Islam
-The word Islam means “submission”
signifying obedience to the will of Allah
(God).
-One who submits is a Muslim.
-When Islam started, it quickly attracted followers.
-During the first century of this new faith’s existence, it reached far
beyond it original homeland of Arabia.
-By the eighth century the world of Islam was matched only by
Christianity as the greatest religion in the world.
The Early Life of Muhammad
-Muhammad was born in Arabia around 570 AD.
-He was orphaned before he was 6, and he was
raised by his uncle who was a successful merchant.
-He was employed by a wealthy woman – a widow
named Khadija, whom he married in 595 AD.
-By age 30, he was a successful merchant living in
Mecca, where people recognized many gods and
where there were many Jewish and Christian
communities.
The Quran (Koran)
-Muhammad was meditating in a cave
one day when he received revelations
from Allah stating that there was only
one God (Allah) and that Muhammad
was God’s prophet.
-As Muhammad taught, his followers
compiled written versions of his
teachings and they became the Quran
(Koran), the holy book of Islam.
Muhammad’s Migration to Medina
-The growing popularity of Muhammad’s
preaching brought him into religious conflict with
the rulers of Mecca. Monotheism offended the
polytheistic Arabs.
-Muhammad attacked idolatry and greed. This
was seen as dangerous to many merchants, and
many of his followers were forced to flee to
Ethiopia.
-Eventually the pressure mounted until in 622 AD
Muhammad fled to the rival trading city of
Medina.
-This event was known as the hejira (migration)
and serves as the official starting date for the
Islamic calendar.
Muhammad riding into Medina
Muhammad in Medina
-In Medina, Muhammad found himself at the head of
a growing society and organized his followers into a
community called the umma (community of the
faithful).
-Muhammad personally led the umma in daily prayers
and in various battles with enemies.
-Muhammad organized successful commercial
ventures and used the profits to provide relief for
widows, orphans and the poor.
-Muhammad referred to himself as the final prophet
of Allah and accepted earlier prophets such as
Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, and held the Torah and
Muhammad preaching in Medina the Christian Bible in very high esteem.
Establishment of Islam in Mecca
-By 630 AD, Muhammad and his followers were so
strong that they attacked and conquered Mecca.
-Muhammad forced the leaders of Mecca to accept
Allah. He destroyed pagan shrines and built mosques
(Islamic places of worship).
-Muslims kept only one pagan shrine, the Kaaba (cube),
and transformed it into a shrine to Allah. The Kaaba
contains Abraham’s stone, now called the Black Stone.
-Muhammad himself led the first pilgrimage to the
Kaaba (Ka’ba), establishing the hajj as an example for all
devout Muslims.
The Kaaba in Mecca
Spiritual Transformation
-About 610 AD, Muhammad, age 40, underwent
a profound spiritual transformation.
-Muhmmad became convinced that there was
only one true god (Allah – God), and that
recognition of other gods was wicked.
-Muhammad experienced visions (revelations)
delivered through the archangel Gabriel, a
messenger from God.
-Without meaning to found a new religion, he told his family and friends of these
revelations, and by 620 AD, a minority of Meccans had joined Muhammad’s circle.
Spread of Islam Throughout Asia & Africa
Spread of Islam
-Muhammad and his followers launched a series of military campaigns against other
towns and Bedouin clans in Arabia and by the time of his death in 632 AD, much of
Arabia was under Muslim control.
-After Muhammad’s death his advisors selected one of his closest disciples to serve as
caliph (one who comes after), Abu Bakr, to become head of the Islamic state, as well as
chief judge and religious and military leader.
-Under Abu Bakr’s leadership, Islamic armies then began to carry their message into
the worlds beyond Arabia such as Palestine and Mesopotamia.
-In the 640s AD, Arab forces conquered Egypt and North Africa.
-By 661 AD, they had reached Persia. By 711 AD, they were in Afghanistan and
Northern India and by 718 AD, they crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and conquered most
of Spain.
Spread of Islam Throughout Asia & Africa
Disagreements Over Succession
-Disagreements over succession led to the emergence of the Shia sect,
which offered an alternative to the standard Sunni version of Islam.
-The Shia had favored the appointment of Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-law)
as successor instead of Abu Bakr.
-Eventually Ali was
assassinated, and his
supporters organized their
own Shia (sect).
The Five Pillars of Islam
-Muhammad’s faith was based on five obligations:
1. Shahadah: Muslims must acknowledge Allah as the only god, and
Muhammad as the last prophet.
Second Pillar
2. Salat: Muslims must pray to
Allah daily while facing Mecca.
-Five times a day (dawn, noon,
midafternoon, dusk, sunset)
-Kneeling in a prone position.
-Speaking in Arabic.
Third Pillar
3. Muslims must fast during the daylight hours of the month of
Ramadan.
-Fasting from dawn to sunset.
-Eat only after sunset.
Fourth Pillar
4. Zakat: Muslims must contribute
alms for the relief of the poor.
-Generous giving to the poor is
expected (2.5%). That is beyond
giving to the mosque (place of
worship).
Fifth Pillar
5. Muslims must try and undertake the hajj (pilgrimage) at least once in
their lives.
-To Mecca
-March seven times
around the Kaaba
and kiss the Black
Stone for
forgiveness of sins.
Changing Status of Women
-Pre-Islamic society was patriarchal, but
women enjoyed unusual rights (to inherit
property, divorce their husbands, & engage in
business).
-The Koran enhanced the security of women by
outlawing female infanticide and ensuring
dowries went directly to brides, not to their
husbands.
-Women are portrayed not as possessions but honorable individuals
equal to men before Allah.
-Muhammad’s own kindness and respect to his wives served as an
example of this.
Male Dominance
-However, for the most part the Quran ( and
later Sharia law) reinforced male dominance.
-Succession was through the male line, and a
premium was placed on genealogical purity.
To ensure the legitimacy of heirs, the social
and sexual lives of women were subject to
strict control by men.
-To reinforce patriarchy, men could also have up to four wives, women
only one husband.
Veiling of Women
-When Islam moved into
Central Asia, it adopted longstanding traditions such as the
veiling of women.
-Women were forced to veil in
public, and could only leave
home in the company of
servants or family chaperones.
-Women were expected to not only cover their faces, but their whole
bodies with a burqa to exhibit modesty.
-Women were not allowed to pursue traditional men’s occupations,
work alongside men, or even (in modern day) to drive cars!
Islamic Law: The Sharia
-Islamic holy law (the sharia) emerged in the
centuries after Muhammad’s death, offering
guidance on all aspects of daily life.
-It was worked out by legal experts, and was
inspired by the Quran.
-It offered guidance on marriage and family life, inheritance, slavery,
business dealings, politics and crime.
-The Sharia has become a way of life with a complete set of social and
ethical values.
Taboos (Things Forbidden)
1. Alcohol
2. Pork
3. Gambling
4. Graven Images
5. Hunting for Sport
Arabesque Art
-Since Muhammad insisted that the
mosques could use images to decorate
with, the Muslims developed beautiful art
to decorate their mosques. It has become
called Arabesque Art.
-Since graven images could be used when
printing their Quran, Muslims developed
fancy writing called calligraphy.
Islamic Vocabulary
-Caliph: “one who comes after” Muslim leaders who followed
Muhammad.
-Arabic: official language of Islam.
-Mosque: Islamic place of worship.
-Minaret: prayer tower.
-Muezzin: Leader of Prayer.
-Sultan: Political Ruler.
Mosque
More Islamic Vocabulary
Dome of the Rock: Holy Shrine of Muslims in Jerusalem
Imam, Mullah, Ayatollah:
All names given to
religious leaders
depending on what
country or sect they are
from.
Jihad: Religious War;
Fighting for Allah.
Contributions of the Arabs (Muslims)
Grapefruit
Foods:
Pepper
Apricots
Lemons
Asparagus
Limes
Bananas
Melons
Barley
Rice
Cherries
Spinach
Dates
Strawberries
Figs
And Even………
A Cup o’ Joe!
Coffee
Cultural Contributions of the Arabs (Muslims)
Guitar
Numerals
Pajamas
Coins
Pottery
More Cultural Contributions
Medicine
Astronomy
Clock
Alphabet
Ink
Cosmetics
More Cultural Contributions
Dice
Tulips
Bowling
Chess
Windmills
Soap
More Contributions
Compass
Carpet
Macrame
Vocabulary List for Teacher
Alms
Muezzin
Islam
Umma
Shia
Infanticide
Sultan
Allah
Mosque
Sunni
Sharia
Dome of the
Rock
Muslim
Kaaba
Ali
Genealogy
Imam
Mecca
Black Stone
Shahadah
Veil
Mullah
Quran
Hajj
Salat
Burqa
Ayatollah
Revelation
Pilgrimage
Ramadan
Taboos
Jihad
Prophet
Gabriel
Sawm
Arabesque
Medina
Caliph
Fast
Calligraphy
Hejira
Abu Bakr
Zakat
Minaret