Download Mohammad

The Rise & Spread of
Islam
Leaning Goal 2: Describe the historical
origins, central ideas, and early spread
of Islam. (TEKS/SEs 23A, 23B)
Islam Briefly
• Islam is the second most popular religion in
the world with over a billion followers. Islam
began in Arabia and was revealed to
humanity by the Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him).
– Prophet – One who foretells future events.
•
Those who follow Islam are called Muslims.
Muslims believe that there is only one God,
called Allah, who speaks Arabic.
• Islam means “to submit”.
• Muslim means “one who submits”.
Mohammad praying at the Ka’bah
Notes
•2nd biggest religion – over 1 bill.
•Monotheism
•Started in Arabia w/ Mohammad
The Historical Origins of Islam
•Before Islam
•Arabian Peninsula is populated with
Polytheistic Bedouin tribes
•Mecca is the center of trade in the region
•Shrine (Kaaba) in the middle of Mecca
where tribes place idols to the various gods
•Mohammad (c570-632)
•Born on the Arabian Peninsula in present day
Saudi Arabia
•Successful merchant/trader
•610-While meditating in a cave he received a
revelation from God to spread monotheism to
the Arabian tribes
Notes
•b/4 Islam –
polytheism
•Mecca – center of
trade
•Kaaba – shrine in
Mecca
•Mohammad –
•Successful
trader
•Receives
message to
spread
monotheism
•Mohammad starts spreading the message of Islam
•Gains a small following of family & friends
•They are the first Muslims
•The Muslims are met with hostility by the Mecca elite & the
merchant class Why were they hostile to the Muslims?
•They felt that Mohammad threatened their power
•They feared that his message of monotheism would discourage
travel to Mecca by polytheists
•They felt that this would be bad for business
•Mohammad & his followers are kicked out of Mecca in 622 CE
•Hijrah – 622 AD; the beginning of the Islamic
calendar
•Mohammad & followers fled from Mecca to
Medina and established the first Muslim
community
Notes
•Over the next several years the religious leader
•Hijrah 622 AD
Mohammad also became a political & military
•Muslims flee
leader
from Mecca to
Medina
•Muslim community grew from 313 to 10,000
•Start Muslim
calendar
•630 AD – Mecca is conquered
•Mohammad –
•Mohammad returned to Mecca with his army religious, political, &
of followers
military leader
•630 AD – Muslims
•Muslims took control of the city
•Mohammad made the Kaaba a sacred shrine conquer Mecca
•Kaaba – sacred
for Muslims
shrine for Muslims
Notes
•632 AD – Mohammad died
•Crisis of legitimacy – Sunni Shi’a
split
•Umayyad Caliphate begins–Sunni
Turn & Talk : What effect do you think •Caliphs – relig. & political leader
•Tolerant of Jews & Christians
•Mohammad died in 632 AD
•He died without a son
•He had not named a successor
this had on the Muslim community?
•Power vacuum and crisis of legitimacy
•Who was the rightful ruler of the Muslims?
•Leads to the Sunni Shi’a split
•Shi’a want Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammad
•Sunni support a man from the Umayyad family
•Umayyad family gains political control & the Umayyad ruler
became the caliph (leader)
•The Caliphate•Caliphs viewed as both religious & political leaders
•Islam is the unifying force amongst Arab tribes
•Muslims tolerant of Jews & Christians (People of the Book )
Central Ideas of Islam
• Monotheism
• Mohammad is the “Seal of the Prophets”
• He’s the last one of the monotheistic prophets
• Adam ->Noah -> Abraham -> Moses -> Jesus -> Mohammad
• Mohammad is not divine, he’s just the final prophet
• Five Pillars of Faith - Core practices of Muslims
Notes
•
•
•
•
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Declaration of faith
Prayer – 5 times a day
Charity
Fasting during holy month of Ramadan
Pilgrimage to Mecca
• Qu’ran is the holy text
• Salvation & equality of all believers
•Monotheism
•Mohammad – final prophet
•5 Pillars
•Declare faith
•Prayer x 5
•Charity
•Fasting
•Pilgrimage
•Qu’ran
•Mecca – Holy city - Kaaba
•Salvation & equality
The Five Pillars of Islam
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•
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Shahadah: Declaration of Faith
“Lā ilāha illā Allāh. Muhammad rasūl Allāh.” “There is no god but God. Muhammad is the
messenger of God.” By openly reciting this, one enters Islamic faith.
Salah: Prayer
Muslims are required to pray five times a day, washing themselves before prayer and facing
in the direction of Mecca while praying.
Zakat: Charity
Muslims are required to give away a percentage of their earnings to those less fortunate,
regardless of their religion.
Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan
Muslims fast for one lunar month each year, a period called Ramadan. During this time,
Muslims reflect on their behavior and strive to purify their thoughts.
Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca
If it is financially possible, Muslims are required to travel to Mecca once in their lifetime.
The Kaaba
The Hajj
• Hijjah:
The month of pilgrimage during which all
Muslims, at least once in their life, should try
to make the pilgrimage, called the Hajj, to
Mecca and worship at the Kaaba.
• Pilgrimage – Journey to a shrine or holy
place.
Notes
•Hajj – pilgrimage to holy
– Hajj
city of Mecca
•Worship at the Kaaba
The Mosque of the Prophet in
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
The Qu’ran
• The Muslim scripture is the Holy
Qur'an.
• It is considered the unaltered 'word
of God'.
• Every word & every letter is
sacred
• Muslim beliefs and practices are
rooted in the Qur'an.
• It is read from right to left and
written in Arabic, the language of
heaven.
Notes
•Qu’ran – Muslim holy text
•Basis of Muslim beliefs &
practices
•Written in Arabic
The Qur’an
The Mosque Minaret
• Mosque
• The Muslim building for communal
worship
• from the Arabic for "place of
prostration".
• Worshippers are called to prayer 5 times
a day from minarets – towers on the
mosque corners.
• Mosques contain only designs, no
people or animals or furniture.
• Normal day of worship is Friday.
Notes
•Mosque – Muslim place of worship
•Go to Mosque on Friday
•Minarets – towers for call to prayer
Alabaster Mosque in Cairo,
Egypt
Interior of the Mosque
Spread of Islam
• By the 8th century the Muslim Empire & the religion of Islam spread
through conquest , trade, & missionaries
• By Conquest:
• East to India
• West to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain)
• By Trade:
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• East Africa
• By Sufi missionaries:
• Through India
• Southeast Asia
Notes
•Islam rapidly spreads
•Spain, North Africa, India
•Spread by conquest, trade,
and missionaries