The Spread of IslamThe Spread of Islam

The First Three CaliphsThe First Three Caliphs

• After Muhammad’s death his followers had to After Muhammad’s death his followers had to choose a new leader to preserve the Muslim choose a new leader to preserve the Muslim community.community.

• The first few caliphs who followed Muhammad The first few caliphs who followed Muhammad greatly expanded the lands under their rule greatly expanded the lands under their rule despite struggles over leadership and even civil despite struggles over leadership and even civil wars.wars.

• Along with the Arabic language, the acceptance Along with the Arabic language, the acceptance of Islam helped unify this vast empire.of Islam helped unify this vast empire.

• The first The first caliphcaliph (the highest leader of Islam) (the highest leader of Islam) was was Abu BakrAbu Bakr, one of Muhammad’s first , one of Muhammad’s first converts.converts.

Caliph Abu BakrCaliph Abu Bakr632-634632-634

• *A political and military leader, but not a religious *A political and military leader, but not a religious leader.leader.

• * * Used military campaigns against Arab tribesUsed military campaigns against Arab tribes who did who did not follow Muhammad’s teachings.not follow Muhammad’s teachings.

• * Through many battles * Through many battles he unified Arabia for the first he unified Arabia for the first time as a Muslim state.time as a Muslim state.

• * The new Arab army quickly conquered the * The new Arab army quickly conquered the PersianPersian and and Byzantine Byzantine empiresempires

• * Made Treaties with non-Muslims who lived in the * Made Treaties with non-Muslims who lived in the captured territoriescaptured territories

• * * Non-Muslims could existNon-Muslims could exist, but only under a list of , but only under a list of rulesrules

• * Created a new idea of religion * Created a new idea of religion • * Died in 634 C.E.* Died in 634 C.E.

Caliph UmarCaliph Umar634-644634-644

• Continued to Continued to expand the Muslim empire expand the Muslim empire through military effortsthrough military efforts

• Included lands in Included lands in Iraq, Persia, the eastern Iraq, Persia, the eastern Mediterranean, and North AfricaMediterranean, and North Africa..

• Set up governments and tax systemsSet up governments and tax systems• Continued religious tolerance allowing Continued religious tolerance allowing

Jews and Christians to worshipJews and Christians to worship as they as they likedliked

• Non-Muslims were required to pay Non-Muslims were required to pay religious taxesreligious taxes

• Died in 644 C.E.Died in 644 C.E.

Caliph UthmanCaliph Uthman644-656644-656

• Member of the Member of the UmayyadUmayyad clan. clan.• Moved the Muslim capitol from Medina to Moved the Muslim capitol from Medina to

Damascus and Damascus and continued to expand the empirecontinued to expand the empire• Took over lands in Central Asia and in northern Took over lands in Central Asia and in northern

IndiaIndia• Gained control of trade in the eastern Gained control of trade in the eastern

Mediterranean and part of Mediterranean and part of North Africa, moving North Africa, moving into Spaininto Spain (Muslims continued to rule parts of (Muslims continued to rule parts of Spain for another 700 years)Spain for another 700 years)

• Awarded high posts to his relativesAwarded high posts to his relatives• Killed in 656 C.E.Killed in 656 C.E.

Caliph Ali (Muhammad’s Caliph Ali (Muhammad’s cousin)cousin)

• reluctantly agreed to become the fourth reluctantly agreed to become the fourth caliphcaliph

• Some Some Umayyad clan members challenged Umayyad clan members challenged his rule creating civil warhis rule creating civil war

• Ali was Ali was murdered in 661 C.Emurdered in 661 C.E..

• New caliph from the Umayyad claimed New caliph from the Umayyad claimed leadershipleadership

• Muslim leadership splits – Muslim leadership splits – SunniSunni and and Shi’aShi’a

Sunni - Shi’a (Shiites)Sunni - Shi’a (Shiites)

SunniMuslims who believed caliphs did not have to be related to MuhammadAccepted the first four caliphsBelieved everyone has a direct relationship with GodMake up 80% of all Muslims

Shi’aMuslims who believed only

members of Muhammad’s family could be caliphsThey believed that Ali’s

should have been chosen over Abu Bakr

They denied the first three caliphs

Make up 20% of Muslim population

Both believe in AllahBoth believe in Muhammad

Both still exist todayBoth support the Qur’an as word of

Allah