The Rise of IslamChapter 11 Section 1

GeographyArabian Peninsula borders:

East: Persian GulfWest: Red SeaNorth: Syrian DesertSouth: Arabian Sea

Most of Arabian Peninsula is desert.

Early ArabsBedouins: Nomads who herded sheep and camels.

Couldn’t grow crops.Sheikh: leader of the Tribe.

Cities began to appear along the coast (Mecca)

Trade routes established (Caravans).

MuhammadCaravan Trader in Mecca40 years old: believed the Angel Jibreel spoke to Muhammad

He was to be a prophet of AllahReceived teaching and revelations from Allah.

Muhammad Meets Resistance

Merchants of Mecca harassed Muhammad. Believed:

His thoughts/ideas disrupted their authority

One god, Not PolytheisticPeople would stop coming to the Kaaba

Stone building filled with idols that people worshipped

Hijrah622 A.D. Mecca Yathrib

Known as the Hijrah (Flight)

Yathrib becomes Medina “City of Prophets”

Muhammad's teaching spread throughout the Peninsula.

Including Mecca

Back to Mecca630 A.D.- Muhammad travels back to Mecca.Rededicated the Kaaba to worship Allah.632 A.D.- Muhammad

diesConverted most people in the Middle East and N. Africa to a new religion: ISLAM

Beliefs in IslamOne God (Allah)

Islam= submission to God

Followers of Islam: Muslims2nd Largest religion in the world: Growing

Majority live in N. Africa, Asia and E. Europe.

Muslim World Population

Qur’an: Holy book of IslamWord of Allah received by MuhammadSacred guide for all people.Written in Arabic: Common language of Muslims.

Teaching include:Live humble lives, tolerance and generosity, no pork or alcoholAlso includes the 5 Pillars of Islam

5 Pillars of Islam1.Profession of

Faith Only one God (Allah)Muhammad: Messenger of God

2.Five Daily Prayers

Face the direction of Mecca

3.Paying ZakatAnnual tax to help the poor.

4.Fasting during Ramadan

Eat/Drink nothing from sunrise to sunsetImportance of self-discipline

5.Pilgrimage to MeccaMake the trek at least onceMeet to pray/perform rituals

Rituals of the Hajj

The Jamraat (Stoning the

Pillar)Plain of

Arafat

Jihad: “Struggle to defend faith.”

Die for the struggle: Rewarded in Heaven.

MosquesMuslim’s place of worship

No furnishings, only mats to kneel on for prayer.

Men who are trained in the Qur’an lead prayers

Noon on Fridays: gather for prayer.Women: in most Islamic Culture, pray at home/ segregated in the Mosque