The Rise of Islam SS.A.3.4.4; SS.D.2.4.6; SS.B.2.4.1

The Arabs  Semitic people (like Hebrews & Assyrians) from the Arabian Peninsula  Nomads, moving to find water, organized into tribes  Tribes ruled by Sheikh, chosen by elders  Farmers, sheepherders, traders  Helped support trade routs between Mediterranean and China  Problems in Egypt and Mesopotamia caused trade to shift from established trade routes to a route through Makkah (Mecca)  Communities on this route grew rich

Religion of the Arabs  Arabs trace their heritage back to Abraham (same as Hebrews), and his son Ishmael  Believe Abraham and Ishmael founded Makkah (Mecca), and built the Kaaba—a place of worship in Makkah  Arabs were polytheistic, believing in many gods, but one supreme god named Allah (allah is Arabic for “god”)

A new faith, a new prophet of Allah  Muhammad born in Mecca, orphaned at 5 years old  Married a rich woman, also his boss  Troubled by economic inequalities, he took to meditating in a cave  Believed Allah’s angel, Gabriel, spoke the words of God to him  Believing that Allah had already revealed himself through Moses & Jesus (Hebrew and Christian scriptures), the revelation made through Muhammad would be the last words of Allah to mankind

A new religion is born…  Muhammad believed he was the last prophet, in a long line of prophets  Muhammad’s faith became known as Islam “peace through submission to the will of Allah”  Muhammad wrote what Allah told him in the Quran (holy book of Islam)  Followers of the new faith are called Muslims (those who submit)

Slow spread of Islam:  Muhammad began preaching in Mecca  After 3 years of preaching, only 30 followers  Muslims persecuted in Mecca  A.D. 622: Muhammad and Muslims leave Mecca for Yathrib (later renamed Medina, or “city of the prophet”), this journey became known as Hijrah  622 becomes year 1 of the Muslim calendar

Picking up the pace…  Islam spreads quickly in Medina, and in the desert among Bedouins (Arabs in the desert)  Muslims saw no separation between religious and political authority  Muhammad soon became political leader of Medina, and raised an army to protect faithful Muslims  Medinan army beats Mecca in battle, others begin to believe, Islam grows

Mecca & Medina…  630 A.D.: Muhammad returns to Mecca with army of 10,000; Mecca surrenders  Most inhabitants convert to Islam  Muhammad visits the Kaaba, names it a holy place of Islam  Muhammad dies in 632, as Islam soars  Muslims are required to, if able, make a pilgrimage to the Kaaba at least once in a lifetime

Islamic Teaching…  Monotheistic: Allah is only God, and Muhammad is his prophet  Hinges on salvation, must submit to live  Believe people rejected earlier prophets (Moses, Elijah, Jesus, etc) so Allah made a final revelation through Muhammad  After Muhammad’s death, scholars issue shari’ah: a code of law applying the Quran’s teachings to everyday life  Dictates family life, busines practices, government and moral conduct  Forbidden behavior= gambling, eating pork, drinking

Five Pillars of Islam:  Belief: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet”  Prayer: Must perform prescribed prayers five times a day  Charity: “giving alms” giving part of one’s wealth to the poor  Fasting: Refraining from eating or drinking from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan  Pilgrimage: Must visit Mecca once in life