Islamic Religion in the Middle Ages

1. Islamic Religion in the Middle Ages

2. The Prophet Muhammad • Muhammad was born in 570 A.D. in the city of Mecca • At the age of six, his parents died • His grandfather and uncle raised him • In 610 A.D. the Qu’ran was revealed to him by the Archangel Gabriel • In 622 A.D. he was forced to leave Mecca and went to Medina where his ideas were accepted • Later, he came back to Mecca and destroyed all the pagan gods that were in the Ka’ba (a place in Mecca that was holy at the time) • Muhammad died in the lap of one of his wives, A’isha, in her apartment in Medina

3. The Qu’ran • The holy book of Islam • It was revealed to Muhammad through the Archangel Gabriel starting in the year 610 and continued to be revealed to him for the next 22 years • It has 114 chapters or suras • Muslims call the written version of the Qu’ran a mushaf which means “collection of pages” • If you want to make a copy of the Qu’ran, you must make sure you don’t alter any words

4. The Five Pillars of Islam • Profession of Faith • Also called the shahada • The English translation of the shahada is: “There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah” • Prayer • Also called the salat • Muslims must pray five times a day: before sunrise, noon, afternoon, sunset, and in the evening • When they pray they must face the city of Mecca • Almsgiving • Also called the zakat • Almsgiving is where you pay a tax that is donated to the poor • The tax rate starts at 2.5% and goes up depending on a persons wealth

5. The Five Pillars of Islam (continued) • Fasting • Every Muslim must fast every day during the month of Ramadan. • The month of Ramadan is when Muhammad first received his revelation • Pilgrimage • Pilgrimage is also called the hajj • Pilgrimage is where Muslims go to Mecca • Muslims must complete the hajj once in their lifetime unless physically or financially unable

6. Mosques • Mosques are buildings where Muslims gather to pray and are open all week • They are meant to serve the local community by donating to charity and becoming the religious center for the area • Every Mosque must have a minaret • The minaret is where the call to pray is shouted out • Every minaret and mosque change to fit the culture around them

7. Islamic Government in the Medieval Ages By: Silas Griffin

8. The Caliphate • The Caliph was the symbolic head of the Muslim community (like the Pope and Christianity). • After Muhammad died, Muhammad’s father-in-law, Abu Bakr, became Caliph • Some people thought that Ali, Muhammad’s cousin, should become Caliph • Those that thought that Ali’s family line should be Caliph became Shi’i Muslims, while those that thought that the Caliph should be elected became Sunni Muslims

9. The Ottomans • The Ottomans were Turks from central Asia • They came into power after a group called the Seljuk Turks fell • They defeated the Byzantine empire and expanded throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe • The Ottomans controlled important cities such as, Mecca, Medina, Constantinople, Damascus, and Jerusalem • The empire did not fall until World War One

10. The Mughal Empire • The Mughal Empire was located in India • It was founded by Babur • The empire grew under Akbar • Akbar allowed non-muslims to practice their religion • The next emperor took away that freedom • After that, there were many revolts and the empire fell

11. The Safavid Empire • The Safavid Empire was mainly in present-day Iran • It was founded by Esma’il who became the Shah or king • Esma’il turned the whole empire into Shia Muslims • After Esma’il died, the empire struggled and most of their land fell to the Uzbeks and Ottomans • When ‘Abbas became Shah he took back all the land that was lost • The empire lasted until the 1700’s

12. Islamic Transportation in the Middle Ages By: Silas Griffin

13. Camel • Most caravans had camels in them • Camels can carry up to 990lbs. • They could also travel a long time without water • The camels hump is not for storing water, it is actually a lump of fatty tissue that the camel uses when it has had a long time without food

14. Foot • People used to make the hajj on foot • Most people were nomadic, which means they traveled around on foot • When Muhammad had to go to Medina, he went on foot • Going on foot was cheaper than by camel or ship, so most people traveled around on foot

15. Ships • The most common trading ship in the Muslim world was the Dhow • Dhow’s have triangular sails and are easy to maneuver in headwinds • Captains navigated their ships by looking at the stars • Some captains used magnetic compasses