622-1629

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Followers called
Muslims
Emerged in the desert
Arabian Peninsula where Arab tribes lived.
Nomadic herders called Bedouins moved through the deserts to reach seasonal pasturelands.
Competition between the two groups led to warfare.

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Muhammad born in oasis town of Mecca in 570.
Mecca- market town at the crossroads of several caravan routes.
Also pilgrimage center where Arabs came to pray at the Kaaba, an ancient temple that housed statues of pagan gods and goddesses.

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Shepherd among the
Bedouins
Led caravans and became a successful merchant.
Known for his honesty and was a devoted father and husband.

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Muhammad troubled by Mecca’s moral ills
When 40 he heard the voice of an angel,
Gabriel, calling him to be the messenger of
God.
He was encouraged by his wife, Khadija, to take the call.

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Khadija was the first to convert to the faith called Islam.
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Islam means “to submit to God”
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Encouraged Arabs to give up their worship of pagan gods and submit to the one true god, Allah.

Muhammad
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Because his teachings were radical, many did not listen to him.
He would be pushed out of Mecca because merchants believed his religion would interfere with trade.
Muhammad would leave
Mecca and go to Yathrib, a journey called the hijra.
Yathrib later renamed
Medina- “City of the
Prophet”
Great information Mrs.
Kelly, I bet this will be on the test!

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In Medina people agreed to follow his teachings
They became a community of Muslims or umma.
Brought peace to Medina
As his reputation grew, many more converted to Islam
But Meccan leaders grew hostile towards the Muslims and prepared for war.

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Muhammad wins and returns to Mecca
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Rededicates the Kaaba to Allah and it becomes the most holy place in Islam.
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Muhammad works to unite the Arabs under Islam.

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Monotheistic- belief in one god
Quran- sacred text of Islam, teaches that god is all-powerful and compassionate.
People are responsible for their own actions.
Believe that God had sent other prophets,
Abraham, Moses and Jesus, but that
Muhammad was the last and greatest prophet.

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Contains the sacred word of God as revealed to
Muhammad.
Teaches God’s will and provides a guide for life.
Emphasizes honesty, generosity and social justice

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Harsh penalties for crimes
On judgment day you will face eternal punishment in hell or eternal bliss in paradise.

This is a great test question!!

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Called the shahada.
“There is no god but
God, Muhammad is the messenger of
God.”

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5 times a day
Ritual washing and then face the holy city of Mecca to pray.
Muslims can pray anywhere but often gather in mosqueshouse of worship.

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Money is collected in the forms of a tax called the zakat.
Others give individual donations.

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Fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan, the month
Muhammad received his first revelations from God.

5. Make the hajj, or pilgrimage to
Mecca if physically and financially able.
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Pilgrims participate in ceremonies commemorating the actions of Muhammad,
Abraham and Abraham’s family.
Simple attire symbolizes the abandonment of the material world for the sake of God.

Another duty is jihad, or struggle in
God’s service.
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Personal duty for Muslims who focus on overcoming immorality within themselves.
Jihad can also be interpreted as a holy war to defend Islam and the Muslim community. (Like the crusades to defend
Christianity)
A holy war may only be declared by the community, not by an individual Muslim or a small group.

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Muslims, Jews and Christians all worship the same God.
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Quran teaches that Islam is God’s final and complete revelation.
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Muslims consider Jews and Christians to be “People of the Book”.

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Sharia- Islamic system of law.
Includes interpretation of the
Quran, examples of behavior and Muslim traditions.
Regulates moral conduct, family life and business practices.

 applies religious principles to all legal situations.
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Unifies Muslims under a common legal framework.

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Before Islam, limited rights
Could not inherit property and had to obey a male guardian.
Unwanted daughters could be killed at birth.

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Affirmed the spiritual equity of all Muslims.
“Whoever does right will enter the garden.”
Under the Quran women can reject a marriage offer and you cannot kill daughters.
Educate women

Spiritually equal but different roles for men and women
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Women would inherit less money than men.
Women had a harder time getting a divorce.
Veiling upper-class women and secluding them in a separate part of the home.
(Persian custom)
Dress modestly.

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Muslim’s believe that Jesus is a prophet, but not the final prophet.
They do not consider him the son of God.
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Muslim’s pray/ask for help from Allah
(God in Arabic).
They do not believe in intermediaries
(Jesus)

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Muslim’s believe
Jesus did not die on the cross, a
Roman soldier did.
The crucifixion is not in the Qur’an
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Muslim’s believe in
Mary and the virgin birth and they believe that Jesus raised the dead.

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Muslim’s believe
(as well as
Christians) that the
Qur’an is pure and unaltered. God 
Angel Gabriel 
Muhammad.
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Muslim’s believe that the Bible has been corrupted by translators and scholars.

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The Sunna is the only other sacred source for Muslims.
It is the practice and examples of the Prophet
Muhammad.
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The Hadith is a reliable report of what the prophet said or did.