Islam

Terms--Islam Mohammed (570 – 632) Allah Koran Mecca Medina—Hejira (622) Caliph Five Pillars of Faith Ramadan Hajj Jihad Sunnis Shiites—Ali Umayyads Abbassids

Islam Monotheistic belief derived in part from Jewish and Christian beliefs New element: belief in another great prophet--Mohammed

Mohammed

Arabia

The Arabs--Bedouins

Bedouins

Mecca

The Kaaba (Today)

Medina (“City of the Prophet”)

Arabia During Mohammed’s Lifetime

The Hejira--622 Mohammed’s flight across the desert from Mecca to Medina 622—Becomes first year of Muslim calendar Turning point for Islam

The Spread of Islam During Mohammed’s Lifetime (by 632)

Abu Bakr—First Caliph “If you worship Mohammed, Mohammed is dead. If you worship God, God is alive.”

The Spread of Islam Under the First Four Caliphs (by 661)

Beliefs Strict monotheism One all-powerful, compassionate God--Allah

The Koran Sacred text of Islam The recitations of Mohammed

The Five Pillars of Faith/Islam There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet Obligation to pray five times a day facing Mecca Obligation to observe the holy month of Ramadan and fast from sunrise to sunset Obligation to visit Mecca at least once in your lifetime—a pilgrimage or hajj Obligation to give charity to the poor and to avoid the arrogance of wealth

Bedouin Armies

Jihad Holy war “Striving in the way of God”

Divisions Emerge Sunnis—Caliph should be chosen by leaders of the Muslim community. A leader, not a religious authority. The inspiration came from the example of Mohammed. Shiites—Only true successors to the Prophet were descendants of Mohammed’s daughter and son-in-law, Fatima and Ali. Descendants of the Prophet were divinely inspired.

The Umayyads (r. 661 – 750)

Abbassids (r. 750 – 1258) Abu al-Abbas