1. Introduction to Islam

2. Arabs
Arabs live on the Arabian peninsula, now part of what we know as the Middle East
Arabs traded along the Silk Road with the Chinese and the Romans

3. Arabs continued
Arabs are considered to be the ancestors of Abraham and his son Ishmael
They believe that Abraham and Ishmael built a shrine at Makkah or Mecca called the Kaaba
The cornerstone of this sacred shrine is called the Black Stone
Arabs worshiped a supreme god, called Allah

4. The Life of Muhammad Muhammad was born in 570 AD to a merchant family
Muslims believe that Muhammad received revelations from God while meditating
Muhammad believed that Allah (God) had revealed himself through Moses (Judaism) and Jesus (Christianity)
He believed Allah’s final revelations were for him

5. Quran
Muhammad’s revelations were written in a book called the Quran, which are the holy scriptures of Islam
The word Islam means “submission to the will of Allah”
Islam has one God, Allah
Muhammad was his prophet

6. Muhammad’s Mission
Muhammad set out to convince the people of Makkah (Mecca) that his revelations were true
After 3 years of preaching he only had 30 followers
Muhammad and his followers moved to Madinah or Medina; “city of the prophet”
His journey to Medina is known as the Hijrah
His journey began in 622 AD, this year is the first year in the Muslim calendar

7. In Medina Muhammad gained a lot of supporters in Medina
In 630 AD, Muhammad returned to Mecca with 10,000 soldiers
Many residents converted to Islam
Muhammad declared the Kaaba to be a sacred shrine
In 632 AD Muhammad died
Now, all Muslims are encouraged to make a pilgrimage called the hajj to Mecca

8. Teachings of Muhammad Islam is monotheistic Allah created everything
Islam offer salvation and the hope of an afterlife to its followers
Unlike Jesus in Christianity, Muhammad is not considered to be divine

9. To obey Allah’s will, Muslims must follow an ethical code called the Five Pillars of Islam
Those who follow the law are guaranteed a place in paradise

10. Arab Empire
Muhammad’s death left his followers with a problem of succession
Some of his closest followers chose Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s father-in-law to lead (Sunni)
He was named caliph, or successor to Muhammad
Others felt that Muhammad’s cousin, Ali, should be the next prophet (Shia)
Arabs began to conquer other peoples
Arabs were great fighters because they believed if they were killed in battle they were assured a place in paradise

11. Arab Expansion
Arabs expanded their culture and religion throughout the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe
By 725 AD Spain became a Muslim state
By 732 AD they had conquered the southern and eastern parts of the Roman Empire
Baghdad became a center for trade

12. Conquerors
In 1055 AD a group called the Seljuk Turks took control of the empire under their leader the sultan
(They became Muslim)
During the 1200’s a group called the Mongols, under their leader Genghis Khan invaded
The Mongols destroyed Baghdad because they hated Islam
Mongols eventually converted to Islam as well