The Origins & The Origins & Expansion of IslamExpansion of Islam

Film: Film: Islam: Empire of FaithIslam: Empire of Faith Viewing Questions:Viewing Questions:

– Did you learn anything new about Islam from Did you learn anything new about Islam from the film?the film?

– Did it challenge any of your preconceptions Did it challenge any of your preconceptions about Islam, its history, or followers?about Islam, its history, or followers?

– Does the film (or do the filmmakers) have a Does the film (or do the filmmakers) have a bias? If so, what is it?bias? If so, what is it?

– If the film is biased, do you trust the If the film is biased, do you trust the information it provides?information it provides?

Take notes on these questions as you Take notes on these questions as you view the filmview the film

Links to Parts One/Two & Three

Pre-Islamic ArabiaPre-Islamic Arabia

Isolated by desert – Isolated by desert – modern Arabian map No internal rivers or waterwaysNo internal rivers or waterways Dominated by southern Arabian city-Dominated by southern Arabian city-

states (where there is enough rain)states (where there is enough rain) Development of trade routesDevelopment of trade routes

– Camel caravans, north/south along Red SeaCamel caravans, north/south along Red Sea– Shipping to east Africa, Persia, IndiaShipping to east Africa, Persia, India

Fragmented politically and sociallyFragmented politically and socially

Depiction of camel-herder Iglum’s life

Trade routes from southern to northern Arabia

Bottom shows herder driving a camel

Top shows herder with servants or family members at banquet – his own funeralbanquet?

Stele was carved from alabaster rock

It was created to show devotion to thedead herder – the script curses anyone who destroys the stele

Crossroads and ConflictCrossroads and Conflict

Arabia – Arabia – many religions over time many religions over time – caught – caught between empiresbetween empires

Threatened by Christians in Ethiopia & Threatened by Christians in Ethiopia & ByzantiumByzantium

S. Arabian kings converted to Judaism in S. Arabian kings converted to Judaism in 400s CE400s CE

Ruled by Ethiopians – forced conversionRuled by Ethiopians – forced conversion Then ruled by Persians – toleration Then ruled by Persians – toleration Decline of s. Arabian kingdoms opened up Decline of s. Arabian kingdoms opened up

space for Bedouins, Mecca, and Islamspace for Bedouins, Mecca, and Islam

Rise of Rise of MeccaMecca

Center for trade – Center for trade – resting place for resting place for camel caravanscamel caravans

Place of pre-Islamic Place of pre-Islamic worship – site of worship – site of Ka’ba – worship of Ka’ba – worship of stone idolsstone idols

Expansionist tribe Expansionist tribe Quraysh took over Quraysh took over around 500 CEaround 500 CE

Changing religious beliefs:

Stone carving from Felix Arabia, YemenKingdom, 1st-3rd centuries CE

Evolution of meaning and use:

Pre-Islam: Probably first worshipped as stone incarnation of a deity – similar to Ka’ba

Then transformed into a representationof a worshipper (added carved face)

Or revered as ancestor who should be remembered

The Great Mosque of Mecca – Ka’ba in back

Muhammad & AllahMuhammad & Allah

Muhammad born in 570 CEMuhammad born in 570 CE Camel trader – used to travel and Camel trader – used to travel and

different culturesdifferent cultures Revelations – 610 CE – angel Gabriel – Revelations – 610 CE – angel Gabriel –

known to Jews and Christiansknown to Jews and Christians Words came from Allah, “the one true Words came from Allah, “the one true

god”god” Arabs knew Allah as one of their pre-Arabs knew Allah as one of their pre-

Islamic polytheistic godsIslamic polytheistic gods

Religious ConnectionsReligious Connections

Muhammad drew on other monotheistic Muhammad drew on other monotheistic religionsreligions

Jews – Mosaic code of ethics and behaviorJews – Mosaic code of ethics and behavior Christians – Judgment Day for all peopleChristians – Judgment Day for all people Zoroastrianism – struggle on earth between Zoroastrianism – struggle on earth between

good and evilgood and evil Muhammad said Jews and Christians were Muhammad said Jews and Christians were

“People of the Book”: same god, but book and “People of the Book”: same god, but book and ideas mistranslated over timeideas mistranslated over time

Muhammad was last Prophet, the Messenger of Muhammad was last Prophet, the Messenger of God, and would preach pure word from GodGod, and would preach pure word from God

Qur’an & ArabicQur’an & Arabic

Muhammad was illiterateMuhammad was illiterate He recited scripture to secretaries who He recited scripture to secretaries who

wrote it out: became the Qur’an (or wrote it out: became the Qur’an (or Koran)Koran)

Religion became known as Islam (Arabic Religion became known as Islam (Arabic for “submission” to will of God)for “submission” to will of God)

Qur’anic text became means for Qur’anic text became means for standardization of Arabic languagestandardization of Arabic language

Qur’an and Arabic became interconnectedQur’an and Arabic became interconnected

HijrahHijrah to Medina to Medina By 619, Muhammad had limited # of By 619, Muhammad had limited # of

followers in Meccafollowers in Mecca Invited to Medina (Mecca’s rival city)Invited to Medina (Mecca’s rival city) Polytheist tribes converted, but not JewsPolytheist tribes converted, but not Jews Muhammad added to Qur’an: Abraham, Muhammad added to Qur’an: Abraham,

not Moses, was principle prophet and not Moses, was principle prophet and father of Arabsfather of Arabs

Jews and Christians had corrupted Jews and Christians had corrupted religionreligion

Abraham built Ka’ba shrine in MeccaAbraham built Ka’ba shrine in Mecca

Building Islam: The Five Building Islam: The Five PillarsPillars

Muhammad had to build a community of believers Muhammad had to build a community of believers Islam provided stability in land of fragmentationIslam provided stability in land of fragmentation He built pure Islamic community, an He built pure Islamic community, an ummaumma, in Medina, , in Medina,

then defeated Mecca in battle (seen as divine then defeated Mecca in battle (seen as divine message) message)

Five Pillars were basis for everyday life:Five Pillars were basis for everyday life:– ShahadahShahadah (one god & messenger) (one god & messenger)– SalatSalat (saying prayers 5 times daily while facing (saying prayers 5 times daily while facing

Mecca)Mecca)– ZakatZakat (giving alms to poor) (giving alms to poor)– Sawm Sawm (fasting during Ramadan)(fasting during Ramadan)– HajjHajj (pilgrimage to Mecca once during lifetime) (pilgrimage to Mecca once during lifetime)

Videos: Videos: Link #1, , Link #2

Muhammad’s Death…Muhammad’s Death…

Raised certain questions:Raised certain questions:– Not so much about religious leadership Not so much about religious leadership

b/c Islam was based on individual b/c Islam was based on individual worshipworship

– But But questions of political leadership questions of political leadership of of the the ummaumma (community of believers) w/o (community of believers) w/o MuhammadMuhammad

– Islam had grown in land of fractured Islam had grown in land of fractured politics (tribal), so difficult to remain politics (tribal), so difficult to remain unitedunited

CaliphateCaliphate Solution to instability after M’s deathSolution to instability after M’s death Father-in-law Abu Bakr took over Father-in-law Abu Bakr took over

leadership of leadership of ummaumma, uniting religion and , uniting religion and politics – assumed title of caliphpolitics – assumed title of caliph

Combination of Islamic church and state Combination of Islamic church and state called a caliphatecalled a caliphate

Contract between leader and followersContract between leader and followers Expansionist: believed in converting non-Expansionist: believed in converting non-

believers and imperial growth (632-732 believers and imperial growth (632-732 CE)CE)

JihadJihad

Belief in Islam as universal religion, Belief in Islam as universal religion, applies to everyoneapplies to everyone

Obligation of Muslims to convert non-Obligation of Muslims to convert non-believers and expand Islamic rule laid believers and expand Islamic rule laid out in Qur’anout in Qur’an

Expansionist beliefs led to imperial Expansionist beliefs led to imperial conquests and growthconquests and growth

Led to conflicts with Byzantine and Led to conflicts with Byzantine and Persian empiresPersian empires

Shari’ah LawShari’ah Law Based on pre-Islamic Arabian social orderBased on pre-Islamic Arabian social order Religiously-based rules and obligations for Religiously-based rules and obligations for

MuslimsMuslims Ways to regulate everyday life to make it Ways to regulate everyday life to make it

easier for Muslims to follow will of Godeasier for Muslims to follow will of God Rules to help create the Rules to help create the umma umma – uniform laws – uniform laws

that united Muslims throughout caliphatethat united Muslims throughout caliphate Protection for the weakProtection for the weak Respect for women (divorce, property)Respect for women (divorce, property) But unequal power in society & relationshipsBut unequal power in society & relationships

ToleranceTolerance

Expansion of empire = what to do Expansion of empire = what to do about nonbelievers?about nonbelievers?

Qur’an outlawed forced conversionQur’an outlawed forced conversion Qur’an accepted ‘People of the Book’Qur’an accepted ‘People of the Book’ Nonbelievers taxed = helped support Nonbelievers taxed = helped support

caliphatecaliphate Tolerance for other religions, Tolerance for other religions,

particularly Judaism, was widespread particularly Judaism, was widespread during caliphateduring caliphate

Creation and Problems of Creation and Problems of EmpireEmpire

Islamic armies, led by Umar, took over Islamic armies, led by Umar, took over parts of Byzantine Empire (Egypt, Syria, parts of Byzantine Empire (Egypt, Syria, Lebanon)Lebanon)

Egypt & North AfricaEgypt & North Africa PersiaPersia Questions arose: How to rule such a Questions arose: How to rule such a

huge empire?huge empire? Emirs governed locally, didn’t always Emirs governed locally, didn’t always

follow caliphs directionsfollow caliphs directions

Problems of SuccessionProblems of Succession

Question of political rule: Who will Question of political rule: Who will succeed last ruler? How?succeed last ruler? How?

Issues of legitimacy in land of divisions Issues of legitimacy in land of divisions (tribes, families, empire, power)(tribes, families, empire, power)

Splits in Caliphate b/c of problems of Splits in Caliphate b/c of problems of successionsuccession

Umar died; Uthman appointed caliph Umar died; Uthman appointed caliph over Aliover Ali

Uthman gave titles to family membersUthman gave titles to family members

Lasting DivisionsLasting Divisions Followers of Uthman (Followers of Uthman (UmayyadUmayyad family) family)

and Ali battled and split Islamic and Ali battled and split Islamic ummaumma Umayyads claimed caliphate (political Umayyads claimed caliphate (political

power, dynastic succession)– led empire power, dynastic succession)– led empire for centuriesfor centuries

Umayyads also formed Umayyads also formed SunniSunni sect – sect – majority sect, believed they were pure majority sect, believed they were pure followers of The Prophetfollowers of The Prophet

Shi’itesShi’ites were followers of Ali – minority were followers of Ali – minority sectsect

Islamic Expansion: Boundaries of Caliphate, 630-750 CE

End of 8End of 8thth-Century -Century ExpansionExpansion

Caliphate had expanded into Spain Caliphate had expanded into Spain and Indiaand India

Internal divisions weakened powerInternal divisions weakened power Shi’ites and Abbasid clan united to Shi’ites and Abbasid clan united to

take over caliphate from Umayyadstake over caliphate from Umayyads Defeat of Arab-Berbers in France in Defeat of Arab-Berbers in France in

732 CE halted advance732 CE halted advance

Islamic ArchitectureIslamic Architecture

Some early Islamic architects were Some early Islamic architects were Greeks – adapted Greek/Roman Greeks – adapted Greek/Roman architecture to new needs and culturesarchitecture to new needs and cultures

Mosque: Islamic temple of worshipMosque: Islamic temple of worship– No depictions of God or peopleNo depictions of God or people– No seatsNo seats– Geometric and Arabic designsGeometric and Arabic designs– Minarets – towers to call people to prayerMinarets – towers to call people to prayer

Dome of the Rock

Islamic temple in Jerusalem

Built on rock platform,former site of Judaism’s main temple, Solomon’sTemple

Also site of Temple Mountin Christian beliefs

Dome of the Rock sacred to Muslims because it was the site of Muhammad’s Miraaj or ‘Night Journey’ to Jerusalem (Qur’an 17:1).

Interior, Dome of the Rock

Sacred rock on which Abraham sacrificed his son Isaac and from which Muhammad took flight on his horse to heaven

Grand Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia

Interior, Grand Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia

Famous MosquesFamous Mosques

– Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, Israel, Jerusalem, Israel– Great Mosque of Kairouan, TunisiaGreat Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia– Mezquita (Mosque) de Cordoba, Cordoba Mezquita (Mosque) de Cordoba, Cordoba

SpainSpain

LinksLinks

Islamic Art LinkIslamic Art Link

Names and dates of caliphsNames and dates of caliphs

Video, 'Empire of Faith,' Parts 1 & 2Video, 'Empire of Faith,' Parts 1 & 2

Video, ‘Story of God,’ Part 2Video, ‘Story of God,’ Part 2