The Rise of Islam
Jan 04, 2016
The Rise of Islam
The Life of Muhammad
Discuss the life of Muhammad. What have you
learned so far?
Background
• Mecca, located on the Arabian peninsula, was an important center of trade and religious site.
• Strategically located between trade routes
• Home of Ka’aba
Background
• Muhammad was born in Mecca circa 570 ACE.
• Interacted with many different religions.
• Married an entrepreneur named Khadija. She was very rich from caravan trade. Khadija was 40 while Muhammad was 25.
The Origins of Islam
• During his marriage to Khadija, Muhammad was plagued by incessant headaches. He would retire to a cave outside of Mecca.
• Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel. For 22 years, Gabriel revealed what Muslims believe to be the Truth to Muhammad.
Gabriel Visits Muhammad
The Origins of Islam
• Muhammad compiled these revelations into the Islamic holy book, the Qu’ran (Koran).
• Belief in one God interfered with the revenue made off travelers to Mecca that worshipped many gods at the Ka’aba.
The Flight (Hijrah)
• Muhammad was forced to flee Mecca for Yathrib, located to the north of Mecca. – Yathrib is later called Medina, “city of the
prophet.”• Muhammad continued to win converts to
Islam.
• In 630 ACE, Muhammad returns to Mecca with a great army. Mecca allows Muhammad to reenter Mecca and convert the inhabitants to Islam.
Jihad- endeavor to spread the faith
Jihad does not mean to kill innocents
The Death and Legacy of the Prophet
• Muhammad continued converting non-believers by choice or the sword.
• The prophet died in 632 ACE– He bequeathed his followers a state with a
political & economic responsibilities, and a military arm.
The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs
What do you know about the Four Rightly Guided
Caliphs??
The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs
• Muhammad’s death brought questions of succession. Who would lead this new Islamic state? How would the ruler lead?
• The position of caliph was created. Abu Bakr was
elected the first caliph.
The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs
• The first three of the rightly guided caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar, and Uthman, continued to expand the influence of Islam
Ali Ibn Talib
• Ali was Muhammad’s son-in-law and his cousin. Many felt that Ali should have been Muhammad’s successor.
• Ali is finally elected caliph.
• Ali is assassinated, which led to the establishment of the Umayyad dynasty.
Ali’s Legacy• Out of Ali’s
assassination, the foundation for modern Islam is laid.
• Sunni Islam– Orthodox Islam. Sunnis do not believe in the legitimacy of the Imams. They look to the Qu’ran and Hadith for guidance.
Ali’s Legacy
• Shia Islam– Believed that Ali was chosen by God to be the leader of Islam. Ali and his descendants are considered Imams, leaders of the Islamic community.