The Rise of Islam
Islam
How can we contrast Islam with traditional
Arabian religion?
 How can we compare/contrast Islam with
Judaism and Christianity?
 How can we compare/contrast Islamic and
Christian policies toward those of other
faiths in their respective lands?

Islam
• Relevant Terms
– Ummah
– Ulama
– Imam
– Mosque
Islam
• The Arabian
Peninsula
– Desert
– Home of the Arabs
• No centralized authority
• Pastoral nomads
• Loyal to tribes
Islam
• Arabian Religion
during the Jahiliyah
– Polytheistic
– Divination
– Jinn
Al-Uzza, Al-Lat, Manat
Islam
Islam
• Mecca
– Commercial center
– Ka’ba: then a pagan
shrine
– Controlled by Quraysh
Ka’ba
Islam
• Monotheism in Arabia
– Judaism
– Christianity
– Hanifs
Islam
• Muhammad
(570-632)
Muhammad visited by Gabriel
– Orphan, of Quraysh
– Involved in Meccan
caravan trade
– Pious, influenced by
hanifs?
– Night of Power
(ca. 610)  Prophet of
Islam
Islam
• Muslim Era Begins
– Gained some converts
– Overall response:
negative  danger!
– Prophet invited to
Medina
– The Hijra (622):
Muhammad, ummah
emigrated
Islam
• In Medina
– Muhammad became
statesman
– City converted
– Unbelieving Jews
expelled
– Raids on Meccan
caravans launched
Muhammad addressing believers in Medina
Islam
• Battle of Badr
(March 15, 624)
– Began as Muslim
attempt to intercept
very wealthy caravan
– 1,000 Meccans vs.
300 Muslims
– Muslim victory!
Islam
• The Return to
Mecca (630)
– Quraysh had violated
Treaty of Hudaybiyya
(made 628)
– Muslims marched on
Mecca
– City surrendered
– Muhammad cleansed
Ka’ba
March on Mecca
Islam
• Questions?
Islam
• The Quran
– Muhammad’s
revelations
– Significant teachings
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Absolute monotheism
Jesus: “apostle”
“People of the Book”
Judgment  Paradise,
Hell
• Make war on
unbelievers
– Jihad
Islam
• Other Sources of Authority for Islam
– Sunnah (“path”)
• Religious practices established by Muhammad
• Basis of Islamic social, legal customs
– Hadith (“news”)
• Records of Muhammad’s sayings
• Attributed to his companions
Islam
• The Five Pillars
– Shahadah
• “There is no God but
Allah and Muhammad
is His Prophet”
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–
Salat (prayer)
Ramadan
Zakat (alms levy)
Hajj (pilgrimage)
Islam
• Talbiyah
– "Labbayk, Allahumma Labbayk. Labbayk.
La shareeka laka. Labbayk. Innal-hamda
wan-n'imata laka wal-mulk. La shareeka lak.“
– “Here we come, O God, here we come! Here
we come. No partner have You. Here we
come! Praise indeed, and blessings, are
Yours---the Kingdom too! No partner have
You!”
Islam
Hajj ritual of stoning Satan, at Mina
Islam
• Status of Women
– First convert: Khadijah
(d. 620)
– In the Quran
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Khadijah
Men superior to women
Infanticide banned
Polygyny permitted
Some inheritance rights
– Quran’s reforms not
always implemented
Islam
• Questions?
Islam
Islamic Conquests (622-733)
Islam
• The Battle of
Tours/Poitiers (732)
– Muslims advanced into
Kingdom of the Franks
– Halted by Charles
Martel
– Result: Muslim
advance checked
Islam
• The Caliphate
– Muhammad died 632
– Caliphs
• Prophet’s successors
• First were early converts, from his inner circle
(Rashidun)
• Office: political, religious
Islam
Islam
• Division within the Ummah
– The fate of Ali (r. 656-661)
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Muhammad’s cousin, husband of Fatima
Dedicated Muslim
Muhammad intended him to be successor?
Civil war between Ali and Mu’awiyah  Ali’s
assassination
– Aftermath: Sunni vs. Shi’ah
Islam
Islam
• Ruling the Caliphate:
Shari’ah
– Sacred law of ummah
– Purpose: regulate all
activities
– Sources: Quran,
Sunnah, community
consensus
– Qadis: shari’ah judges
Individuals before a qadi
Islam
• Ruling the Empire: Status of Non-Muslims
– Dhimmis: followers of religions tolerated by
law; not forced to convert
– Monotheist leaders relied on to manage their
communities’ affairs
– Faced discrimination (jizyah, etc.)
Islam
• Islamic Iberia
– Visigoths conquered
between 711-16
– Under emirs, at Córdoba
– Muslims about 25% of
population
– Decent inter-religious
relations
– Not all Christians were
content
Islam
• Questions?
Islam
• The Great Civilization
– Sophisticated,
advanced
– Access to classical
learning
– Books, libraries
– Contributed to science
and math
Islam
Quran page with beginning of surah 18 (9th, early 10th cent.)
Islam
• Dome of the Rock
(687-692)
– Tribute to Islam’s
triumph in Jerusalem
– Erected on sacred site
– Domed octagon
Islam
Dome of the Rock, interior
Islam
(Former) Great Mosque of Córdoba (begun 784), exterior
Islam
Prayer hall, (former) Great Mosque of Córdoba
Islam
• The Minaret
– Towers for muzzein
– Malwiya minaret
(848-852)
• At Great Mosque of
Samarra, Iraq
• Spiral ramp
Islam
• Questions?
Islam
How can we contrast Islam with traditional
Arabian religion?
 How can we compare/contrast Islam with
Judaism and Christianity?
 How can we compare/contrast Islamic and
Christian policies toward those of other
faiths in their respective lands?

Primary Source
• Excerpts from the Quran
– What do we learn about God?
– What is its teaching regarding idols?
– What does it have in common with the
Jewish-Christian Bible?
– How does it differ from teachings of People of
the Book?
Primary Source
• Muslim-Christian Debate
– What kind of source?
– Who was involved, and their setting?
– Tone of the debate?
– Subjects discussed, and strategies used to
argue points?
– Is there an apparent “winner”?
Primary Source
• Accounts of Battle of Poitiers (Tours)
– What kind of sources?
– Who were the authors, and did their
prejudices color the way they described this
conflict?
– Did you find anything unbelievable in their
accounts?