1. Islam Means “submission to God’s will” Muslims (followers of Islam, “those who submit”) trace their religion back to the Hebrew scriptures: –Ishmael, son of Abraham and Hagar, moved to Mecca, according to the Koran –Mohammed was a descendent of Ishmael

2. Muhammad The “Seal of the Prophets”—the last of the prophets, namely: –Abraham: monotheism –Moses: Ten Commandments –Jesus: Golden Rule –Mohammed: put the teachings of Jesus into laws

3. Who was Muhammad? Born in 570 in Mecca on the Arabian peninsula, a Bedouin Arab Orphaned at 6; at 9, his grandfather dies; raised by his uncle At 25, marries Khadijah, a rich widow 15 years older than him He spends time praying in solitude in the desert

4. Muhammad Around age 41, Angel Gabriel calls him to be the prophet 622, the hegira (“migration”): Muhammad leaves Mecca and converts Yathrib, which is renamed Medina (Medinat un-Nabi=City of the Prophet). Beginning of Muslim calendar.

5. Muhammad C. 630, Muhammad and followers conquer Mecca By 632, year of Muhammad’s death, all of Arabia under his control By 732 (when Muslims defeated in Tours, France), Muslims conquered Armenia, Persia, Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, north Africa, Spain

6. Muhammad Since his death, more male children in the world have been named Muhammad than any other name

8. Five Pillars of Islam 1.Oral declaration of faith: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet.” --Allah= al (the) + Illah (God) 2.Prayer 5 times a day --dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, after sunset, before bed --facing Mecca, no matter where you are in the world --before praying, ritual washing (with water or sand) --call to prayer by muezzin

9. Muezzin

10. 5 Pillars of Islam 3.Charity: 2.5% of savings a person has had for one year. 4.Fasting during Ramadan (9 th mo. lunar calendar): no food or drink or sex from dawn to sunset. 5.Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in lifetime (if physically and financially able).

12. Kaaba Cubical structure traditionally believed built by Abraham and Ishmael Believed to be on site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac Pilgrims circle the Kaaba Effects of Hajj: –Greater devotion to Allah –Experience equality of people, meet Muslims from around the world

14. The Quran Muslim holy book, also written Koran Means “recitation” It is Muhammad’s followers’ written record of his teachings, recorded after his death In Arabic and considered untranslatable Believed to be God’s final revelation—the most perfect

15. Spread of Islam Islam’s appeal: simple, free of dogma and hierarchy Jihad: religious struggle –Lesser jihad: holy war –Greater jihad: self-control Non-religious benefits of conversion: –Freedom from poll tax –Access to power

16. Branches of Islam Sunni –“tradition of the Prophet”: religious rulers (Caliphs) chosen by faithful through historical development –90% of Muslims today Shiites –Authority passed down through the descendents of Ali (Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law) –10% Muslims today –Majority in Iran and Iraq; rule Iran

17. Islamic Law Called sharia Derived from the Quran and the Hadith (collection of Muhammad’s words and practices) Covers all aspects of life: commerce, marriage, crime, international relations

18. Islamic Law Condemns usury, eating pork, alcohol, gambling Mullah: scholar who interprets sharia

19. Islam and Tolerance Islam has a tradition of racial equality Islam supports religious tolerance –Quran: “Let there be no compulsion in religion”

20. Islam and Women Quran: men and women equal before God, but men “a degree higher than women” as providers According to tradition, women must veil their faces in public Men can marry up to 4 wives, but most men marry only 1 Men have rights of divorce

21. Islam and Women In fact, Muhammad improved women’s rights in his society –He condemned the practice of burying daughters alive as babies –He gave women specific rights, including property rights and the right to alimony after divorce

22. Islamic Culture Islamic scholars preserved Greek and Latin texts –Paper-making came from China –Translated into Arabic, retranslated into Latin in Middle Ages in the West Islamic philosophers (faylasufs) –Tried to reconcile Greek philosophy with Islam –Averroes (1126-1198): “the Commentator” “Arabic numbers” (actually Hindu) replace Roman

23. Islamic Architecture

24. Great Mosque, Cordoba, Spain

27. Mihrab

28. Minarets at Hagia Sophia