1. The Expansive
Realm of Islam

2. Muhammad and His Message
Born 570 to merchant family in Mecca
Orphaned as a child
Marries wealthy widow c. 595, works as merchant
Familiarity with paganism, Christianity and Judaism as practiced in Arabian peninsula

3. Muhammad’s Spiritual Transformation
Visions c. 610 CE
Archangel Gabriel
Monotheism – Allah
Attracts followers to Mecca

4. The
Judeo-Christian
Foundations
of Islam

5. IslamAn Abrahamic Religion
Muslims are strict monotheists.
They believe in the Judeo- Christian God, which they call Allah.
Muslims believe that the Torah and the Bible, like the Qur’an, is the word of God.
Peoples of the Book

6. Abraham’s Genealogy HAGAR ABRAHAM SARAH Ishmael Isaac
12 Arabian Tribes
Jacob
Esau
12 Tribes of Israel

7. The Prophetic Tradition (25 In All)
Adam
Noah
Abraham
Moses
Jesus
Muhammad

8. The Quran Record of revelations received during visions
Committed to writing c. 650 CE (Muhammad dies 632)
Tradition of Muhammad’s life: hadith

9. 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.

10. Conflict at Mecca
Muhammad’s monotheistic teachings offensive to polytheistic pagans
Economic threat to existing religious industry
Denunciation of greed affront to local aristocracy

11. The Hijra Muhammad flees to Yathrib (Medina) 622 CE
Year 0 in Muslim calendar
Organizes followers into communal society (the umma)
Legal, spiritual code
Commerce, raids on Meccan caravans for sake of umma

12. Muhammad’s Return to Mecca
Attack on Mecca, 630
Conversion of Mecca to Islam
Destruction of pagan sites, replaced with mosques
Ka’aba preserved in honor of importance of Mecca
Approved as pilgrimage site
Covered in kiswah (“robe”) annually

13. The Ka’aba

14. The
Five Pillars of
Islam

15. 1. The Shahada The testimony.
The declaration of faith:
There is no god worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad is His Messenger [or Prophet]. 1

16. 2. The Salat
The mandatory prayers performed 5 times a day: * dawn * noon * late afternoon * sunset * before going to bed
Wash before praying.
Face Mecca and use a prayer rug. 2

17. 2. The Salat The call to prayer by the muezzin in the minaret.
Pray in the mosque on Friday. 2

18. 3. The Zakat Alms giving (charitable donations).
Muslims believe that all things belong to God.
Zakat means both “purification” and “growth.”
About 2.5% of your income. 3

19. 4. The Sawm Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
Considered a method of self- purification.
No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. 4

20. 5. The Hajj The pilgrimage to Mecca.
Must be done at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime.
2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year. 5

21. 5. The Hajj
Those who complete the pilgrimage can add the title hajji to their name. 5

22. Jihad “struggle” “holy war” Against vice Against ignorance of Islam
Against unbelievers who threaten Islam

23. The Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem
Mount Moriah Rock where Muhammad ascended into heaven.

24. Islamic Law: The Sharia
Codification of Islamic law
Based on Quran, hadith, logical schools of analysis
Extends beyond ritual law to all areas of human activity

25. Other Islamic Religious Practices
Up to four wives allowed at once.
No alcohol or pork.
No gambling.
Three holiest cities in Islam: * Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.

26. The Caliph No clear to successor to Muhammad identified
Abu Bakr chosen to lead as Caliph
Led war against villagers who abandoned Islam after death of Muhammad

27. The Spread of Islam Easy to learn and practice. No priesthood.
Teaches equality.
Non-Muslims, who were “Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes.
Easily “portable”  nomads & trade routes.
Jihad (“Holy War”) against pagans and other non-believers (“infidels”).

28. The Spread of Islam Great warriors with a strong cavalry.
Byzantines and Persians weak from fighting each other.
Unity in Islam, strengthened by the Sharia, coupled with fair treatment of conquered people, was inviting to many in defeated empires who desired more freedom and cohesiveness.
Difficulties governing rapidly expanding territory

29. The Expansion of Islam, 632 – 733 CE

30. Muslims in the World Today

32. Countries with the Largest Muslim Population1.
Indonesia
183,000,000 6.
Iran
62,000,000 2.
Pakistan
134,000,000 7.
Egypt
59,000,000 3.
India
121,000,000 8.
Nigeria
53,000,000 4.
Bangladesh
114,000,000 9.
Algeria
31,000,000 5.
Turkey
66,000,000
10.
Morocco
29,000,000
* Arabs make up only 20% of the total Muslim population of the world.

34. Successors To The Prophet
After the death of Muhammad, the caliph, or successor to the prophet was chosen. Abu Bakr was nominated as the first caliph.
Abu Bakr would lead the first caliphate, known as the Rashidun or Patriarchal Caliphate.
The choice of Abu Bakr caused significant dispute as many believed that Muhammad had chosen Alī ibn Abī Tālib, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad to succeed him.
Served as caliph CE, then assassinated along with most of his followers

38. Successors To The Prophet
Abu Bakr was followed by three more caliphs, the last of which was Alī ibn Abī Tālib. It is with his succession that a division in Islam became more defined.
Sunni Muslims believe that Ali was the fourth caliph, a position chosen based on ability to lead. The Shi’a (Shiites) believe that Ali is the first Imam, and that only blood descendants of Muhammad can lead the Muslim people.

39. Major Muslim Empires Rashidun Caliphate (622-661)
Umayyad Caliphate ( ) -
Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba in Islamic Spain ( )
Abbasid Caliphate ( ) -
Fatimid Caliphate ( )
Mamluk Caliphate ( )
The Ottoman Caliphate ( )

40. Shi’ite Pilgrims at Karbala

41. The Umayyad Dynasty (661-750 CE)
From Meccan merchant class
Brought stability to the Islamic community
Capital: Damascus, Syria
Associated with Arab military aristocracy

42. Policy toward Conquered Peoples
Favoritism of Arab military rulers causes discontent
Limited social mobility for non-Arab Muslims
Head tax (jizya) on non-Muslims
Umayyad luxurious living causes further decline in moral authority

43. The Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 CE)
Abu al-Abbas Sunni Arab, allied with Shia, non-Arab Muslims
Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia
Defeats Umayyad army in 750
Invited Umayyads to banquet, then massacred them

44. Nature of the Abbasid Dynasty
Diverse nature of administration (i.e. not exclusively Arab)
Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion
Content to administer the empire inherited
Dar al-Islam
Growth through military activity of autonomous Islamic forces

45. Abbasid Administration
Persian influence
Court at Baghdad
Influence of Islamic scholars
Ulama and qadis sought to develop policy based on the Quran and sharia

46. Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786-809 CE)
High point of Abbasid dynasty
Baghdad center of commerce
Great cultural activity

47. Abbasid Decline Civil war between sons of Harun al-Rashid
Provincial governors assert regional independence
Dissenting sects, heretical movements
Abbasid caliphs become puppets of Persian nobility
Later, Saljuq Turks influence, Sultan real power behind the throne

48. Economy of the Early Islamic World
Spread of food and industrial crops
Trade routes from India to Spain
Western diet adapts to wide variety
New crops adapted to different growing seasons
Agricultural sciences develop
Cotton, paper industries develop
Major cities emerge

49. Formation of a Hemispheric Trading Zone
Historical precedent of Arabic trade
Dar al-Islam encompasses silk routes
ice exported from Syria to Egypt in summer, 10th century
Camel caravans
Maritime trade

50. Banking and Trade Scale of trade causes banks to develop
Sakk (“check”)
Uniformity of Islamic law throughout dar al-Islam promotes trade
Joint ventures common

51. Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain)
Muslim Berber conquerors from North Africa take Spain, early 8th c.
Allied to Umayyads, refused to recognize Abbasid dynasty
Formed own caliphate
Tensions, but interrelationship

52. Changing Status of Women
Quran improves status of women
Outlawed female infanticide
Brides, not husbands, claim dowries
Yet male dominance preserved
Patrilineal descent
Polygamy permitted, Polyandry forbidden
Veil adopted from ancient Mesopotamian practice

53. Formation of an Islamic Cultural Tradition
Islamic values
Uniformity of Islamic law in dar al-Islam
Establishment of madrasas
Importance of the Hajj
Sufi missionaries
Asceticism, mysticism
Some tension with orthodox Islamic theologians
Wide popularity

54. Al-Ghazali (1058-1111) Major Sufi thinker from Persia
Impossibility of intellectual apprehension of Allah, devotion, mystical ecstasy instead

55. Cultural influences on Islam
Persia
Administration and governance
literature
India
Mathematics, science, medicine
“Hindi” numbers
Greece
Philosophy, esp. Aristotle
Ibn Rushd/Averroes ( )

56. Islam’s Golden Age
Islam’s golden age peaked under the Abbasids, during which Muslims absorbed the customs and traditions of the many diverse people they ruled.
The emphasis on learning, which was taught by Muhammad, was reinforced by a flourishing economy based on trade.

57. Art & Architecture Mosques & Palaces Calligraphy Drawings & Paintings
Byzantine domes and arches
Abstract & geometric patterns
Calligraphy
Often verses from the Quran
Drawings & Paintings

58. Literature & Philosophy
Poetry
Much based upon themes of the Quran
Preservation of Greco-Roman scholars
Tales
Most famous is The Thousand and One Nights
Philosophy

59. Mathematics & Science Algebra Astronomy Medicine
Based upon Indian & Greek advancements, the Muslims pioneered algebra
Astronomy
Observed the Earth’s rotation
Calculated the circumference of the earth within a few thousand feet
Medicine
Doctors had to pass rigorous tests
Hospitals set up
Studied diseases and wrote medical encyclopedias that became standard texts in Europe

60. Economics Agriculture Trade Manufacturing Cultural diffusion
Partnerships, credit, banks
Manufacturing
Guilds regulated prices, weights & measurements
Specialized in steel, leather & carpets