Rise of IslamWorld Studies

Mr. Szyzdek

Pre-Islamic Arabia

• Before Islam, some Arabs lived as nomadic herders called Bedouins.

• Two major towns were vital to trade• Mecca and Medina were located on caravan routes

that linked Arabia to Mediterranean Sea.• Mecca was home to the Kabba.– Sacred shrine that housed the images of many Arab gods.– “Black Stone”- meteorite that Arabs believed was sent by

god.

Mecca and Medina

Muhammad• Born in Mecca in about 570 A.D• Raised by his uncle.• Received a vision from Archangel Gabriel ordering

him to “Proclaim”.• Message was not well received by the people of

Mecca.• Muhammad and his followers were forced to

migrate to Medina.• This migration is better known as Hejira.– Marked the beginning of the expansion of Islam.– First year of the Muslim Calendar

Conquering Mecca

• In 630 A.D, Muhammad led his army to conquer Mecca.

• Upon his success, he smashed the images of the gods in the Kabba.

• Dedicated the “Black Stone” to Allah.

Teachings of Islam

• Islam- submission to God.• Basic Message- there is no God but God. Muhammad is

the prophet of God.• Koran- sacred text of Islam• Believed to be the exact word of God• Authority on religion, politics, law, economics and

social life.• Believed that Moses and Jesus were prophets of God

as well.• Allah is the same God of Jews and Christians.

The Five Pillars of Islam

• 1st Pillar: Muslims proclaim their belief in one God.

• 2nd Pillar: Prayer- pray five times daily in the direction of the Kabba.

• 3rd Pillar: Charity to the Poor and Aged.– Zakat- literally means purification. In this instance

from greed– Muslims who are financially stable are required to

give 2.5% of their yearly earnings to charity.

Five Pillars Cont.

• 4th Pillar: Fasting during holy month of Ramadan.– 9th Month in the Muslim calendar. Gabriel spoke to

Muhammad.– Cannot eat or drink from dawn to sunset.

• 5th Pillar: Hajj– All Muslims who are able must make a pilgrimage

to Mecca at least once in their life.

Success of Islam

• Muhammad had died in the city of Mecca in 632 A.D.

• By this time, Islam had spread across the entire Arabic Peninsula.

• Why did Islam expand so swiftly?• Unifying beliefs• Believed that soldiers who die in service of Islam

get to enjoy paradise• Lure of riches.

The End