1. The Rise of Islam

2. Well… WHAT IS ISLAM? About 1/5 of the world’s people are Muslims
Islam is the 2nd most widely followed religion in the world today
The divisions between Islam branches continues to cause disagreement today
It has given us cultural contributions as well
Algebra!
Well… WHAT IS ISLAM?

3. Pause in History
Many of the things we have and will talk about are all going on at the same time
We are “pausing history”

4. What is the Arabian Peninsula?
Crossroads of 3 continents
Africa, Europe, and Asia
Good for land?
Only a tiny strip of fertile land – the rest desert
So what does Arabia need?
Trade!

5. 1. Why is Arabia’s location a good one for trade. 2
1. Why is Arabia’s location a good one for trade? 2. Why was the location of Mecca ideal for the spread of ideas?

6. Allah Allah = One God (in Arabic)
Judaism and Christianity were practiced
And now…570 A.D. Muhammad was born

7. Muhammad, Part I Heard the voice of the angel Gabriel
Born into Meccan family
Worked in the caravan trade when very young
Heard the voice of the angel Gabriel
Believed he was the last of the prophets

8. Muhammad, Part II Began to teach:
Allah was the one and only God (monotheistic)
Islam = “submission to the will of Allah”
Muslim = “one who has submitted”

9. Muhammad, Part III Because of hostility, he left Mecca to go to Medina
Became known as the “Hijrah”
Became a huge political, religious, and military leader in Medina

10. The Culmination of it All
Muhammad and 10,000 followers marched to outskirts of Mecca
Mecca’s leaders surrendered
Destroyed the idols in the “Ka’aba” and made a call to prayer from the roof
Many pledged their loyalty and converted to Islam
Muhammad died 3 years later

11. Ka’aba

12. Beliefs and Practices in Islam
Only one God – Allah
In order to be a Muslim, all believers have to carry out five duties
“Five Pillars of Islam”

13. Faith Must testify to this statement of faith:
“There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

14. Prayer Muslims pray 5 times a day and face toward Mecca to pray
May assemble at a mosque
Islamic house of worship

15. Alms Giving money to the poor through a special religious tax
All Muslims have a responsibility to support the less fortunate

16. Fasting
During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast between dawn and sunset
Ended Aug. 18
Simple meal is eaten at the end of the day
Spiritual needs are greater than their physical needs

17. Pilgrimage
All Muslims who are physically and financially able perform the “hajj” or pilgrimage to Mecca at least once
Pilgrims wear identical garments so that all stand as equals before Allah

18. Qur’an (or Koran) Holy book for Islam
Written in Arabic
While Muhammad lived, his followers memorized and recited the revelations he received from Gabriel

19. Struggle for Power
“they agree on most of the important tenets of the faith, like the infallibility of the Koran, and they venerate the Prophet Muhammad.”
“Sunnis and Shi'ites are fighting for a secular prize: political domination.”

20. Spread of islam

21. Muhammad’s dead…now what?
Muslim community elected a loyal friend of Muhammad
Abu-Bakr became the first caliph
4 “rightly guided” caliphs stretched the Muslim Empire 6,000 miles
How did they get it so big?
Ali was next in line
But assassinated

22. Islam Split into two sections
Sunni v. Shi’a
What do you think they disagreed about?
Who should be the next leader.