Lesson

3MAIN IDEAS

Belief Systems The leaders following Muhammad continued to spread the Prophet’s message.

Culture The caliphs who expanded the Muslim Empire showed tolerance to those they conquered.

Government The issue of how to choose leaders divided the Muslim community.

TAKING NOTES

Reading Skill:Explaining Chronological Order and SequencePlacing events in sequence means putting them in order based on the time they happened. As you read about Islam under the early rulers, record major events on a time line, like the one shown below.

A.D. 632 A.D. 661

▲ Mosque Lamp Glass oil lamps were used to light mosques. They hung from the ceiling and were elaborately decorated with enamel.

Skillbuilder Handbook, page R15

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7.2.2 Trace the origins of Islam and the life and teachings of Muhammad, including Islamic teachings on the connection with Judaism and Christianity.

7.2.4 Discuss the expansion of Muslim rule through military conquests and treaties, emphasizing the cultural blending within Muslim civilization and the spread and acceptance of Islam and the Arabic language.

HI 2 Students understand and distinguish cause, effect, sequence, and correlation in historical events, including the long- and short-term causal relations.

Islam After Muhammad’s DeathBuild on What You Know Muhammad’s death in 632 brought a crisis. How would Islam survive without the leadership of the Prophet?

New Muslim Leaders Emerge ESSENTIAL QUESTION Who were the leaders who spread Islam after Muhammad’s death?

For more than 20 years, Muhammad had spread the word of Allah across the Arabian peninsula. He had begun to establish a Muslim Empire. In particular, Arab nomads had responded to his message. Islam brought order, justice, and hope of heaven into their lives. Then, in June 632, Muhammad died. Muslims were suddenly without a leader.

After Muhammad’s Death Muhammad had not named a successor or instructed his followers how to choose one upon his death. Panic swept through the Muslim community. Muhammad’s father-in-law and trusted friend, Abu Bakr (AH•boo BAH•kuhr), spoke to reassure Muslims. He said, “If there are any among you who worshiped Muhammad, he is dead. But if it is God you worship, he lives forever.”

Abu Bakr was a man respected for his devotion to Muhammad and to Islam. The Muslim community elected him as Muhammad’s successor.

TERMS & NAMES

caliph

Shi’a

Sunni

Muhammad’s Successors Muslims declared their allegiance to one of Muhammad’s successors. ▼

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Abu Bakr (c. 573–634)

Abu Bakr was Muhammad’s closest companion and adviser. Like Muhammad, Abu Bakr was from a Mecca clan that was important in the caravan trade. He was one of the first Meccans to convert to Islam. His daughter ‘A’ishah became Muhammad’s wife. Abu Bakr’s loyalty to the Prophet was an important factor to

the Muslims

who elected him as Muhammad’s successor.

Abu Bakr Succeeds Muhammed In 632, Abu Bakr became the first caliph (KAY•lihf), a title that means “successor.” He promised Muslims that he would closely follow Muhammad’s example. Shortly after the Prophet’s death, some clans on the Arabian peninsula abandoned Islam. Others refused to pay taxes, and a few individuals even declared themselves prophets. During his two-year reign, Abu Bakr used military force to reunite the Muslim community. He brought central Arabia under Muslim control and started the conquests of lands to the north that are now Iraq and Syria.

What difficulties did Muslims face after Muhammad’s death?

“Rightly Guided” Caliphs ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did the caliphs who expanded the Muslim Empire treat those they conquered?

Abu Bakr and the next three elected caliphs—Umar, Uthman, and Ali—had known Muhammad and supported his mission to spread Islam. They used the Qur’an and Muhammad’s actions to guide them. For this, they are known as “rightly guided” caliphs. Their rule was called a caliphate.

Caliphs Expand the Muslim Empire Muslims controlled most of Arabia when Abu Bakr died in 634. The second elected caliph, Umar, ruled until 644. His swift and highly disciplined armies conquered Syria and lower Egypt, which were part of the Byzantine Empire. Muslim armies also took territory from the Persian Empire.

The next two caliphs continued to expand Muslim territory and completed the conquest of Persia. By 661, Muhammad’s successors had increased the size of the Muslim Empire nearly four times,

Abu Bakr’s name written in Arabic

▲

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either through conquest or by treaty. The empire then included all of Southwest Asia and stretched into North Africa.

Reasons for Success Muslims saw the military victories as signs of Allah’s support. They were energized by their faith and were willing to fight to spread Islam. In battle, Muslim armies proved to be disciplined, and their leaders were highly skilled.

The Muslims’ success also resulted from weaknesses in the two empires north of Arabia. The Byzantine and Persian empires had been fighting each other for a long time. Their armies were exhausted.

Another reason for the success was the Byzantine and Persian policy of persecuting people who did not support their conquerors’ religions. For this reason, persecuted people often welcomed Muslim invaders as liberators. Muslims let conquered peoples keep their own religions if they wished to do so. The Qur’an did not allow Muslims to force conversions.

Muslims Rule There was much blending of cultures under Muslim rule. Over time, many peoples in Muslim-ruled territories converted to Islam. They were attracted by Islam’s message of equality and hope for salvation. There was also an economic benefit—Muslims did not have to pay certain taxes.

Jews and Christians, as “people of the book,” received special treatment. They paid a poll tax each year in exchange for not having to perform military duties. Jews and Christians also held important roles in the Muslim state as officials and scholars. However, they were not allowed to convert others.

Why were the caliphs tolerant of the people they conquered?

▲ Muslim Army Highly skilled Muslim troops on camels conquered much territory in the name of Allah.

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DOCUMENT–BASED QUESTIONWhat does this verse from the Qur’an tell us about the beliefs Muslims had about Jews and Christians at this time?

A Split in Islam ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did the issue of choosing leaders divide the Muslims?

Muslims found it difficult to keep a unified rule even though they were successful on the battlefield.

Umayyads Seize Power In 656, a group of rebels opposed the leadership of Uthman (uth•MAHN) and murdered him. His murder started a civil war. Various groups struggled for power. Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, Ali, was a logical choice as the next caliph. But his leadership, too, was challenged. In 661, Ali was assassinated. The system of electing a caliph died with him.

A family known as the Umayyads (oo•MY•adz) took power and set up a hereditary dynasty. This meant that rulers would come from one family and inherit the right to rule. The Umayyads also moved the Muslim capital from Medina to Damascus, a distant city in newly conquered Syria. Arab Muslims felt Damascus was too far away. Some also were upset because the Umayyads abandoned the simple life of earlier caliphs and surrounded themselves with luxury. These actions divided Muslims and raised questions about how to choose leaders.

Muslim Community Splits Because they wanted peace, most Muslims accepted the Umayyads’ rule. But a minority resisted. They believed that the caliph should always be a relative of the Prophet.

from the Qur’anVolume I, 2:62Translated by A. J. Arberry

Surely they that believe, and those of Jewry, and the Christians, . . . whoso [whoever] believes in God and the Last Day, and works righteousness1—their wage2 awaits them with their Lord, and no fear shall be on them, neither shall they sorrow.

1. works righteousness: behaves according to divine law.

2. wage: reward.

Background: The Qur’an (seventh century) is the holy book of Islam. Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an is written in Arabic, as shown below.

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Activity

LessonReview Homework Helper

ClassZone.com

This group was called Shi’a, meaning the “party” of Ali. Its members were known as Shiites. Those who did not resist the Umayyads and accepted the rule of the elected caliphs were called Sunnis. The word meant followers of the Sunnah, or followers of Muhammad’s example. This split in Islam would become permanent, and opposition to the Umayyads would cause the caliphate to collapse.

How did leadership issues divide the Muslim community?

Lesson Summary• The Muslim community faced a difficult job

in choosing a successor after Muhammad died.

• The Muslim Empire rapidly expanded under the “rightly guided” caliphs.

• Conflict over the caliphate caused a split in the Muslim community in the mid-seventh century.

Why It Matters Now. . .The division between Sunnis and Shiites continues to cause conflict in the Muslim world today.

3Terms & Names1. Explain the importance of

caliph Shi’a Sunni

Using Your NotesExplaining Chronological Order and Sequence Use your completed time line to answer the following question:2. When did the Umayyad dynasty begin? (7.2.4)

Main Ideas3. Why was Abu Bakr elected the first caliph? (HI 2)4. How did the Muslim Empire spread? (7.2.4)5. Why were Jews and Christians given special

treatment by conquering Muslim armies? (7.2.2)

Critical Thinking6. Drawing Conclusions What do you think was

the most important factor in the spread of Islam? Why? (7.2.4)

7. Comparing How did the Muslim policy of ruling conquered peoples compare with that of the Byzantines and the Persians? (7.2.4)

Creating a Brochure Choose one of the religious groups in Lesson 3. Then create a short brochure that discusses the history and beliefs of that group. Include the writing skills you have practiced in this unit.

Sunni Beliefs Shi’a Beliefs

Early caliphs The first four caliphs were rightful rulers.

Only Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law, was legitimate.

Muslim ruler Any Muslim who follows Muhammad’s example may be ruler.

Only a descendant of Muhammad and Ali may be imam, or ruler.

Sources of Islam

Qur´an and Sunnah of Muhammad

Qur´an, Sunnah, and teachings of imams

Basic Differences Between Muslims

A.D. 632 A.D. 661

The Beginnings of Islam • 103(7.2.2)