The Origins of Islam: There is no god but God

I. Arabia at the Time of Muhammad A. Trade Routes of Southwestern Outer Eurasia: Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Arabia 1. Sea and caravan routes 2. Importance of Mecca

Arabia and Its Environs in Early 7 th Century

Arabia and the Near East

Indian Ocean Trade

Arabia in the Early 7 th Century

“Camels with Howdah” (1855) by Emile Rouergue

A caravan crossing Ad Dahna desert

Dromedary, importance of

Purebred Arabian stallion

“The horse of Mustapha Pasha” (ca. 1810), by Antoine-Jean Gros

Carl Raswan (1893−1966) on an Anazeh warmare in the Ruala camp (ca. 1930)

Artist’s Depiction of Mecca at the Time of Muhammed ca. 600

Mecca in 1850

Artist’s Depiction of a Street Scene in Mecca ca. 600

Kaaba

Prophet Muhammad at the Kaaba, The Life of the Prophet Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul (Inv. 1222/123b), illustration by Nakkaş Osman [c. 1595].The Life of the Prophet Topkapi Palace MuseumIstanbulNakkaş Osman

I. Arabia at the Time of Muhammad B. Clan Relations 1. Tribal groupings in Arabia 2. Quraysh of the Hollow C. Role of Muhammad

Major tribal groups of Arabia in the early 7 th century

Quraysh of the Hollow, 5 th -6 th Centuries

QURAYSH CLANS Clans of Quraysh divided into 3 main groups: A B C HasimAbd ShamsMakhzum Al-MuttalibNawfulSahm ZuhrahAsadJumah TaymAmirAbd ad-Dar Al-Harith ibn Fihr Adi

The Origins of Islam: There is no god but God II. Principles and Tenets of the Religion A. Five Pillars of Islam B. Important People, Places, and Events C. Sufism (Suf- < “wool” [?])

A. Five Pillars of Islam 1. Shahada — “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his messenger” 2. Salat (Salah)— prayer toward Mecca five times a day 3. zakat — alms (2½% of income above that for your own needs) 4. Sawn — fasting during the month of Ramadan 5. hajj — pilgrimage to Mecca; ihram; tawaf

Salat (Salah)

B. Important People, Places, and Events 1. Muhammad (570–632) — last and greatest of the prophets of God 2. Mecca — birthplace of Muhammad 4. Hijra (622) — flight from Mecca to Yathrib

Kaaba at the heart of Mecca. As the night goes on pilgrims visiting the Holy House

B. Important People, Places, and Events 1. Muhammad (570–632) — “last and greatest of the prophets of God” a. Revelation in cave of Hira (611) b. Night journey (621)

B. Important People, Places, and Events 2. Mecca — birthplace of Muhammad a. Ka’aba — “cube” built by Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ismail (Ishmael) b. Zamzam — well found by Ismail and Hagar c. Jabal nur — site of first revelation d. Mina — three pillars of the devil

Jabal nur

Cave of Hira

Tent city on the plain at Mina

Pilgrims stone the jamrah (stoning the devil)

B. Important People, Places, and Events 3. Hijra (622) — flight from Mecca to Yathrib a. date of beginning of Muslim calendar b. Yathrib later renamed Medina (Medinat un-Nabi = City of the Prophet)

B. Important People, Places, and Events 4. Battle of Badr (624) − Abu Sufyan 5. Battle of Uhud (625) − Khalid ibn al-Walid − Hind bint Utbah − Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib 6. Seige of Yathrib (627) − “Battle of the Trench” 7. Mecca falls (630)

B. Important People, Places, and Events 8. Qur’an (or Koran) — the word of God 9. Hadith — sayings of Muhammad 10. jihad — struggle (external and internal)

Battle of Badr (March 17, 624)

Battle of Uhud (March 19, 625)

Battle of the Trench

B. Important People, Places, and Events 9. Hadith — sayings of Muhammad a. silsilah — chain of authority 10. jihad — struggle (external and internal)

C. Sufism (Suf- < “wool” [?]) 1. Central practice — dhikr — “remembrance” a. stirring the heart — heart as epistemological organ b. piercing the solar plexus (seat of the ego) c. movements of the head d. repeating the shahada: “La ilaha illa ’llah.” –understood as “There is nothing but God” 2. Nothing in this ephemeral world is real except God 3. God is closer to you than the carotids; God is within you