The Rise of Islam The Rise of Islam

Islam

The Arabian Peninsula Desert Home of Arabs

Loyal to tribes No centralized authority Pastoral nomads

Islam

The Ka’ba

Arabian Religion Animistic, pagan Mecca

Commercial center of Arabia

Religious center Ka’ba

Pilgrimage site Brought money to city

Islam

Muhammad (570-632) Born in Mecca Involved in Meccan caravan trade Spiritual man Prophet of Islam

Night of Power (610): Angel Gabriel worship God alone

Revelations for rest of life Must preach to others

Islam

Islam on the Rise Preached in Mecca

Gained converts UMMAH

Overall response was negative

Flight of Muhammad Invited to Medina Hijrah (622)

Emigration of ummah to Medina

Gained political power, subdued enemies

Islam Islam on the Rise:

Return to Mecca Ummah wanted to see

city converted March on Mecca (630)

Muhammad and 10,000 men

Offer made to city, accepted by religious leaders

Muhammad entered city triumphantly

Cleansed Ka’ba

Islam Questions?

Islam

Dome of the Rock (687-692), Jerusalem

Islam Islam: “submission to

God” Five Pillars of Islam

“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet”

Pray 5 times daily toward Mecca

Ramadan Almsgiving Pilgrimage to Mecca

MOSQUE Muslim place of worship

Islam The Quran

Collection of revelations of Muhammad

Teachings Absolute monotheism Jesus was an “apostle

of God” “God forbid that he should

have a son!” (4:171) Judgment on Last Day “People of the Book” Make war on “infidels”

Jihad

Islam

Islamic Conquests (622-733)

Islam Why the Successful

Conquest? Arabs were fighters! Exhausted Roman and Persian

military forces Not all Roman and Persian

subjects were loyal Muslims were tolerant toward

other monotheistic faiths No forced conversions Relied on other monotheists’

leaders Non-Muslims not equal to

Muslims

Islam The Caliphate

Muhammad died (632) United many Arabs Who would succeed him?

CALIPHS Successors of Muhammad First were early converts, from inner circle of Prophet

(Rashidun) Office was political and religious

Islam

Islam Division within the Ummah

Uthman (r. 644-656) murdered successor? Ali (r. 656-661)

Muhammad’s cousin, husband of Fatima Dedicated Muslim The one Muhammad intended to be successor?

Civil war between Ali and Mu’awiyah Ali assassinated (661) Mu’awiyah (r.661-680) caliph

Aftermath: Sunni vs. Shi’ah

Islam Division within the Ummah

Sunnis Accept legality of Rashidun and subsequent caliphs Majority of Muslims (90%)

Shi’ahs Faction of Ali Except for Ali and descendants, all caliphs were usurpers Led by imams

Divinely inspired Await return of 12th imam

Islam

Islam Shari’ah

Sacred law of ummah Intended to regulate all

activities Sources

Quran Tradition of Muhammad

(sunnah) Community consensus

Qadis Shari’ah judges Appointed by state

Individuals before a qadi

Islam

Islamic Civilization The “great” civilization of

Early Middle Ages Science and mathematics

Immersed in knowledge of classical world

Own contributions Literature and poetry Great librariesQuran page, beginning of surah 18

(9th or 10th cent.)

Islam

Khadijah

Status of Women Women in the Quran

Men to manage women’s affairs

Men may have up to 4 wives, to be treated equally

Some inheritance rights granted

Reforms of Quran not always maintained

Khadijah (d. ca. 620) was first convert

Islam Questions?

The Rise of IslamHow does Islam compare and

contrast with the other religions introduced?

How does Islamic civilization compare and contrast with the others in the course?