3. Origins of Islam
600s, city of Mecca - important stopping point for religious pilgrims, who visited a religious site dedicated to the worship of Abraham

4. Origins of Islam Muhammad was born in Mecca became a businessman
married a wealthy woman named Khadijah
interested in religion & spent a lot of time in prayer and meditation

5. Origins of Islam
Muslim belief - one night while Muhammad was meditating, an angel appeared & told him that he was a chosen messenger of god, Allah
The Muslim word for god is Allah.

6. Origins of Islam Muhammad began to teach that Allah was the only god.
People who followed Muhammad were called Muslims & practiced the religion of Islam, meaning “submission to Allah.”

7. Basic religious beliefs
The 5 Pillars:
Faith – All Muslims make a testament of faith, that there is only one god, Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.
Prayer – Face to Mecca and pray 5 times each day.
Alms – Give money to the poor.
Fasting – Do not eat during daylight hours in the holy month of Ramadan.
Pilgrimage – Travel to Mecca at least once in your life if you are physically and financially able.

8. Basic religious beliefs
The Qur’an is the holy book of Islamic belief.
Only the Arabic language is spoken in Muslim prayer.

9. Islamic Split
In 656, a Muslim caliph named Uthman was murdered. His successor, Ali was also murdered.
New family in power: Umayyads.
Capital moved from Mecca to Damascus (Syria)

10. Copy the Venn diagram on the back of your Notes **Use the whole paper.**
Sunni
Shia
Similarities

11. Islamic Split
Some did not like the Umayyad. There was a split (like the Great Schism of 1054)

12. Basic Similarities Both Shi’a & Sunni follow the Quran
over 10 million people living today have
memorized the Quran in Arabic
Both Shi’a & Sunni bow toward Mecca in prayer
Both Shi’a & Sunni believe in Messiah

13. Who should be the Muslim’s leader after Muhammad’s death?
Basic Differences
Shia – Messiah will return from hiding
Sunni – Messiah has yet to emerge
BIG QUESTION:
Who should be the Muslim’s leader after Muhammad’s death?

15. Sunni v. Shia
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16. Shia Decision
Believed the leadership should be descendants of Muhammad (family).
Leaders = “imams”

17. Shia Fast Facts
A member of the Shia branch are called a “Shiite” (shee-ite)
Found mainly in Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Bahrain
Make up only about 15% of all Muslims

18. Sunni Decision
After Muhammad’s death they believed a capable leader should be elected.
Leaders = “caliphs”

19. Sunni Fast Fact
They make up 85% of all Muslims.

20. Growth of the Islamic Empire
Abu-Bakr (first convert) became Muslim leader after Muhammad’s death in 632.
Abu-Bakr declared jihad (religious war), against people who did not follow Islam. Jihad – used to expand the Islamic empire.
A disciplined military & expert commanders aided the Islamic empire in conquest.
Muslims allowed Jews and Christians to keep religion.

21. Growth of the islamic empire
Abassids (Islamic group) came to power in 750
moved the capital of Islam to Baghdad (Iraq)
developed a strong government
had separate treasury (money), military, & foreign affairs departments
created taxes to help fund their empire

22. Trade Routes
Arabian Peninsula - crossroads between Africa, Asia, & Europe
New capital at Baghdad had easy access to Mediterranean, Indian Oceans, & Silk Road trading route that connected Europe w/ China
Arabian Peninsula used a common language, Arabic, & a common currency

23. Islamic Scholars Muhammad believed strongly in the power for learning:
(Medicine) Ibn Sina began working as a doctor at age 18 & became one of Islam’s leading medical scholars. He wrote several books, the most famous of which are The Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine
(Geography) Ibn Battuta was a famous Muslim explorer. He traveled throughout the known world (farther even than Marco Polo). He recorded his journeys in his book Rihla (meaning “voyage”)