Download Islam 2011 - Lyons-Global

Islam and the Islamic Empires
Geography of
Saudi Arabia
Geography of Arabia –
Geographically important
due to position between
Mediterranean and Indian
Ocean. TRADE
Surrounded by Red Sea,
Persian Gulf, and Arabian
Sea.
Harsh arid deserts
encouraged nomadic life
of Bedouins (independent
warriors who often feuded
with each other).
Mecca/Makkah: Center
trading post was also center
of pagan religious worship
due to “black stone”
Pre-Islamic
Arabia
Politics
–
Arabs organized in
nomadic Bedouin
tribes, male dominated
Sheikh -- ruled the
tribe
Economics
–
–
Trade - domestication
of camels (ca. 1200
BCE) – “fleet of the
desert”
Religion
– polytheistic, supreme god
known as Allah, worship
sacred stones – most
sacred at Ka’aba in
Mecca.
– However, pockets of
Christians, Jews, and
Zoroastrians – which
fought one another.
Kaaba – sacred space where all weapons had to be set aside – merchants
gathered here. In corner - the “Black Stone” was regarded as a gift from
the gods – perhaps meteorite – although recent “investigation” suggest
lava or glass? According to Muhammad “The Black stone descended from
heaven, when it was whiter than Milk, but people's sins have blackened it”
Muhammad (570-632)



Belonged to trading clan, orphaned.
Married to Khadija – wealthy widow and
owner of a trade network. (he was
monogamous with her for 25 yrs until
her death – then he married 10 or 12
more times)
610 – went to mountains to reflect
(concerned over his wealth and Bedouin
concept of charity)
– received a message from Gabriel, the
Qur’an – began to preach the
message of Allah.
Muhammad – Originally Not Accepted


622 – after failing to convert those of
Mecca, made a Hegira to Medina where
he hoped to convert the Jewish people
and solve their political problems between
five tribes.
Known as Year One in Islamic calendar.
(2013 = 1435 – based on lunar calendar,
not really used except for religious issues)
Early Islam under Muhammad



Medina – location of first mosque (home of
Muhammad) where studied Christianity and
Judaism - “People of the Book” Preached
toleration of other monotheistic religions.
Series of wars with pagans – although
outnumbered, significant and mysterious victories
for Muhammad.
630 – marched on Mecca w/10,000 men – hajj.
Treated the people of Mecca with tolerance (usual
Bedouin practice was to slaughter everyone)
Hajj –
pilgrimage from
Medina to
Mecca -
Tenets of Faith




Five Pillars
Forced conversion is
prohibited. - Accepts the
prophets of the JudeoChristian tradition; regard
Jesus as messiah and
great prophet but not son
of God.
Everyone is equal in the
eyes of Allah
Prohibitions on gambling,
eating pork and alcoholic
beverages.

Jihad – missionary work
and, if necessary, fighting
to defend faith – those
who die in a jihad are
guaranteed a garden
paradise (unlike desert in
which they live) “When
you meet the unbelievers
in the battlefield strike off
their heads” (Koran,
Chapter 47) -
Writings of Islam


Qur’an (Koran) - Only
revelation of God to the
prophet Muhammad;
Shari’a – prescriptions to
regulate daily life recorded
by Muslim scholars. (used
today in Fundamentalist
countries like Iran)
Five Pillars (Rules):
 Belief in Allah
 prayer (5x day)
 alms giving
 fasting during month of Ramadan
 Pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca
Belief in Allah
• This statement of faith
must be declared
publicly.
• “I bear witness that
there is no God but
Allah and I bear witness
that Muhammad is His
Messenger”
Name of Allah –
images are not allowed
Prayer (5x day)
• Offering of prayers 5 times a day is obligatory
upon every Muslim male and female who is sane
and mature.
• Requirements of prayer: clean body, clothes and
ground used for prayer, dressing properly and
having the intention and facing Mecca.
• Fridays are holy days – go to mosques where
iman lead service.
Mosque (prayer meeting place) of the Prophet Muhammad at
Medina.
Alms Giving
• Obligatory charity giving
is an act of worship and
spiritual investment annual amount in kind or
coin (2.5 %) which a
Muslim with means must
distribute among the
rightful beneficiaries.
• Amount can vary – for
poor – could be gesture of
kindness – a smile.
Fasting
• Fasting is abstaining
completely from eating,
drinking, and smoking
from the break of dawn
till sunset. Obligatory
fasting is done once a
year for the period of the
month of Ramadan; the
ninth month of the
Islamic year.
• Recommended fasting
includes every
Monday and Thursday
of every week.
Pilgrimage
(Hajj)
to Mecca
• It is a pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in
a lifetime and it is obligatory upon every
Muslim male and female who is mentally,
physically and financially fit (and can get a
travel Visa to Saudi Arabia).
It is the largest annual convention of faith on
earth (November 14-18, 2010 – 3.4 million)
• Performing Hajj was a hazardous journey for early pilgrims
– In the seventeenth century a group of Egyptian pilgrims lost over
1,500 people and 900 camels.
– In 1924 around one-fifth of a group of Syrian pilgrims died and two
years later 12,000 are thought to have died during the journey.
– Due to better crowd control only 42 people died in 2010 one.
• Each person walks counter-clockwise seven times around the Kaaba,
the cube-shaped building which acts as the Muslim direction of prayer,
runs back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, drinks
from the Zamzam Well, goes to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in
vigil, and throws stones in a ritual. The pilgrims then shave their heads,
perform a ritual of animal sacrifice, and celebrate the four day global
festival of Eid al-Adha.[3][4][5]
Kaaba
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAeR1U
0z5io
©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.

632 – Muhammad dies; Islam spreads throughout
Arabia; many converted for nationalism, others for
economic benefit – Muslims could not attack the
trade caravans of other Muslims.
Problem of Succession



No clear instruction on succession – he had only
daughters.
Sunnis – followed traditional tribal democracy,
attempting to elect most pious Muslim (90% today
are Sunnis), elected Abu Bakr (632-4) as caliph
(political leader, but also head iman or religious
leader)
Shi’ites believe that succession should fall to
Muhammad’s eldest male relative, Muhammad Ali.
Why Islam
spread
so quickly:
• Message was clear
and simple. No
need for church or
clergy.
• Strong sense of
nationalism among
Arabs.
• Strong leaders –
caliphs
• Militarism – soldiers
willing to die.
•Weakness of neighbors
(Byzantines & Persia). Invaders
brought sense of stability.
•People not forced to convert, but
penalized (taxes) if they don’t.
Major Islamic Empires




Umayyads
Abbasids
Seljuk Turks
Ottoman Turks



©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a
trademark used herein under license.
Political –
Umayyads
After assassination of
Muhammad Ali in 661; his rival, 
begins a hereditary caliphate in
his family Umayyads.
Capital at Damascas instead of
Mecca.

Expands across N. Africa,
conquer Berbers, pastoral
people.
Crossed into Spain and
defeat Visigoths – by 725;
stopped by Charles Martel at
the Battle of Tours from
expanding into France.
750 – revolt led to overthrow
of Umayyads and
establishment of Abbasids.
©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.

Abbasid Dynasty - Moved the capital from Damascus to
Baghdad (Persian for "city of God"). The location was
strategic since it could take advantage of the river traffic to the
Persian Gulf and the caravans from the Mediterranean and
central Asia.
Muslim Spain – the Moors



many of the Umayyad leaders were
executed.
By the middle of the tenth century,
Muslim Spain disintegrated into
the smaller states under the
control of various families.
By 12th century, Christians
regaining territory.
Seljuk
Turks



The Seljuk Turks, originating in the steppes of
Turkistan, served as mercenaries for the Abbasids,
but then took them over.
In 1071 defeated the Byzantines in eastern
Anatolia (modern Turkey). This action would lead
to the crusades.
By the middle of the thirteenth century the power
of the Seljuk Sultan was broken by the Mongols
who were conquering Persia and Iraq.
The Crusades - Byzantine
emperor Alexius I, 1096
Saladin (1174-1193)
The Mongols
Destroy populations and
economy
Elites converted to Islam
By 14th c. began to split into
separate kingdoms
Islamic Empire - Economics



Trade (spices,
luxury items,
slaves)
Banking
Economic
Upheavals due to
overtaxing
Islamic Empire – Social/Gender






Women subjected to
increasing patriarchal control.
To be treated with respect
Had right to inherit property
Polygamy permitted
Right of divorce restricted to
the husband
Covering all parts of the body
common in urban areas (more
Arab tradition than Koranic
law)
Major Contributions
• Preserved and spread Greek & Roman culture.
• Developed algebra
• Medicine – wrote books, discovered how eye
worked, created hospitals w/quarantine for sick
• Travel - developed the earliest astrolabe (device to
study the stars)
• Perfected waterwheels
• Learned how to make paper (from Chinese)
Islamic Empires – Art

Islamic Art and Architecture
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Dome of the Rock, built 691
Mosques
Palaces
Woolen rugs
No representation of the Prophet Muhammad
Lots of nature motifs (heaven was a garden)
Influence of East Asia on painting
Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, below Dome of the Rock