ISLAM
Jan 08, 2018
ISLAM
Muhammad ~ founder Born around 570, he was
an orphan. He worked as a
shepherd, became a merchant, and married a wealthy older widow who owned a caravan trading business.
They lived in Mecca, an important trading city in Arabia, and home to the Kaaba - a sacred shrine that housed images of the Arab gods and a black stone the Arabs believed was sent from God.
Vision Troubled by moral decay and
polytheistic idol worship, he often went to pray and meditate in a desert cave.
At age 40, the angel Gabriel delivered a message from God.
God chose Muhammad to be his prophet.
Muhammad must proclaim that Allah, or God, was the one and only God.
Hijra Muhammad’s
departure from Mecca to Medina in 622.
The merchants and innkeepers of Mecca opposed his preaching because they feared it would stop pilgrims from coming to the Kaaba and patronizing their businesses. His life was threatened.
He was welcomed at the city of Yathrib, which later became Medina, (City of the Prophet) in 622.
It is the first year of the Muslim calendar.
Return to Mecca In 630, Muhammad
returned to Mecca with an army and captured the city.
He went directly to the Kaaba.
He proclaimed, “There is but one God, and Allah is his name.”
He destroyed hundreds of idols inside the Kaaba, but left the black stone untouched since he believed it came from God.
Five Pillars of Islam1. belief in one God -
Allah2. daily prayer (five
times a day)3. giving charity to the
poor4. fasting from sunrise
to sunset during the month of Ramadan
5. hajj - a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime
Details Islam means
submission. Muslims – believers in
the Islamic faith Allah is God’s name in
Arabic. Mosque - Muslim
meeting place and house of worship.
Quran – holy book Jihad – effort in God’s
service and/or holy war.
More Details Sharia – body of law
interpreting the Quran and applying its teachings to daily life: moral conduct, family life, business practices, government.
Judaism and Christianity are related religions that worship the same God as Islam.
Jews and Christians are “People of the Book” -- respected because the Old and New Testament are also considered to be the word of God.
Reasons for Conversion Byzantine and Persian
empires were weak and Arabs were seen as liberators
simple and direct message of Islam
military success was seen as a sign of God’s favor
lack of a religious hierarchy and class of priests
Islam emphasized the equality of all believers
Treatment of Non-Converts
Polytheists who chose not to convert were treated poorly.
Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians could continue to practice their faith and follow their own laws, but had to pay a non-Muslim tax.
Umayyad Dynasty ~ 661-750
capital - Damascus in Syria
Mecca remained the spiritual center
enlarged empire to include from Spain to the Indus River
non-Arab Muslims had few rights
Abbassid Dynasty ~ 750-1258
lost control of northern Africa and Spain
capital - Baghdad - “City of Peace”
ended Arab dominance - Islam became a universal religion
Muslim Rule in Northern India
1206 - 1526 created Delhi Sultanate holy war against pagan
Hindus and remaining Buddhists
later accepted Hinduism as a monotheistic religion
Hindus treated better - had to pay non-Muslim tax
many lower-caste people converted
Sikhism - blended Muslim and Hindu beliefs
Mughal India 1526-1857 built up the empire
- policy of toleration won support of Hindus
Ottoman Empire 1453-1918 Sunnis Byzantine Empire -
Turkey reunited Egypt,
Syria, Iraq, and Arabia into an Islamic state
Safavid Empire early 1500s - late
1700s Shiites Persia - Iran revived glory of
ancient Persia - tolerated non-Muslims
Culture Islamic civilization
drew on the rich heritage of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Persian, and Indian cultures.
Slavery brought from
conquered lands Islamic law
encouraged the freeing of slaveschildren of converts
and spouse
Economy center of trade for
Asia, Africa, and Europe
advances in trade: banks, letters of credit, bills of exchange, lines of credit, partnerships, receipts, inventory lists
religion of Islam was peacefully spread along these trade routes
Art artists were
forbidden to portray God or human figures in religious art
humans and animals were in non-religious art
abstract or geometric patterns
calligraphy
Architecture domes, arches,
minarets
Learning Muhammad promoted
education. Philosophy ~ translated Greek,
Hindu, and Buddhist texts Mathematics ~ algebra and
trigonometry Astronomy ~ predicted eclipses,
developed astronomical tables, round earth, correct estimate of earth’s circumference, earth spinning on its axis
Inventions ~ mariner’s compass & astrolabe
Medicine ~ most advanced in the world at that time: hospitals, pharmaceuticals, emergency care