Download The Muslim World

The Muslim World
Chapter 11
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Islam emerged in the
Arabian Peninsula.
The Arabian Peninsula
is mostly desert, but
farming is possible
through irrigation or
in scattered oases.
Nomadic herders,
called Bedouins, used
camels to cross the
scorching heat in
search of seasonal
pasturelands.
Bedouins traded with
other Arabs who had
settled in oasis
towns. One of these
towns was Mecca.
Mecca
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bustling market town
at the crossroads of
two main caravan
routes
thriving pilgrimage
center – Arabs came
to pray at the Kaaba
Muhammad
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Born in Mecca
In his youth, he worked as a shepherd
among the Bedouins.
Later, he led caravans and became a
successful merchant
At age 25, he married Khadija, a wealthy
widow who ran a prosperous caravan
business.
Troubled by idol worship and moral ills of
society
Messenger of God
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At age 40, Muhammad went to a cave to
meditate.
He received a message from the angel
Gabriel that he was to become the
messenger of God.
Muhammad was frightened but Khadija
encouraged him to accept his call.
She became the first convert to Islam,
which is Arabic for “submission.”
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Muhammad’s rejection of
traditional Arab gods
angered Meccan
merchants.
Muhammad and his
followers moved to
Yathrib, a journey known
as the hijra.
In Yathrib (now called
Medina or “city of the
prophet”) Muhammad
was welcomed and
thousands of Arabs
converted to Islam.
After eight years,
Muhammad returned to
Mecca and destroyed the
idols in the Kaaba.
He worked to unite Arabs
under Islam until his death
two years later.
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Islam is both a religion and a way of life.
Over time, Muslim scholars developed an
immense body of law, called the Sharia,
interpreting the Quran and applying it to daily
life.
The Sharia does not separate religious matters
from criminal or civil law.
Five Pillars of Islam
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Declaration of Faith
Daily Prayer
Charity to the Poor
Fasting during
Ramadan
Hajj (pilgrimage to
Mecca)
Islam After Muhammad
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Under the first four caliphs, Arab armies
marched from victory to victory.
Muslim leaders were tolerant of the different
beliefs under their rule.
Movements within Islam
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Sunni
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Caliph should be chosen by Muslim leaders.
90% of Muslims today
Shiites
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Caliph should be descendent of Muhammad.
Today most are in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, & Yemen.
Umayyads
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Capital at Damascus
Carried Islam from Atlantic to Indus Valley
Only about 10% of conquered peoples
converted to Islam.
Vast wealth from conquests
When conquests slowed economic
tensions increased.
Umayyad Empire at its Peak
After the fall of the Umayyad dynasty, one
member escaped to Spain to found a
Umayyad principality there.
Abbasids
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Abu al-Abbas captured Damascus and began
Abbasid dynasty
Moved capital to Baghdad which will become a
center of learning and arts
Many non-Arabs converted to Islam, and social
discrimination against non-Arab Muslims
gradually faded.
Baghdad reached its peak under the reign of
caliph Harun al-Rashid.
After collapse of Abbasid dynasty, the Islamic
empire will splinter into fragments led by
different families.
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Muslim women fared better legally under
Islamic law than did Christian and Jewish
women under their religious codes.
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Daughters inherited half of what sons did.
Inheritance remained their private property.
Women could remarry after divorce and could
initiate divorce under certain conditions.
Women could practice birth control.
Women could testify in court although their
testimony counted as half that of a man.
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Islam allowed slavery but forbade Muslims from
enslaving other Muslims or so-called People of
the Book – Jews, Christians, and Zorastrians.
Conversion did not require extensive knowledge
of the faith. To become a Muslim, a person
simply stated the declaration of faith in the
presence of a Muslim.
In many areas, converts migrated to an Arab
governing center. This led to rapid growth of
Muslim cities and helped reinforce the urban
orientation of Islam.