Rise of Islam and Comparison to Other Abrahamic Religions

Judaism, Christianity and Islam

All three religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have roots

back to a man and prophet named Abraham. Therefore, the three

religions are often called Abrahamic Religions.

Roots of Judaism

Living in the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia) were the Hebrews, a group of nomadic people.

God told Abraham to move his people from Mesopotamia to Canaan (modern day Palestine/Israel).

This is the land that the Hebrews believed that God had promised them.

The Roots of Judaism

Prophets, or spiritual leaders/teachers such as Abraham, told the people to obey God and also preached a strong code of ethics (moral standards to live by).

An example of these ethics would be the Ten Commandments, which is a covenant (an agreement between God and man) to obey.

The Roots of Judaism

This is the beginning of the religion known known as Judaism which is monotheistic (the belief in a one, true God).

Judaism is the oldest, monotheistic religion to survive to the present day.

Judaism Quick Facts With over 3,000 years of history,

Judaism is the oldest, continuous monotheistic (just one god) religion in the world.

Basic laws and teachings come from the holy text, the Torah.

Jews believe the Holy Land of Jerusalem and Palestine was gift from Yahweh (God) to Abraham.

Prophets are Abraham and Moses. Jewish King Solomon built a great

temple (synagogue) to God in Jerusalem. ◦ It has since been destroyed and only

remaining portion is the Western Wall, the holiest site in all of Judaism.

King Solomon’s Temple - Then

The Western Wall - Now

Rise of ChristianityChristianity is a spinoff of

Judaism.Around the year 30-50 AD, a

prophet named Jesus arose and believed that his mission was to bring about salvation that God had promised to the Israelites.

Jesus performed miracles, taught ethical concepts such as humility, charity and love towards others, not strict adherence to Roman law.

The Spread of ChristianityJesus would be put to

death by crucifixion. However, his message would carry on.

Apostles such as Paul and Peter spread the message that Jesus was the son of God and savior of all mankind.

By accepting Jesus as Christ, (Christos is Greek word for Messiah), people could be saved from sin and reconciled with God.

Christianity Quick Facts Started as a sect of Judaism

and evolved around 2,000 years ago.

Based on teaching of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe to be the son of God.

Teachings are recorded in the Bible.

Jerusalem and Palestine are the sites of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

It is home to original cross and stone of Christ’s tomb

Site of sacred Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Holds a variety of Christian shrines

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

BackgroundIslam emerged in the Arabian Peninsula

as a spinoff of both Judaism and Christianity.

Geographic SettingMany Arab clans

occupied Arabia at this time (500AD). Nomadic herders called Bedouins used camels to cross to cross the desert to pasture when seasons changed.

Bedouins traded with other Arabs all around the Peninsula.

MeccaMecca (Mekkah) was a booming market

town at the crossroads of two main caravan routes. ◦One linked Arabia with Palestine and the

Mediterranean coast.◦The second one, crossed from Mesopotamia to

Africa.Pilgrims also went there on pilgrimage.

They prayed at the Kaaba, an ancient shrine the Arabs believe to be built by Abraham.◦The Kaaba was filled with many idols in which

the people prayed to.

Mecca

The Kaaba

MuhammadHe was born in Mecca about

570 AD. When he was young, he

worked as a shepherd among the Bedouins.

Later he led caravans across the desert and became a successful merchant.

When he was 25, he married Khadijah, a wealthy widow, and was a devoted father and husband.

His VisionsWhen he was 40 he was

troubled by the idol worship and moral ills of society.

He went into a cave to meditate.◦ According to Muslim belief, he

heard a voice that ordered him to pray.

He understood it was the voice of angel Gabriel calling him to be the messenger of God.

The message given to him by the angel was what would become the Qur’an.

Birth of IslamMuhammad was terrified. How could an

illiterate merchant become the messenger of God?

But his wife encouraged him to accept the call. ◦In fact she was the first convert of Islam.

Islam means “submission” as in “to submit to God”.

He spent the rest of his life spreading Islam, urging Arabs to give up the false gods and praise Allah.

An OutcastAt first, a few people listened to the

teaching of Muhammad. His rejection of traditional Arab gods angered Meccans, who feared this would anger their gods and trade would be disrupted.

Muhammad the WarriorFacing murder threats in

622, he and his followers left for Medina.

When he reached Medina, he was welcomed as a ruler and lawgiver.

Others soon began to adopt Islam.

With a strong enough following, Muhammad defeated the non-believers in battle and returned to Mecca in triumph.

Death and afterFor the last years of his

life, he worked to unite Arabs under the banner of Islam.

He died in 632, possibly poisoned.

The faith that he proclaimed continued to spread, to the point in which it is one of the world’s main religions.

(2nd largest with 1.3 Billion followers).

Spread of IslamIslam spread at an enormous rate

through trade and conquest.

Islam Quick Facts

Islam has close ties to the prophets and teachers of Judaism and Christianity.

The holy book, the Qur’an, establishes claim that both Jews and Arabs are people of Abraham

Muslims believe Allah’s (God) gift of the Holy Land to Abraham was meant for Arabs (the first Muslims)

Mecca is Islam’s holiest city, followed by Medina and Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is the site of the prophet Muhammad’s ascension into heaven

Much like Christianity, Islam grew at an enormous rate after it’s inception.

Islamic Mosque: Dome of the Rock

Life of a MuslimAll Muslims (followers of Islam)

perform or adhere to the 5 Pillars of Islam.

FaithPrayerFastingAlms GivingPilgrimmage

Faith“There is no God but Allah, and

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

all believers believe in this statement of faith

PrayerMuslims face toward Mecca and

pray five times a day may be done in a mosque or elsewhere must always face towards Mecca during

prayer

Charity (Alms or Giving)responsible to support less

fortunate by giving money

FastingDuring Islamic holy month of

Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink anything between sunrise and sunset. ◦This reminds Muslims that there are

more important things in life than food.

◦Seen as sign of humility and self-control.

Pilgrimage

Muslims are expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during their lifetime

Called the Hajj

The Two Major Sects of Islam

Shiites Sunni

Most Shiites live in Iran, Lebanon,

Yemen, and Iraq.

About 90% of Muslims today are Sunnis

• Both branches believe in the same God, follow the Five Pillars of Islam, and study the Quran.

• However, they differ in daily practices and have often fought over wealth and political issues.

Shiites believed Muhammad’s true successors were the descendants of his daughter and son-in-law. Shiites believed they were divinely inspired (chosen by God).

Sunnis became a majority. They believed that any good Muslim could be a leader or caliph, and that this caliph was a political leader, not a divinely inspired prophet.