Islam

Geography The Arabian Peninsula is at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and Asia – it forms the hub of many trade routes.

Towns grew at the sites of oasis and they were connected by caravan routes. Several routes connected at MECCA.

Ka’aba Mecca was an important religious center – the KA’ABA was a religious shrine full of idols for many gods and it was an important destination for PILGRIMAGES.

Although the Ka’ba was dedicated to many gods, monotheistic beliefs had existed in the region for a long time. Judaism, Christianity and even some Arabic beliefs were dedicated to a single god.

Muhammad Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570. He worked in the trade caravans. He married his boss, a widow, and became wealthy. He studied religion, prayer, and meditation.

At about age 40 Muhammad had a REVELATION – he heard the angel Gabriel proclaim that he would be a messenger of ALLAH. He came to believe that he was the last of the prophets. He taught that Allah was the one and only God. ISLAM means “submission to the will of Allah.”

Muhammad must flee By 613, Muhammad had converted friends and family and had begun to preach publicly. Powerful Meccans feared Muhammad would hurt the pilgrimage business – they rejected his monotheism with much hostility.

Hijrah The HIJRAH is Muhammad’s “migration” from Mecca to Yathrib (renamed MEDINA – meaning “the city of the prophet.”) It was while at Medina that Muhammad built a powerful following. In 630, Muhammad’s followers conquered Mecca. Muhammad destroyed the idols at the Ka’aba and make it into a Muslim holy shrine In 632, Muhammad died, but not before most the Arabian Peninsula had become Muslim.

The Ka’aba Today

The Qur’an The Qur’an (Koran) is the holy book of Islam. It contains Allah’s revelations to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. It is written in Arabic, and only Arabic can be used in worship.

The Five Pillars The Five Pillars represent Islamic moral principles. There are five duties that all believers must carry out. 1. Faith – Believers must testify the statement of their faith: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.” 2. Prayer – Believers pray 5 times/day facing Mecca. They may assemble at a MOSQUE.

The Five Pillars 3. Alms – Believers pay a tax to support the poor. It is a Muslim responsibility to help those less fortunate. 4. Fasting – no food or drink from dawn to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. Fasting is meant to remind people that they have “greater needs than bread.” 5. Pilgrimage – all Muslims must take a HAJJ or pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life.

Other Literature The SUNNAH is Muhammad’s example for living – his life is the best model for proper living. The SHARIA is a guide for the practical application of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This system of LAW regulates family life, moral conduct, and business and community life for Muslims. Examples – no pork, no alcohol, no more than 4 wives.

To Muslims, Allah is the same God that is worshiped in Christianity and Judaism. However, Muslims view Jesus a prophet, not the Son of God. Muslims believe the Qur’an is the word of God as revealed to Muhammad, just like Jews believe the Torah was revealed to Moses and Christians believe the Gospels were revealed to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Muslims believe the Qur’an perfects the earlier revelations from God – It is the final book and Muhammad is the final prophet.

The Spread of Islam The next leaders of Islam (the Rightly Guided Caliphs) first conquered the rest of Arabia. Next, they conquered Syria, Egypt, Persia, North Africa, and Spain. By 750, the Muslim Empire stretched 4,000 miles from the Atlantic to the Indus River.

Muslim success was due to… Faith of the Muslim soldiers – JIHAD (holy war). Very well disciplined and led. Other empires/kingdoms were weak. People didn’t have to pay tax if they converted. Christians and Jews received special treatment because they were “people of the book.”

Islam Blocked The key battle in Europe was in 732, THE BATTLE OF TOURS in France. Christian Franks led by Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) defeated the Moors (Spanish Muslims) and shut the “western door” into Europe from Spain.

Islam Blocked The eastern door into Europe was blocked by the BYZANTINE EMPIRE and their fortress city of CONSTANTINOPLE. The Byzantines were Christian (Eastern Orthodox).

Splits in Islam After Muhammad’s death, the Muslim world was led by elected officials who were called the RIGHTLY GUIDED CALIPHS (Caliph means successor). They were related to Muhammad. The last two RGC’s were assassinated, bringing an end to the election process.

The Sunnis The UMAYYAD family from Syria seized power and set up a hereditary system succession. They moved the Muslim capital to Damascus. They abandoned simple living and lived a life of luxury and wealth like kings. The majority of Muslims accepted Umayyad rule. They became known as the SUNNI branch of Islam. It is the largest branch.

The Shi’as The SHI’A branch of Islam has insisted that the caliph must be a relative of Muhammad. They are more fundamentalist (strict) in their practice of Islam.

The Sufis The SUFI branch of Islam live a life of poverty and devotion to a spiritual path. They rely on mystical practices and meditation.

The Abassids In 750, the ABASSIDS overthrew the Umayyad family. Their strength was in former Persian lands including Iraq, Iran, and central Asia. They moved their capital to Baghdad.

Trade Muslims became deeply involved in trade networks linking China, India, Africa, and Europe.

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