THE MUSLIM WORLD
CHAPTER 10
THE RISE OF ISLAM
The Arabs
Started in the Arabian Peninsula and influenced Western Asia and
beyond.
They were nomadic, known as Bedouins and were divided by clans/
tribes. Led by a sheikh who was chosen from a council of elders.
The tribes were independent, but worked together
The Arabian Peninsula became an important center for trade. The
city of Mecca became rich from the caravan trade traffic which
passed through the area.
-Most Early Arabs were polytheistic,
many recognized a chief, or supreme
god who they called Allah which is
Arabic for God.
-Allah was symbolized by a sacred stone,
each tribe had their own stone, but there
was one central stone called the Black
stone which was placed in the shrine
called the Kaaba. The Kaaba contained
over 360 different idols
-This shrine was located in the city of
Makkah (Mecca) in what is now Saudi
THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD
Muhammad was born around 570 C.E. in
Mecca in present-day Saudi Arabia to a
merchant family. His parents died when
he was young and he ended up living
with his uncle who was a merchant and
he became a caravan manager.
Over time, he found the richness and
corruption of the merchants and
townspeople to be troubling.
He decided to visit the hills to meditate.
Muslims believe that while he was
meditating in the hills he received
revelations from God through the Angel
Gabriel.
Muhammad in
Arabic Calligraphy
Muslims believe the Angel Gabriel
told Muhammad to recite what
he heard, it was believed that
Allah had already revealed
himself through Moses and Jesus,
but now had a final revelation for
man.
This final revelation became the
religion of Islam. Which means
submission to the will of God.
MUHAMMADS REVELATION
AFTER THE REVELATION
After Muhammad received his revelation he went to his wife
Khadija, she was his first convert to the new religion.
He began to try to convert the people of Mecca to his message, but
was unsuccessful. After three years he was forced to go to the
city of Yathrib, which later became Medina. This flight, or
migration, is known as the Hijrah and marks the beginning of the
Muslim calendar. This was in the year 622 CE.
ACCEPTANCE IN THE CITY OF THE
PROPHET
In Medina (which means the city of the prophet) Muhammad was
accepted and gained followers.
One of the groups which converted to the new religion of Islam
were the Bedouins who were desert Arabs. This new
community became the first to practice the religion.
After several years, Muhammad became both a spiritual and
political leader (there was not an idea of the separation of
church and state). In 630 C.E. he created an army and with
10,000 followers he conquered the city of Mecca.
BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF
ISLAM
After Muhammad took the city of Mecca he
cleansed the Kaaba of idols and dedicated it
to Allah, who he taught was the one true
God.
People responsible for own actions only
good and evil
Islamic monument in Jerusalem: Dome of the
Rock
Believe Muhammad rose to heaven here to learn
Allahs will
Jews believe that Abraham was prepared to
sacrifice son Isaac at same site
THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
1-Declaration of Faith
Muslims must state that there is not God but Allah and
Muhammad is his prophet.
2. Daily Prayer
Muslims must pray five times a day facing the Kaaba in Mecca.
Pre Dawn
Noon
Afternoon
Sunset
Evening
3. Charity
Muslims are supposed to help others and donate
part of their income to charity.
4. Fasting-Ramadan
Muslims must fast from sunrise to sunset
during the holy month of Ramadan which
celebrates the recording of the Quran.
FIVE PILLARS CONTINUED . . .
HAJJ
5. Pilgrimage: Hajj
The fifth pillar of Islam is the
Hajj.
Once in a lifetime, if they are
physically and financially able ,
Muslims are to journey to Mecca
(Makkah) in Saudi Arabia and
perform the rituals of the Hajj.
The Quran guides
Muslims lives.
The Quran sets out
guidelines for moral
behavior, acts of worship,
and rules for social life
Muslims were
encouraged to free
slaves.
Women could own
property, earn money,
and receive an
education.
ISLAMIC LAW IS BASED ON
THE QURAN AND THE
SUNNAH.
The Quran and the
Sunnah form the
basis of Islamic law,
or Shariah.
Shariah is a system
based on Islamic
sources and human
reason that judges
the rightness of
actions taken.
ISLAMIC LAW
After the death of Muhammad there were further
interpretations of his teachings. These are known as the
Hadith. There are different versions of the Hadith for different
branches of Islam.
These teachings were further interpreted in the Shariah. This
is a set of laws which regulate many aspects of Muslim life. It
does not separate between church and state and covers family
life, business, government, and moral conduct.
Muslims are expected to practice honesty and justice in dealing
with others and are forbidden to gamble, eat pork, drink
alcohol, or engage in dishonest behavior.
In 632 Muhammad dies Muslims elect
Abu-Bakr to be first caliph
First four caliphs guided by the Quran
and Muhammads actions
Jihad, armed struggle against
unbelievers, used to expand Islam
Muslims control all of Arabia, armies
conquer Syria and lower Egypt
By 750, Muslim empire stretches from
Atlantic Ocean to Indus River
ISLAM EXPANDS
CREATION OF AN ARAB EMPIRE
After the death of Muhammad, unity was difficult to maintain.
The friend and father-in-law of Muhammad, Abu Bakr, was
chosen to be the first Caliph, or successor to Muhammad.
Abu Bakr helped to unify the Muslim world and expanded in
Arabia and beyond.
Under the idea of jihad, or struggle in the way of God the early
Muslims expanded their territory. The believed that defensive
warfare was permitted by the Quran.
TREATMENT OF CONQUERED PEOPLE
Muslims administrators were fairly
tolerant of the people they
defeated.
Initially, both Christians and Jews
were allowed to practice their
religions, with some restrictions,
because they were People of the
Book who had written scriptures
revealed to them by God before
the time of Muhammad. Those
who chose not to convert had to
be loyal to the Muslim state and
pay a special tax.
THE UMAYYAD DYNASTY
At the beginning of the eighth
century Islam had expanded
across northern Africa and had
converted the Berbers (a pastoral
people along the Mediterranean
coast) to the faith.
By 710 combined Berber and Arab
forces crossed the Strait of
Gibraltar into Spain and had taken
most of the country by 725. In
732, however, the Muslim advance
into Europe was halted at the
Battle of Tours.
Wealthy family, Umayyads was a family that followed
Muhammad, took power and moved capital to
Damascus
The Umayyad Dynasty was centered in Damascus, in
modern-day Syria and was wealthy. This was also a
very diverse empire as many different peoples had
been conquered in new territory.
Rebel group the Abbasids topple the Umayyads and
start a new faction that would lead the Islamic Empire
STRUGGLE FOR POWER
The grandson of Muhammad, Hussein,
led a revolt against the Umayyad
Empire in 680.
His solders defected and he was killed
by an overwhelming Umayyad force.
This struggle led to a split within the
faith of Islam between Sunni and Shia
(Shiite) Muslims.
THE REVOLT OF HUSSEIN
Sunni Muslims supported the Umayyad
Dynasty. They believe the Caliph does not
need to be a direct descendant of Muhammad.
Shia Muslims supported Hussein and believe
that the Caliph should be a direct descendant
of Muhammad through his son-in-law Ali and
his grandson.
Sufi Rejected the luxurious life that was
encouraged by the Umayyad and preferred a
life of poverty and devotion to a spiritual life.
SUNNI VS. SHIA (SHI-ITE)
RIVAL GROUPS DIVIDE MUSLIM LAND
Abbasids consolidate power,
take power away from the
Umayyad regime.
Move capital to Baghdad
Kills remaining Umayyad family
members
Good trade and gold
Strong bureaucracy
One Umayyad prince escapes to
Spain
Makes al-Andalus Muslim state
RISE OF CITIES
Flourishing trade led to wealthy and
successful cities.
Baghdad-Was known as the city of
peace and was highly successful under
the Abbasids
Cairo: Was part of the Fatimid Dynasty
Cordoba: Capital of Umayyad Spain
ISLAMIC SOCIETY
Islam is considered more than just a religion, it is seen as a way
of life that encompasses politics, economics, and social life.
According to the Quran, all people were equal in the eyes of
Allah, There was a well developed upper and lower class and a
strict Social class structure.
Non-Muslims were not considered equal to Muslims and slavery
was widespread (as in the rest of the ancient world). Slaves were
usually non-Muslims because Islamic law made it illegal for one
Muslim to enslave another.
Slaves served in the military or served as domestic servants.
Slaves could sometimes purchase their freedom and it was
considered a good act to free ones slaves.
THE ROLE OF WOMEN
Originally, the Quran granted women spiritual
and social equality with men. Both men and
women were to be friends and protectors of one
another.
Women could earn a living and own and inherit
property. They played a prominent role in the
rise of Islam.
PRESERVATION OF KNOWLEDGE
Muslim scholars helped to preserve the knowledge of Greece
and Rome by translating works and making them available to
other scholars.
It is because of this that European scholars were able to
rediscover the works of Aristotle and other Greek philosophers.
In the twelfth century these works were translated into Latin .
Literature
Quran standard Arabic literature
Art and Architecture
Discourage images of living things thought to
be an insult to Allah to try and make something
as beautiful as Allah could (a living thing)
Calligraphy art of beautiful handwriting
Mosques blend of many cultures
Math
Develop algebra
ART AND SCIENCES FLOURISH
THE 1001 NIGHTS/ARABIAN NIGHTS
Probably the most famous piece of Muslim literature
is the 1001 Nights or Arabian Nights.
This is a collection of stories based around a central
theme.
The Sultan king of Baghdad wishes to kill his wife on
their wedding night. The princess Scheherazade tells
him stories each night to prevent her death,
eventually winning him over.
The tales include the familiar stories of Aladdin and
Ali Baba and the forty thieves.
Scholars promote new ideas
Ibn Rushd criticized for blending Greek
philosophy toIslam
