ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION

Abraham’s Genealogy ABRAHAM SARAH HAGARHAGAR Isaac Esau Jacob 12 Tribes of Israel IshmaelIshmael 12 Arabian Tribes

Arab Life  Descendants of Semitic tribes  Bedouins: Arabic nomads  Shiekh – leader of each tribe  Raided neighboring tribes to gain livestock, land, etc.  Believed in retaliation: “ eye for an eye…”  Makkah (Mecca): most important Arabic town  Religious and economic center  Times of Change  Adoption of monotheism (Judaism/Christianity)  Islam: “submission to the will of Allah (God)”

Muhammad  Was troubled by the corruptness of leaders  Fasted in order to seek answers  His Revelation  Fled Makkah (hijrah); went to Yathrib (622)  Decreed that all Muslims be loyal to the Muslim community  Quran: the divine law given by the angel Gabriel to Muhammad  Two achievements of Muhammad  Religious community based on holy writings  Set the example of life for Muslims to follow

THE PROPHETIC TRADITION AdamNoahAbrahamMosesJesusMuhammad

Beliefs and Practices  The Quran: God’s message to Muhammad  Written 20 years after Muhammad’s death  Values  Honor parents, show kindness, protect orphans and widows, and give generously  The Five Pillars of Islam  Faith: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”  Prayer: 5 times a day  Alms: giving to charity  Fasting: during the month of Ramadan  Pilgrimage: to Makkah; once during life

The Qur’an  Muslims believe it contains the word of God.  114 suras (chapters).  In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful.  Written in Arabic.

Spread of Islam  Caliphs: successors after Muhammad died  Sought to protect and spread Islam  Early Conquests:  Converted the Persians, reduced the Byzantines  650 – included Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Persia, Egypt  Divisions within Islam  Husayn and Ali were assassinated  Sunnis: majority of pop. – anyone could be caliph  Shiites: minority of pop. – only Muhammad’s descendants could be caliph

Other Islamic Religious Practices  No alcohol or pork.  No gambling.  Sharia  body of Islamic law to regulate daily living.  Three holiest cities in Islam:  Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.

Family Life  Role of Women:  Forbade the custom of killing female infants  Limited polygamy (maximum of four wives)  Had control of personal property  Made contributions to the arts  Role of Men:  Obligated to politics and military  Visited public forums for various activities  Entered school at the age of seven  Upper-class boys could pursue a theological degree

Islamic Achievements  Mathematics:  Developed algebra; expanded trigonometry  Astronomy and Geography:  Physical and Mathematical models of universe  Concluded that the Earth was round  Chemistry and Medicine:  Al-Razi: described the origin of disease  Art:  Calligraphy writing  Literature:  Kalila and Dimna (a collection of animal fables)  Philosophy and History:  Religious truths could be analyzed & defended w/ logic