Islamic Civilization “Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar, La Allah Il, La Allah Il Allah U Mohammed Rassul Allah” Islamic Civilization

The revelations of Muhammad form the basis of the Islamic religion, a monotheistic faith. Origins of Islam WHO? The Prophet (Muhammad) WHERE? Mecca & Medina (early Muslim cities) on the Arabian Peninsula HOW? Ideas and travel related to the Kaaba

Beliefs, Traditions, and Customs of Islam Islamic traditions and customs developed over centuries and created a distinct Muslim culture. Beliefs, Traditions, and Customs of Islam Allah – Arabic word for “God” Qur'an (Koran) – Arabic for “word of God” / holy book Accepts Judeo-Christian prophets like Moses & Jesus Five Pillars of Islam

Five Pillars of Islam Creed (Shahada) statement of faith Prayer (Salat) 5 times/day; facing Mecca Alms/charity (Zakat) giving to the poor Fasting (Sawm) abstaining from food/drink Pilgrimage (Hajj) holy trip to Mecca

Title 2) Image 3)Name of Pillars 4) Description of Pillars 5) Neat, Colorful, Accurate 

Geographic influences on the origin and spread of Islam

Geographic influences on the origin and spread of Islam Spread along trade routes from Mecca and Medina (diffusion) Expanded despite great distances: Crossed deserts and mountains Spread into Fertile Crescent, Iran, and Central Asia, facilitated by weak Byzantine and Persian empires

Influence of geography on economic, political, and social development Political unity of the first Muslim empire was short-lived Arabic language spread with Islam and facilitated trade across Islamic lands Arabic language also stimulated intellectual activity Slavery not based on race When Muhammad died in 632, the Muslim community he led faced a crisis…they believed they had a duty to carry “the word” to the world…lacked a clear way to choose a new leader. The issue of leadership would eventually divide the Muslim world. Qur’an is written in Arabic and Muslims consider only the Arabic version to be the true word of God/Arabic can only be used in worship/wherever Muslims carried the Qur’an, Arabic became the language of worshippers and scholars/thus Arabic language spread widely

Timeline 632: Muhammad died 632 – 661: “Rightly Guided” Caliphs Abu-Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali 661: Umayyads come to power Hereditary system of succession Moved the capital from Mecca to Damascus Surrounded themselves with wealth & ceremony Muslim empire expands greatly (Egypt & Syria were taken from the Byzantine Empire…also conquered parts of Persia) The assassinations of Uthman and Ali lead to problems within the Islamic community (civil wars/conflicts). Umayyads (like other non-Muslim rulers) Abu Bakr – Muhammad’s close friend, chosen to be the first caliph (means “successor”) Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali had all known Muhammad and supported his mission By the time of Bakr’s death, Muslims controlled all of Arabia Umar conquered Syria and lower Egypt (part of Byzantine Empire) and part of Persian Empire Uthman and Ali continued expansion eastward and westward Many conquered people chose to accept Islam/Muslims did allow some to accept their own religion (Qur’an forbids forced conversion) but had to pay a tax/ Civil War led to Ali’s assassination/family called the Umayyads came to power/moved capital to Damascus and changed practices somewhat/

Sects of Islam The Sunni and Shi’a (Shiites) (accepted the rule of the Umayyads) Approximately 90% of Muslims Believed successors to Muhammad should be chosen by the community Do not believe in intermediary (middle-man) between Allah and people

Sects of Islam The Sunni and Shi’a (Shiites) (followed the example of Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law) Approximately 10% of Muslims Think Muhammad’s successor should be his relatives Believed in an intermediary called an Imam Those with religious authority should rule government too

Major historical turning points in the spread of Islam Major historical turning points marked the spread and influence of Islamic civilization. Death of Ali: Sunni vs. Shi’a division Muslim conquest of Jerusalem & Damascus during the Crusades Muslims defeated at the Battle of Tours (France in 732 A.D.) Islamic capital moved to Baghdad (762 A.D.) Fall of Baghdad to the Mongols

Spread of Islam

Islamic cultural contributions and achievements Early Islamic civilization was characterized by achievements in science and the arts that transformed the Islamic world and contributed to world civilization. Architecture: Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem) Mosaics Arabic alphabet - Translation of ancient texts into Arabic Universities (ex: House of Wisdom in Baghdad) Literature: A Thousand and One Nights Dome of the Rock: earliest surviving Islamic monument; completed in 691; the rock on the site is the spot from which Muslims say Muhammad ascended into heaven to learn of Allah’s will; Jews identify the same rock as the site where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac; dome is wooden and about 60 feet in diameter; supporting structure includes mosaic designs, columns, and many windows Mosaics: forbade the depiction of living beings based on the idea that only Allah can create life (considered idolatry) Alphabet: calligraphy; translated the works of Greek philosophers, mathematicians, astronomers, doctors, etc. into Arabic; expanded on previous ideas Universities: stressed education/learning; built places of learning throughout the Muslim Empire (Baghdad, Timbuktu) A Thousand and One Nights: a collection of stories tied together using a frame story…King Shahryar marries a new wife each day and has her killed the next….Scheherezade marries the king and tells him fascinating stories for 1001 nights…until he realizes he loves her “The sprawling, untidy collection of stories known throughout the Arab-speaking world as theThousand and One Nights (and in English long called The Arabian Nights) evolved over a long period of time, and it is impossible to say just when a particular story was written. Because the collection reached its more or less definitive form in the 16th century we have chosen to place this example here. Such tales of magic as "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp" and "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" are actually quite unrepresentative of the bulk of the Nights. Most are decidedly adult tales of scandal and treachery, often involving faithless women.”

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Islamic scientific contributions and achievements Early Islamic civilization was characterized by achievements in science and the arts that transformed the Islamic world and contributed to world civilization. Arabic numerals (adapted from India), includes 0 Algebra Medicine Al Jabr: believed mathematics was the basis of all knowledge; Al-Khwarizmi was born in Baghdad in the late 700s; studied Indian rather than Greek sources; wrote a textbook in the late 800s explaining “the art of bringing together unknowns to match a known quantity” Al-Razi was the greatest physician of the Muslim world; wrote encyclopedia called the “Comprehensive Book” that drew on knowledge from Greek, Syrian, Arabic, and Indian sources; also studied Smallpox and measles; believed breathing clean air would help patients recover more quickly

Islamic scientific contributions and achievements Early Islamic civilization was characterized by achievements in science and the arts that transformed the Islamic world and contributed to world civilization. Expansion of geographic knowledge = maps Astrolabe: an astronomical instrument for taking the altitude of the sun or stars and for the solution of other problems in astronomy and navigation: used by Greek astronomers from about 200 b.c. and by Arab astronomers from the Middle Ages until superseded by the sextant.

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