THE MUSLIM WORLD

CHAPTER 10

THE RISE OF ISLAM

The Arabs
Started in the Arabian Peninsula and influenced Western Asia and
beyond.
They were nomadic, known as Bedouins and were divided by clans/
tribes. Led by a sheikh who was chosen from a council of elders.
The tribes were independent, but worked together
The Arabian Peninsula became an important center for trade. The
city of Mecca became rich from the caravan trade traffic which
passed through the area.

-Most Early Arabs were polytheistic,

many recognized a chief, or supreme
god who they called Allah which is
Arabic for God.
-Allah was symbolized by a sacred stone,
each tribe had their own stone, but there
was one central stone called the Black
stone which was placed in the shrine
called the Kaaba. The Kaaba contained
over 360 different idols
-This shrine was located in the city of
Makkah (Mecca) in what is now Saudi

THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

Muhammad was born around 570 C.E. in
Mecca in present-day Saudi Arabia to a
merchant family. His parents died when
he was young and he ended up living
with his uncle who was a merchant and
he became a caravan manager.
Over time, he found the richness and
corruption of the merchants and
townspeople to be troubling.
He decided to visit the hills to meditate.
Muslims believe that while he was
meditating in the hills he received
revelations from God through the Angel
Gabriel.

Muhammad in
Arabic Calligraphy

Muslims believe the Angel Gabriel

told Muhammad to recite what
he heard, it was believed that
Allah had already revealed
himself through Moses and Jesus,
but now had a final revelation for
man.
This final revelation became the
religion of Islam. Which means
submission to the will of God.

MUHAMMADS REVELATION

AFTER THE REVELATION

After Muhammad received his revelation he went to his wife

Khadija, she was his first convert to the new religion.
He began to try to convert the people of Mecca to his message, but
was unsuccessful. After three years he was forced to go to the
city of Yathrib, which later became Medina. This flight, or
migration, is known as the Hijrah and marks the beginning of the
Muslim calendar. This was in the year 622 CE.

ACCEPTANCE IN THE CITY OF THE

PROPHET
In Medina (which means the city of the prophet) Muhammad was
accepted and gained followers.
One of the groups which converted to the new religion of Islam
were the Bedouins who were desert Arabs. This new
community became the first to practice the religion.
After several years, Muhammad became both a spiritual and
political leader (there was not an idea of the separation of
church and state). In 630 C.E. he created an army and with
10,000 followers he conquered the city of Mecca.

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF

ISLAM

After Muhammad took the city of Mecca he

cleansed the Kaaba of idols and dedicated it
to Allah, who he taught was the one true
God.

People responsible for own actions only

good and evil

Islamic monument in Jerusalem: Dome of the

Rock

Believe Muhammad rose to heaven here to learn

Allahs will

Jews believe that Abraham was prepared to

sacrifice son Isaac at same site

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

1-Declaration of Faith

Muslims must state that there is not God but Allah and
Muhammad is his prophet.

2. Daily Prayer

Muslims must pray five times a day facing the Kaaba in Mecca.

Pre Dawn
Noon
Afternoon
Sunset
Evening

3. Charity

Muslims are supposed to help others and donate

part of their income to charity.

4. Fasting-Ramadan
Muslims must fast from sunrise to sunset
during the holy month of Ramadan which
celebrates the recording of the Quran.

FIVE PILLARS CONTINUED . . .

HAJJ

5. Pilgrimage: Hajj

The fifth pillar of Islam is the

Hajj.

Once in a lifetime, if they are

physically and financially able ,
Muslims are to journey to Mecca
(Makkah) in Saudi Arabia and
perform the rituals of the Hajj.

The Quran guides

Muslims lives.

The Quran sets out

guidelines for moral
behavior, acts of worship,
and rules for social life

Muslims were
encouraged to free
slaves.

Women could own

property, earn money,
and receive an
education.

ISLAMIC LAW IS BASED ON

THE QURAN AND THE
SUNNAH.

The Quran and the

Sunnah form the
basis of Islamic law,
or Shariah.
Shariah is a system
based on Islamic
sources and human
reason that judges
the rightness of
actions taken.

ISLAMIC LAW

After the death of Muhammad there were further

interpretations of his teachings. These are known as the
Hadith. There are different versions of the Hadith for different
branches of Islam.

These teachings were further interpreted in the Shariah. This

is a set of laws which regulate many aspects of Muslim life. It
does not separate between church and state and covers family
life, business, government, and moral conduct.

Muslims are expected to practice honesty and justice in dealing

with others and are forbidden to gamble, eat pork, drink
alcohol, or engage in dishonest behavior.

In 632 Muhammad dies Muslims elect

Abu-Bakr to be first caliph

First four caliphs guided by the Quran

and Muhammads actions

Jihad, armed struggle against

unbelievers, used to expand Islam

Muslims control all of Arabia, armies

conquer Syria and lower Egypt

By 750, Muslim empire stretches from

Atlantic Ocean to Indus River

ISLAM EXPANDS

CREATION OF AN ARAB EMPIRE

After the death of Muhammad, unity was difficult to maintain.

The friend and father-in-law of Muhammad, Abu Bakr, was
chosen to be the first Caliph, or successor to Muhammad.
Abu Bakr helped to unify the Muslim world and expanded in
Arabia and beyond.
Under the idea of jihad, or struggle in the way of God the early
Muslims expanded their territory. The believed that defensive
warfare was permitted by the Quran.

TREATMENT OF CONQUERED PEOPLE

Muslims administrators were fairly

tolerant of the people they
defeated.

Initially, both Christians and Jews

were allowed to practice their
religions, with some restrictions,
because they were People of the
Book who had written scriptures
revealed to them by God before
the time of Muhammad. Those
who chose not to convert had to
be loyal to the Muslim state and
pay a special tax.

THE UMAYYAD DYNASTY

At the beginning of the eighth

century Islam had expanded
across northern Africa and had
converted the Berbers (a pastoral
people along the Mediterranean
coast) to the faith.

By 710 combined Berber and Arab

forces crossed the Strait of
Gibraltar into Spain and had taken
most of the country by 725. In
732, however, the Muslim advance
into Europe was halted at the
Battle of Tours.

Wealthy family, Umayyads was a family that followed

Muhammad, took power and moved capital to
Damascus

The Umayyad Dynasty was centered in Damascus, in

modern-day Syria and was wealthy. This was also a
very diverse empire as many different peoples had
been conquered in new territory.

Rebel group the Abbasids topple the Umayyads and

start a new faction that would lead the Islamic Empire

STRUGGLE FOR POWER

The grandson of Muhammad, Hussein,

led a revolt against the Umayyad
Empire in 680.
His solders defected and he was killed
by an overwhelming Umayyad force.
This struggle led to a split within the
faith of Islam between Sunni and Shia
(Shiite) Muslims.

THE REVOLT OF HUSSEIN

Sunni Muslims supported the Umayyad

Dynasty. They believe the Caliph does not
need to be a direct descendant of Muhammad.

Shia Muslims supported Hussein and believe

that the Caliph should be a direct descendant
of Muhammad through his son-in-law Ali and
his grandson.
Sufi Rejected the luxurious life that was
encouraged by the Umayyad and preferred a
life of poverty and devotion to a spiritual life.

SUNNI VS. SHIA (SHI-ITE)

RIVAL GROUPS DIVIDE MUSLIM LAND

Abbasids consolidate power,

take power away from the
Umayyad regime.

Move capital to Baghdad

Kills remaining Umayyad family

members

Good trade and gold

Strong bureaucracy

One Umayyad prince escapes to

Spain

Makes al-Andalus Muslim state

RISE OF CITIES
Flourishing trade led to wealthy and
successful cities.
Baghdad-Was known as the city of
peace and was highly successful under
the Abbasids
Cairo: Was part of the Fatimid Dynasty
Cordoba: Capital of Umayyad Spain

ISLAMIC SOCIETY
Islam is considered more than just a religion, it is seen as a way
of life that encompasses politics, economics, and social life.

According to the Quran, all people were equal in the eyes of

Allah, There was a well developed upper and lower class and a
strict Social class structure.
Non-Muslims were not considered equal to Muslims and slavery
was widespread (as in the rest of the ancient world). Slaves were
usually non-Muslims because Islamic law made it illegal for one
Muslim to enslave another.
Slaves served in the military or served as domestic servants.
Slaves could sometimes purchase their freedom and it was
considered a good act to free ones slaves.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN

Originally, the Quran granted women spiritual

and social equality with men. Both men and
women were to be friends and protectors of one
another.
Women could earn a living and own and inherit
property. They played a prominent role in the
rise of Islam.

PRESERVATION OF KNOWLEDGE

Muslim scholars helped to preserve the knowledge of Greece

and Rome by translating works and making them available to
other scholars.

It is because of this that European scholars were able to

rediscover the works of Aristotle and other Greek philosophers.

In the twelfth century these works were translated into Latin .

Literature

Quran standard Arabic literature

Art and Architecture

Discourage images of living things thought to

be an insult to Allah to try and make something
as beautiful as Allah could (a living thing)

Calligraphy art of beautiful handwriting

Mosques blend of many cultures

Math

Develop algebra

ART AND SCIENCES FLOURISH

THE 1001 NIGHTS/ARABIAN NIGHTS

Probably the most famous piece of Muslim literature

is the 1001 Nights or Arabian Nights.
This is a collection of stories based around a central
theme.
The Sultan king of Baghdad wishes to kill his wife on
their wedding night. The princess Scheherazade tells
him stories each night to prevent her death,
eventually winning him over.
The tales include the familiar stories of Aladdin and
Ali Baba and the forty thieves.

Scholars promote new ideas

Ibn Rushd criticized for blending Greek

philosophy toIslam