would stop traveling to the city to pay homage to the idols in the Kaaba- economically motivated!

The HijrahThe Hijrah

After attacks on Muhammad’s followers he decided to leave Mecca

Traveled to a city 200 miles northRenamed the city MedinaGathered a large number of followersBecame a military and political leaderReturned to Mecca

Muhammad’s ReturnMuhammad’s Return

630- 10,000 man army marched to MeccaDestroyed the idols in the KaabaTook over the city and established it as an

Islamic center as many citizens convertedLived 2 more years and began unification

of the Arabian Peninsula

Basic Beliefs of IslamBasic Beliefs of Islam

There is one God.

There is good and evil

Each person is responsible for his/her actions

Five Pillars of FaithFive Pillars of Faith

Faith- one God, Allah, Muhammad is his messenger

Prayer- 5 times each day toward MeccaAlms- religious tax to benefit the poor, Muslims

must support the less fortunateFasting- reminder that spiritual needs are more

important than physical…. No eating during daylight hours for the month of Ramadan

Pilgrimage (hajj)- all Muslims should visit the holy city of Mecca- all wear the same garments to signify equality before Allah

The Hajj During Ramadan

Other Customs, Morals and Laws Other Customs, Morals and Laws of the Muslimsof the Muslims

No eating pork or drinking alcohol

Communal worship on Friday afternoons at a Mosque

No priests, Muslims worship Allah directly

Islamic AuthorityIslamic Authority

Ulama- scholars who relate Islam to Quran- holy book- written in Arabic- the

only true language of Islam- and is the FINAL words of Allah

Sunna- Muhammad’s example or model for proper living

Shari’a- body of law the regulates family life, moral conduct, business and community relations

Links to Christianity and JudaismLinks to Christianity and Judaism

Allah is the same as their GodJesus= prophet, not the Son of GodAll believe in The Ten Commandments,

Heaven and Hell and final judgmentAll trace their ancestry to AbrahamJews and Christians are called “people of

the book”Islamic law requires Muslims to extend

religious tolerance to them

The Spread of Islam The Spread of Islam

Caliph- successor or deputyCaliphate- rule of a CaliphAbu-Bakr was the first following

Muhammad’s death“Rightly guided Caliphs” were those who

knew Muhammad and followed the Quran

The JihadThe Jihad

As many tribes abandoned Islam following Muhammad’s death, they refused to pay tribute

The jihad (means striving) was instituted to justify the spread of Islam

An inner struggle against evilAn armed struggle against non-believers

Success of the “Rightly Guided Success of the “Rightly Guided Caliphs”Caliphs”

Well disciplined and trained armies

Byzantine empire was weak due to centuries of conflict

Persecution of those who did not accept Christianity or Zoroastrianism

Islam’s AttractionIslam’s Attraction

Equality and hope in this worldMuslims did not have to pay a poll tax (for

non-Muslims)Allowed conquered people to practice

their religionChristians and Jews had special treatment

as “People of the Book”

A Crisis of Internal ConflictA Crisis of Internal Conflict

Several successors of Muhammad were assassinated and the elective system of choosing the Caliph was lost

The Umayyads took overMoved the capital to DamascusMuslims of Arab descent were angeredUmayyads surrounded themselves with

wealth and ceremony- things not associated with Muhammad

3 Muslim Groups Emerge3 Muslim Groups Emerge

Shi’a- “Party of Ali”Sunni- followers of Muhammad’s exampleSufi- rejected the wealth and luxury of the

Umayyad and lived a simple life of poverty and devotion

The Shi’a outwardly resisted the Umayyad rule and believe Caliphs must be descendent of Muhammad

The Abbasid CaliphateThe Abbasid Caliphate

Around 750 the Abbasids defeated the Umayyads

Moved the capital to BaghdadDeveloped a bureaucracyA treasury kept track of money flowTaxed land, imports, exports, and non-

Muslims’ wealthDid not keep complete political control of

the empire, so other Caliphates spread

The Muslim Trade NetworkThe Muslim Trade Network

Sea trade= Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean

Land trade= Silk RoadsLanguage of trade= Arabic, money was

the Abbasid DinarSet up bands and letters of credit called

sakk (Checks)

Muslim Class SocietyMuslim Class Society

Upper= Muslims from birthsSecond= converts to IslamThird= Protected people (monotheistic

believers)Fourth= slaves (non-Muslim prisoners of

war only)

There are no priests b/c Muslims pray directly to Allah

House of Wisdom = Learning House of Wisdom = Learning Center for IslamCenter for Islam

Books translated into Arabic- helped preserve European culture

Al Razi- physician who wrote a Comprehensive Book (medical encyclopedia)

Science= observation and experimentation to solve problems

Math is the basis of all knowledge “al jabr”Astronomy- book, Optics- revolutionized

ideas about vision and led to the development of telescopes and microscopes

Muslim Art and ArchetectureMuslim Art and Archetecture

Only Allah can create life images, so pictures are discouraged in art

Woodwork, glass, ceramics and calligraphy flourished

Architecture is the greatest example of cultural blending between Muslims, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines

Ornate arches frame the doors of the Koutoubia, Marrakech, Morocco's Ornate arches frame the doors of the Koutoubia, Marrakech, Morocco's oldest mosque. Completed in the 12th century, the Koutoubia served as a oldest mosque. Completed in the 12th century, the Koutoubia served as a model for other mosques in the Muslim world.model for other mosques in the Muslim world.

Mosaic and Caligraphy

The Sharia Governs Muslim LifeThe Sharia Governs Muslim Life

System of law

Regulates family life, moral conduct, business and community life

Forbidden to eat pork or drink alcoholic beverages

Role of Women in Muslim SocietyRole of Women in Muslim Society

Had more economic and property rights than other cultures of the time

Equal to men as BELIEVERS, but Islam teaches they be obedient and submissive

Today some Muslim cultures limit women’s rights (Iraq and Afghanistan are examples)

Two Worlds of Muslim Women