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
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