What is Islam and Who are the Muslims?

Overview of Islam Today, Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion with more than 1 billion followers throughout the world

What was Arabia like before Muhammad?

Islam Islam is a monotheistic religion that began in city of Mecca located on the Arabian Peninsula near the Byzantine Empire Arabians were polytheistic & came to visit Mecca to pray to the Kabba, a shrine containing idols of 360 different gods (including Allah)

Islam Mohammad was born in Mecca & was interested in monotheism of Jews & Christians who traded in Mecca At age 40, Mohammad had a vision that told him he was a messenger of Allah (Arabic word for “god”; the same god as Christians & Jews) Muhammad called his religion Islam (“surrender to God”) & destroyed the other idols in the Kabba

Islam Mohammad identified rules all Muslims should live by, called the Five Pillars of Islam: Faith—believe in 1 god, Allah Prayer—five times every day Alms—give money to the needy Fasting—eat no food from sunrise to sunset for 1 month (Ramadan) Pilgrimage—one in life, go to Mecca

Muezzin Pilgrims in Mecca

Islam Islam became a very popular religion in Mecca and Medina.

Expansion of Islam Muslims began to expand; idea of jihad taught that Muslims would go straight to heaven if died fighting for Allah; so they fought very hard to expand. Holy wars were considered okay in God's eyes.

Islam expanded into a huge empire including Spain, Northern Africa, Persia, and Arabia.

Expansion of Islam Expanded Arabic language and cultural innovations. Islamic rulers proved mostly tolerant, they offered new subjects three choices: convert to Islam pay a tax or die

Islam Like Christianity, Islam split into 2 sects; after Muhammad died, caliphs (followers of Muhammad) lead Islamic faith, but confusion over the “correct” leadership (caliph): Sunni—caliphs should be chosen by vote (95% Muslims are Sunni today) Shiite—caliphs should come directly from Muhammad’s family tree (more radical; 3% of all Muslims today)

Percentage Today of Sunni & Shi’a Muslims Worldwide

BYZANTINES MUSLIMS

Ottoman Turks Turks are nomads from Asia; contact with Muslim Empire led to conversion of Turks to Islam Ottoman Turks—Most powerful group of Turks began to grow strong as Byzantine Empire and Islamic Empire began to weaken Defeated both Islamic Empire & Byzantine Empire; created Ottoman Empire

Seige of Constantinople (1453 A.D.)

The Ottoman Empire