Muslim CivilizationMuslim Civilization

Chapter 9Chapter 9

The Birth of IslamThe Birth of Islam

What is Islam? • One of the major religions of the

world

Where?• Founded in Arabia• Has spread to all parts of the world,

but most Muslims are found in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia

Where is Islam practiced?Where is Islam practiced?

IslamIslam

Major Beliefs of IslamMajor Beliefs of Islam

• Islam is Arabic for “submission to Allah”•Allah is the Arabic word for God•Founded by Muhammad in 610•Followers of the faith are called

Muslims

MuhammadMuhammad

•Muhammad lived in Mecca•An angel, Gibreel (Gabriel) gave

Muhammad messages from Allah•These messages became the

Qur’an, Islam’s holy book

Islam GrowsIslam Grows

• Muhammad shared the revelations with his wife and family

• Not everyone accepted Muhammad’s teachings– Muhammad and his family were forced

to flee their home in Mecca– This event is called the Hejira, or the

Flight– They went to Medina

Basic Ideas of IslamBasic Ideas of Islam

• The Qur’an is Islam’s most sacred text

• To God belongs the East and the West, Wheresoever you look is the face of God.Qur'an 2:115

• SAY: We believe in God and that which was revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ismail, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and unto Him we surrender.Qur'an 2:136

Basic Ideas of IslamBasic Ideas of Islam

• Muslims follow the 5 Pillars of Islam– The Profession of Faith– Five daily prayers– Almsgiving, or charity to the poor– Fast during Ramadan– Journey to Mecca

The First Pillar: ShahadahThe First Pillar: Shahadah

• The Profession of Faith: – “There is no

god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet”

The Second Pillar: SalahThe Second Pillar: Salah

• Salah, or 5 daily prayers– Muslims always try

to pray facing Mecca

The Third Pillar: ZakatThe Third Pillar: Zakat

• The Third Pillar is Zakat, or almsgiving– To help the poor and needy– To help spread the Islamic faith

The Fourth Pillar: SawmThe Fourth Pillar: Sawm

• Sawm, or the Ramadan fast– Ramadan is a month in the Islamic

calendar– Muslims avoid food and drink during

daytime

The Fifth Pillar: hajjThe Fifth Pillar: hajj

• The Hajj- journey to Mecca– All Muslims are

encouraged to visit Mecca at least once in their lifetime

IslamIslam

• Muslims worship in mosques

• They avoid alcohol and pork

• “Jihad” is the struggle to defend the Faith; also translated as “holy war”

Divisions of IslamDivisions of IslamMuslims split in 644 over who should lead

them.There are 2 main groups of Muslims:• Sunni Muslims (followers of the Prophet)• Shi’a Muslims (the Party of Ali)• A third group, the Sufis, seek a personal,

mystical connection with Allah– Use meditation, trances, dance, poetry

Muslim ExpansionMuslim Expansion

• Areas conquered by Muslim forces:– Arabia– Egypt (639) – Persia (642)– Judea/ Syria – Northern Africa (661)– Spain (750)

The Muslim CaliphatesThe Muslim Caliphates• After Muhammad's death the

Muslims were led by caliphs• Umayyad Caliphate (644-750)

– Umayyad capital: Damascus

• Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258)– Abbasid capital: Baghdad

Muhammad's TeachingsMuhammad's Teachings

• The Hadith – the collected sayings of Muhammad

• The Sunna- the record of Muhammad's behavior and teachings

• Sharia – laws based on the teachings of the Quran

Muslim CultureMuslim Culture

• Muslim Achievements– Translated Greek and Roman works into

Arabic– Invented the astrolabe, to calculate

positions of stars and planets

Muslim AchievementsMuslim Achievements

• Mathematics– Algebra first explained by Al-Khwarizmi– Trigonometry

• Medicine– Ibn-Sina (Avicenna)- famous doctor and

scholar– Eye surgery– Pharmacy– Doctors had to pass rigorous tests

Muslim ArtsMuslim Arts

• No pictures of humans or animals

• Floral and geometric designs

• Calligraphy – in books, on walls and household objects

Muslim LiteratureMuslim Literature

• The Qur’an• 1001 Arabian Nights

– Ali Baba– Sinbad the Sailor– Aladdin

• Poetry– Rumi– Omar Khayyam – the Rubiyat