ISLAM
Arabian Peninsula
-Bordered on the SE by the Arabian Sea
-East by the Persian Gulf
-West by Red Sea (Egypt)
-Syrian Desert, Mesopotamia to the North
Arabian peninsula very dry, mostly desert. Result: Most desert dwellers herded sheep and camels.
-Nomadic herders throughout the Arabian peninsula were known as Bedouins
-Bedouins would organize into tribes, with a tribe leader known as a sheikh (shayk)
Towns emerged along the coastal areas of the Arabian peninsula, and supported large trade networks
-Jidda, Mecca: 2 larger cities
-Similar to other cultures, trade resulted in Arabians being influenced by other peoples from different regions
Prophet Muhammad
570 AD- Muhammad was born into a poor clan of Mecca’s ruling tribe
-Muhammad lived as a caravan trader, similar to many Arabian peoples born along the coast
-Muhammad encountered Jews, Christians (monotheistic) and Arabs (polytheistic)
At the age of 40, Muhammad reported that the Angel of Jibreel (Gabriel) appeared and informed him that he was called to be a prophet of Allah (God)
-Angel of Jibreel revealed verses that Muhammad was to recite and teach to tothers
Reaction to the teachings of Muhammad in Mecca was not well-received initially
-Merchant rulers thought that Muhammad’s teachings criticized their conduct; threatened their authority
-Arab pilgrims often came to Mecca to worship other gods at the Kaaba; rulers believed that Muhammad’s monotheistic teachings would stop these pilgrimages
-Muhammad and is followers left Mecca; Settled in Yathrib in 622 AD
-Flight from Mecca to Yathrib known as hijrah (hi-JY-ruh)
-Yathrib became known as Medina, or Al-Medinah, “City of the Prophet”
After moving to Yathrib (Medina, Al Medinah), Muhammad gained more and more followers, including nomadic desert tribes. Mecca and Medina entered a series of wars
-Medina defeated Mecca; Muhammad returned to Mecca in 630 AD
-Multiple Gods of the Kaaba were destroyed; Kaaba now designed to worship Allah
632 AD- Death of Muhammad
-By this time, Bedouin tribes had converted to the new religion of Islam.
-Much of Arabian peninsula had converted; soon Islam would spread across the Middle East and North Africa
Islamic Beliefs
-There is only 1 God; each believer must submit to God’s will (Arabic word Islam
-Followers of Islam: Muslims. Large Muslim communities in Asia, North Africa, East Europe
-Qur’an: Holy book of Islam; word of God revealed to Muhammad
-Five Pillars of Islamic Faith Contained in Qur’an
1. Profession of Faith- No god but Allah, Muhammad is the prophet
2. Five daily prayers- washing, prescribed movements, facing Mecca
3. Paying zakat- annual tax to help the poor and others in need
4. Fasting during Ramadan (holy month)
5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (occurs certain time per year)
Islamic beliefs also include the importance of the jihad; Arabic for struggle to defend the faith
Radical Islamists believe that anyone who dies in struggle to defend faith will be rewarded in heaven
Qur’an: First written in Arabic (common language of Muslims in religion, law, literature)
-Praying occurs at mosques
Islam Expands
After Muhammad’s death, he was succeeded by Abu Bakr (uh-BOO BAK-uhr)
-Abu Bakr brought Arabic tribes together and expanded Islam’s influence northward
634 AD- Abu Bakr was succeeded by ‘Umar as caliph (kay-luhf; successor to prophet)
‘Umar was a very successful leader and expander of the Islamic faith. He conquered neighboring territories of non-Muslims.
-640 AD: Conquered Persian Empire, Iraq
-25 years after Muhammad’s death; Muslim Empire included parts of Syria, Persia, North Africa
Arabic people were fierce in battle, yet oftentimes averted battle by entering into treaties.
Like several successful peoples we have studied, they were more tolerant than others with those whom they conquered.
-Did not require all conquered people to convert to Islam
-Initially Muslims were more tolerant of Christians and Jews
-Muhammad accepted both the Torah and Bible as part of God’s teachings
-Muslims taxed Christians and Jews if they didn’t convert to Islam
Caliphs’s post-‘Umar expanded Muslim influence as the power of the Byzantine Empire weakened. Within 100 years of Muhammad’s death, Muslims had expanded East to India, West to North Africa
711 AD- Muslim force invaded Spain; brought Islam to Europe
-Muslims were unable to conquer Constantinople, but failed.
Islamic Division
‘Umar’s successor ‘Uthman aws murdered because many Muslims believed he favored his own clan.
‘Ali was chosen to succeed ‘Uthman as caliph, but this was protested by ‘Uthman’s relative Mu’awiyah. War broke out between the two sides, and ‘Ali was assassinated in 661.
Result: Mu’awiyah became caliph
Muslims that agreed to accept Mu’awiyah as caliph were known as Sunni Muslims
Muslims that believed that only descendants of ‘Ali should be caliph- Shi’ah Muslims
-10% of world’s Muslims are Shi’ah
Split between Sunni and Shi’ah deepened when the Sunni killed ‘Ali’s son. Division still exists today.
Empire Spreads
Despite the split, the Islamic faith continued to rapidly spread. By 710 AD Berbers of North Africa converted to Islam.
-Berber general Tariq led a Muslim army to Spain
-Crossed Mediterranean at the “Mount of Tariq” (known to us as Strait of Gibraltar)
-Tariq conquered Spain; Muslims who resided in Spain known as Moors (Not MOOPS)
The era of Arab Muslim expansion lasted until 1100’s. The Turks became the ruling force of Islam post-1100’s. Islamic empire continued to expand under the Turks
Turks
-Turkish speaking people from the steppes of central Asia
-Tough, nomadic people
-Fought and raided as well as herded
-Warlike culture that was based on expansion and conquest
-Turks came into contact with the Arab and Persian Muslims in the Middle East
-By 900 AD, many Turks had converted to islam
-Turks supported Islamic law, yet the political power of the Turkish army reduced the power of the caliph
-Turkish Sultan ruled the Turks and claimed to support the Caliph, however Turkish people gained control of Baghdad (Iraq) in the 1000’s.
1000’s AD- Turkish Muslims seized much of the Middle East (Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor). By 1200’s the Turks controlled most of northern India