Islam

The Arabs

• towns developed as Arabs carried goods between the Indian Ocean & the Mediterranean, the end of the Silk Road.

• trace their ancestors to Abraham & his son Ishmael, who were believed to have built a shrine at Makkah (Mecca) called the Kaaba

Islam

The Life of Muhammad • Muhammad received revelations from

God while meditating in the hills. • he believed Allah revealed himself partially

through Moses (Judaism) & Jesus (Christianity) & that Allah’s final revelations were to him.

• his revelations became the Quran, the holy scriptures of Islam.

• Islam = “peace through submission to the will of Allah.”

Islam

The Life of Muhammad (cont.) • Quran contains ethical guidelines for Muslims

(those who practice Islam)• one God = Allah; Muhammad is God’s

prophet.• people in Makkah didn’t believe him, so

Muhammad & some of his followers moved north to Madinah (Medina = “city of the prophet”)

• Muhammad won support from residents of Madinah & surrounding Bedouin tribes.

• formed the first community of practicing Muslims.

Islam

The Life of Muhammad (cont.) • In 630, Muhammad returned to Makkah with

ten thousand men.

• city surrendered & many residents converted to Islam.

• declared the Kaaba a sacred shrine.

• All Muslims are encouraged to make a pilgrimage, known as the hajj, to Makkah.

Islam

The Teachings of Muhammad • Islam is monotheistic.

• Allah is the all-powerful creator of everything.

• Islam offers salvation & the hope of an afterlife to its followers.

• Muhammad is not considered divine, as Jesus is in the Christian religion; he’s a prophet who conveys Allah’s final revelations.

• To obey Allah’s will, Muslims must follow an ethical code comprised of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Islam

The Teachings of Muhammad (cont.)

1. belief–there is no deity but the One God, & Muhammad is his messenger

2. prayer–perform prescribed prayers 5x/day3. charity–give part of one’s wealth to the poor4. fasting–refrain from food & drink from dawn

to sunset during the month of Ramadan5. pilgrimage–make a pilgrimage to Makkah at

least once in a lifetime.

• The faithful who follow the law are guaranteed a place in an eternal paradise.

Islam

The First Three Caliphs

•Abu Bakr (632-634)

•Caliph: leader of the Muslim community, not a prophet.

•Friend of Muhammad’s

•Faced two main problems

•1. False prophets claimed to be successor of Muhammad

•2. Secession of Arabic tribes from Ummah (Muslim Community)

•Expanded Muslim community into parts of Byzantine and Persia

Islam

UMAR (634-644 AD)

• Expanded Ummah to Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Western Persia, and parts of North Africa.

• Expanded the use of jihad• Gave more structure to administration

of Muslim state: created tax system.

Islam

UTHMAN (644-656 AD)

• Muhammad’s son in law• First years or rule were peaceful, but later had financial problems. • Murdered by Egyptians• Start of open political and religious conflict in Muslim community.

Islam

Ali’s Caliphate and the Division Between Sunni’s and Shi’as

Mu’awiya• Umayyad Leader• Syrian Governor • Increased pressure on

Ali • Uthman member and

leader of the Umayyad clan.

Ali• Muhammad’s cousin

and son in law. • Elected Caliph• Pressured to punish

Uthman’s murderers.

Civil War Between Muslims

Mu’awiya and Ali’s armies fought

Decided both should resign

Mu’awiya declared himself caliph; Ali

continued to rule in Persia and Iraq.

Kharijites attempted to kill both leaders, but only successful with Ali.

Sunni Shi’a

• Never accepted caliphs not direct descendants of Muhammad.

• Don’t recognize first 3 caliphs.

• Only Imam (special Muslim leader) can interpret Qur'an.

• Hold that 12 Imams, Ali the 1st, rightful leaders of Muslims.

• Devout Muslims can be caliph

• Support rule of First 3 caliphs.

• Make up 80% of Muslim Population today.

Conflict over caliphs created split between Muslims:

Sunni and Shi’a

Islam

Mu’awiya Establishes a Dynasty

• Ruled from 680-750 AD and moved caliphal capital to Damascus.

• 14 caliphs succeeded Mu’awiya: Empire stretched from Spain to Central Asia.

Islam

Mu’awiya Establishes a Dynasty

Administrative Reforms

• Governors appointed to rule provinces. Spoils from victories helped finance government.

• Three level tax system– Muslims paid zakat– Muslims converts

considered Mawali: paid higher tax than Muslims.

– Non-Muslims paid highest tax, izya (security tax)

Umayyad Achievements

• Innovations in irrigation and canals.

• Perfected mosque construction techniques:

• Great Mosque in Damascus

• Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem.

Islam

Abbasids• Centered in Baghdad and the crossroads for land

and water trade routes. • Created a standard code of law, Sharia’ab, and a

system of banking with checks. • Built libraries and universities• Excelled in medicine, astronomy, math, and

chemistry. • Advanced in navigational and sailing techniques.

– Brought Indonesia within the Muslim Empire

Islam

Abbasids

• Lived very lavishly and were never able to maintain complete control over Dar al-Islam causing states to separate.

• Fatimids conquered Sicily, Egypt, and Arabia; built powerful capital at Cairo.

• Seljug Turks entered Muslim world as guards for Abbasid leaders and gained control of caliphs

Islam

Muslim Spain

• Muslim forces gained control of Córdoba, Spain in 711 AD and founded the Umayyad state in 756 AD

• Tried to invade France but stopped in 732 AD. • Charlemagne attempts to drive Muslims from Spain, but

failed. • Glorious Muslim society (Golden Age) flourished in Spain

from 711-1492.– Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived in peace under Muslim rule.

– Advancements in literature, medicine, law, and agriculture.

– Ibn Sina; Canon of Medicine became the standard medical textbook.

– Cordoba’s grandeur: 21 suburbs, 300 public baths, 70 libraries, and The Great Mosque.