Download The Spread of Islam Centers

Center #1 – The First Muslim Caliphs
Muhammad died in 632 CE. By this time, his message had spread and his power had grown. Still, it was not clear
who would continue to lead the Muslim faith and the Muslim state that he had founded. At Muhammad’s death, there
were about 100,000 Muslim Arabs. After he died, many of the tribes that had become Muslim slowly began to give up
their beliefs. The tribes’ old habit of fighting each other returned. Some tribes found new prophets or religious leaders
to lead them.
Caliph Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr was one of Muhammad’s original followers. After Muhammad’s death, a council of many of
Muhammad’s closest advisers gathered. They agreed that Abu Bakr should become the caliph, or leader of both the
religious movement and the government power that Muhammad had established. Abu Bakr’s first task was to reunite
the community. The group of tribes had begun to fall apart after Muhammad’s death. Under the rule of Muhammad,
fighting was not allowed among the tribes. This rule was based on the teaching of the Quran, the main holy book of
Islam, the Muslim faith.
Caliph Abu Bakr immediately began forcing the tribes to return to Islam. He led military battles against exMuslims. The battles in the year 633 are known as the Riddah Wars. Abu revived Islam among the tribes. He also led
smaller Arab groups in wars against other empires.
Abu Bakr was a religious man. He was also a practical man. According to many people, he began preparing a
formal record of Muhammad’s visions and ideas. Years later, these would be gathered together in the Quran so all
Muslims would share a common holy book. Abu Bakr died only two years after Muhammad in 634. His leadership helped
keep Islam together.
Caliphs Umar and Uthman
The next caliphs were Caliph Umar (634–644) and Caliph Uthman (644–656). They were also aware of the
importance of keeping the Arab community together. They worked to lay the foundations of an Islamic state. An Islamic
government was needed to control the new lands conquered by Arab armies. According to many experts, they also
continued Abu’s work to complete the official Quran. Much of their work was based on statements and reports from
people who were present when Muhammad preached in Medina and Mecca. This project was completed in 652 CE.
Uthman then ordered all earlier copies of the Quran to be destroyed. This was done to make sure that all Arabs were
saying the same words from the same book. This helped to strengthen the foundation of Islam.
Center 1 - The First Muslim Caliphs Questions
Directions: Number your paper 1-7. Copy and answer all questions in your notebook.
1) One of the key rules of Muhammad (based on the Quran) was that?
a) Muslim tribes should fight with ex-Muslims
b) The communities of Muslims and ex-Muslims should never reunite
c) Fighting was not allowed among the tribes
d) The tribes could fight ex-Muslims in specific locations in the Middle East
2) One of Abu Bakr’s first decisions as Caliph was to?
a) Split up the Muslim tribes from the ex-Muslims
b) Reunite the community of Muslims.
c) Begin peaceful negotiations with the ex-Muslims.
d) Outlaw the reading of the Quran by all tribes.
3) What was one negative effect of Muhammad’s death?
a) Muslim tribes started to outlaw Quran teachings
b) Ex-Muslims began to seek powerful positions within the leadership council
c) The tribes often nominated their own leaders
d) Muslims slowly began to give up their beliefs
4) Caliph Umar and Uthman shared this in common?
a) They both wanted to create an Islamic state
b) They wanted to decrease the importance of the Quran’s teachings
c) Umar and Uthman hoped to further separate the Islamic community
d) Both Caliphs intended on creating an alternative version of the Quran for ex-Muslims
5) The Riddah Wars were fought in order to?
a) Eliminate all Muslim tribes
b) Claim the Holy City of Mecca as the center of Islamic faith
c) Control various pockets of Muslim tribes in the Middle East
d) Wage war against ex-Muslims
Short Answer
6) After Muhammad’s death in 632 C.E., why was it important for future Caliphs to keep continuity and structure within
the Islamic community? Explain.
7) Explain at least three examples from the text that demonstrate how the early caliphs established unity within the
Islamic faith.
Center #2 – A Split in Islam
The 62-year-old Muhammad lay dying. Many believed he said something about who would succeed, or follow,
him and have his power. No one today is quite sure what he said. According to one report, he said, “Oh God, have pity
on those who succeed me.” If this is true, then perhaps Muhammad realized that his failure to name a successor would
create conflict in the community of believers. There are, however, Muslims who do not agree with this story. Some
believe that Muhammad had already chosen the man to succeed him. They believe he chose his cousin and son-in-law,
Ali.
Shi’a Muslims
Ali was a man of strong spiritual beliefs. He had grown up in the same household as Muhammad. When he was
10 years old, he declared his belief in his cousin as the messenger of God. Later, Ali married Muhammad’s daughter,
Fatimah. This made their family link even stronger. Many Muslims believe that Ali should have been named
Muhammad’s successor. They point to the fact that Ali was the closest male relative to the Prophet Muhammad. Today,
those who believe that Ali should have been the successor are called Shi’a Muslims. Shi’a is a contraction of Shiat Ali,
meaning “faction of Ali.” Today, Shi’a make up about 15% of Muslims. They are mostly found in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon,
Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Sunni Muslims
Sunni Muslims make up most of the Islamic world today. Sunni comes from the word sunnah, which is the sum
of all the words, customs, and practices of Muhammad. Shi’as believed that state leadership of the Islamic community
rightly belonged to Ali and his descendants. Sunnis accepted the rule of other leaders. These other leaders had to have
the support of the community and follow Muhammad’s teachings. Shi’a and Sunni have argued about leadership in Islam
since Muhammad’s death in 632. This conflict troubles Islam to this day.
Ali’s Leadership
In 656, Ali became the head of the Muslim state. He took over the leader’s role following the murder of the
caliph before him, Uthman. For the Shi’a, Ali became the first imam (teacher) and the rightful successor of Muhammad.
For the Sunni, Ali became the fourth caliph. They saw him as the last ruler in what is called the “rightly guided”
caliphate. These early rulers were believed to be rightly guided because they were all personally close to Muhammad.
They all were connected directly to Muhammad’s religious teachings and practices.
Many Muslims still argue about Ali as a ruler. He did not become a ruler right away. In fact, three other people
were chosen to rule before he was. His rule was troubled from the start. Some historians believe he had nothing to do
with Uthman’s murder. However, Ali’s rise to caliph set off the first civil war. In this war, Muslim groups fought each
other to gain control of the state. The war created long-lasting division within the Islamic community. In 661, Ali was
killed.
Center 2 - A Split in Islam Questions
Directions: Number your paper 1-7. Copy and answer all questions in your notebook.
1) One of the key differences between the view of Caliph Ali by Sunni and Shi’a Muslims was?
a) The Sunni’s looked at Ali as the rightful heir to Muhammad’s leadership
b) The Shi’a Muslims viewed Ali as the fifth caliph and last ruler
c) Both groups saw Ali as the “rightly guided” leader of the Muslims
d) Ali was the first Imam according to the Shi’a Muslims
2) Why did many Muslims argue about Ali as ruler?
a) Some saw Ali as rightful heir while others did not
b) He was chosen immediately after Caliph Uthman’s death
c) He may have significantly contributed to Caliph Uthman’s murder
d) Ali set off a civil war and his rule had many troubled incidents
3) Which of the following is a key difference between Shi’a and Sunni Muslims?
a) The Sunni Muslims make up a small percentage of the total population
b) The Shi’as believe that Ali should not have been the heir to Muhammad
c) Most Muslims who live in Lebanon are Shia’s
d) Both groups agree on the overall Muslim leadership and future in 2013
4) Which event contributed to the strong bond between Ali and Muhammad?
a) Ali was the long-lost descendant of Muhammad
b) Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah eventually married Ali
c) They both fought alongside one another in the Riddah Wars
d) Ali and Muhammad created the first draft of the Quran
5) The word Sunni means?
a) The indulgences of Caliph Ali
b) “Faction of all”
c) The total sum of all teachings and customs of Muhammad
d) Sunnah or the denial of Muhammad’s legacy
Short Answer
6) In your own words, explain the cause of the split that occurred in the Islamic faith. Because of this split, many
conflicts have occurred between Shias and Sunnis. In your opinion, do you think these groups will be able to resolve
their conflicts with one another? Explain why or why not.
7) How is the split that developed within Islam similar or different to the split that formed within Christianity during the
Reformation? Explain at least three ways it is similar and/or different.
Center #3 – The Muslim & Christian Relationship
Muslims ruled in Spain during the years 711 to 1492. Historical evidence shows that Muslims treated their
Christian and other non-Muslim citizens well. This is likely because of the example set by Muhammad. According to
Islamic beliefs, Muhammad first began receiving his holy ideas about 610. At the time, he looked to the local Christian
and Jewish leaders to establish a religious link, but the Christian and Jewish leaders did not recognize him as a true
prophet. Even so, Muhammad still believed that Jews, Christians, and Muslims were “People of the Book.” That meant
they followed the written teachings of God’s prophets. It also meant that the three religions were alike in some ways.
Muhammad wanted to establish the first Islamic state. In 622, he put together a document called the
Constitution of Medina. According to this document, he gave Jews and Christians certain rights. He also made them
responsible for certain actions. He gave them freedom of religion. In return, they had to pay a special tax. In later years,
this tax also had to be paid by Christians and Jews living in all conquered territories. It marked them as dhimmis, or
protected people, in the Muslim state. The tax became an important part of the state’s yearly economic plan. Some
historians believe that this explains why there was little effort during these early years to force people to join Islam. The
Muslim state needed the taxes paid by members of other faiths.
During this period of history, it was the practice of enemy armies to kill or enslave the conquered people.
However, the Muslim armies did not always do so. The Arab method was to keep a military presence in camps outside
the conquered city. The Arabs would keep an eye out for any challenge to their authority. Once Arab rule was
established, those who had surrendered were left alone. The government of the conquered city was left in place. In this
way, the Muslim state could keep the money flowing but make sure that it was directed into their hands.
Center 3 – The Muslim and Christian Relationship Questions
Directions: Number your paper 1-7. Copy and answer all questions in your notebook.
1) Why didn’t Christians and Jews connect with Muhammad’s teachings?
a) He did not believe in God.
b) They did not recognize him as the true prophet.
c) He would not keep kosher.
d) He did not believe the three religions were alike.
2) According to the Constitution of Medina, why did Christians and Jews have to pay a special tax?
a) They were wealthier than the Muslims.
b) They owned more property than Muslims.
c) They were not believers in Islam.
d) They paid the tax in order to convert to Islam.
3) What were dhimmis?
a) People who were about to convert to Islam
b) Slaves in Muslim households
c) Tax collectors
d) Protected non-Muslims
4) Why didn’t Muslim leaders push people to convert to Islam?
a) They needed the taxes they collected from non-Muslims.
b) Muhammad taught Muslims to respect all faiths equally.
c) Muslim leaders were satisfied that Christians and Jews believed in the same God.
d) They used non-Muslims as their military.
5) How were Muslim armies different from other armies of the time?
a) They did not kill or enslave conquered people.
b) After they conquered land, the army would leave immediately
c) They completely changed the conquered city’s government.
d) They forced the conquered people to join their military.
Short Answer
6) Based on the passage, explain at least 2 reasons why non-Muslims were treated well and not forced to convert
to Islam.
7) Based on this passage, how would you characterize the relationship between Muslims and Christians between
622-750? Support your answer with evidence from the passage.
Center #4 – Islamic Expansion Begins
The term “Islamic expansion” refers to the military battles fought by Muslim armies after the death of
Muhammad in 632. The first wave of the expansion took place during the first 100 or so years after Muhammad’s death.
After the death of Muhammad, his successors united the Arab tribes. They led their armies in conquests against
surrounding territories. Islam was used as a force to unite the tribes. These efforts were aided by the situation in nearby
empires.
Conquering Empires
The Byzantine and Sassanid Empires had been fighting each other for years. By Muhammad’s death, they were
tired and weak. Their religious and state leaders were not working together. It was the perfect time for an enemy army
to attack. In 634, Caliph Abu Bakr declared jihad, or holy war, on the Byzantine Empire. Abu Bakr died shortly after the
war began. His successor Caliph Umar took control. Under his rule, Arabs conquered Jerusalem. They also conquered
Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, and took control of Mesopotamia.
The Sassanid Empire is also known as the Persian Empire. It was the second empire the Arabs attacked. The
state religion of the Sassanid Empire was Zoroastrianism. This followed the words of their prophet Zarathustra. By 750,
the Arabs and their conquered territories stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to India. Umar allowed Jews and Christians
to continue to worship as long as they paid money to the Arab leaders. This idea was followed in later Muslim empires.
Arab expansion continued for the next 100 years. A new set of rulers, called the Umayyad Dynasty (661–750),
doubled the size of the empire. It added North Africa, Spain, and parts of Central Asia. The larger the empire, the more
difficult it was to govern. More and more people opposed the government. In 750, rebels overthrew the Umayyad
Dynasty. A new dynasty, led by another royal family, took power. This was called the Abbasid Dynasty (750–1258).
Islam expansion After the Year 750
Military conquests by Arab armies created the Muslim world in the Middle East. One hundred years following
the death of Muhammad, “Muslim” had come to define more than just Arabs. Muslim armies included soldiers from all
over the empire. In 711, Muslim armies invaded southern Spain. They established Islamic control over most of the
Iberian Peninsula that lasted for centuries.
Armies were not the only way that Islam spread. Islam was carried peacefully by missionaries and traders to
Southeast Asia. In this way, Islam was brought to Indonesia, the southern Philippines, and the Malaysian Peninsula.
Later, missionaries and traders were followed by migrants from Persia and southern Arabia. Traders and conquests
helped establish Islam in Africa. By the 1300s, Islamic cities were reported to thrive in East Africa. These included
successful commercial centers, such as Mogadishu, Mombasa, and Kilwa The only thing that seemed to stop Islam’s
growth was Islam itself. The centers of Islamic power kept changing and breaking apart. Muslim kingdoms fought each
other for power.
Center 4 – Islamic Expansion Begins Questions
Directions: Number your paper 1-7. Copy and answer all questions in your notebook.
1) What is meant by the term “Islamic expansion”?
a) The military battles fought after the death of Muhammad
b) The number of people who converted to Islam after the death of Muhammad
c) The new ideas added to the Quran after the death of Muhammad
d) The addition of Islam as a branch of Christianity
2) What is a jihad?
a) A tribe of Islam
b) A holy war
c) A weapon
d) A Islamic leader
3) By 750, how much had the Islamic Empire grown?
a) It reached the Americas.
b) It doubled in size.
c) It tripled in size.
d) It spread into northern Europe.
4) What was the main problem with the rapid growth of the Islamic Empire?
a) There was not enough food to feed everyone.
b) People from far away could not make the pilgrimage to Mecca.
c) It was extremely difficult to govern all of the territories.
d) The different languages spoken made it difficult to communicate.
5) How was Islam brought to Southeast Asia?
a) Islamic military conquest
b) The Silk Road
c) European exploration
d) Peaceful missionaries and traders
Short Answer
6) Compare and contrast the unity of the Islamic Empire from when it began after the death of Muhammad in 622
to the empire in the 1300’s. What role did unity play in the growth (or lack of) of the empire? Explain.
7) Explain some of the reasons why it was easy for the Islamic militaries to conquer neighboring empires?
Center #5 – Conversion to Islam
Older histories of the Islamic expansion often describe Islam as having been “spread by the sword.” This meant
that the Muslim armies forced Islam on the people they conquered. Modern historians, however, have changed this
idea. It is now believed that Muslim rulers who conquered vast territories rarely forced non-Muslims to convert to, or
join, Islam.
Conversion to Islam
The Quran is clearly opposed to forcing anyone to become a Muslim. This is because a forced conversion is
unlikely to be a true conversion. What use is a false believer to people of the faith? However, it was not unusual for
conquered people to surrender and become Muslim. They might have done this if they did not want to pay a tax to
practice their own faith.
Many countries were conquered by the Muslim armies. Over time, most chose conversion rather than being
forced. In Iran, from 651 to 750, only about 10 percent of non-Muslims converted to Islam. By about 850, under the
more accepting Abbasid Dynasty, Iran’s Muslim population grew to about 40%. By the end of the 1000s, nearly 100
percent of the Iranian people were Muslim.
Reasons for Conversion
This growth in the rate of conversion reflects an attitude of understanding and acceptance, but there were other
reasons as well. The success of the Muslim armies raised Islam in the eyes of any unsure Muslim converts. It also raised
Islam in the eyes of the freshly conquered. For Muslims, their military success meant extraordinary wealth. For nonMuslims, Islamic military success sometimes meant an improvement in how they were treated.
Sometimes non-Muslims converted to Islam because of religious feelings, but there were other reasons to
convert as well. As Muslims, they would no longer have to pay the tax required of those of other faiths. They were no
longer limited in what they could wear. They were no longer prevented from participating in government and politics.
Once converted, however, there was no going back. Sharia is the religious law of Islam. It spells out the price paid for
leaving the faith once converted: death.
Center #5 - Conversion to Islam
Directions: Number your paper 1-5. Copy and answer all questions in your notebook.
1) Why is the Quran opposed to forced conversions?
a) Being forceful is considered violent and Islam is against violence.
b) It is unlikely to be a true conversion.
c) People should be able to believe what they want.
d) Hey don’t have to force anyone to convert people will naturally want to convert.
2) Non Muslims were allowed to practice other faiths but they had to
a) Live in rural areas of Iran.
b) Have a Quran and study it to understand the laws.
c) Pay a tax to practice their own faith.
d) Work to serve the Muslim military.
Short Answer
3) Older historians of Islamic Expansion described Islam as having been “spread by the sword.” Why do modern
historians not agree with this idea?
4) Give the main reasons that non Muslims would convert to Islam.
5) What does the Sharia say about leaving the Islamic faith?
Center #6 – The Crusades
In 638, Islamic armies captured Jerusalem. They did this to protect one of their holy sites. Christians invaded
Jerusalem for the same reason. They wanted to protect their holy city and the Christians who traveled to Jerusalem as
religious pilgrims. The actual reasons may have been more political. Kingdoms in Europe were growing in strength. They
were competing with Islamic kingdoms for trade routes and money. European rulers saw the Crusades as an opportunity
to demonstrate, as well as increase, their power, control, and wealth.
Struggle for the “Holy Land”
The Crusades (1095–1291) were a violent series of campaigns by Christian armies against the Muslim world.
There were nine crusades made to modern-day Israel. In Israel, there are many holy places that are important to
Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
The Crusades were huge military campaigns. The Christians tried to retake lands that had been captured by the
Islamic Empire. Major fighting centered on Jerusalem, the holy city. There was also a lot of fighting in Palestine, Syria,
Egypt, and Anatolia. The Crusades also reached Islamic cities in Spain. As the armies advanced, they tried to establish
control over the conquered lands. As a result, Crusader states, such as Edessa, Galilee, Antioch, and Tripoli, were
established.
The Crusades were extremely destructive and violent. In 1099, the Crusader armies recaptured Jerusalem. They
attacked many of the Muslim and Jewish people who lived there. The Crusaders aimed to conquer the Holy Land from its
Islamic rulers, but the Muslims were not the only targets. The Fourth Crusade took place in the early 1200s. During this
campaign, Jews and Eastern Orthodox Christians were also killed. They were believed to be heretics by members of the
western Church. The Crusaders managed to capture Jerusalem. They also captured a few other cities in the Middle East.
However, in later Crusades, Muslims regained control of the holy city. In 1291, the Crusaders met with defeat. Muslim
armies were once again in control of the entire region.
From the 600s to the 1400s, Islam united many people living in various parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Islam
brought new customs to many other cultures. It also absorbed many customs from conquered peoples. Islam’s
arrival often was accompanied by violence. In time, Islam became the one element that the different populations under
Muslim rule had in common.
Center # 6 - The Crusades Questions
Directions: Number your paper 1-5. Copy and answer all questions in your notebook.
1) European rulers saw the crusades as a way to gain ______________.
a. Love, peace, and good cheer
b. A better connection between Christianity and Islam.
c. Power, control and wealth
d. Control, power, more land
Short Answer
2) Why did Christians invade Jerusalem?
3) How many crusades were made to modern day Israel? Who did the crusades involve and what was the purpose
of the crusades?
4) During the fourth crusade Christians were killed. Who were they and why were they killed?
5) Crusader states like Edessa, Galilee, and Antioch were established as a result of what?