islam identifications
DESCRIPTION
Five Pillars of Islam (#3) Declaration of Faith (Shahada) Prayers (Salah) Charity (Sawm) Fasting (Zakat) Pilgrimage (Hajj) The practice of Islam is built around the following five fundamental pillars (requirements): Affirmation of faith: all Muslims express that “there is no God but God and Muhammad is his last messenger.” Prayers: Muslims pray towards Mecca five times a day. (Shi’a Muslims combine some of the prayers and, therefore, pray only three times a day.) Alms (charity): Muslims who have the means give alms to the poor on a yearly basis. Fasting: beginning at the first crescent moon in the month of Ramadan (when Muhammad received his first revelation from God) Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, or having sexual relations between sunup and sundown. Pilgrimage (Hajj): Once in a lifetime, Muslims make a trip to Mecca. According to the tradition, this trip commemorates Abraham’s example. Muslims who are physically or financially unable to make the journey are released from this duty.TRANSCRIPT
Islam Identifications
Muslim: person who follows Islam Kaaba: Islams holiest shrine
located in Mecca Quran: secret text, holy book of Islam Mecca:
birth place of Islam, holiest city, Saudi Arabia Mosque: Muslim
house of worship Allah: Arabic for God same as J and C Medina:
first Islamic community, 2nd Holy city, Muhammad gains political
and religious power Hejira: 622 Muhammads journey from Mecca to
Medina; marks first expansion of Islam Jerusalem: 3rd Holiest city
to Islam Dome of the Rock Five Pillars of Islam (#3)
Declaration of Faith (Shahada) Prayers (Salah) Charity (Sawm)
Fasting (Zakat) Pilgrimage (Hajj) The practice of Islam is built
around the following five fundamental pillars (requirements):
Affirmation of faith: all Muslims express that there is no God but
God and Muhammad is his last messenger. Prayers: Muslims pray
towards Mecca five times a day. (Shia Muslims combine some of the
prayers and, therefore, pray only three times a day.) Alms
(charity): Muslims who have the means give alms to the poor on a
yearly basis. Fasting: beginning at the first crescent moon in the
month of Ramadan (when Muhammad received his first revelation from
God) Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, or having
sexual relations between sunup and sundown. Pilgrimage (Hajj): Once
in a lifetime, Muslims make a trip to Mecca. According to the
tradition, this trip commemorates Abrahams example. Muslims who are
physically or financially unable to make the journey are released
from this duty. The Rise and Spread of Islam
Today 1.3 billion people consider themselves Muslims, making it one
of the most influential religions in the modern world. This
presentation introduces the early development of Islam as a
religious belief system and Muslim civilization as it developed
from the 7th to the 10th centuries of the common era. Ideally, with
a better understanding of the origins and development of Islam,
students will have a better grasp of factors that underlie both
differences between Muslim communities today (for example, Sunni
versus Shia) and what some have labeled the clash of civilizations
between Islam and the West. Arabia in the 7th Century
Arabia in the 7th century was a dry, uninviting desert with pockets
of civilizations that developed around the regions few water
sources (oases). The north of Arabia was a stony wilderness; the
south was a desert of sand, called the Empty Quarter, as the only
inhabitants were nomads who roamed from oasis to oasis by camel.
Even these hardy desert travelers mostly skirted the edges. Nomads
and the settled areas had a symbiotic relationship, with each group
creating goods and trading items that the others needed. Caravans
helped to transport goods between settled communities and were
important sources for the spread of not only goods and resources,
but also of ideas and news of events from near and far. Arabian
People Nomads/Bedouins Farmers Traders Tribes
Nomads: Many of the inhabitants of Arabia in the 7th century were
nomadic herders who crossed the desert on horseback or by camel in
search of seasonal pastures (oases) for their goats, sheep, and
camels. The Arab nomads, or Bedouins, were traditionally divided
into social classes, and groups of Bedouins were headed by shaykhs,
positions that were passed from father to son. The Bedouins
sustained themselves by bartering with sedentary farmers and people
in the towns and cities. Today Arab nomads, or Bedouins, make up
about 10% of the population in the central Middle East but their
itinerant lifestyle is threatened by urban dwellers and government
leaders. Farmers and traders: Arabians in the south and coastal
regions of the peninsula were farmers or traders dealing in goods
coming from and going to China, India, and the Roman Empire.
Tribes: Almost all of the Arabian people were divided into
tight-knit tribes headed by tribal leaders. The tribes were
fiercely competitive and frequently fought over the Arabian
peninsulas few natural resources. Paganism Worshipped many
gods
Chief god was Allah meaning simply the God. Before Islam was
introduced to the people in the 7th century by Muhammad, Arabians
believed in many gods who reigned over separate environmental and
celestial spheres.For example, the Syrian god Hubal had dominion
over the moon, while al-Uzza was the power goddess of writing and
divination, and other gods were associated with plants, stars, and
other elements. At the head of this pantheon was Allah, the creator
god. Allah (which means simply the God) was only called upon in the
direst circumstances. Otherwise, the pagans consulted the lesser
gods who acted as Allahs intercessors. Some Arabs called Hanifs
were monotheists who only worshipped Allah. They traced their
beliefs to the patriarch Abraham. Note: Muslims call this period
the Time of Ignorance, or Jahiliyyah. Al-Uzza Mecca Centuries
before Mecca became Islams holiest city, it was Arabias most
important trading nexus and a central place of worship. According
to Muslim tradition, Mecca was founded by Hajar, Abrahams second
wife and mother of Ishmael. Trade Routes Mecca was also an
important trading route between northeast Africa, India, China, and
the Mediterranean world. The city was a major hub for ancient
caravan routes because of its links with the northern Mediterranean
(now Europe) and close proximity to the Red Sea. The city was
famous for its production of frankincense and myrrh (used for
religious ceremonies and cosmetic purposes) and, especially during
the peaceful month of Ramadan, was a very busy marketing center for
traders and nomads bartering livestock and other goods. Muhammad
(#4) Born CE 570 From Quraysh tribe Marries Khadija
Merchant/trader Meditated in desert Daughter Fatima married to
cousin Ali In CE 570, Muhammad was born into the Quraysh tribe,
which, at the time, dominated Mecca as the prestigious keepers of
the Kabah. When he was 25 years old, he married a 40-year-old widow
named Khadija and managed the caravan business she had inherited
from her late first husband. Together they had six children. Only
one, his daughter Fatima, survived into adulthood. Fatima later
married Muhammads cousin Ali and had two sons, Hassan and Husayn.
According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad began to receive
revelations from God through the angel Gabriel when he was 40 in CE
610. He continued to receive revelations for the rest of his life.
Since Muhammad was illiterate, he memorized the passages and
recounted them to his followers, who eventually compiled them into
the Quran, Islams sacred scripture. Muslims believe that Muhammad
was the last in a line of prophets from Adam to Abraham to Moses to
Jesus and others. According to the tradition, Gods revelations to
Moses are compiled in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew
bible, or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible) but the message
was corrupted by the Jews, who paid too much attention to ritual
observance. God then appeared to Jesus, whose book (the New
Testament of the Bible) was again corrupted through translations
and political editing by Christians. The Christians, they contend,
wrongfully cast Jesus as the son of God and mistakenly created a
separate religion altogether. The Quran, by contrast, affirmed Gods
oneness while incorporating many of these prior teachings as well.
It was written in Arabic and remained pure as long as adherents
read the book in its original language (non-Arabic-speaking Muslims
are encouraged to recite the book in Arabic, rather than rely on
potentially flawed translations). Muhammad (#5) Final
Prophet/Founder of Islam
Means to surrender/submit (#2) Messages from God compiled in the
Quran Spread the message of one God Medina and Hejira 622 Marks the
beginning of expansion of Islam (#10)
Muhammads influence in Mecca unsettled the local tribal chieftains
who were threatened by Muhammads messages. The leaders of the
Quraysh tribe, who were charged with tending to the many visitors
who came to worship at the Kabah, feared that Muhammads message of
monotheism would adversely affect the pilgrimage trade by weakening
the status of the idols. His message of equality also threatened
the standing of tribal leaders, merchant aristocracy, and city
authorities. As Muhammads following grew, the Meccan leaders
increasingly persecuted the Muslims (meaning those who submit to
God alone). When conditions became too unbearable for Muslims
living in Mecca, Muhammad decided to relocate to Yathrib, a city
north of Mecca. CE 622, the year the Muslims left Mecca (the
journey was called the Hijra), became the first year in the Muslim
calendar, represented as 1 AH (1 al-Hijra), and Yathrib was renamed
Medina al-Rasul (the city of the Prophet), or simply Medina. Since
the Muslims were unable to conduct trade, they carried out raids on
caravans traveling to and from Mecca in order to survive. Muslim
victories during these battles helped build Muhammads reputation
and attracted converts from all over Arabia. Tribal chieftains
around Medina embraced Islam and joined the growing Muslim
confederation. Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem
Night Journey from the nearest mosque to the farthest (al-Aqsa)
mosque AD According to Islamic tradition, in CE 619 Muhammad took a
Night Journey upon the back of a flying horse (a buraq) from the Al
Masjid al Haram mosque (the nearest mosque in Mecca) to the
farthest, or al-Aqsa, mosque, the sacred site in Jerusalem
associated with the Prophets and the former area of the Temple
sacred to the Jewish people. From the area where Solomons temple
once stood, Muhammad is believed to have been guided by the angel
Gabriel through the seven heavens where he met Moses, Abraham, and
other prophets. (Note: Muslims consider Jerusalem a holy city for
the same reasons as the Christians and Jews because it was the
homeland of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all the great biblical
prophets. The Night Journey is seen as proof of Muhammads
designation as the seal of the prophets. ) Al-Aqsa Mosque,
Jerusalem The Night Journey People of the Book (# 6) Muhammads Term
for Jews and Christians
Cause followed Gods teachings Old and New Testament were Gods words
but had been corrupted over time Christianity and Judaism
influenced Islam Return to Mecca 628AD Mecca
By CE 628, the Muslims had grown into a formidable force, giving
Muhammad the leverage needed to broker a peace treaty with Mecca.
After signing the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, Muhammad returned to Mecca
in the holy month of Ramadan to perform the Hajj (pilgrimage) to
the Kabah with 1000 unarmed followers. Two years later, the Meccans
broke the peace by attacking a tribe that had been friendly with
the Muslims. The breach prompted Muhammad to assemble an army of
10,000 men to march on Mecca a final time. Faced with such
formidable force, the leaders of Mecca surrendered their city.
Muhammad proclaimed an amnesty. Upon his victory, Muhammad
performed the ritual seven circuits around the Kabah and smashed
all 360 idols that had been placed around the sacred shrine. He
then dedicated the Kabah to God. Mecca Kaaba Housed 360 idols
Muhammad Smashed idols and dedicated to God (360) (#5) Pilgrimages
during holy month Dhul-Hijjah The center of attraction in Mecca was
a black cube, or Kabah, that housed statues representing the many
gods worshiped by the Arabian pagans. For one month every year,
pagans traveled to Mecca from all over the region to visit the
Kabah. At the Kabah, they worshiped the 360 idols representing
their gods and danced, sang, and offered sacrifices to appease
them. They also performed special rituals, such as walking around
the Kabah seven times and kissing the corner of the sanctuary,
which are still practiced today by Muslims visiting the holy site.
The holy month of Ramadan was also a time when all fighting was
forbidden. Muslims believe that the original Kabah was established
by Adam, the first man, but was destroyed in the Great Flood.
According to tradition, the edifice was rebuilt again by Noah.
Muslims also believe that Abraham rediscovered the Kabah when he
was visiting his first son, Ishmael, who had been sent to live in
the desert with his mother, Hagar. Years later, Abraham visited
Ishmael, and the two rebuilt the Kabah as a place to worship God.
According to Muslim tradition, Arabs are descended from Ishmael,
while the Jews came from Abrahams second son, Isaac. Kabah What do
you think? What are some of the implications that flowed from
Muhammads smashing the idols at the Kabah? Question: What are some
of the implications that flowed from Muhammads smashing the idols
at the Kabah? Answer: Muhammad smashed the idols so that people
would turn their attention to a single, all-powerful, true god.
Another effect of this action is that, by smashing the idols of
individual tribes and asserting a single, all-powerful god that
does not distinguish between different tribes, it sets up a great
potential for political unification as well as religious
unificationultimately leading to the potential for the rapid growth
of Islam across a vast range of territories and peoples. (Note:
Muslims believe that Abraham, considered the first monotheist, also
smashed idols to show the townspeople how misguided they had
become. In the Muslim rendition, Abraham broke all but the largest
idol while the townspeople were celebrating elsewhere. When they
returned, Abraham told them that the largest idol had smashed all
the smaller idols. If they didnt believe him, they could ask the
idol themselves. The townspeople admitted that the idols could not
talk or move, thereby proving Abrahams point that they were
worshipping powerless objects that they had created, rather than
the God who had created human beings.) Mosque of the Prophet,
Medina
Farewell Speech Tribes throughout Arabia acknowledged Muhammads
authority and converted to Islam Muhammad delivered farewell speech
in 632 Muhammad died without designating a successor News of the
victory over the Meccans spread rapidly, attracting delegates from
all parts of Arabia. Tribes flocked to Medina to pledge their
allegiance to Muhammad and their conversion to Islam. Four years
later (in CE 632), Muhammad, fearing that his death was near,
delivered a farewell sermon to tens of thousands of his followers.
In his speech, Muhammad encouraged his followers to treat others
justly, regard the sacred months, and respect the rights of women.
He also instructed Muslims to perform the daily prayers, fast
during Ramadan, perform the Hajj, and pay their debts and financial
obligations (alms, or zakat). Muhammad asserted that Arabs were not
superior to non-Arabs and that no race was better than any other.
He reminded his followers that he was Gods last messenger and
advised them to observe the Quran and convey his message to the
people. Some time later, Muhammad diedwithout designating a
successor. Mosque of the Prophet, Medina Spread of Muslim Rule The
Arabs originally intended only to raid their neighbors and return
home (the custom in Arabia), but their welcomed reception and swift
victories encouraged them to move forward. The Arabs soon became an
imperial power, conquering territory like the Romans and others had
been doing for centuries. Decades of war between the Persians and
Romans had taken a toll on the population and had weakened the
central governments and armies of both empires. Bedouin forces that
had migrated north eagerly joined the Bedouin armies from Arabia in
hopes of amassing war spoils and rising above their station as
vassals of the Byzantine and Persian Empires. Although the
expansion of Islam was driven by religious motives, mass conversion
was not initially encouraged: first because people of the book
(Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians) were considered the
predecessors to Islam and protected under Islamic law, and second
because taxes collected from non-Muslims (called jizya) helped fund
the emerging state and its expeditions. Spread of Muslim Rule
Spread of Muslim Rule Umar ibn Khattab ( ): Two years after his
election as caliph, Abu Bakr died and was replaced by Umar ibn
al-Khattab. The Muslim Empire grew rapidly under the direction of
the second rightly guided caliph. Spread of Muslim Rule Conversion
to Islam: Outside of Arabia, the invading Arabs allowed Dhimmies
(Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians) to freely practice their own
faiths and manage their own communities. Initially no effort was
made to convert the Christian and Jewish population to Islam, but
voluntary conversion took place on a mass scale for a number of
reasons: Islams recognition of Jewish and Christian prophets
(Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc.) made the new faith more accessible;
Muslims were exempted from paying a poll tax; conversion simply
required a proclamation that Allah (God) was the only god and that
Muhammad was his last prophet; and all Muslims were considered
equal under God (an appealing concept to impoverished and
underprivileged converts). Arabic language: Along with the spread
of Islam, the arrival of the Arab armies to the area introduced the
Arabic language which quickly replaced Greek, Aramaic, and Coptic,
the common languages in the region. Management: In order to govern
the new territories, Umar divided the conquered countries into
provinces and appointed governors from the powerful Umayyad family
to manage the land. Umar also established a public treasury, a
public police department, a judicial system that was separate from
the executive branch of government, built schools, and instituted
governmental distribution of stipends to the poor, including Jews
and Christians. Spread of Muslim Rule Spread of Muslim Rule Schism
Disagreement over style and qualifications Bloody massacre
(#11) Split into Sunni and Shia during Umayyad Dynasty date? over
the choosing of caliph successor to Muhammad as leader of Islamic
community (#11) (#12) Sunni 80% caliph based on merit anyone
Shi'ite/Shia caliph descendent of Muhammad As the Muslim community
(umma) grew, tensions emerged. A broader style of governance was
needed to manage the Arab and non-Arab converts. And while all the
Muslims agreed that there should be a single head of the community,
there was disagreement over the style and qualifications of such a
leader. Some believed the umma should be led by a leader from a
different family than that of the Prophet, someone who was a good
Muslim and respected elder. Others felt the umma should be led by
someone endowed with spiritual qualities and governed according to
Muhammads vision of a godly society on earth. The Alids, or those
who belonged to the party of Ali (Shiat Ali or Shias) objected to
what they perceived as the Umayyads propensity to create a royal
court with royal institutions and a royal family. They were
particularly incensed by Muawiyas decision to pass the caliphate to
his son in 680. Instead, they believed the position should be
reserved for the descendants of Muhammad himself through the
bloodline of his daughter and her husband (and Muhammads cousin)
Alispecifically to their son Husayn. With Alis youngest son Husayn
at their head, a small band of Shias marched from their base in
southern Iraq to the city of Karbala in open defiance of the
Umayyad government. The group, which included women and children,
was met by hundreds of troops. In a bloody massacre on the 10th day
of the month of Muharram (called the day of Ashura, or tenth, in
Arabic), the Umayyad army slaughtered and tortured Husayns party
and paraded the heads of 72 of their victims through the town. The
event later became a marking point for the division between the
Sunnis (those who follow the Sunnah, or tradition, of Muhammad) and
the Shias, who from that point on revered their own line of
successors, or imams. Shrine at Karbala 7. Hadith and Koran make up
the Shariah Shariah sacred law of Islam
8. oneness of God and Muhammad Final Prophet 9. Birth, Marriage,
Death 10. Hejira (622), Muslim Army united by Jihad (to struggle to
be the best Muslim/Holy War) and promise of riches, resentment of
foreign rule, Conversion (equality of believers), tolerance 11.
Umayyad, choosing a caliph 12. Shia (Shiite) and Sunni 13. Halal In
Arabic, the word halal means permitted or lawful. Halal foods are
foods that are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines No pork or
alcohol Five Pillars of Islam Declaration of Faith (Shahada)
Prayers (Salah)
Charity (Sawm) Fasting (Zakat) Pilgrimage (Hajj) The practice of
Islam is built around the following five fundamental pillars
(requirements): Affirmation of faith: all Muslims express that
there is no God but God and Muhammad is his last messenger.
Prayers: Muslims pray towards Mecca five times a day. (Shia Muslims
combine some of the prayers and, therefore, pray only three times a
day.) Alms (charity): Muslims who have the means give alms to the
poor on a yearly basis. Fasting: beginning at the first crescent
moon in the month of Ramadan (when Muhammad received his first
revelation from God) Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking,
smoking, or having sexual relations between sunup and sundown.
Pilgrimage (Hajj): Once in a lifetime, Muslims make a trip to
Mecca. According to the tradition, this trip commemorates Abrahams
example. Muslims who are physically or financially unable to make
the journey are released from this duty. Ramadan (#14) 9th month of
the Islamic/lunar calendar
Month that Qur'an to Muhammad Fasting from sunup to sundown Focus
on relationship with God/spiritually Night of Power: last days of
the month it is believed that Muhammad first received the Qur'an.
Eid ul-Fitr: holiday that marks the end of Ramadan and fasting
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism Similarities
Monotheism Prophethood Old Testament Golden Rule 10 Commandments
Jerusalem Holy Judgment Day Heaven Prayer Fasting Charity Coming of
Age Pilgrimage Dietary Laws Umayyads (661750) Muawiya claimed
control over the Muslim empire as caliph in 661, ushering in the
Umayyad Dynasty and moving the capital of the empire from Medina to
Damascus, Syria. With the center of the empire shifted to the
Levant*, incursions to the West via the Mediterranean Sea were much
easier to accomplish. The empire was thus formally expanded to
North Africa and Spain, and Arabic was declared the state language
in all the conquered areas. The Umayyads launched a new wave of
invasions east to the Indus River bringing Central Asia into the
Islamic fold. With its expansion, the Muslim empire revived trade
along the Silk Road, stimulating a transcontinental trading system
that stretched from the Far East to Europe. Muawiya was succeeded
as caliph by his son, the first time the position was passed
through the blood line. The caliphate under the Umayyads began to
resemble an empire or kingdom ruled by hereditary emperors like
those heading the Byzantine and Persian Empires. *The Levant is the
name for the region on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea
that includes present-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordon, Israel/Palestine,
and Egypt. Umayyad Culture Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem
To commemorate Muhammads night journey from the site of Solomons
Temple in Jerusalem (and to establish political authority in
Palestine, bolstering their claim to inherit the region) the
Umayyads completed work on the Dome of the Rock (CE 693), a grand
monument replacing the wooden structure placed there by Umar after
the Muslims entered Jerusalem in 637. The Dome was built over the
platform from where Muhammad is believed to have mounted a winged
steed and, accompanied by the angel Gabriel, was given a glimpse of
paradise. In CE 715, the Umayyads also built the al-Aqsa (farthest)
mosque near the Dome to serve as a meeting place for pilgrims who
came from Muslim lands. The city of Jerusalem is still the third
holiest destination for Muslims, after the cities of Mecca and
Medina and the first to Jews who come to visit the Western or
Wailing Wall, the only remaining structure from the Temple. The
structure is currently cared for by a Muslim administrative body in
Jerusalem called the waqf. As the Muslim population grew, mosques
sprang up across the empire towering over all other non-Islamic
holy structures (Christians, Jews, and other religious minorities
were prohibited from building churches and temples higher than
mosques). Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem Al-Aqsa (furthest) mosque,
built CE 715 Shiism Today Most Shias today follow the line of
succession that follows the family of Muhammad through Ali, Hassan,
Hussein, and eight of Husayns descendents. The last or 12th
descendant (born in CE 868) is believed to have gone into hiding
(occultation) at age five to protect him from persecution at the
hands of the Abbasid authorities. He is expected to return as the
Messiah, or Mahdi, on the Day of Judgment (the End of Times) to
establish justice and peace throughout the world by establishing
Islam as a global religion. Today about 8590% of Muslims worldwide
follow Sunni Islamic traditions and 1015% of all Muslims are Shias.
Both observe the five basic tenets of Islam but differ slightly in
their religious practices and beliefs. Shias commemorate the
martyrdom of Husayn during Ashura and make regular pilgrimages to
the holy Shia cities of Karbala (where Husayn was killed) and Najaf
(where the first imam, Ali, is entombed) in Iraq. While both Sunnis
and Shias venerate and study the Quran as the word of God spoken to
Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel, the two groups have
different views on the authenticity of books written about
Muhammad's life and teachings (collectively called the Hadith).
Umayyad Decline Fragmentation Non-Arabs Leadership problems
split
Non-Arabs: In the beginning of the Muslim territorial expansion,
most of the religions adherents were Arabs with only a few
non-Arabs joining the community (umma) as guests of Arab tribes. As
the Muslim empire began to grow, however, so did the number of
Iraqi, Persian, Egyptian, Syrian, and other non-Arab Muslims who
increasingly resented the client dependency established in the
early days of Islam. Leadership problems: With the accession of
Muawiyas son Yazid as caliph after his fathers death, the Umayyads
initiated a hereditary monarchy previously unseen in the umma.As in
most hereditary dynasties, the sons of the capable caliphs were not
always as competent or as idealistic as their fathers. Umayyad
leaders were notorious for their personal ambition and for pursuing
pleasures considered degenerate by pious Muslims. Anger over racism
in the empire and disgust with the tyrannical, profligate
leadership resulted in riots and general unrest around the empire
until 750, when an Arab chieftain called Abbas al-Saffah turned the
discontent to his advantage. Abbasids (7501258) First 100 years 1st
Golden Age (#15)
Because of economic power, medicine, science, math, and
architecture The Abbasids claimed legitimacy as the descendants of
Muhammads uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. As relatives of the
Prophet, the Abbasids commanded initial endorsement from the Shias,
who upheld their belief that the leader of the umma must be a
relative of Muhammad.* They also appealed to the disenfranchised
non-Arab Muslims in the empire and to Muslims who objected to the
Umayyads extravagant, imperial ways and authoritarian rule. When
the Umayyad dynasty was overthrown in 750 following a series of
revolts, the new caliph attempted to destroy the entire Umayyad
clan. Many of the Umayyads were massacred during a banquet, while
others were chased down. A lone Umayyad prince escaped death by
fleeing to North Africa and then to al-Andalus where he established
the Umayyad Emirate of Cordoba in 756. (See slide 39.) *The
Abbasids renounced their Shia beliefs soon after coming to power,
infuriating their Shia supporters. Abbasid Culture Trade revival
Arabic numerals Algebra
The height of the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad is considered a
Golden Age for Muslims in terms of the artistic, scientific, and
mathematical achievements made in this time. Trade was revived
along the old Silk Route, bringing with it a blend of cultures and
a free flow of ideas. The Indian system of numbers (which included
zero as a place holder, for example) was adopted in Baghdad through
translations of mathematical texts and later transported to
European lands where the numbers came to be known as Arabic
numerals. The Abbasids made great strides in the mathematical
fields of geometry and trigonometry. The word algebra comes from
the title of a treatise by 9th-century Baghdad mathematician Abu
Jafar Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, Rules of Reintegration and
Reduction (Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala) or simply al-jabr, meaning
the reunion of broken parts. Abbasid intellectuals, among whom were
Muslims, Christians, Jews, and others, also excelled in the fields
of astronomy, medicine, cartography, and other fields. Science and
Medicine Astrolabe Medicine Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
Muhammad Al-Razi The astrolabe, an ancient instrument used to
determine the time of day and night, was adapted by the Muslims
through translations of ancient Greek texts and improved to help
Muslims accurately ascertain prayer times and the direction of
Mecca from different locations. Astrolabes inscribed in Arabic, in
turn, made their way to Europe through Spain and became especially
popular in the 15th and 16th centuries as an astronomical education
tool. In the field of medicine, scholars cultivated a greater
understanding of anatomy and disease. One of the Abbasids most
famous scientists, known as Avicenna (9801037), wrote hundreds of
books on philosophy and medicine, including a 14-volume Canon of
Medicine, which was used as a standard medical text in Europe for
700 years, earning him the moniker the father of modern medicine.
The blending of cultures influenced literature and language,
infusing Persian words and literary style with that of Arabic. An
example is the poetic epic, One Thousand and One Nights, a series
of tales recited by Queen Scheherazade to keep her husband from
executing her. Among the stories are Sinbad the Sailor and Ali Baba
and the Forty Thieves. During this time, moreover, Muslim religious
scholars collected orally transmitted accounts of the Prophets life
and words and compiled them into collections (the hadith) and
created an authoritative body of Islamic law (Sharia). Astrolabe
Hadith The words Muhammad recited as revealed text (the word of
God) were considered part of the Quran. Lest the words of God be
confused with those of Muhammad himself, the Prophet initially
forbade his followers to write down his personal sayings until the
sanctity of the Quran was clearly established. When the prohibition
was lifted, his companions meticulously took notes of Muhammads
activities, his lessons, his instructions, and his way of living.
These personal sayings and actions were compiled into books of
hadith (narrations) kept separate from the Quranic text. After
Muhammads death, religious scholars began to compile information
about Muhammads life. Hadith passed down orally from generation to
generation by those who had had contact with the Prophet. Reports
and legends were gathered from all over the Muslim world and
exhaustively analyzed for authenticity. The most famous collector,
for instance, collected over 600,000 hadith but included only 2,206
in his official book because he could not prove that the others
were genuine. Scholarly debate continues in the Muslim community
over the authenticity of the various hadith. Some of the most
dependable hadith are observed while others are excluded by some
Muslims. A very small percentage of believers dismiss all the
hadith, deeming them unreliable or (at worst) fabricated texts.
Mosques The Islamic place of worship, the mosque (from the Arabic
word masjid, meaning place for prostration) serves as a focal point
for the Muslim community. Before Islam, the area around the Kaaba
was called the masjid. But the model for future Islamic mosques was
the one constructed in Medina in CE 622. Like all future masjids,
the Quba mosque in Medina was fitted with a niche in the direction
of the prayer (first facing Jerusalem and then towards Mecca) and
surrounded a garden area. Early mosques (often built in vacated
churches, which the Muslims believed were holy) served as symbols
of Muslim dominance. All mosques share the same important elements:
the Mihrab, a niche on the inside wall of the mosque indicating the
direction of prayer (qibla); the Minbar, a pulpit from where the
Friday sermon (khutbah) is delivered; and a fountain for
worshippers to perform their ritual washing for prayer. In the
early 8th century, towers were built next to mosques for use by the
muezzins who called the faithful to prayer. The minarets, as they
were called, were probably inspired by Christian church steeples in
Syria and further signaled the presence of a Muslim community in
the region. Mosques are frequently adorned with domes, verses from
the Quran in Arabic script, and elaborate arabesque designs. Mosque
of Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil
Abbasid Decline Although the Abbasid caliphs nominally maintained
their positions as ultimate political leaders until 1258, the
Abbasid caliphate was a truncated shell by the time the Crusaders
arrived in Jerusalem in 1095. Abbasid subjects were becoming
increasingly frustrated with high taxes, and breakaway autonomous
kingdoms (the Umayyads in Spain, Fatimids in Egypt, and Buyids in
Persia) competed with the Abbasid caliphs for authority over the
umma. The Abbasids had appointed a cadre of governors, or emirs, to
help govern the vast empire, but many of them too had dynastic
ambitions and carved out their own kingdoms in Afghanistan,
northern India, and other parts of the empire. In order to keep
them in line, the Abbasids created an army of Turkic slaves
(Mamluks, meaning owned in Arabic) who soon became powerful enough
to command royal authority. With the Muslim lands divided into
spheres of competing influence, the umma had become powerless
against the Crusaders in the 11th century and the Mongol invasions
of the 13th century. In 1258 the Mongols under Hulagu Khan
(grandson of Genghis Khan) sacked Baghdad and killed the caliph.
Abbasid rulers continued for nearly two more centuries, after a
member of the 37th caliphs family escaped to Cairo, where he was
recognized as caliph under the rule of the Mamelukes of Egypt. The
Cairo line of Abbasids ended with the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in
1517. Photo: msa.org.ohio-state.edu Mosque of Abbasid Caliph
Al-Mutawakkil The Moors: The Visigoths had ruled Spain until 711,
when the Moors crossed into Spain from North Africa. For the next
three centuries, the Moors controlled most of Spain by establishing
a caliphate, or religious center, in Cordoba. Spain enjoyed a
golden age. The Moors were able administrators who built Spain into
a thriving center of culture and scholarship. The Moors were
Muslims, but they were generally tolerant of the Christians and
Jews who lived in Spain. Spanish Jews benefited from the tolerant
policies of the Moors. This enabled them to have one of the most
prosperous periods in their history. Christian kingdoms in northern
Spain and France slowly began the Reconquista (or reconquest) of
Spain, a struggle that lasted almost 500 years. Quarrels among the
Moors led to the overthrow of the caliphate of Cordoba in The Moors
remained in Spain until King Ferdinand of Aragon, and Queen
Isabella of Castille merged their kingdoms and forced the Muslims
and Jews to leave Spain Row 5 16. Life long learners/education
important
- translated Greek and Sanskrit works on philosophy and science
House of Wisdom Baghdad Al Mamun preserved ancient learning
diffused to Europe 17. Medicine: Diagnosis/treatment/qualifying
examinations Muhammad al-Razi and Ibn Sina all influenced the West
Math algebra Science Architecture - minarets 18. Letters of credit
receipts bills of lading Comparison of Statistics and Basics
Islam Judaism Christianity adherents called Muslims Jews Christians
current adherents 1.3 billion 14 million 2 billion current size
rank 2nd largest 12th largest largest major concentration Middle
East, Southeast Asia Israel, Europe, USA Europe, North and South
America, rapid growth in Africa sacred text Qur'an (Koran) Bible
Bible (Jewish Bible + New Testament) other written authority Hadith
Talmud, Midrash, Responsa church fathers, church councils, papal
decrees (Catholic only) religious law Sharia Halakhah Canon Law
clergy imams rabbis priests, ministers, pastors, bishops house of
worship mosque synagogue church, chapel, cathedral main day of
worship Friday Saturday Sunday Comparison of Origins and
History
Islam Judaism Christianity date founded 622 CE unknown c. 33 CE
place founded Saudi Arabia Palestine (def) Palestine founder
Muhammad Moses or Abraham Jesus original language(s) Arabic Hebrew
Aramaic, Greek early expansion within 12 years, entire Arabian
peninsula; within 100 years, Muslim world stretched from the
Atlantic to China little expansion; mostly confined to Palestine
within 60 years, churches in major cities in Palestine, Turkey,
Greece and Rome (map); entire Roman Empire by end of 4th cent.
major splits Shia/Sunni, c. 650 CE Reform/Orthodox, 1800s CE
Catholic/Orthodox, 1054 CE; Catholic/Protestant, 1500s CE
Comparison of Religious Beliefs
Islam Judaism Christianity type of theism strict monotheism
Trinitarian monotheism ultimate reality one God names of God Allah
(Arabic for God) Yahweh, Elohim Yahweh, the Holy Trinity other
spiritual beings angels, demons, jinn angels and demons revered
humans prophets, imams (especially in Shia) prophets saints, church
fathers identity of Jesus true prophet of God, whose message has
been corrupted not prophet Son of God, God incarnate, savior of the
world resurrection of Jesus Not part of beliefs affirmed divine
revelation through Muhammad, recorded in Qur'an through Prophets,
recorded in Bible through Prophets and Jesus (as God Himself),
recorded in Bible means of salvation correct belief, good deeds,
Five Pillars belief in God, good deeds correct belief, faith, good
deeds, sacraments (some Protestants emphasize faith alone) good
afterlife eternal paradise: heaven views vary: heaven eternal
heaven view of fellow Abrahamic religions Jews and Christians are
respected as "People of the Book," but they have wrong beliefs and
only partial revelation. Islam and Christianity are false
interpretations and extensions of Judaism. Judaism is a true
religion, but with incomplete revelation.