Islam

An Abrahamic Religion

Islam

An Abrahamic ReligionStrict monotheists

Believe:

Allah, the Judeo-Christian God

The Torah and the Bible, like the Qur’an,is the word of God

Peoples of the BookPeoples of the Book

The Prophetic Tradition

The Prophetic TraditionAdam

Noah

Abraham

Moses

Jesus

Muhammad

The Origins of the Qur’an

The Origins of the Qur’an Muhammad received first

revelation from angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610.

622 Hijrah Muhammed flees Mecca for Medina. * The beginning of the Muslim calendar

Muhammad’s revelations were compiled into the Qur’an after his death.

1. The Shahada1. The Shahada

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The testimony

The declaration of faith:There is no god worthy of There is no god worthy of worship except God, andworship except God, andMuhammad is HisMuhammad is HisMessenger [or Prophet].Messenger [or Prophet].

There is no god worthy of There is no god worthy of worship except God, andworship except God, andMuhammad is HisMuhammad is HisMessenger [or Prophet].Messenger [or Prophet].

2. The Salat2. The Salat

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The mandatory prayers performed 5 times a day: * dawn * noon * late afternoon * sunset * before going to bed

Wash before praying

Face Mecca and use prayer rug

3. The Zakat3. The Zakat

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Almsgiving (charitable donations)

Muslims believe that all things belong to God

Zakat means both “purification” and “growth”

About 2.5% of your income

4. The Sawm4. The Sawm

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Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan

Considered a method of self- purification

No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan

5. The Hajj5. The Hajj

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The pilgrimage to Mecca

Must be done at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime

2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year

5. The Hajj5. The Hajj

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Those who complete pilgrimage can add the title hajji to their name

The Dar al-Islam

The Dar al-Islam

11 22 33 44 55

The WorldThe Worldof Islamof Islam

The WorldThe Worldof Islamof Islam

The Dome of the Rock Mosque in

Jerusalem

The Dome of the Rock Mosque in

Jerusalem

Mount Moriah Rockwhere Muhammad ascended into heaven

Other Islamic Religious Practices

Other Islamic Religious Practices

Up to four wives allowed at once

No alcohol or pork

No gambling

Sharia body of Islamic law to regulate daily living

Three holiest cities in Islam: * Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem

Essential Question:Essential Question:

Why was Islam able to spread so quickly and

convert so many to the new religion?

The Spread of IslamThe Spread of Islam Easy to learn and practice

No priesthood

Teaches equality

Non-Muslims, “dhimmi” who were “Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes

Easily “portable” nomads & trade routes

Jihad (“Holy War”) against pagans and other non-believers (“infidels”)

Muslims in the WorldToday

Muslims in the WorldToday

Countries with the Largest Muslim

Population

Countries with the Largest Muslim

Population1. Indonesia 183,000,00

06. Iran 62,000,000

2. Pakistan 134,000,000

7. Egypt 59,000,000

3. India 121,000,000

8. Nigeria 53,000,000

4. Bangladesh

114,000,000

9. Algeria 31,000,000

5. Turkey 66,000,000 10. Morocco 29,000,000

* Arabs make up only 20% of the total Muslim population of the

world.

From Umayyad to Abbasid EmpiresARAB ISLAMI

C

Rise of Abbasid PartyRise of Abbasid Party• The party traced its descent from Muhammad’s The party traced its descent from Muhammad’s

uncle, al-Abbas. uncle, al-Abbas. • Al-Abbas’ great great grandson, Abu al-Abbas Al-Abbas’ great great grandson, Abu al-Abbas

led his forces against Umayyadsled his forces against Umayyads• His allies wereHis allies were

– Shi’aShi’a– Mawali (Islamic converts) to gain acceptance in Mawali (Islamic converts) to gain acceptance in

community of believerscommunity of believers

• Captured Umayyad capital in SyriaCaptured Umayyad capital in Syria• At “Reconciliation Banquet” al-Abbas At “Reconciliation Banquet” al-Abbas

slaughtered remaining Umayyad family slaughtered remaining Umayyad family

Early Abbasid EraEarly Abbasid Era• Began to reject Shi’a and Malawi (non-Arab Began to reject Shi’a and Malawi (non-Arab

converts) allies…and defended Sunni Islam converts) allies…and defended Sunni Islam • Built centralized, absolutist imperial orderBuilt centralized, absolutist imperial order• New capital: Baghdad on Tigris RiverNew capital: Baghdad on Tigris River

– Baghdad became richest city in the world (Baghdad became richest city in the world (only only Constantinople came closeConstantinople came close))

• Had palace with jeweled thrones and haremsHad palace with jeweled thrones and harems– Image of elitism was important Image of elitism was important

• For more than a century, able to collect revenue and For more than a century, able to collect revenue and preserve law over much of empirepreserve law over much of empire

Islamic Conversion and Islamic Conversion and Mawali AcceptanceMawali Acceptance

• Mass conversions to Islam were Mass conversions to Islam were encouraged throughout empire encouraged throughout empire

• Most converts were won over peacefully Most converts were won over peacefully because of appeal of Islamic beliefs and because of appeal of Islamic beliefs and advantages they enjoyed: advantages they enjoyed:

- didn’t have to pay head tax- didn’t have to pay head tax

- educational opportunities- educational opportunities

- jobs as traders, administrators, - jobs as traders, administrators, judgesjudges

Town & Country: Town & Country: Commercial Boom and Commercial Boom and

Agrarian ExpansionAgrarian Expansion• Abbasid Era was a great time of urban Abbasid Era was a great time of urban expansion and growth of merchant and expansion and growth of merchant and landlord classes. landlord classes.

• Tang & Song Dynasties in China were Tang & Song Dynasties in China were also reviving middle merchant class. also reviving middle merchant class. (results of falls of Rome/Han)(results of falls of Rome/Han)

• Arab Arab DHOWSDHOWS - trading vessels with - trading vessels with triangular (lateen) sails were used from triangular (lateen) sails were used from Mediterranean to South China Sea Mediterranean to South China Sea – Later influenced European ship design Later influenced European ship design

Town & Country: Commercial Town & Country: Commercial Boom and Agrarian Expansion, Boom and Agrarian Expansion,

cont..cont..• Muslim merchants formed joint ventures with Muslim merchants formed joint ventures with Christian and Jewish traders Christian and Jewish traders – Each merchant had different Sabbath so they Each merchant had different Sabbath so they

could work 7 days a week could work 7 days a week

• Merchants grew rich supplying cities with Merchants grew rich supplying cities with goods throughout the empire goods throughout the empire

• Much wealth went to charity (required by Much wealth went to charity (required by Qur’an) Qur’an) – Hospitals and medical care of Abbasid Empire Hospitals and medical care of Abbasid Empire

surpassed those of any other civilization of that surpassed those of any other civilization of that timetime

Town & Country: Commercial Town & Country: Commercial Boom and Agrarian Expansion, Boom and Agrarian Expansion,

cont..cont..• Much unskilled labor was left to Much unskilled labor was left to slavesslaves

• Some slaves were able rise to positions of Some slaves were able rise to positions of power and gain freedom power and gain freedom

• Huge estates might have slaves, Huge estates might have slaves, indentured servants or sharecroppers indentured servants or sharecroppers

The First Flowering of Islamic The First Flowering of Islamic LearningLearning

• Early contributions from Abbasid were great Early contributions from Abbasid were great mosques and palaces. mosques and palaces. Ex: Dome of the RockEx: Dome of the Rock

• Advances in religious, legal and philosophical Advances in religious, legal and philosophical discourse discourse

• Science and Math!Science and Math! – preserved Greek works of medicine, algebra, geometry, preserved Greek works of medicine, algebra, geometry,

astronomy, anatomy, and ethicsastronomy, anatomy, and ethics

• Arabic traders in India carried Indian number Arabic traders in India carried Indian number system across Mediterranean and into Northern system across Mediterranean and into Northern Europe Europe – What’s the impact?What’s the impact?

Global Connections: Global Connections: Early Islam & the WorldEarly Islam & the World

• Abbasid Empire was “go-between” for Abbasid Empire was “go-between” for ancient civilizations of Eastern ancient civilizations of Eastern HemisphereHemisphere– Role grew as Arab trade networks expanded Role grew as Arab trade networks expanded

• Islam pioneered patterns of organization Islam pioneered patterns of organization and thinking that would affect human and thinking that would affect human societies in major ways for centuriessocieties in major ways for centuries

• 5 Centuries = Spread of Islam played 5 Centuries = Spread of Islam played dominant role in the Afro-Eurasian World dominant role in the Afro-Eurasian World

Global Connections: Global Connections: Early Islam & the World…Early Islam & the World…

cont.cont.• In the midst of achievement, Muslims had some In the midst of achievement, Muslims had some growing disadvantages, especially to Europeans growing disadvantages, especially to Europeans

• Muslim divisions would leave openings for political Muslim divisions would leave openings for political problems problems

Growing intolerance and orthodoxy Growing intolerance and orthodoxy led to the belief that the vast Islamic led to the belief that the vast Islamic world contained all requirements for world contained all requirements for civilized life, which caused Muslim civilized life, which caused Muslim people to grow less receptive to people to grow less receptive to outside influence and innovations…outside influence and innovations…led to isolation at a time when led to isolation at a time when Christian rivals were in a period of Christian rivals were in a period of experimentation and explorationexperimentation and exploration