Unit 6.2

The Arabian Peninsula  This is the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and Asia.  It is 1,200 miles from the North to the South and 1,300 miles from the East to the West.  Only a small area can support agriculture, and there are only a few small oases.  The rest of the peninsula is deserts and inhabited by nomadic herders.

Desert and Town Life  The nomadic herders are called Bedouins.  They are organized into family groups called clans.  They provided security and support because of the difficult living conditions.  The clans took pride in their ability to adapt to surrounding areas, defend themselves from raids, find water, grazing territories, livestock, and food.  The oases had enough water to support small communities, so some settled in farming communities.

Crossroads of Trade and Ideas  By the early 600’s trade routes connected Arabia to the major oceans.  They connected the Byzantines to the Sassanid.  Merchants traveled along the Silk Road.  They would trade spices and incense.  Mecca became an important stop.  During holy months caravans would stop here for religious holidays.  Religious pilgrims would worship at the Ka’aba.

Crossroads continued  The Ka’aba is associated with Abraham.  It was a gift to his son Ishmael.  Inside the Ka’aba there were over 360 idols from different religions inside it.  In this environment Muhammad was born in the year 570.

The Prophet Muhammad  He was born into a powerful clan in Mecca.  He was orphaned around the age of 6.  Raised by his grandfather and uncle.  He had very little education and began working on caravans.  He became a manager for the caravans of Khadijah, and he married her when he was 25.  The had a good marriage and partnership.

Revelations  He really enjoyed religion, and spent a lot of time in prayer and meditation  Around the age of 40 he was praying and heard the voice of the angel Gabriel telling him he is going to be a messnger of god.  Muslims believe he is the last prophet of god.  His message is simple, there is only one god and all others must be abandoned.

Muslims and Islam  The religion that he started was called Islam.  This means “submission to the will of Allah”  Muslims are “one who has submitted”  Allah is Arabic for “god”

Islam’s Beginnings  The first followers of Islam were Muhammad's family and close families.  In 613 he began actively preaching in Mecca.  They didn’t like his ideas because they were going to change how everything was done.  They didn’t like it either since they were going to lose money from religious pilgrims.  Some of Muhammad’s followers were beaten and stoned in the streets.

The Hijrah  A Hijrah is a migration.  In 622, Muhammad leaves Mecca.  They resettled in Yathrib, or present day Medina “The City of the Prophet.”  Here Muhammad became a great leader.  Politically, religiously, and militarily.

Return to Mecca  In many places the Bedouins converted to Islam and joined Muhammad.  Over the years Mecca and Medina battled each other, and Mecca decreased in power.  In 630, Muhammad and 10,000 followers marched on Mecca.  They stopped on the outside and were accepted. They were allowed in peacefully.

Return continued  When he entered the city, he destroyed the idols of the Ka’aba and made a prayer call on top of it.  After this most Meccan’s pledged loyalty and converted to Islam.  By doing this the joined the umma, or religious community.  Muhammad died two years later at the age of 62.

Beliefs and Practices of Islam  Their main teaching is there is only one god.  All other religions are false and wrong.  You are responsible for your own actions, and there is both good and evil.  In the final judgment, you will be judged by Allah. You will be sent to either Heaven or Hell.

The Five Pillars 1. Faith- You have to testify this statement “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” 2. Prayer- You have to pray five times a day, and face to Mecca to pray. 1. Many gather in a mosque, or a Islamic house of worship. 3. Alms-Give money to the poor. 4. Fasting-During the holy month of Ramadan, you have to fast from sun up to sun down. 5. Pilgrimage- All Muslims need to perform a hajj once in their life time, a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Ways of Life  If you are a Muslim you don’t do the following:  Don’t eat pork or drink alcohol.  Friday afternoons are set aside for worship and prayer.  There is no central religious figure.

Sources of Authority  The original source of authority was Allah.  Then the messages were passed from Allah to Gabriel to Muhammad.  His followers would eventually begin memorizing the revelations.  Eventually they were recorded into the Qur’an.  It is written in Arabic, and is the only it can officially be used.

Sources continued  All Muslims follow the Sunna.  Muhammad’s example for proper living.  There is also the shari’a, or religious law.  Regulates family life, moral conduct, business, and community life of Muslims.  There is no separation of criminal and civil matters.

Links to Judaism and Christianity  According to Islam it is the same god of both Christians and Jews.  Jesus is a prophet of Allah, not the Son of God.  The Qur’an is the final revelation from Allah.  Muslim’s trace their ancestry to Abraham.  All Christians and Jews are supposed to be tolerated and respected as being People of the Book.