Download Islam

Submission to the will of Allah
Islam
An Abrahamic Religion
 Muslims are strict monotheists.
They believe in the Judeo-Christian God,
which they call Allah (Arabic for God).

Abraham
is the patriarch of Islam
Abraham’s Genealogy
HAGAR
ABRAHAM
Ishmael
12 Arabian
Tribes
SARAH
Isaac
Jacob
12 Tribes of
Israel
Esau
The Prophetic Tradition
Adam
Noah
Abraham
Moses
Jesus
Muhammad
History
Muhammad received his first revelation from
the angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610

622  Hijrah  Muhammed flees Mecca for
Medina.
* The beginning of the Muslim calendar (1 A.H.)

Muhammad’s revelations were compiled into
the Qur’an (Koran) after his death

The Qur’an
 Muslims believe it contains the word of
God

114 suras (chapters)
Written
in Arabic
The Five Pillars of Islam
1. The Shahada: Declaration of Faith
2. The Salat: Mandatory Prayers
3. The Zakat: Almsgiving
4. The Sawm: Fasting during the holy
month of Ramadan
5. The Hajj: The Pilgrimage to Mecca
The Dome of the Rock
Mosque in Jerusalem
Mount Moriah Rock
where Muhammad
ascended into heaven.
Other Islamic Religious
Practices
 Up to four wives allowed at
once

No alcohol or pork

No gambling

Sharia  body of Islamic law
to regulate daily living

Three holiest cities in Islam:
* Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem
What is the difference between
Sunni and Shia Muslims and why
is there animosity between these
two sects of Islam?
Dispute over succession
• When Muhammad died, he did not, at least in public,
name an heir….
• So, Muhammad’s father-in-law took over and held the
new Muslim “empire” together as the first Caliph (or
successor).
• Soon, by the time of the third Caliph a dispute began
over who should rightfully become the Caliph, leader
of Islam.
• Uthman, the third caliph was assassinated.
– The Shia believe that the heir should be a family member.
– The Sunni believe that the heir should be selected by the
previous caliph.
The Spread of Islam

Easy to learn and practice

No priesthood

Teaches equality among men

“Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious
freedom, but paid additional taxes.

Easily “portable”  nomads & trade routes.
Jihad (“struggle”) against pagans and other nonbelievers Internal and External

Expansion of Islam
• Mecca and Medina and the rapid spread of Islam
• Battle of Constantinople (the gateway to Europe) 717
– Greek Fire
• Tours (and the croissant?) 732
• Numidians (a people that caused problems for the
Carthaginians) = Moors
Many North Africans
welcomed the Muslims
because the tax they
had to pay for their
freedom was less than
the tribute paid to
Constantinople.
However, many
individuals (according
to accounts) did resist
and were slaughtered
for their efforts.
Muslims in the World Today