The Muslim WorldPgs 231 - 249

World Religions ComparisonPg 264

The Rise of Islam Mecca, a city located along trade routes in Arabia was

host to believers in Allah– Those who followed the one God were referred to as hanifs.

In 570 A.D. Muhammad was born.– A trader and business man from a powerful Meccan family

Muhammad is believed to have been approached by the Angel Gabriel– Believed he was the last prophet of Allah

Those who followed Muhammad were called Muslims. In Arabic the word Islam means “submission to the will

of Allah”

Abraham’s Genealogy

ABRAHAMABRAHAM SARAHSARAHHAGARHAGAR

IsaacIsaac

EsauEsauJacobJacob

12 Tribes of Israel

12 Tribes of Israel

Ishmael

Ishmael

12 Arabian Tribes

12 Arabian Tribes

The Prophetic Tradition

Adam

Noah

Abraham

Moses

Jesus

Muhammad

The rise of Islam cont…

Mulsim - “One who has submitted” Muhammad was met with resistance by many,

some of his followers were even beaten or stoned

Muhammad and his followers left Mecca. This migration was called the Hijrah(hih-jee-ruh).

Finally settling in Medina, many followers were attracted to Islam.

Muhammad eventually became a political and military leader in Medina for Muslims, Jews, and Arabs

Return to Mecca Hostilities between Mecca and Medina grew over

the years. In 630 A.D. Muhammad and 10,000 of his followers

marched to Mecca. Facing sure defeat, the Meccan leaders

surrendered. Muhammad entered the city and destroyed the

statues of the Arab gods Muhammad converted the Meccans to Islam The Muslim religious community is called umma Muhammad died at the age of 62, two years after

his return to Mecca

Images of Islam

Islamic Beliefs The Qur’an is the holy book of the Muslims The five pillars are duties required by anyone who

wishes to be a Muslim Faith - Testify to the belief on the one god Allah Prayer - Five times a day, Muslims must face

towards Mecca, in a Mosque or where they are at the time

Alms - Give money to the poor Fasting - The holy month of Ramadan, they can eat

and drink nothing between sunset and sundown Pilgrimage - all Muslims must perform the hajj or a

pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Hajj

The Qur’an

Muslims believe it contains the word of God.

114 suras (chapters).

In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful.

Written in Arabic.

Links to Judaism and Christianity Allah is the same God worshipped by the

Jews and Christians Muslims view Jesus as a prophet, not the

Son of God All believe in a day of judgment Muslims trace their ancestry to Abraham Muslim leaders extend tolerance to

Christians and Jews because of their similar beliefs

Muslims, Jews, and Christians believe Jerusalem is a Holy city

The Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem

Mount Moriah Rockwhere Muhammad ascended into heaven.

The Spread of Islam

Muhammad’s successors or deputies, called caliphs, continued teaching the message of Islam

At times the caliphs used military force to assert control over the Muslim community

The caliphs were able to expand the Muslim Empire from the Atlantic ocean to the Indus Valley

The early caliphs took advantage of the weakness of the Persian and Byzantine empires

The Qur’an prohibits force conversion– Islamic leaders allowed Christians and Jews to

practice their beliefs but they could not spread their beliefs.

Islam in Crisis

Civil war erupted after the death of a popular leader

With the death, the process of electing caliphs ended

The new leadership moved the capital to Damascus(Syria) to make expansion easier

In addition to the move the new leaders moved away from the simple life of the caliphs and surrounded themselves with luxury

A fundamental split occurred

The Sunni - Shi’a Split

Sunni– Meaning “followers

of Muhammad’s example”

– Followed the new leadership

– A majority of the people accepted the new rulers, to maintain peace

Shi’a Meaning “party” of

Ali(Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law)

Resisted the new leaderships rule.

Believed the caliph needed to be a relative of the prophet Muhammad

Another group, the Sufi, pursued a life of poverty in response to the luxury of the Sunni leadership.

Sunni/Shia Split

Muslims Spread to Three Continents

Under the leadership of various leaders the Muslims spread as far North as France and south into southern Africa.

A large Muslim settlement was established by the Berbers in Spain. – Lead by Jabal Tariq – He was so revered they named the Rock of Gibraltar

after him. Corodoba, in Spain became a center for the

spread of Islam in Europe– 70 libraries, 700 mosques, 27 free schools– Population of 500,000– All religions were welcome in Corodoba

The Muslim Empire

Muslim Society

Throughout the Muslim Empire urban centers flourished.

Baghdad, a Muslim capital, flourished There are four social classes The upper class - Muslims by birth Second class - converts to Islam(paid a

higher taxes) Third class - “The Protected People” - Jews

and Christians, also Zoroastrians The Lowest Class - Slaves, all non-muslim,

many were household workers or soldiers.

Muslim Society cont…

The Role of Women– The Qur’an states that men will manage a

women’s affair– An obedient women is a righteous women– Muslim women had more rights than European

women. – Responsibilities varied based on the income of

the husbands.– Women raised the children – In early Muslim society women participated in

religious activities and were encouraged to get an education

Advances in Arts and Sciences

Many advances in medicine, mathematics, and astronomy are credited to the Muslim world

Understanding of smallpox and measles Proper location for hospitals Muslims scholars charted stars, comets, and

planets Many artists began the art of calligraphy,

due to the banning of drawing images

Countries with the Largest Muslim

Population1. Indonesia 183,000,00

06. Iran 62,000,000

2. Pakistan 134,000,000

7. Egypt 59,000,000

3. India 121,000,000

8. Nigeria 53,000,000

4. Bangladesh

114,000,000

9. Algeria 31,000,000

5. Turkey 66,000,000 10. Morocco 29,000,000

* Arabs make up only 20% of the total Muslim population of the

world.

World ReligionsBuddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Judaism Confucianism

Followers Worldwide

338 Million

1.9 Billion 764 Million

1 Billion 13.4 Million

Not Available

Name of Deity

No deity God Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva

God/Allah

God/Yahweh

Confucious

Founder The Buddha

Jesus Christ

No one founder

Muhammad Abraham Confucious

Holy Book No one book

Bible No one book

Qur’an Hebrew Bible

The Analects

Leadership Buddhist monks and nuns

Clergy/Priests and Ministers

Guru, Holy Man, Brahmin Priest

No Clergy

Rabbi No Clergy