1.  10.2 The Beginnings of Islam

2.  Holy book of Islam, contains the messages God revealed to Muhammad. o Muslims believe that the messages are best conveyed through its original language, Arabic. o Many converts to Islam must learn the Arabic language. o The shared language helps unite Muslims across regions and countries.

3. o There are many similarities between the Quran, the Jewish Torah and the Christian Bible. Belief in one God, and a shared high regard for Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses as important people in their religious history.

4.  Prior to Islam, women were regarded as subservient to men in most of Arab society, and female children were not valued. o The Quran teaches that men and women are spiritually equal. o The Quran gave women more rights. Examples: Women could inherit property, receive an education, gained the right to divorce, and to not be married against their will.

5.  656- Uthman, the leader of the Muslim community, was assassinated. o His death led to a schism in the Muslim world. o Muslims disagreed over who should be their rightful leader. o This is similar to when a schism occurred between the Roman Catholics and the Byzantine Greek Orthodox churches.

6.  Two main groups emerged in disagreement  Shiites and Sunnis. o Shiites- The smaller group, argued that the ruler should remain a descendent of Muhammad who would best be able to explain Muhammad’s messages from God as recorded in the Quran. o Sunnis- The larger group, argued that any deeply religious Muslim man from Muhammad’s tribe could lead the community, and that no one man should interpret Muhammad’s messages alone. Today, 85% of Muslims are Sunnis

7.  Shiites and Sunnis are both liberal Islamic groups but each contains extreme factions. o Shiite Wahhabi sect- Radical fundamentalists, who believe the Quran should be taken literally and serve as both religious and secular law.