ISLAM - “to submit”

“There is no god but Allah: Muhammad is the prophet of Allah”

Call to prayer

Muhammad “The Prophet” born @ 570 CE in Mecca raised by an Uncle

– Quraish clan

Hermit: spent time in solitude– prayed in mtn caves– Angel Gabriel appeared to him

“RECITE” became QURAN

– 1st convert to Islam– Muhammad’s 1st wife– merchant

HEJIRA 622 CE first year of Muslim Calendar migration of Mu. & Muslims fm

Mecca to Medina Yathrib changed to Medina (City

o/t Prophet)– 2nd holiest site in Islam

630 CE: war w/ Meccans– captures Mecca

dedicates KA’ABA to Allah smashes all idols holiest site in Islam

FIVE PILLARS of ISLAM Proclamation of Faith Prayer five times a day

– facing Mecca

Alms (charity) to the poor & aged Fasting during Ramadan

– Gabriel spoke to Mu– month of Hejira– no food/water btwn sunrise &

sunset

Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca ONCE in a lifetime

KA’ABA

The QURAN Muslim holy book

– sits at the right hand of Allah

exact word of Allah as revealed to Mu. by Angel Gabriel

– God becomes the Word

authority on religion, politics, law, economics & social life

forbidden to translate from Arabic

link btwn all Muslims

Quranic teachings “people of the book”

– Jews & Christians– treat w/ tolerance

be merciful & compassionate repeat 1st Pillar three times in front of

male Muslim to become a Muslim “I divorce you” x3 Paradise or Hell (Judgment Day) Hadith: traditional sayings o/t prophet Inshallah (the will of God)

– Belief in predestination– God controls all that happens

Golden Age of Islam (1st four Caliphs: successors to the Prophet)

Abu-Bakr (632-634 CE) Mu’s father-in-law united all Arab tribes

Umar (634-644)– Syria/Egypt from Bz. Emp.– captured Baghdad & Jerusalem– most of Persia conquered– murdered by Persian slave

Uthman (644-656)– captured Egypt & N. Africa– assassinated by fellow Muslims

Ali (656-661)– Mu’s son-in-law (hus. of Fatima)– assassinated by own people

EXPANSION OF ISLAM Arab armies united by

their belief in Islam Muslim warriors who

died in combat won a place in paradise

– Jihad

lure of riches (booty) tolerant conquerors

– special non-believers tax

Commerce spread

Islamic Sects (divisions) Sunni Muslims (80-90%)

– any devout male Muslim can be Caliph

– high moral character– Majority

Shi’ites (Shiah) (10-20%)– only descendents of Ali can be Caliph– only Imams can guide Muslims to

salvation– minority (except Iran)

Sufism: mystical Islam

Islamic Art

Mosques

What is a minaret?

What is a muezzin?

Islamic Customs and Laws Follow strict dietary laws-

– HALAL - name of Allah must be mentioned while animal is slaughtered –

Can’t drink alcohol No gambling Can’t kill animals for sport

Women in Islam Men & women are spiritual

equals Hijab shows Muslim

identity– recognize intelligence, not

sexuality– seen as feminine

Hadith: “seeking knowledge is mandatory for all Muslims”

The Islamic (Arab) Empires

Umayyad Dynasty (661-750 CE)– Damascus is capital– emphasized Arab culture

Arabic main language Gradually gov’t jobs went to Arabs

Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 CE)– Baghdad (God given) is capital– more than 1 million ppl– Muslim more important than being

Arab– built libraries, hospitals, irrigation,

mosques, schools

Shari’a-Islamic Law

Evolved over time-all Muslims held same values Traditions of Prophet (sunna) as revealed in

reports (hadith) about Muh. words or deeds Strict punishments for crimes- In some strongly

Muslim countries there’s little difference between religious laws and country laws.

Ex: Death Penalty for murder