Muslim Call to Prayer (adhaan)

God is Great God is Great

I bear witness that there is no God than except Allah (x2)

Make haste towards prayer

Make haste toward welfare

Prayer is better than sleep

God is great

God is great

There is no God except God

Objectives: Origins of Islam

Examine how geography and trade helped shape pre-Islamic society.

Explore who Muhammad was and his revelation.

Investigate the basic teachings of Islam.

Examine how Muhammad’s death led to question of succession.

Main Idea Muhammad, a merchant whom Muslims believe was the last prophet, reported that he received messages from God. The religion he taught—Islam—drew many followers.

The Origins of Islam

'In the name of God, Most Merciful, Most Gracious'

Arabia was sparsely populated 1,500 years ago. Small bands of bedouins moved their herds between scattered oases in the desert.

• Farming limited in Arabia• Commerce lively

– Trade routes converged at Arabian Peninsula

– Ideas as well as merchandise exchanged

– Trade-dependent towns rose near coasts

• Mecca and Medina, near Red Sea, most important of coastal towns

The Setting• The Kaaba, cube-shaped structure, at

heart of Mecca• 500s, already ancient, considered

sacred• Possible meteorite built into one

wall, “relic from heaven” • Idols of local gods inside • Site drew religious pilgrims• One god considered supreme: Allah

Religious Function

The Arabian Peninsula

• Had always been religious man, but faiths of others probably also influenced Muhammad’s thinking

• Took frequent spiritual retreats

• Angel appeared to him during retreat, commanded him to speak messages from Allah

• Muhammad disturbed by visitation, unsure of meaning

• After more visits from angel, Muhammad concluded God had chosen him to be prophet

Muhammad’s Faith• Muhammad ibn Abd Allah born 570

• Parents died, Muhammad raised by uncle, powerful clan leader

• Grew up to have successful career in Mecca as merchant

• Married to older woman at age 25, fathered seven children, all but one of whom died young

• Met followers of Judaism, Christianity while traveling on business

Early LifeMuhammad the Messenger

Messages• Among many messages from angel, Muhammad reported Allah one and only true

and all-powerful God• Other messages, instructions on how to live to please Allah, live in paradise

Safety• Many disliked Muhammad’s criticism of traditional beliefs in many gods• Only protection of uncle kept him safe • After uncle’s death Muhammad knew he and followers not safe in Mecca

Public Preaching• Muhammad originally told only wife, few friends about experiences• Began to preach in public after about three years, attracted many followers• Some powerful Meccans did not accept teachings

The Revelations

Hegira• 622, Muhammad moved to Medina or “the Prophet’s City”; journey from Mecca to

Medina came to be known as hegira• Later Muslims marked year of hegira as first year of Islamic calendar

Mecca• People of Mecca who wanted Muhammad stopped did not give up• Fought several battles with Muhammad, followers, ultimately lost ground• 630, Muhammad controlled Mecca, influence unmatched

Building Faith• Muhammad spent decade building community of fellow believers• Called faith Islam, meaning “achieving peace through submission to God”• Followers known as Muslims

Sharing the Revelations

• As Muhammad gained political power, revelations continued• Muhammad could not read, write; recited revelations• Followers memorized words, some wrote them down• Writings Muslims believe as direct revelations from God collected in Qur’an, sacred

text of Islam

• Muslims read from Qur’an to hear Allah’s teachings

• Seek religious experience in rhythm, beauty of words

• Full meaning known only in original Arabic language

• Translations not true representation

Qur’an• Five basic acts of worship central to

Islam, Five Pillars of Islam• Profession of faith• Performance of five daily prayers• Giving of alms to poor, needy• Fasting during month of Ramadan• Make pilgrimage to Mecca

Five Pillars of Islam

Guidelines for Behavior• Qur’an provides guidelines for moral behavior• Muslims may not eat pork, drink alcohol, must wash before praying• Qur’an prohibits murder, lying, stealing• Requires jihad, to defend Muslim community, also means “holy war”

Profession of Faith• “There is no god but God…” • By affirmation, Muslim signals

acceptance of the faith• Denies existence of other gods,

accepts Muhammad as prophet

Giving Alms to Poor, Needy• Muslims supposed to give percentage

of income to charity• Even those with little encouraged to

help others

Five Daily Prayers• Worshippers say daily prayers five

times during day• Always face Mecca to pray, no matter

where they are

Fasting During Ramadan• Muslims required to go without food,

drink, dawn to dusk • Ramadan when Muhammad began to

report messages written down in Qur’an

Five Pillars of Islam

Mecca

Pilgrimage to Mecca • Muslims physically, financially able required to go to Mecca

• Journey called the hajj– Gather to pray in mosque

– Perform various rituals, walk seven times around Kaaba

– Climb Mount Arafat, site of Muhammad’s last sermon

• Hajj season - October 13-18, 2013

People of the Book

• Islam monotheistic like Jewish, Christian faiths

• Islamic beliefs:– Allah the same as God in Jewish, Christian traditions

– Abraham, Moses, Jesus messengers from God

– Muhammad, last of God’s prophets

– Qur’an represents God’s final message

– Muslims told to respect Jews, Christians as “people of the book;” share tradition of prophets who taught, received God’s revelations

Sunna and Sharia• Record of Muhammad’s behavior, teachings known as Sunna, “tradition,” provides

guidance in personal relationships, business• Muslim legal system known as Sharia, reflects various rules by which Muslims

should live, outlines method of reasoning, argument for legal cases, made up of opinions, writings over several centuries

The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community. Who would lead the group and keep it unified? The answer affected the faith’s spread and its future.

• Muhammad had not named successor

• No clear candidate• Abu Bakr, close

companion, early convert, chosen leader, called caliph, “successor”

Muhammad’s Successors

• Abu Bakr focused on bringing back bedouin tribes

• Built strong Arab fighting forces to keep tribes under control

• Reunified Arabia, led forces north

Priorities

• Abu Bakr, successor Umar, expanded Muslim rule rapidly

• 637 early victory against Persian forces in Iraq

• 642 victory over Persian Empire complete

Expansion of Territory

Islam after Muhammad’s Death

More Expansion• After Iraq, Persia, Arab army faced wealthy Byzantine Empire to west• Byantines first lost Damascus, Syria, Jerusalem• 639, Byzantine province of Egypt fell; 642, rest of Nile Valley under Arab rule

Internal Conflict and Division• Deep conflict within Muslim leadership, began with choice of Abu Bakr, caliph• Some had supported Muhammad’s cousin, Ali• 644, Ali lost again, to Uthman, supported by powerful Mecca clan Umayyad

Empire • Only 10 years after Muhammad’s death, followers had created empire• Conquests continued under later caliphs• 661, caliphate stretched from northern Africa in west to Persia in East

More Expansion

• Most Muslims accepted Umayyad caliph, Mu’awiya

• Called Sunnis, “followers of the Sunna,” or “way of the Prophet”

• Ali’s supporters refused to go along with Umayyads.

• Became known as the Shia, “party of Ali”

Sunnis and Shias

• Umayyads had been Muhammad’s enemies, converted reluctantly, were unpopular

• Uthman killed by rebels

• Ali became caliph, but troubles had just begun

• Civil war broke out between Ali’s forces, Umayyad; Ali killed, Umayyad retook control

Ali’s Troubles

Civil War

The Shia and Sufis

Shia believed God had specially blessed Ali’s descendants

• Ali’s descendants, Muhammad’s true heirs • Shia called each of Ali’s successors imam

– Imam means “leader”

– For the shia, only imams can interpret the Qur’an.

Sufis• Husayn killed while holding infant son, battle became known as the martyrdom of

Husayn; split between Sunni, Shia has remained bitter• Third group developed within Islam—the Sufis• Sufis seek mystical, personal connection with God, using range of practices including

breath control and meditation in rituals

Points of Comparison Judaism Christianity Islam

Founded

Monotheistic or Polytheistic

Name of all Powerful Deity

Patriarch

Founder

Sacred Writings

Holy Cities

Rites of Worship or Beliefs

Moral Code

Teachings about after life