The Muslim WorldThe Muslim World
The Rise of IslamThe Expansion of Islam
The Muslim Culture
Geography of ArabiaGeography of Arabia
Crossroads of Africa, Asia, and EuropeLocation made trade a huge part of life for
the people of ArabiaOceans and seas AND land trade through
caravan routes and the silk roadsClimate- deserts, Bedouins (nomads),
clans, farming communities in oases- farming and market towns
MeccaMecca
Arabia’s most important cityReligion- location of the KaabaThe Kaaba was an ancient shrine that held
and honored many idols to the gods- many people visited the Kaaba to pay their respects to these gods
Commerce- being located on the Red Sea and land trade routes made this a major trade city
The KaabaThe Kaaba
The Prophet MuhammadThe Prophet Muhammad
Birth- Mecca- orphaned at age 6, raised by grandfather and uncle with little education
Young man- worked on the caravan routes- married an older business woman, Khadijah
Revelations- a voice, he believed was Gabrielle, said Allah was the only true god and Muhammad was the last of his prophets
Terms to KnowTerms to Know
Islam: submission to the will of Allah
Muslim: one who has submitted- or the followers of Islam
Allah: the one and only true God
Early HostilityEarly Hostility
613- preaching belief in one god
Leaders in Mecca feared he would lead to the neglect of the other gods
Why would this be a problem?
People would stop traveling to the city to pay homage to the idols in the Kaaba- economically motivated!
The HijrahThe Hijrah
After attacks on Muhammad’s followers he decided to leave Mecca
Traveled to a city 200 miles northRenamed the city MedinaGathered a large number of followersBecame a military and political leaderReturned to Mecca
Muhammad’s ReturnMuhammad’s Return
630- 10,000 man army marched to MeccaDestroyed the idols in the KaabaTook over the city and established it as an
Islamic center as many citizens convertedLived 2 more years and began unification
of the Arabian Peninsula
Basic Beliefs of IslamBasic Beliefs of Islam
There is one God.
There is good and evil
Each person is responsible for his/her actions
Five Pillars of FaithFive Pillars of Faith
Faith- one God, Allah, Muhammad is his messenger
Prayer- 5 times each day toward MeccaAlms- religious tax to benefit the poor, Muslims
must support the less fortunateFasting- reminder that spiritual needs are more
important than physical…. No eating during daylight hours for the month of Ramadan
Pilgrimage (hajj)- all Muslims should visit the holy city of Mecca- all wear the same garments to signify equality before Allah
The Hajj During Ramadan
Other Customs, Morals and Laws Other Customs, Morals and Laws of the Muslimsof the Muslims
No eating pork or drinking alcohol
Communal worship on Friday afternoons at a Mosque
No priests, Muslims worship Allah directly
Islamic AuthorityIslamic Authority
Ulama- scholars who relate Islam to Quran- holy book- written in Arabic- the
only true language of Islam- and is the FINAL words of Allah
Sunna- Muhammad’s example or model for proper living
Shari’a- body of law the regulates family life, moral conduct, business and community relations
Links to Christianity and JudaismLinks to Christianity and Judaism
Allah is the same as their GodJesus= prophet, not the Son of GodAll believe in The Ten Commandments,
Heaven and Hell and final judgmentAll trace their ancestry to AbrahamJews and Christians are called “people of
the book”Islamic law requires Muslims to extend
religious tolerance to them
The Spread of Islam The Spread of Islam
Caliph- successor or deputyCaliphate- rule of a CaliphAbu-Bakr was the first following
Muhammad’s death“Rightly guided Caliphs” were those who
knew Muhammad and followed the Quran
The JihadThe Jihad
As many tribes abandoned Islam following Muhammad’s death, they refused to pay tribute
The jihad (means striving) was instituted to justify the spread of Islam
An inner struggle against evilAn armed struggle against non-believers
Success of the “Rightly Guided Success of the “Rightly Guided Caliphs”Caliphs”
Well disciplined and trained armies
Byzantine empire was weak due to centuries of conflict
Persecution of those who did not accept Christianity or Zoroastrianism
Islam’s AttractionIslam’s Attraction
Equality and hope in this worldMuslims did not have to pay a poll tax (for
non-Muslims)Allowed conquered people to practice
their religionChristians and Jews had special treatment
as “People of the Book”
A Crisis of Internal ConflictA Crisis of Internal Conflict
Several successors of Muhammad were assassinated and the elective system of choosing the Caliph was lost
The Umayyads took overMoved the capital to DamascusMuslims of Arab descent were angeredUmayyads surrounded themselves with
wealth and ceremony- things not associated with Muhammad
3 Muslim Groups Emerge3 Muslim Groups Emerge
Shi’a- “Party of Ali”Sunni- followers of Muhammad’s exampleSufi- rejected the wealth and luxury of the
Umayyad and lived a simple life of poverty and devotion
The Shi’a outwardly resisted the Umayyad rule and believe Caliphs must be descendent of Muhammad
The Abbasid CaliphateThe Abbasid Caliphate
Around 750 the Abbasids defeated the Umayyads
Moved the capital to BaghdadDeveloped a bureaucracyA treasury kept track of money flowTaxed land, imports, exports, and non-
Muslims’ wealthDid not keep complete political control of
the empire, so other Caliphates spread
The Muslim Trade NetworkThe Muslim Trade Network
Sea trade= Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean
Land trade= Silk RoadsLanguage of trade= Arabic, money was
the Abbasid DinarSet up bands and letters of credit called
sakk (Checks)
Muslim Class SocietyMuslim Class Society
Upper= Muslims from birthsSecond= converts to IslamThird= Protected people (monotheistic
believers)Fourth= slaves (non-Muslim prisoners of
war only)
There are no priests b/c Muslims pray directly to Allah
House of Wisdom = Learning House of Wisdom = Learning Center for IslamCenter for Islam
Books translated into Arabic- helped preserve European culture
Al Razi- physician who wrote a Comprehensive Book (medical encyclopedia)
Science= observation and experimentation to solve problems
Math is the basis of all knowledge “al jabr”Astronomy- book, Optics- revolutionized
ideas about vision and led to the development of telescopes and microscopes
Muslim Art and ArchetectureMuslim Art and Archetecture
Only Allah can create life images, so pictures are discouraged in art
Woodwork, glass, ceramics and calligraphy flourished
Architecture is the greatest example of cultural blending between Muslims, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines
Ornate arches frame the doors of the Koutoubia, Marrakech, Morocco's Ornate arches frame the doors of the Koutoubia, Marrakech, Morocco's oldest mosque. Completed in the 12th century, the Koutoubia served as a oldest mosque. Completed in the 12th century, the Koutoubia served as a model for other mosques in the Muslim world.model for other mosques in the Muslim world.
Mosaic and Caligraphy
The Sharia Governs Muslim LifeThe Sharia Governs Muslim Life
System of law
Regulates family life, moral conduct, business and community life
Forbidden to eat pork or drink alcoholic beverages
Role of Women in Muslim SocietyRole of Women in Muslim Society
Had more economic and property rights than other cultures of the time
Equal to men as BELIEVERS, but Islam teaches they be obedient and submissive
Today some Muslim cultures limit women’s rights (Iraq and Afghanistan are examples)
Two Worlds of Muslim Women