ISLAM - “to submit” “There is no god but Allah: Muhammad is the prophet of Allah”

Muhammad “The Prophet” n 570 CE in Mecca n raised by an Uncle – Quraish clan n Hermit: spent time in solitude – prayed in mtn caves – Angel Gabriel appeared to him n “RECITE” n became QURAN n Ramadan was t/month that Quran was recited to Mu. n Khadija – 1st convert to Islam – Muhammad’s 1st wife – merchant

HEJIRA n 622 CE n first year of Muslim Calendar n migration of Mu. & Muslims fm Mecca to Medina n Yathrib changed to Medina (City o/t Prophet) – 2nd holiest site in Islam n 630 CE: war w/ Meccans – captures Mecca n dedicates KA’ABA to Allah n smashes all idols n holiest site in Islam

Muhammad’s Miracles n Heart cleansed with snow by two angels n ascension to heaven: – Dome o/t Rock n 1500 Muslims drank water from one vessel from Mu’s hand

FIVE PILLARS of ISLAM n Proclamation of Faith n Prayer five times a day – facing Mecca n Alms (charity) to the poor & aged n Fasting during Ramadan – Gabriel spoke to Mu – month of Hejira – no food/water btwn sunrise & sunset n Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca ONCE in a lifetime

The QURAN n Muslim holy book – sits at the right hand of Allah n exact word of Allah as revealed to Mu. by Angel Gabriel – God becomes the Word n authority on religion, politics, law, economics & social life n forbidden to translate from Arabic n link btwn all Muslims

Quranic teachings n “people of the book” – Jews & Christians – treat w/ tolerance n be merciful & compassionate n repeat 1st Pillar three times in front of male Muslim to become a Muslim n “I divorce you” x3 n Paradise or Hell (Judgment Day) n Hadith: traditional sayings o/t prophet n Inshallah (the will of God) – Belief in predestination – God controls all that happens

Golden Age of Islam (1st four Caliphs: successors to the Prophet) n Abu-Bakr ( CE) n Mu’s father-in-law – Ayesha n united all Arab tribes n Umar ( ) – Ridda Wars – captured Baghdad & Jerusalem – most of Persia conquered – murdered by Persian slave n Uthman ( ) – captured Egypt & N. Africa – assassinated by fellow Muslims n Ali ( ) – Mu’s son-in-law (Fatima) – assassinated by own people

EXPANSION OF ISLAM n Arab armies united by their belief in Islam n Muslim warriors who died in combat won a place in paradise – Jihad n lure of riches (booty) n tolerant conquerors – special non-believers tax n Commerce spread

Islamic Sects (divisions) n Sunni Muslims – any devout male Muslim can be Caliph – high moral character – majority n Shi’ites (Shiah) – only descendents of Ali can be Caliph – 12th Imam will return on Judgement Day – only Imams can guide Muslims to salvation – minority (except Iran & Iraq) n Sufism: mystical Islam

Islamic Art

Mosques What is a minaret? What is a muezzin?

Islamic Customs and Laws n Follow strict dietary laws- – HALAL - name of Allah must be mentioned while animal is slaughtered – – Can’t eat pork n Can’t drink alcohol n No gambling n Can’t kill animals for sport n Strict punishments for crimes- In some strongly Muslim countries there’s little difference between religious laws and country laws. (i.e. Shari’ah) n 99 names for God/Allah: n How to pray:

Women in Islam n Men & women are spiritual equals n Hijab shows Muslim identity – recognize intelligence, not sexuality – seen as feminine n Sunnah 4:3: If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly, then marry only one. n Hadith: “seeking knowledge is mandatory for all Muslims”

The Islamic (Arab) Empires n Umayyad Dynasty ( CE) – Damascus is capital – emphasized Arab culture n Arabic main language n gov’t jobs went to Arabs n Abbassid Dynasty ( CE) – Baghdad (God given) is capital – more than 1 million ppl – Muslim more important than being Arab – built libraries, hospitals, irrigation, mosques, schools