The Foundations of Islam
Agenda
1. Bell Ringer: What caused Islam to spread rapidly
through the Middle East and Africa?
2. Lecture: The Origins of Islam
3. Sunni/Shia Split
4. Interpreting the Quran
5. Test format
6. Review Guide
HW: Study Study Study!!!
Basic Beliefs
• Holy book = Quran
– Not translated for fear of
changing message.
• Besides Five Pillars, they
must be tolerant and
generous, no pork, and
no alcohol.
• Jihad = Holy War,
struggle for faith.
The Five Pillars of Islam
• Profession of Faith
– One god
•
•
•
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Five Daily Prayers
Paying Zakat
Fasting during Ramadan
The Pilgrimage to
Mecca
Foundations of Islam
• Muhammad returns in
630, and rededicates
the Kaaba for Allah.
• Dies in 632 A.D.
• Islam spreads to Middle
East and North Africa.
• 632 A.D. When
Muhammad died, Abu
Bakr took over as
caliph.
– Expanded Islam north.
• 634 A.D. Umar
succeeded Abu Bakr
– Took control of former
Persian Empire, Iraq, and
North Africa.
• Umar’s successor,
Uthman is murdered.
• Ali chosen to succeed,
but Uthman’s relative
Muawiyah protests.
– Ali murdered when war
breaks out between
both sides in 661 A.D.
The Split
Sunni
Shia
Sufi
Mu’awiyah
Believed Ali and
Simple life of
accepted as caliph. followers should be harmony.
caliph.
Way of the prophet. Imams – Ali’s
descendants.
Agreement among
muslims should
settle worldly
matters
Agreement with
imams should
decide religious
matters.
Faith in Allah is the
only mark of worth.
• Despite the split, Islam
continues to spread into
North Africa.
– Berbers convert.
• Arab Expansion goes
until the 1400s A.D.
– Ottoman Turks take
Constantinople in 1453
A.D.