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The Islamic World. Arabs started on the Arabian peninsula Tribes leader of each was called the sheikh Bedouins were the dominant tribe most were nomadic. Bedouin Religion Polytheistic They traced their roots to Abraham and his son Ishmael
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Arabs • started on the Arabian peninsula • Tribes • leader of each was called the sheikh • Bedouins were the dominant tribe • most were nomadic
Bedouin Religion • Polytheistic • They traced their roots to Abraham and his son Ishmael • The tribes believe that they both built the Makkah (Mecca) – the black stone (Kaaba) • There was a supreme god in their polytheism • called Allah
Enter Muhammad • Arab’s poor and enslaved were treated harshly • Muhammad was born into a merchant family • married a rich widow • often meditated in the hills near Mecca • while meditating the angel Gabriel revealed a message from Allah
Birth of Islam • the message of Allah was written down in the Quran (or Koran) • Muhammad went and preached his new message • after 3 years, he had only 30 followers • moved to Medina in 622 (year 1 of the Islamic calendar)
Growth of Islam • Converted many desert-dwelling Bedouins • Muhammad saw no separation between politics and religion • he became the sole leader of his group (spiritually, politically, and militarily) • he fought against some of the upper class from Mecca and won
Growth of Islam • in 630, he attacked Mecca with 10,000 men • the city surrendered and converted • took over the Kaaba, and claimed it the primary shrine of Islam
Message of Islam • Muhammad is not divine, but a prophet • practice the 5 Pillars of Islam • religious law (Shari’ah) – laws to regulate daily life • keeps religious and political dealings as one • they cannot eat pork, drink alcohol, or gamble • they can have up to four wives
The Five Pillars • Shahada– “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger” • Salah - Pray 5 times a day • Suam– Fasting during Ramadan from sunrise to sun set • Zakah– giving alms to the poor • Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca once during your life
Islam LA ILAHA ILL ALLAH MUHAMMADUR RASOOL ALLAH THERE IS NO GOD ONLY ALLAH, MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH
Arab Empire • successor to Muhammad was Abu Bakr, was named caliph (king) • slowly conquered Arabia, Egypt, N. Africa, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia • declared jihad on enemies. “struggle in the way of God” • they believed they would be assured a place in Paradise if they died in battle
Islamic Schism • Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law, took over as the new caliph • Ali was assassinated • Ali’s rival took over, made the caliphate hereditary • Ali’s son, Hussein rebelled
Shiites • accepted only descendants of Ali as true believers of Islam • live predominantly in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and part of Lebanon • Sunnis • accepted the Umayyad’s rule, Ali’s rivals • live in Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan and in SE and Central Asia, and N. and E. Africa
Gifts of Islam • Science • kept the sciences of the Greeks during the Dark Ages and improved on many of their inventions such as the astrolabe • helped to chart the position of the stars to find one’s position on earth’s surface • IbnButtutah was one of the first to create maps from Europe to China in the 1320s
Muslim scholars combined the Indian number system with the Greek mathematics system • the major medieval medical texts came from the Muslims – Avicenna/IbnSina • created the first pharmacy school and learned how to treat smallpox
Philosophy • Sufism • Sufis believe they can find God’s love by having a personal relationship with Allah
Literature • Omar Khayyam – famous Sufi poet • The Thousand and One Nights or The Arabian Nights • a collection of Western and South Asian short stories • Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, Sinbad, and Ali Baba among others were included but are not original and were added into European versions
Architecture • Mosques • has huge hall where people pray • usually 4 minarets where people are called to prayer • Mihrabis the most sacred part of the mosque that points the way toward Mecca
Art • no people or animals • Believe only Allah can create humans and animals or their images (if you do, then you are trying to be Allah) • instead the use complex patterns and calligraphy