Download The Rise of Islam

The Rise of Islam
The Life of Muhammad
Discuss the life of
Muhammad. What have you
learned so far?
Background
• Mecca, located on the Arabian peninsula, was
an important center of trade and religious
site.
• Strategically located
between trade routes
• Home of Ka’aba
Background
• Muhammad was born in Mecca circa 570 ACE.
• Interacted with many different religions.
• Married an entrepreneur named Khadija. She
was very rich from caravan trade. Khadija was
40 while Muhammad was 25.
The Origins of Islam
• During his marriage to Khadija, Muhammad
was plagued by incessant headaches. He
would retire to a cave outside of Mecca.
• Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel.
For 22 years, Gabriel revealed what Muslims
believe to be the Truth to Muhammad.
Gabriel Visits Muhammad
The Origins of Islam
Muhammad compiled
these revelations into the
Islamic holy book, the
Qu’ran (Koran).
Belief in one God
interfered with the
revenue made off
travelers to Mecca that
worshipped many gods at
the Ka’aba.
The Flight (Hijrah)
• Muhammad was forced to flee Mecca for
Yathrib, located to the north of Mecca.
– Yathrib is later called Medina, “city of the
prophet.”
• Muhammad continued to win converts to
Islam.
• In 630 ACE, Muhammad returns to Mecca
with a great army. Mecca allows Muhammad
to reenter Mecca and convert the inhabitants
to Islam.
Jihad- endeavor to spread the faith
Jihad does
not mean to
kill
innocents
The Death and Legacy of the Prophet
• Muhammad continued converting nonbelievers by choice or the sword.
• The prophet died in 632 ACE
– He bequeathed his followers a state with a
political & economic responsibilities, and a
military arm.
The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs
What do you know about
the Four Rightly Guided
Caliphs??
The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs
• Muhammad’s death brought
questions of succession. Who
would lead this new Islamic
state? How would the ruler lead?
• The position of caliph was
created. Abu Bakr was
elected the first caliph.
The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs
• The first three of the rightly guided caliphs,
Abu Bakr, Omar, and Uthman, continued to
expand the influence of Islam
Ali Ibn Talib
• Ali was Muhammad’s son-in-law and his
cousin. Many felt that Ali should have been
Muhammad’s successor.
• Ali is finally elected caliph.
• Ali is assassinated, which led
to the establishment of the Umayyad dynasty.
Ali’s Legacy
• Out of Ali’s
assassination, the
foundation for modern
Islam is laid.
• Sunni Islam– Orthodox
Islam. Sunnis do not
believe in the legitimacy
of the Imams. They look
to the Qu’ran and
Hadith for guidance.
Ali’s Legacy
• Shia Islam– Believed that Ali was chosen by God to
be the leader of Islam. Ali and his descendants are
considered Imams, leaders of the Islamic community.