Understanding Islam:

Islam Today: Demographics• There are an estimated 1.2 billion

Muslims worldwide– Approximately 1/5th of the world's

population – Growth without missionary efforts

• Where Do Muslims Live?– Only 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world – 20% are found in Sub-Saharan Africa – 30% in the South Asian region of Pakistan,

India and Bangladesh– The world's largest single Muslim

community is in Indonesia • The Top 9: 1) Indonesia, 2) Pakistan, 3)

Bangladesh, 4) India, 5) Turkey, 6) Iran, 7) Egypt, 8) Nigeria, and 9) China

Two Main Braches of Islam• There are two main branches of Islam today

• Sunni recognize the male heirs of the first 4 elected (according to Muhammad's instruction) caliphs (or spiritual heads) after Muhammad’s death

• Shiite recognize the decedents of only the 4th caliphs—Ali (M’s son-in-law & cousin), the only true descendent of Muhammad

• In all other ways Sunni and Shiite are very similar

Understanding Muhammad (Islam’s messenger of God):

His Life and Times

The Life of Muhammad:The early years

• Muhammad was born in Mecca around the year 570 (A city of western Saudi Arabia)

• Mecca was not a kind, friendly culture

• These tribes all worshiped many different gods (polytheistic)

• Muhammad began working as a merchant and was known for his trustworthiness

• Muhammad and Khadija (wife) had 4 daughters and 2 sons

Muhammad as a young man • Gained a reputation as being honest and reliable – nicknamed al- Amin, “the trustworthy.”

• Worked as a shepherd, then as in trade

• Began to work for the wealthy widow Khadija; they married (she was 40 and he was 25).

•Began to contemplate the low level of moral and social life in Mecca; felt great sympathy for orphans, widows, outcasts and the poor; critical especially of the practice of burying infant daughters alive.

•Became a highly disciplined spiritual seeker (Denny, 51).

Mt. Hira – north of Mecca

Koran (or the Qur'an)

• Introduction– God's revelations to

Muhammad– Islam’s religious text

• The Creation of the Book

The sacred text of Islam:

The Koran

• Organized into 114 chapters, called suras.

• Written in Arabic; recited in Arabic.

• Meccan suras and Medinan suras

• Text is understood as offering “guidance for the world” or “a clear sign for those who can understand.”

• Recitation, or revelation, of what God plans to reveal to humanity

The Five Pillars• The believer worships God directly without the

intercession of priests or clergy or saints. • The believer's duties are summed up in five simple

rules, the so-called Five Pillars of Islam:

• 1) Belief

• 2) Worship– A) Worship God five times a day — at dawn, noon,

mid-afternoon, sunset, and nightfall.

– B) All males gather together on Friday for the noon prayer and listen to a sermon by the leader of the community.

The Five Pillars• 3) Fasting

• 4) Almsgiving

• 5) Pilgrimage

African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam

What is the geography of Africa? How might this geography impact Africans?

African Regions

Pre-Islamic Africa• Extremely diverse societies developed• Political unity was difficult because of terrain• Bantu: primary language spoken

• Oral traditions; very few written records• Most communities are preliterate (lacking writing system)

• Animistic and polytheistic religions• Power of natural forces; ritual and worship• Dancing, drumming, divination, and sacrifice• Witchcraft; cosmology• Ancestors are called upon

• Economies vary by region• N. Africa: Islamic trade routes and Mediterranean trade• Sub-Saharan: agriculture; ironworking; tribes and herders• Africans exchanged abundant raw materials (esp. salt) for manufactured

goods

Geography of Africa

Africa’s geography was very diverse

& Africans were lived differently based on where

they lived

Geography of Africa

The Sahara is the world’s largest desert & acted as a barrier to separate North Africa

from sub-Saharan Africa

Early Societies of Africa

By 750, North Africans were part of the Islamic Empire, converted to Islam, & shared Arabic culture

Early societies of North Africa were influenced by

Mediterranean cultures such as the Phoenicians & Romans

Early Societies of Africa

African societies south of the Sahara were

isolated & missed out on

the cultural diffusion of the

Classical Era

Influence of Islam in Africa• 640-700: Muslims moved west from Arabia

across N. Africa to spread Islam• Rapid conversions by Berbers (Saharan nomads)• Spreads along pre-existing caravan routes

• Maghreb: NW Africa (W of Egypt); Islamized• 11th-12th centuries: Almoravids and Almohads

(ultra-conservative Muslim Berbers) grow in power• Reformers: launch jihad (war to spread and protect

faith) against “lax” Muslims• Almohads defeat Almoravids • Almohad Caliphate: 1121-1269• These groups are essential to the spread of Islam

throughout Africa.• Why is Islam attractive?

• Egalitarian; reinforced kings’ authority; equal footing politically/religiously/economically with Arabs

Almoravids1040-1147

How did early people in Sub-Saharan Africa live?

Characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa■While the societies of sub-Saharan Africa

were diverse, they shared some similarities:–Most societies lived in farming villages in

family-based clans–Few societies had

written languages; Histories were shared orally by storytellers (griots)

–Made iron tools

Characteristics of Africa■Sub-Saharan people

were polytheistic:–Practiced animism,

a religion in whichspirits exist in nature &play a role in daily life

“Stateless” Societies

• Many small African communities are politically organized in this way• There are authoritarian and centralized empires, however

• Lack concentration of power and authority• Authority and power normally exercised by a ruler and court

is held by a council or families or community• Not a “fulltime job”

• Weakness of stateless societies• No organization to collect taxes no effective militaries• No consensus Difficult to resist external pressures• No undertaking of large building projects

• Internal problems could be resolved by allowing dissidents to leave and establish new villages

The Bantu Migration

Over the course of 4,000 years, Bantu peoples of central

Africa migrated south in search of farmland

These Bantu migrations helped spread new farming & ironworking techniques

What factors shaped the culture of East Africa?

East Africa■The societies of East African participated

in the Indian Ocean trade network & were shaped by cultural diffusion:–The kingdom of

Aksum trade withPersia, India, Arabia, & Rome; Aksum became a Christian kingdom

Axum Church

Swahili Coast of East Africa• Islamized trading ports along coast by 13th c.

• Most merchants converted; financial motivation

• Ibn Battuta: Islamic scholar/writer who visits these cities; refers to them as Muslim cities

• Swahili language (Bantu + Arabic) emerged in urbanized trading ports• Syncretism: merging of different cultures

• Swahili civilization = set of commercial city-states stretching along the East African coast

• Kilwa, Mogadishu, Mombasa: large city-state and trading centers along coast• Each city-state was politically independent

with its own king• Sharp class distinctions in each city-state: big

gap between the merchant elite class and the commoners

East Africa■ Arab merchants

introduced Islam to East African trade cities–The mix of African &

Arab cultures led to a new Swahili language

–Towns had mosques & were ruled by a Muslim sultan

–But many people kept their traditional religious beliefs

KILWA• Located on East African Coast

• Independent City-State - not part of kingdom

• Monopolized (controlled) gold trade with interior

• Model drawing of Palace of Kilwa - Palace was destroyed by the Portuguese in early 16th century

•Swahili Culture: • Islamic & African culture blended

• Swahili language

• Beautiful mosques

Hail Mary in Swahili

What factors shaped the culture of West Africa?

West African Kingdoms

• Grasslands Kingdoms = West African Kingdoms= Sudanic States = Ghana, Mali, Songhai

• Sahel Grasslands: transition zone between Sahara Desert and savannahs to the south

• Point of exchange between North and Sub-Saharan Africa; important region of trade once gold is found

West Africa■West Africa was

were shaped by the trans-Saharan trade network:–West Africans

had large deposits of gold, but lacked salt

–The gold-salt trade connected North & West Africa

West Africa■The gold-salt trade

increased cultural diffusion with Muslim merchants:–Islam was

introduced in West Africa & slowed gained converts

–Many Africans blended Islam with animism or never converted

West African Kingdoms• Islam reinforced ideas of kingship and

power: “royal cult”• Joining Islam gives rulers prestige and

associates them with other great Muslim leaders

• Majority of population never converted; retain their polytheism/animism• Rulers were more concerned about

political benefits of Islam than conversion• Trade gold and salt• Mali, Ghana and Songhai

• Combine Islamic religion/culture with local practices

• Each incorporates the previous kingdom; bigger than last

• Each will exert power over subordinate communities through taxes, tribute, and military support

West Africa■The gold-salt trade led

to wealth & empires in West Africa–By 800, Ghana

became an empire by taxing merchants, building a large army, & conquering surrounding people

–Ghana kings served as religious leaders, judges, & generals

Ghana Empire400? – 1076

• 1st great West African empire

• Trade salt and gold• 10th c: rulers convert to

Islam while common people remain loyal to polytheism

• 11th c.: political height• Almoravid armies

invaded Ghana in 1076

West Africa■The kings who ruled

Mali after Sundiata converted to Islam

■The most important king was Mansa Musa:–He built a 100,000

man army to keep control over Mali

–He divided Mali into provinces ruled by appointed governors

Mali Empire(1230-1600)

• Broke away from Ghana in 13th c.• Economy: agriculture and gold trade

• Traders spread beyond W Africa• Very wealthy empire

• Islamized state in 13th c. when rulers convert• Mosques built; public prayers

• Founder: Sundiata (dies 1260)• “Lion Prince”• Divides society into clans with different jobs• Peace created through loyalty; crimes

severely punished• Credited with Malinke expansion and

creation of unified state with each tribe having a representative at court

• Heavily defended empire

Mali Empire(1230-1600)

• Jenne and Timbuktu• Major cities of commercial

exchange• Scholars, artisans, merchants• Mosques, libraries,

universities• Mostly agricultural; polygamy

allowed because of Islamic beliefs and for the ability to have children work

• Irrigation along Niger River

Mansa MusaMansa Musa was a devout Muslim & went on

a hajj to Mecca in 1324

Mansa Musa passed out gold nuggets to the people he met along the way

Mansa Musa: Malinke Ruler

• Second ruler of Mali• 1324: Hajj to Mecca

• Aligns himself with Islamic rulers• Brings back scholars, architects,

artists• Ishak al-Sahili: architect who

builds great Mosque of Jenne• Inadvertently devastates

economies he enters as he passes out gold and spends it

• Symbol of existence of wealthy, sophisticated empires in Africa

• Estimated wealth: $400 billion

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West Africa■When he returned

from Mecca, Mansa Musa built mosques throughout Mali, including Timbuktu–This trade city

attracted scholars, doctors, religious leaders

–It had a university & became an important center for learning

West Africa■When he returned

from Mecca, Mansa Musa built mosques throughout Mali, including Timbuktu–This trade city

attracted scholars, doctors, religious leaders

–It had a university & became an important center for learning

West Africa■After Mansa Musa,

Mali declined & was replaced by Songhai –Kings gained control

of trade cities along the gold-salt routes

–Songhai grew into the largest of the West African empires

–Its fall in 1591 ended a 1,000 year era of empires in West Africa

Songhai Empire(1464-1591)

• Independent from Mali in 1370s• Prospered as a trading state and

military power.• Founded by Sunni Ali (1464-1492)

• Great military leader; extended rule over the entire Niger River valley.

• Rulers practice Islam; people maintain polytheism• Muslims are merchants (wealthy);

become elite• Songhai remained dominant until

defeated by Moroccans in 1591 for practicing a lax form of Islam

Influence of Islam in West African Kingdoms

• Islam provided universal faith, sense of community, and a strong political/legal system.

• Royal Cult: rulers reinforced authority through Muslim ideology; spiritual and political leader

• Many who are exposed to Islam do not convert but remain practitioners of their indigenous religion• Many Sudanic societies were matrilineal.

• Hesitancy over conversion to Islam since it restricted women more than these societies did

• Islam supports interregional trade• Slavery and slave trade grew in prominence (7 million traded)• Slave trade has existed since Classical period; Islam helps

globalize it• Majority of Africa, even after introduction of Islam, will

remain in isolation and not connected to larger networks

Global Connections• Spread of Islam brought large areas of Africa

into the global community through increasing contact from 700-1500 CE. • Specifically, Sudanic states and East Africa

• However, most of Africa evolved in regions free of Islamic contact (Central + Southern Africa). • Organized their lives in stateless societies.

• While no universal empires and religions develop in Africa, Christianity and Islam impact the region through political, economic, and cultural development.

• Reality is there are more written records in regions affected by Islam; knowledge is not even