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CHAPTER 3:
THE ROOTS OF ISLAM
Section 1: Caravan Cities
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The Arabian Peninsula’s Empty Quarter is one of the driest deserts on Earth
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Almost all regions of this peninsula receive some amount of rainfall except the
Empty Quarter
Arabian Peninsula consists of the Syrian Desert to the north and the TigrisEuphrates river system to the west.
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The dry region in the center, however, is dotted with oases (plural of oasis)small areas in a desert that are watered by springs or wells
EARLY ARABIA
AT AN
OASIS
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Water determined where people gathered and on what routes
they traveled
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Journeys were planned from well to well, or oasis to oasis
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Towns and cities grew around these water sources
At the peninsula’s interior, oases attracted families of nomadspeople who migrated from place to place, following water and
grazing land for their camel herds
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At oases, the nomads would visit towns and villages
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Brought products such as camel meat and milk to trade
 In
exchange, villagers traded grain weapons, carpets, cloth, sugar, and
tea
NOMADIC LIFE
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In order to survive in the desert environment, nomads lived in
close family groups with grandparents, parents, and children
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These families often joined together to form tribes
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Each tribe was headed by a respected elder called a shaikh- often
settled family and tribal disputes
Nomads believed in some sort of Creator and also made idols to represent the
“sons and daughters of God”
TOWNS AND TRADES
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The Arabian peninsula was inhabited by three types of
communities: towns, agricultural villages, and nomadic tribes.
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Towns were built along trade routes- as traders crossed the desert,
they stopped at the oases and nearby towns for supplies
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Various people traveled the desert routes bringing exotic cloth
and fragrant spices from India: ivory, gold, and ebony from
Africa; as well as Arabian horses and camels
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The remains of Petra, a former trading city, can be found in the
northwest corner of the Arabian peninsula and now known for its
beauty
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Travelers began stopping at this center as early as 300 BC
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In the open-air marketplace, or suq, wheat, olive oil, wine, hides, slaves,
precious stones, and spices were traded
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Muslims believe that the founding and settling of
Mecca is related to the story of Abraham and his
son Ishmael
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According to teachings, Abraham and Ishmael
built a cube-shaped shrine called the Ka’bah as a
reminder of Abraham’s firm belief in one God
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A tradition continues of visiting the Ka’bah and
walking around it
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By AD 500, Mecca had become the most
successful trade center in Arabia
THE HOLY CITY OF MECCA
CHAPTER 3
Lesson 2: Muhammad and Islam
THE LIFE OF A PROPHET
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Muhammad was born around AD 570 and was
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orphaned at an early age
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Married a wealthy widow which gave him the freedom to travel each year
to think
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On one of these trips, it is believed he was visited by the angel Gabriel who
messages from God
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In another vision, the angel Gabriel took Mohammad to meet Abraham,
Moses, and Jesus in Jerusalem- from Jerusalem both Muhammad and
Gabriel ascended into heaven where Muhammad spoke to God
These visions confirm that Islam is a monotheistic faith- meaning a belief
in one God- and relay that Muhammad’s role was to be the last
messenger in a long line of prophets sent by God (Allah)
SPREADING THE WORD
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Muhammad first preached to his family and then
eventually to leaders of his tribe
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Meccan leaders became hostile as
Muhammad’s faith became widespread in the
region
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To avoid death, Muhammad and his family and
followers traveled to the oasis city of Medina
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Eventually plotted to have Muhammad killed
This migration is known as the hijrah and marks the
beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar
Muhammad called his new faith Islam
(submission to Allah) and believers in Islam are
called Muslims (those who submit to Allah’s will)
RETURNING TO MECCA
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During his time in Medina, support for Islam grew
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Muhammad was able to put together an army of
more than 10,000 soldiers
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This army marched back to Mecca and the city
surrendered without a battle
Muhammad made many changes in Mecca
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Forgave all those who had opposed Islam
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Removed the idols from the Ka’bah
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Re-dedicated the Ka’bah to the one god
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Appointed the area around the Ka’bah as the first
mosque- Muslim house of worship
THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM
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Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the word of Allah
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Muhammad had his revelations written down by his literate
companions
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After his death, all of Muhammad’s revelations were compiled into
one collection known as the Qur’an
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The Sunna, or words and deeds of Muhammad, were also compiled
after his death
Together, the Qur’an and the Sunna make up the authentic sources of
Islamic beliefs and practices
CHRISTIANITY/JUDAISM VS. ISLAM
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Many prophets and holy people who are important figures in the
Bible are also described in the Qur’an
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Abraham is thought to be the father of Jews
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Abraham is also considered to be the father of Arabs
The Bible is considered by Muslims to be based on God’s
revelations
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However, Muslims consider the Bible to be less correct because it
has suffered loss and change with time
Christians and Jews are respected as “people of the book” and
all their prophets are revered
THE SUNNA
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The Sunna were the guiding rules for Islam and were based on
the way Muhammad lived his own life
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The most basic of these rules were the Five Pillars of Islam
1.
Profession of Faith: Muslims repeat “There is no god but Allah, and
Muhammad is his prophet”
2.
Prayer: Muslims must pray five times a day (include rituals such as
washing before praying, bowing, kneeling while praying and facing
Mecca when praying)
3.
Giving alms/Showing charity to the poor: contribute to public
charities, such as building mosques/schools/hospitals
4.
Fasting during Ramadan (ninth month of the Muslim year): Muslims
must not eat or drink from the break of dawn until the setting of the
sun
5.
Hajj: the pilgrimage to Mecca
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All Muslims who can afford it must take the pilgrimage at least once
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The Sunna also cover rituals involving diet, marriage, divorce,
business contracts, and even the proper way to clean one’s
teeth
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For example, Muslims are forbidden to eat pork, drink alcohol, or to
gamble
MISCONCEPTION ALERT!!!
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The term jihad is often misunderstood
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The term means “to struggle” and is understood as to do one’s best to resist
temptation and overcome evil
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This struggle sometimes calls for action and the Sunna allows for self-defense
and the right to defend against aggression and persecution
AN ISLAMIC WAY OF LIFE
CHAPTER 3
Lesson 3: Early Islam
ISLAM AFTER MUHAMMAD
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When Muhammad died suddenly without naming a
successor, his followers were stunned
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After his death, his most trusted advisers met to choose a
caliph, Islamic successor of Muhammad
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Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s father-in-law, was eventually
chosen
Abu Bakr’s first task was to put down revolts by tribes who
renounced Islam after Muhammad died
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Under his rule, the Arabs became united again
THE NEXT TWO CALIPHS
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Abu Bakr was only caliph for 2 years before he died
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Before his death, he appointed Umar as his successor
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Umar was an energetic leader and encouraged his armies to conquer more
lands
Muslims were extremely tolerant of those they conquered
 Allowed
Christians and Jews to keep their churches and synagogues
and promised them security
Umar
appointed a council to choose the next caliph, Uthman
EARLY POLITICAL DIVISION
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Division occurred over who would succeed Uthman
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Ali had been a loyal companion of Muhammad and
Muawiya was a relative of Uthman
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Followers of Ali became known as Shiites
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only accepted members of Muhammad’s family as his
successors
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Denied the legitimacy of the first three caliphs
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Gave Ali title of Imam, guided successor of Muhammad
Followers of the Sunna, or the example of Muhammad, are
known as Sunni Muslims
 Accept
the election of the first four caliphs
 Emphasize
Muhammad’s teaching that every individual has a direct
relationship with God