History of the Islamic People

History of the Islamic People

History of Islam • It is customary to begin any telling of the history of Islam with the period just before Muhammad’s Proclamation • Pre-Islamic Arabia was entirely without government of any kind -- society consisted of tribes united by common ancestors, and these tribal chiefs did not recognize each other’s authority outside their own tribe • Lawlessness was rampant • Individuals took revenge for crimes, vendettas consumed multiple generations

History of Islam • Since there was no government and since Arabs were anarchists by instinct, they were engaged in constant warfare against each other • Consequently, no tribe was able to acquire substantial power -- they exhausted themselves in petty inter-tribal conflict • Life was primarily nomadic, many tribes supported themselves partly from plunder stolen from caravan ambushes. • Tribal life was pagan, no real attachment to any established religion, Asian, African or European. Most Arabs were poly-theistic idolaters

History of Islam • In addition to the nomadic Bedouin tribes, there was a small community of traders living in sparse towns engaged in buying and selling goods along the main trade routes between West and East • The leaders of Arab society were Jews who dominated farming and nascent industries, such as arms making • There was no “Arab” religion at all, and Arabic was an obscure regional dialect

History of Islam • Islam began in 632 AD upon the death of Muhammad (570-632) • Around the age of 40, Muhammad began to have visions he believed were from Gabriel, the messenger of God, and recorded these visions in writings which later became the Quran • Islam is a translation of an Arabic word which means “peace and submission.”

History of Islam • His new faith was not accepted in his hometown of Mecca, and so he fled to Medina -- the Hijirat. It is from this date that the Muslim calendar begins. • Islam is not considered by its adherents to be a religion in the traditional sense, but a way of life, and Muhammad acted as leader in the total life of the community at Medina

History of Islam • Muhammad was sympathetic to both Christians and Jews, but both groups rejected his teachings • He returned to Mecca in 610, this time as a conqueror • He was assisted in this conquest by his cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib • Muhammad did not indicate during his lifetime who would succeed him -- this has lead to disputes over who are the rightful heirs of Muhammad that persist to this day

History of Islam • The first four caliphs (successors to the Prophet) were companions of Muhammad -- they are known as the Rightly Guided Caliphs • The First Caliph, Abu Bakr (632-634 A.C.) [father-in-law] • The Second Caliph, 'Umar (634-644 A.C.) • The Third Caliph, Uthman (644-656 A.C.) • The Fourth Caliph, Ali (656-661 A.C.) • The followers of Ali are Shi’ia • The 12th Imam: Abu al-Qasim Muhammad • Those who believe that there is no sanctioned succession from Muhammad are Sunni (90% of modern Muslims are Sunni) • Follow the hadiths, or traditions relating to the words and deeds of Muhammad

History of Islam • After Ali was murdered in 681, he was succeeded by Muawiya, founder of the Umayyad dynasty of caliphs • Represents the growing strength of the Sunni tradition, reflecting a combination of practical concerns, piety and consensus in the community • Balances the needs of ruling with religious purity • More egalitarian version of Islam • Shi’ia-led civil war in 744-750 brought down the Umayyad dynasty and established the Abbasid dynasty • By this time the Islamic empire extended from Spain to the frontier of China, making it a true successor to the Roman and Persian empires

History of Islam • The spread of Islam was rapid and engulfed areas (Middle East and North Africa) that had been long-accustomed to other faiths • Reinforced a strong sense of community and attachment to family • A series of schools were established to reinforce Islamic teaching -- these schools were attached to mosques • However, the Islamic empire began in the 11th century to be squeezed on three sides, from the Turks in the north, the Spanish on the West and the Mongols in the east • This pressure had shrunk the Islamic empire by the 15th century to the Middle East, Arabian peninsula, and the western part of Persia

History of the Islamic People