The Rise of Islam

The Muslim World

AllahMuhammadIslamMuslimHijrahMosqueHajjQur’anSunnaShari’a

VOCAB

Most of the land on the Arabian Peninsula consists of desert

Few oasis’ and a small strip of land in southern Arabia can support agriculture

Area was populated by nomadic herders600’s many began to settle around the oasis’

and market towns along the western coast of Arabia

Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes

Crossroads of Trade and Ideas:600’s trade routes connected Arabia to the

major ocean and trade routes around the worldGoods from the Persian and Byzantine Empires

were bought and traded throughout ArabiaTrade routes also brought information and

ideas from the outside world to Arabia

Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes

Deserts, Towns, and Trade RoutesMecca

City in Western Arabia Caravans of pilgrims stop in Mecca to worship

at Ka’abaAncient shrine of worship

Arabs associate this house with Abraham; Hebrew prophet and believer in one God.

Over the years the Ka’aba was home to nearly 360 idols from many different tribes

Belief in one God (Allah), existed in Arabia

Muhammad (570 AD) Born into a wealthy Meccan family Orphaned at age of 6; raised by grandfather

and uncleAt 25; became a trader and manager for a

wealthy business women named Khadijah- later would marry

Took great interest in religion, spent time alone in prayer and meditaion

The Prophet Muhammad

RevelationsAge 40 Muhammad’s life would change

forever;While meditating in a cave near Mecca he

heard a voice call to himAccording to Muslim faith it was the voice of the

angel Gabriel; who told Muhammad he was the messenger of Allah

Muhammad became convinced that the voice who spoke to him was that of Allah

Began to teach that Allah was the only God and that all other gods should be abandoned

Islam was created.

The Prophet Muhammad

RevelationsIslam: means “submission to the will of Allah”A Muslim is someone who believes in Islam

Muslim: means “one who is submitted” 613 Muhammad began to preach in Mecca to

mixed reviewsSome feared that his monotheistic beliefs would

ruin Mecca’s pilgrimage

The Prophet Muhammad

The Hijrah(622 AD) After his followers were attacked

Muhammad left Mecca He moved to the town of Yathrib, 200 miles

north of MeccaThe migration was known as Hijrah The town of Yathrib became known as Medina In Medina Muhammad united the Arabs and

Jews living their as one community

The Prophet Muhammad

Returning to MeccaGrowing tension between Mecca and Medina

led to Muhammad gaining military control630 AD Muhammad and 10,000 of his followers

marched to MeccaThe Meccans surrenderedMuhammad destroyed the idols in the Ka’aba

and converted many Islam2 years later Muhammad died at 62Great strides in uniting the Arabian Pennisula

under Islam

The Prophet Muhammad

Beliefs and Practices of Islam There is only one GodThere is good and evilEach individual is responsible for his/her own

life

The Five PillarsFaith- “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad

is the messenger of Allah”Prayer- Five times a day they must face Mecca and

pray. They may gather in a mosque or where ever Alms- All Muslims must give to the poor; through a

religious taxFasting- During Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn

till sunset. Reminder spiritual needs are more than physical needs

Pilgrimage- those that are physically and financially capable must make a hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca

Beliefs and Practices of Islam

A Way of Life:Five pillars ensure Muslims live their religion

while serving the community Other beliefs, morals ,and laws make up

Muslim SocietyForbidden to eat pork, drink intoxicating beveragesFriday afternoon set aside for communal worship

No religious hierarchy; everyone prays directly to Allah

Ulama- scholar class; religious teachers who apply the words and deeds of Muhammad to everyday life

Beliefs and Practices of Islam

Sources of AuthorityOriginal source is Allah speaking to

Muhammad through Gabriel the angelWhile Muhammad lived the followers

memorized his revelations Collected into a book called the Qur’an-

Muslim Holy BookQur’an is written in Arabic; only version to be

considered true word of Allah Arabic language used to help unify the Muslim

people

Beliefs and Practices of Islam

Sources of AuthoritySunna- Muhammad’s example was the proper

way of living Shari’a- system of law that regulates the family

life, moral conduct, business and community life of the Muslims

Beliefs and Practices of Muslims

Links to Judaism and ChristianityMuslims believe that Allah is the same God

that is worshiped in Christianity and Judaism Muslims view Jesus as a prophet, not the son of

God Muslims refer to Christians and Jews as

“people of the book” – They all have holy booksMuslims trace their ancestry to Abraham, just

like the Jews and Christians Shari’a law requires Muslim leaders to extend

religious tolerance to Christians and Jews.

Beliefs and Practices of Islam