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The Spread of Islam

The Spread of Islam. The First Three Caliphs. After Muhammad’s death his followers had to choose a new leader to preserve the Muslim community. The first few caliphs who followed Muhammad greatly expanded the lands under their rule despite struggles over leadership and even civil wars.

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The Spread of Islam

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  1. The Spread of Islam

  2. The First Three Caliphs • After Muhammad’s death his followers had to choose a new leader to preserve the Muslim community. • The first few caliphs who followed Muhammad greatly expanded the lands under their rule despite struggles over leadership and even civil wars. • Along with the Arabic language, the acceptance of Islam helped unify this vast empire. • The first caliph (the highest leader of Islam) was Abu Bakr, one of Muhammad’s first converts.

  3. Caliph Abu Bakr632-634 • *A political and military leader, but not a religious leader. • * Used military campaigns against Arab tribes who did not follow Muhammad’s teachings. • * Through many battles he unified Arabia for the first time as a Muslim state. • * The new Arab army quickly conquered the Persian and Byzantine empires • * Made Treaties with non-Muslims who lived in the captured territories • * Non-Muslims could exist, but only under a list of rules • * Created a new idea of religion • * Died in 634 C.E.

  4. Caliph Umar634-644 • Continued to expand the Muslim empire through military efforts • Included lands in Iraq, Persia, the eastern Mediterranean, and North Africa. • Set up governments and tax systems • Continued religious tolerance allowing Jews and Christians to worship as they liked • Non-Muslims were required to pay religious taxes • Died in 644 C.E.

  5. Caliph Uthman644-656 • Member of the Umayyad clan. • Moved the Muslim capitol from Medina to Damascus and continued to expand the empire • Took over lands in Central Asia and in northern India • Gained control of trade in the eastern Mediterranean and part of North Africa, moving into Spain (Muslims continued to rule parts of Spain for another 700 years) • Awarded high posts to his relatives • Killed in 656 C.E.

  6. Caliph Ali (Muhammad’s cousin) • reluctantly agreed to become the fourth caliph • Some Umayyad clan members challenged his rule creating civil war • Ali was murdered in 661 C.E. • New caliph from the Umayyad claimed leadership • Muslim leadership splits – Sunni and Shi’a

  7. Sunni - Shi’a (Shiites) Sunni Muslims who believed caliphs did not have to be related to Muhammad Accepted the first four caliphs Believed everyone has a direct relationship with God Make up 80% of all Muslims Shi’a Muslims who believed only members of Muhammad’s family could be caliphs They believed that Ali’s should have been chosen over Abu Bakr They denied the first three caliphs Make up 20% of Muslim population Both believe in Allah Both believe in Muhammad Both still exist today Both support the Qur’an as word of Allah

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