Islam Spreads From ArabiaIslam Spreads From ArabiaMost of the Arabian

peninsula is a desert plateau.

The herders or Bedouins lived as nomads.

Tribal leaders were called sheiks.

Mecca was the start of the caravan route to Syria.

Islam Spreads From ArabiaIslam Spreads From Arabia

Muhammad the ProphetMuhammad the ProphetMuhammad was born in Mecca around

570 A.D. ( Caravan route)= (ideas)He was raised as a Hanif or believer in

one god like the Hebrews.When Muhammad was 40 he had a

religious vision of Gabriel telling to preach the word of Allah or God.

Mecca’s rulers didn’t like Muhammad’s preaching. Forced to flee. ( hijra)

Muhammad and IslamMuhammad and IslamMuhammad goes to Medina on his hijra

and converts many to Islam. He returns to Mecca and takes the city

and the holy shrine, the Ka’ba.He destroys the many idols in the Ka’ba,

and it becomes the focal point of the pilgrimage to Mecca.

By 632, Muhammad’s death, most of Arabia had accepted Islam.

The Faith of IslamThe Faith of IslamThe central belief of Islam, “There is no

god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.”

The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam.Muhammad taught tolerance for the

religions of Christianity and Judaism.The Qur’an is written in Arabic and

Muslims discourage translations.This spread the Arabic language.

The Faith of Islam(cont)The Faith of Islam(cont)Muslims must meet five obligations. The

Five Pillars of Faith. Recite the words of witness. There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.

Worship five times a day facing Mecca.Give alms o the poor and needy.Fast during Ramadan. The ninth month of

the Muslim calendar.Try to visit Mecca on a pilgrimage.

The Faith of Islam(cont)The Faith of Islam(cont) Islam requires the virtues of temperance,

humility, justice etc. Drinking alcohol and eating pork are forbidden.

Islam only allowed four wives per husband. Slaves had to be treated humanely.

Balal, Muhammad’s slave became the first mu’zzin or the caller to prayer.

The jihad or defending the faith to the death was sacred and a way to heavan.

The Faith of Islam(cont)The Faith of Islam(cont)Muslim mosques, or places of worship

have no pictures.There is no elaborate ritual or priests.

Fridays at noon male Muslims gather for prayer and worship. Women must worship at home or seperately.

Abu Bakr was chosen in 632 as Muhammad’s successor. The caliph or successor to the prophet. Umar was the next caliph. They fought to spread Islam.

The Spread of IslamThe Spread of IslamConquered people had three choices,

convert, pay tribute, or die. Those that paid could keep their religion

but could not hold political office. In less than 100 years Islam had spread

over most of the Mediterranean region, northern Africa and parts of India.

The Berbers or Moors entered Europe in Spain. Tariq conquered the Visigoths, Muslims turned back at Tours in France.

Divisions in IslamDivisions in IslamThe Sunnis believed there was no

intercessor between Allah and the believer, except for the Qur’an.

The Shi’is believed that an imam or spiritual and secular authority was the true intercessor for Allah. The imam also was the head of government.

The Sufis were Muslim mystics who led a Spartan life and communicated directly with Allah.