Bell Ringer

1. Bell Ringer • Take this seriously! • What do you know about Muslims?

2. The World of Islam Chapter 6

3. The Rise of Islam • The Arabs were nomads who moved to avoid hostile environments • They organized into tribes • Each tribe was ruled by a sheikh (SHAYK) • The tribes were loosely connected to one another • The lived as farmers and sheepherders • The domesticated the camel which allowed them to populate more of the desert

4. The Rise of Islam • Early Arabs were polytheistic • They traced their ancestors back to Abraham and his son Ishmael • They believe that Abraham and Ishmael built the Kaaba at Makkah • The Kaaba is a house of worship with the sacred cornerstone, the Black Stone

5. The Rise of Islam • The Arabs recognized a supreme God named Allah • Allah is Arabic for God • Muhammad was born in Makkah • At 5 he became an orphan • As an adult he was a caravan manager and married Khadija • He grew troubled by the growing gap between generous Makkans and greedy trading elites • He began to visit the hills to meditate

6. The Rise of Islam • During one of his visits, he received revelations from God • The angel Gabriel passed messages to Muhammad and told him to recite what he heard to others • Muhammad believed that God had revealed himself earlier to Moses and Jesus and was now passing His final revelations on to Muhammad

7. The Rise of Islam • These revelations were eventually written down in what is now called the Quran • The Quran is Islam’s version of the Christian’s Bible • It contains ethical guidelines and laws • Those who practice this religion are called Muslims • Islam has only one God, Allah, and Muhammad is God’s prophet

8. The Rise of Islam • Muhammad became discouraged when after 3 years he had only 30 followers • They moved to Madinah (later renamed Medina, “city of the prophet) • This journey, in 622 BC, became known as Hijrah (HIH-jruh), and is now year 1 in the official calendar of Islam • There they form the first community of practicing Muslims, known as Bedouins • There was no separation between religious and political authority, so Muhammad was both a political and religious leader

9. The Rise of Islam • Muhammad with ten thousand men and a well trained army • Makkah quickly surrendered and most converted to Islam • Muhammad declared the Kaaba a sacred shrine of Islam • Two years later Muhammad died • Today all Muslims are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Makkah—this is known as the hajj (HAJ)

10. The Rise of Islam • Islam believes that Allah is an all-powerful being who created the universe • It emphasizes salvation and hope of an afterlife • Those who desire the afterlife must submit to the will of Allah • Unlike Christianity, Islam does not believe Jesus was divine • They believe that because humans had rejected Allah’s earlier messages He sent His final revelation through Muhammad

11. The Rise of Islam • Muslims must follow the Five Pillars to be guaranteed a place in eternal paradise • Belief: there is no deity but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger • Prayer: perform the prescribed prayers five times a day • Charity: give part of your wealth to the poor (give alms) • Fasting: No food or drink from dawn till sunset through the month of Ramadan • Pilgrimage: travel to Makkah once in your life

12. The Rise of Islam • Muslims developed the law code known as the shari’ah • It provides believers with a set of practical laws to regulate their daily lives • It regulates all parts of life including family, business practice, government, and moral conduct • There is no separation of church and state • Muslims must practice honesty and justice, and are forbidden to gamble, eat pork, drink alcoholic drinks, or engage in dishonest behavior

13. The Arab Empire and Its Successors • After Muhammad’s death, his followers chose Abu Bakr to be their leader • He was named caliph, or successor to Muhammad • Under his rule the Muslims expanded beyond Arabia • Muhammad had overcome military efforts to defeat his movement • The Quran permitted fair, defensive warfare known as jihad (struggle in the way of God)

14. The Arab Empire and Its Successors • Under Abu Bakr the Arabs began to defeat neighboring areas • They defeated the Byzantine army in 636 and Syria in 640 • By 642 Egypt and Northern Africa were part of the Arab Empire • By 650 they had conquered the entire Persian Empire • They often allowed local officials to continue governing and didn’t force conversion to Islam • After Abu Bakr died, conflict began over who should be the next caliph

15. The Arab Empire and Its Successors • Mu’awiyah (moo-UH-wee-uh), the governor of Syria, became caliph • He was known for using force only when necessary • “I never use my sword when my whip will do, nor my whip when my tongue will do” • He made the office of the caliph hereditary in his own family thus establishing the Umayyad dynasty • He then moved the capital from Madinah to Damascus, Syria

16. The Arab Empire and Its Successors • Arab armies conquered the Berbers (people in northern Africa) • Together the Berber and Arab forces crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and occupied southern Spain • In 732 they were defeated by the Franks at the Battle of Tours in Gaul (now France), ending Arab expansion into Europe • Later they tried to overcome Byzantine forces in Constantinople, but were defeated

17. The Arab Empire and Its Successors • A struggle over who is allowed to rule Islam divided the Muslims into two groups • The Shiites only accept descendants of Ali as the true rulers of Islam • The Sunnis do not agree • This political split still exists today • Most Muslims are Sunnis, however a majority of those in present day Iraq and Iran are Shiites

18. The Arab Empire and Its Successors • The Umayyad were overthrown and the Abbasid (uh-BA-suhd) dynasty took its place until 1258 • They built the new capital in Baghdad • Baghdad became the center of an enormous trade empire adding to the riches of the Islamic world • A new position known as a vizier was developed to advise the caliph • Due to corruption and fighting over succession, the Abbasid dynasty came to an end leaving the Muslim Empire politically divided

19. The Arab Empire and Its Successors • The Fatimid dynasty in Egypt became the center of Islamic civilization • They hired non-native soldiers such as the Seljuk (SEHL-jook) Turks • The Seljuk Turks were nomadic people who had converted to Islam and eventually grew powerful • In 1055 a Turkish leader captured Baghdad and took command of the Empire • His title was sultan—or “holder of power” • The caliph was still the religious leader, but the Turks were the political leaders

20. The Arab Empire and Its Successors • In 1071 the Byzantines foolishly challenged the Turks • The Byzantines had to turn to the West for help • Alexius I (Byzantine Emperor) asked the Christian states of Europe to help against the Turks • Because the Christians and Muslims distrusted each other, many Europeans agreed, beginning a series of crusades in 1096 • The Crusaded had little impact on SW Asia, except it created centuries of distrust between Muslims and Christians—we’ll cover this more in depth next week

21. The Arab Empire and Its Successors • The Mongols were a group that sought to control the world • They burned cities to the ground, destroyed dams and farming villages • Their goal was to create such terror that people would not fight back • Genghis Khan, and later Kublai Khan destroyed cities like Baghdad (including mosques—Muslim houses of worship) • Over time the Mongols converted to Islam and moved the center of Islamic civilization to Cairo, Egypt

22. Bell Ringer • What have you learned about Islam? • If you were not here yesterday, tell me what you know about Islam.

23. Islamic Civilization • To be Muslim is more than worshipping Allah • You must live your life according to His teachings found in the Quran • According to Islam, all people are people are equal in the eyes of Allah • This was not the case in society however • Slaves were often from Asia and Africa (Muslims could not be enslaved) • Slaves were in the army, and usually freed; some, especially women, were domestic servants (they could purchase their freedom) • They still had to be treated fairly and setting them free was considered a good act

24. Islamic Civilization • The Quran grants women spiritual and social equality with men • Society was male dominant, however • Women had to have a male guardian • They had arranged marriages • The Quran allows for Muslim men to have up to 4 wives • Most men were unable to afford more than one since they had to pay a dowry (a gift of money or property) to their brides • Women had the right to freely enter marriage, and also divorce under certain circumstances • Adultery was forbidden for both men and women

25. Islamic Civilization • The older customs began again to spread through society • Women were secluded in their homes • They were required to cover all parts of their bodies when appearing in public (this is still common in some Islamic societies) • This is not a religious practice, it is a societal rule

26. The Culture of Islam • The works of Plato, as well as other Greek philosophers were translated into Arabic and stored in a library called the House of Wisdom in Baghdad • Mathematics texts were brought from India • Because China had developed paper in the 8th C. making works available to scholars became easier • Booksellers and libraries soon followed • It was because of the Muslim world that Europeans recovered the works of the Greek philosophers

27. The Culture of Islam • Arabic philosophers, such as Ibn-Rushd, wrote commentary on the Greek philosophers works • They also contributed to math and natural sciences • They passed on the use of the Indian numeric system which included zero—this became known as the Arabic system • In the 9th C. they created algebra

28. The Culture of Islam • They developed medicine as a field of scientific study • Ibn Sina wrote a medical encyclopedia that stressed the contagious nature of diseases • Islamic scholars also became interested in writing history • Ibn-Khaldun wrote Muqaddimah (Introduction to History) • He said that civilizations go through cycles of birth, growth, and decay

29. The Culture of Islam • Islamic art is a blend of Arab, Turkish and Persian traditions • Best expression of Islamic art is found in Muslim mosques which represents the spirit of Islam • The Great Mosque of Samarra in present day Iraq covers 10 acres • The most famous part is its minaret • This is the tower where the muezzin (moo-EH-zuhn), or crier, calls the faithful to prayer five times a day

30. The Culture of Islam

31. The Culture of Islam The Mosque of Corboda

32. The Culture of Islam • No representation of the prophet Muhammad adorns a mosque • The Quran does not forbid representing humans • However the Hadith, an early collection of Muhammad’s sayings, warns against any attempt to imitate Allah by creating pictures of living beings