SPREAD OF ISLAM

SPREAD OF ISLAM- EARLY LIFE OF THE PROPHET

AD 570- Mohammed is born in Mecca Mecca- on west coast of Arabia, trading and pilgrimage town, Ka’aba

(cube) AD 595- Mohammed marries Kadijah, a wealthy business woman, after

working for her AD 610- Mohammed becomes interested in religion- meditates in cave-

has visions of Archangel Gabriel telling him he would be a messenger of God- begins to preach monotheism in Mecca

SPREAD OF ISLAM

Mohammed and followers are persecuted in Mecca- many followers killed

AD 622- Hegira- “flight” or “migration” from Mecca to Medina with followers

After Hegira, religion comes to be called Islam, “to surrender to God” and followers Muslim, “the surrendering ones”

SPREAD OF ISLAM

Mohammed begins to lead raids against Meccan caravans

His victories begin to attract many Bedouin followers

Within 10 years, most Bedouins are Muslim

AD 630- Mohammed and an army of 10,000 followers take Mecca

Mohammed destroys all idols in the Ka’aba except for the Black Stone

Most of Arabian Peninsula is Muslim by this point

SPREAD OF ISLAM- BY AD 732, MUSLIMS CONTROL:

Iberian Peninsula North Africa (Carthaginians &

Berbers) Egypt Palestine

Mesopotamia Lands of the Persian Empire Arabia

REASONS FOR CONQUEST

Passion in Faith (Jihad) Arabia overpopulated Resistance weak (Byzantium &

Persia at war)

RESULTS OF CONQUEST

Two classes based on Arab ethnicity for Muslims

Lower classes of other religions with greater tolerance of Jews and Christians (People of the Book) in the early years

Became less of an Empire of Believers and more like past empires (political and financial goals)

SPREAD OF ISLAM BEYOND ARABIA

Caliphs- successors to the prophet

Orthodox Caliphate Umayyad Caliphate Abbasid Caliphate

1ST FOUR CALIPHS (ORTHODOX CALIPHATE)

AD 632-661 Four Caliphs-

all knew the prophet personally or were related to him

Islam’s wars of conquest launched under these Caliphs

1ST FOUR CALIPHS (ORTHODOX CALIPHATE)

Abu Bakr- 1st Caliph, ordered writing of the Koran

Omar- Conquered Syria, Egypt, most of Persia- stabbed to death by a Christian slave

Uthman- killed by rebel muslims Ali- assassinated

UMAYYAD CALIPHATE

AD 661-750 Umayyads killed the

Prophet’s grandson, Husayn, during their rise to power

Fleets attack Constantinople- held off by Greek Fire

Conquered Berbers of north Africa

Berbers help to invade Spain in AD 711

Spain conquered in 7 years (AD 718)

Conquered to the Indus River in the east

Rebellion kills all but one of the Umayyads, who escapes to Spain

ABBASID CALIPHATE

AD 750-1055 Came to power

through rebellion against Umayyads

Leader of revolt descended from Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle

Emphasized link to the Prophet

Supported by Persians

Beginning of Sunni- Shi’a split

SHI’ITE- SUNNI

Shi’ite- Early support of Abbasids, believed Husayn had been rightful heir and that descendants of the Prophet should lead Islam

Sunni- “orthodox” – hostility with Shi’ites

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Faith- Shahadah Prayer- Salah- 5

times a day facing Mecca

Fasting- Sawm- during Ramadam

Alms- Zakah Pilgrimage- Hajj-

to Mecca once in life

SIX ARTICLES OF FAITH

Belief in God Belief in His Angels Belief in His Books- Scrolls, Torah,

Psalms, Gospels (Injeel), Koran Belief in His Prophets/Messengers Belief in the Day of Judgement Belief in God’s Divine Decree