Post on 14-Dec-2015
Pre-Islam• Mecca was trade center• people traveled on pilgrimages to Mecca to
visit the Kaaba– contained statues of over 360 deities; they brought
wealth
Bedouin Tribes
The Life of Muhammad—570-632
• Born in Mecca; married his boss at age 25 (she was wealthy)
• 610 C.E.—The Night of Power—he experienced a revelation (vision)– His teachings: only one God that all must worship
• Most Meccans persecuted him (afraid would lose $)– Muhammad fled to Medina
• Muslims eventually returned and defeated the Meccans and won support– Muslims entered Mecca—destroyed idols in the Kaaba—turned
it into a sanctuary believed to be built by Abraham• Muhammad was the last and greatest of the prophets
Mecca pre-Islam
Connection Between Islam and Judaism
Abraham
Sarah Hagar
Isaac Ishmael
Jews/Hebrews Islam/Arabs
Muhammad
Beliefs of Islam:• Quran (Koran) = holy book• Mecca = most holy city/Medina = 2nd most
holy/Jerusalem = 3rd most holy• Mosque = place of worship
– No symbols of God or pictures of living things inside (to help focus on God)
Ka’aba
Black Stone—originally white, but turned black by
absorbing the sins of those who touch and kiss it
A white stone given to Adam
Quran
The Grand Mosque in Bur Dubai, Iran
Dome of the Rock
Dome of the Rock and Wailing Wall
Beliefs about Christianity• Jesus was a prophet of God, not God incarnate• He did not marry and have children
– He was not crucified; God would not have one of His prophets killed
• Islam is a continuation of Judaism and Christianity (“people of the book”)
Prayer
Five Pillars of Islam1. “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is
his prophet”2. Pray 5 times a day (facing Mecca)3. Charity or alms4. Fasting during month of Ramadan5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)
A group of Muslims break their daily Ramadan
fast with an Iftar meal in Riyadh on Nov. 11.
Hajj—circling the Ka’bah
The Spread of Islam• After Muhammad died, a caliph—successor—was
designated (he left no clear instructions on how to chose one) to spread Islamic message
• Two sects of Islam were created because of disputes about caliphs:– Shi’a (Shi’ite or Shi’i) = acknowledge Ali and his descendants as
rightful successors to Muhammad as caliph; had to be a relative of Muhammad (minority)
– Sunni = acknowledge the 1st 4 caliphs as rightful successors (majority)
Islamic Empires• 1st 4 caliphs had strong militaries that
conquered regions around them• 750 C.E. Muslim Empire was from Atlantic
Ocean to Indus River (6,000 miles) [even into Spain]– Conquered people were allowed to have their own
religions, but they were restricted and heavy taxes were imposed (Quran forbid forced conversions)
Advancements• House of Wisdom in Baghdad—library,
academy, and translation center• Math: corrections to Greek algebraic and
geometric theories– advances in trigonometry– Algebra – Arabic numerals (originally from India)
Advancements• Astronomy: sophisticated
instruments developed, remapped constellations (used by later civilizations)
– to know exact location of Mecca)
• Chemistry: calculated specific weights of different minerals
Other Advancements• Medicine: formal
examinations and regular courses of study for doctors– advances in optics – some of world’s best
hospitals
Other Advancements• Trade: papermaking,
silk-weaving• Geography: some of
the world’s best maps