The Beliefs of Islam

Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.

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I.S.L.A.M.I.C.

Islam’s Holy Book

• The Quran or Koran – contains the teachings revealed to Muhammad the prophet of Allah

Started in the Middle East

• Islam began in Saudi Arabia, in the Middle East

Laws = The 5 Pillars of Islam

1. Faith in Allah

2. Prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca

3. Giving alms to the poor (charity)

4. Fasting during Ramadan

5. Make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lifetime

llah • Allah is the

Islamic name for GOD

• Those who follow Allah are called MUSLIMS

Muhammad•Muhammad is the founder of Islam

•His teachings are written in the Koran

Islam is Monotheistic

• Name another religion we have studied that is monotheistic =

Cities that are holy

• Mecca – Muhammad was born here and is where the KAABA is located

ities that are holy

• Medina – This is the city where Muhammad started Islam

Cities that are holy

•Jerusalem – This is where Muhammad left to heaven from

Kaaba• Is a large cube

building • It is the holiest

place in Islam• This is the

building Muslims face during prayer

Islam and Geograph

y Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.

Deserts• Only a small strip of fertile land in

south of Saudi Arabia

•Few oases

•The rest is Desert

Bedouins• Nomads who live in the

desert• Organized into tribes and

clans– Clans give security and

support since they live in extreme conditions

– Defended themselves from other clans who wanted water, grazing territory, livestock or food supplies

Islamic Way of Life• Bedouin valued

– Courage

– Loyalty to family

– Warrior skills

• This would lead to Islamic way of life

Trade Routes• Many trade routes connected Arabia

to major ocean and land trade routes–Extreme south of the peninsula–To the Byzantine in the north–Caravan routes went to the Silk Roads

in the east–Transported spices to the west

Mecca• Located in Saudi Arabia

• Important stop on trade routes

• During holy months, caravans stopped in Mecca and this brought religious pilgrims who came to worship at the Kaaba

The Spread Of

Islam

100%Islam

Crisis• Muhammad dies in

632

• Muslims now had to find a new leader

• Muhammad did not name a successor

Solution• Muslims chose

Abu-Bakr who was a loyal friend of Muhammad

• He became the first Caliph

• Caliph – (kay-lif) means successor or deputy

Abu-Bakr• After Muhammad died some

Muslims– Refused to pay taxes– Tried to say they were prophets

themselves– Some tribes abandoned Islam

• In order to get things under control, Abu-Bakr used the military to get authority.

Muslim State• By the time Abu died, the Muslim state

controlled all of Arabia• Under the next 2 caliphs they took:

– Syria – Lower Egypt– Parts of Persia

• By 750 they controlled from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indus River (2x the width of the USA!!)

Muslim Troops• They were successful

because they were– Willing to struggle till

the end for Islam– Well disciplined– Expertly commanded

• Enemies were not used to their style of warfare

Byzantine and Persia

• The Byzantine and Persia were already weak from long time conflicts

• The people welcomed Islam

Treatment of Conquered People

• Muslims were tolerant of conquered people

• The Quran forbids forceful conversion– They let others keep their religion if they

paid a poll tax

– People who did not convert were not allowed to spread their own religions

Internal Conflict• The 2 Caliphs

after Abu Bakr were assassinated

• After their assassinations, the elective system of choosing caliphs ended

Umayyads• A family that came

to power in 661 • They set up a

hereditary system of getting new leaders.

• They moved the Muslim capital to Damascus

Umayyads• Surrounded

themselves with riches

• Some Muslims did not agree with the Umayyads and split.

The Split• Muslims split into two groups:

SHI’A

• Believe the leader should be a relative of Muhammad

SUNNI• This group followed the Umayyad

rule and followed Muhammad’s example.

Sufi• Another group who

reacted against the rich life of the Umayyads

• They led a life of poverty and devotion to the spiritual life of Islam

• They meditated and chanted

• Focused on the Quran

Muslim Achievement

Cultural Contributions

Muslim Architecture

Cultural Blending• It is in Architecture that the greatest cultural

blending can be seen• Already existing buildings were modified by

Islamic Ideals• Islamic Features:

– Multi-lobed interwoven arches– Domes– Minarets– Large courtyards

Multi-lobed interwoven arches

Domes

Dome of the Rock• Located in Jerusalem• Rock in the center is believed to be the spot from where

Muhammad ascended (rose) up to Heaven

Minarets• Towers built

from where Muslims are called to prayer 5 times a day

Large Courtyards

Mosaics• Artwork created

using tiny pieces of colored glass tiles

• Muslims use mosaics to create geometric decorations on Mosques

Arabic Alphabet• Arabic was first used

to translate the context of the Quran (The Holy Book of Islam)

• Written from Right to Left

• Made up of 28 letters

Calligraphy• Art of beautiful

handwriting• In Islam, showing

living things in art was not allowed

• So artists turned to calligraphy to express themselves.

• Turn to page 247 in books

Universities• Muhammad strongly believed in the

power of learning– This led to support of places of learning

by Muslim Leaders

• Qualified physicians = treat the sick

• Mathematicians and Astronomers = Calculated times for prayer

Math• Arabic Numbers were

adapted from India– Included the number ZERO

• Led to study of optics which helped develop lenses for telescopes and microscopes

Medical Advances• The Comprehensive

Book – An encyclopedia of medicine using knowledge from Greek, Syrian, Arabic and Indian sources of knowledge

Science• Relied on

Scientific observation and experimentation

• Translated and studied Greek texts