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Islam Muhammad & Islam Born (around) 570 CE in Mecca – one of the most prosperous caravan cities The Kaaba, a large black stone enshrined at Mecca – also an important place of worship and pilgrimage Around 610 CE Muhammad went into a cave on Mt. Hira near Mecca where the Archangel Gabriel proclaimed him as the prophet of God Qur’an – the Islam holy book Contains the words of God as revealed to Muhammad Final version established around 650 CE Contains social and religious maxims Other holy words found in the Hadith – based on recollections of Muhammad’s words and actions Five Pillars of Islam The Shahada (One God) Salat (Prayer, 5 times per day towards Mecca) Zaat (Tithing) Sawm (Fasting during the month of Ramadan) Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) Beliefs & Practices Priests are unnecessary; Muslims communicate with God directly through prayer The Qur’an should not be questioned or changed Salvation comes to those who follow a strict moral code: No eating of pork, no gambling, no drinking, no marriage to nonbelievers Recognized Abraham, Moses and Jesus Christ as prophets – but that Muhammad was the final prophet Muhammad felt the Jews & Christians had strayed from the true faith and it was his task to bring them back to the true word However Jews & Christians failed to convert His faith was rejected by people of Mecca The Hejira 622 – Much opposition to his preaching so Muhammad moved to Medina, 200 miles north of Mecca Became the first year of the Islamic calendar Muhammad’s followers began to attach the caravans on their way to and from Mecca By 624 his army was powerful enough to conquer Mecca and make it the centre of the new religion Muhammad’s successors Muhammad died in 632 – Abu Bakr became the Imam (or Caliph) Abu Bakr then became the spiritual leader, commander of the army, head of the Arab state and supreme judge for the Muslims Muhammad & successive caliphs raided their enemies – The Qur’an called these raids the jihad Division SUNNI Caliph chosen by Muslim leaders SHI’ITE A Caliph must be a descendant of Mohammad SUFI Small sect of Muslim mystics Umayyad Dynasty 661-750 Built many of the centralizing institutions that characterized the caliphate until the 10th century Set up a unified coinage Granted all key positions in governments to Arabs Maintained a tight control over provincial governors and taxes Moved their capital to Damascus By 750 Islam had spread from its homeland in Arabia into Persia, through the Middle East and North Africa & to the Iberian Peninsula Islamic Society Economy based on trade and agriculture Religious toleration – Christian & Jews (Peoples of the Book) were allowed to freely practice their religions – however they had to pay taxes and accept Muslim law Women were excluded from public life Men were allowed to have up to 4 wives as long as he could support them & treat them fairly Islamic Civilization Built some of the greatest cities in the Medieval world Baghdad – over 1 million people (compared to 400,000 in Constantinople) Cordoba – population of over 400,000 Built mosques, baths and libraries 8th & 9th centuries – Islamic civilization entered a golden age Arabic, Byzantine, Persian and Indian cultural traditions were integrated The Muslim created what could be called a “high civilization” Muslim scholars kept ancient Greek learning alive Preserved the heritage of Greek science and philosophy, they added to it by writing commentaries Throughout the Qur’an one can find a strong emphasis on the value of knowledge in the Islamic faith Islamic Contributions Art forms: mosaics, calligraphy, geometric designs Arabic alphabet and language Universities: Cordoba, Baghdad Preserved Greek & Roman learning while blending and improving on Indian discoveries Translated ancient Greek and Roman texts Scientific Contributions Arabic numerals and concept of zero Al Jabr (known today as Algebra) Blended Eastern & Western medical knowledge established hospitals and medical schools Improved ships, made wide use of the compass