Download History of the Middle East

History of the Middle East
I. The Prophet Muhammad
Life of Muhammad
• Born 570 AD in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
• Orphaned at 6, married Khadijah who was 15
years older
• 610 AD, during the Arabic month of Ramadan,
had his first vision of the Angel Gabriel
• Nephew Ali was an early convert
• Muslim: one who submits to Gods will
Muhammad’s Hijra
• Meccans thought he would disrupt pilgrimage to the Ka’bah.
• Ka’bah: black box full of pagan idols in Mecca
• Muhammad had another vision where he went to heaven
from Jerusalem at the Temple Mount and visited Moses
• 620 AD, In trouble at Mecca, people from Medina ask
Muhammad to arbitrate an argument
• 622 AD, Muhammad leaves for Medina (Hijra)
• Observes Yom Kippur and faces Jerusalem when praying
Conquest of Mecca
• In Media, Muhammad could not farm. Raided
caravans to Mecca.
• Battle of Badr, Muhammad defeats a force
from Mecca
• 629 AD: He takes Mecca without bloodshed
Mohammad’s Personal Life
• Wife died in 619 AD (Khadijah)
• Took 9 more wives
• Married for alliances and married widows of
his slain friends. (9)
• Died in 632 AD
• No pictures of Mohammad.
• False Idols
II. Islam
What is Islam
What is Islam?
• Islam; act of submission to the will of god
• Believe in angles and jinns (spirits)
• Devil is called Iblis, al-Shayton. Devil is a fallen
angel whose job is to corrupt men and women.
(seems to be doing well)
• Believe that the Bible and the Torah are corrupted
and the Quran is the corrected version. (Hadith)
• Muhammad is the last of the prophets: Adam,
Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jonah, Job, and Jesus
• Believe in Jesus but not as the son of god, Jesus
will come again on Judgment Day to fight Satan
(warrior)
Five Pillars of Islam
I)
II)
III)
IV)
V)
Witness: There is no God but Allah and
Muhammad is God’s messenger (prophet)
Worship: pray 5 times a day towards Mecca.
Friday at noon in public
Fasting: during the month of Ramadan, during
the day. Are exceptions
Tithing: tax to help the needy (10%) (sharing)
Pilgrimage (Hijra): pilgrimage to Mecca once in
lifetime to the Ka’bah
The Sixth Pillar: Jihad
VI.




Jihad: struggle in the way of God
Quran (9:29): fight against those who do not
believe in God or the Judgment day, and those
who refuse allegiance to the true faith” Jews and
Christians?
Quran also says to be lenient towards Jews and
Christians
Muslim conquerors did not convert non-Muslims.
Lived peacefully and protected them
Quran lays done harsh penalties for murder
Succession to Muhammad
•
•
•
•
Abu-Bakr was the first Caliph
Caliph: leader of Islam
Ali: nephew of Muhammad
Sunni: believe in Abu-Bakr as heir, more
conservative
• Shi’i: believe Ali is true successor and that family
ancestors of Muhammad should rule as Imans
• Today, no Arab nation and no Caliph
Main Causes of Middle East Conflict
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Incomplete transition from religious communities to nation
states
Many Middle East people believe that their governments
are illegitimate
Quest for dignity and freedom from countries that have
endured subjection and are determined never to lose
independence again
Problems that come from outside governments that try to
help but don’t
Growing concentration of highly destructive weapons in a
region that is volatile and vulnerable