1. Introduction and History
Islam
Introduction and History

2. Crash Course: Islam How did Islam begin? Where?
What was Muhammad’s society like?
How do Muslims see Muhammad? How do they see Abraham, Jesus and Moses?
How do Muslims understand the Qur’an?
What are the 5 Pillars of Islam?
What are the sayings of Muhammad known as?
Explain the myth of the “72 virgins”.
What is Sharia? How is it interpreted?
What is the Umma?
Why did the Quraysh tribe force Muhammad and his followers out of Mecca?

3. Crash Course: Islam What is the hijra? When did it happen?
Are religion and gov’t separate in Islam?
What are the 2 main branches of Islam? How did they start? How do they differ?
Why did Islam spread so quickly?

4. Abraham Abraham was born approximately 2500 years before Muhammad.
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur’an, Abraham had more than one son.
Mecca was founded at the site of a miraculous well that sprung up at the heels of Ishmael.
The Kaaba was built or rebuilt by Abraham - a house for the one God.
The Black Stone is believed to have been sent by God white, but was blackened by Adam’s sin.

5. The Kaaba Muslims always face the Kaaba in Mecca whenever they pray.
All Muslims pilgrimage there once in a lifetime (if they are able).

6. Arabia Before Muhammad
Arabia was undeveloped, poor and violent
religious life involved the worship of many gods.
The Kaaba (or “cube”) became a house of idols, draped in the pelts of sacrificial animals
Nomads travelled to Mecca both as religious pilgrimage, but also to get water from the well
Lack of gov’t led people to take the law into their own hands; revenge was typical.
Women had few rights

7. Muhammad Muhammad was born around 570 CE in Mecca
He saw his country as corrupt
Over approx 20 years, Muhammad had revelations from God through the angel Gabriel.
The first revelation to Muhammad is remembered as The Night of Power

8. M’s 1st revelations took place in a cave
M’s 1st revelations took place in a cave. Later revelations include his Night Journey (to the “furthest mosque” – believed to be in Jerusalem).
According to tradition, M was praying at the Kaaba when Gabriel appeared to him with the Buraq
M toured heaven and hell with Gabriel and met all the previous prophets (Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus..)

9. M’s Night Journey is remembered during Ramadan (which commemorates the writing of the Qur’an)
All M’s revelations were written in the Qur’an.
M preached against polytheism and immorality – he gave the Pillars of Islam that were revealed by God.
He gained many enemies in Mecca, especially those who profited from travelers.
M fled to the city of Medina – this event (622 CE, the hijra) marks the beginning of Islamic history

10. Early Islam M believed religion and state should be combined
He became a military and political leader in Medina
Eventually, M won back Mecca, destroyed the idols in the Kaaba and reclaimed it for the one God.
M. declared peace – and Islam spread quickly – Arabs were united as Muslims.
In the first 100 years, Islam spread as far east as India and west to Gibraltar.

11. Why did Islam Spread so Quickly?
It is simple and universal –
Islam does not have to involve extensive study or ascetic practices.
All people are accepted as equal.
The 5 pillars are simple to follow and memorize.
Military might – however, Muslim governments began to be seen as preferable to Romans and Persians.
Under Muhammad
by 661 CE
by 750 CE