Chapter 6

Islamic Civilization A new religion emerges from the Middle East

Islamic Civilization The religion of Islam is the center

of Islamic Civilization. • Islam was first proclaimed by

the prophet Muhammad (ca. 570-632).

• Such as Judaism and

Christianity, followers believe in

one God, called “Allah.”

Based on five pillars

1. Faith

2. Prayer

3. Charity

4. Fasting

5. Pilgrimage

The Prophet Muhammad (ca. 570-632)

• Muhammad sprang from the

prophetic tradition of

Abraham, Moses, and Jesus…

• A merchant by profession,

Muhammad at the age of 40

heard the voice of God, that

instructed him to recite

revelations… of which lasted

more than twenty years…

• Throughout his prophecy

Muhammad traveled to and

from Mecca and Medina… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX3UHNhQ1Zk

The Quran (or Koran) At the center of Islamic religion is

the Quran, the scripture… • The word Quran means

“recitation” and reflects the

Muslim belief of the words

recited to Muhammad by God.

• Accordingly, Muhammad

memorized the messages he

received and dictated them to

various scribes.

• Quran established after

Muhammad's death by the third

caliph, Uthman, around 650 AD

Quran page decoration art, Ottoman period

The Quran cont. The Quran is divided into 114

Surah's, or chapters, which become

shorter as the Quran progresses.

• The first Surah contains 287 ayas,

or verses. The last contains three.

• The words of the Quran are the

first Muslims hear when they are

born and the last when they die.

• Complimenting the Quran is the

hadith (“narrative” or “report”)

consisting of the teachings of

Muhammad.

Quran, Al-Fatiha, consisting of seven verses.

Birmingham Quran manuscript

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jowQond7_UE

Basic tenets and the Five Pillars of Islam… The basic tenants of Islam concern the

nature of God, creation, humankind, and

the afterlife… To achieve Heaven, Muslims

must accept Allah, and fulfill five pillars:

1. The Islamic Creed (shahadah)

2. Daily Prayer (salat)

3. Charity or almsgiving (zakat)

4. Fasting during Ramadan (sawm)

5. Pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca, the holy city

Islamic Call to Worship… The adhān (Arabic: ([ʔaˈðaːn] أََذان

• Recited five times: at dawn,

midday, midafternoon, sunset,

and night fall.

• Muessins call the faithfull to

prayer from Mosque towers...

• Prior to cleansing, worshipers

must cleanse themseleves...

• During prayer, Muslims face

Mecca and ritually bow and

meditate...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe8qRj12OhY

Islamic Mosques… Unlike Christianity, Islam opposes

idol worship… Muhammad had

all pagan idols destroyed… In the late 7th Century, Muslim

rulers built palaces and

mosques… Buildings where

Muslims gathered for prayer…

• Rectangular in plan, with an

open court

• Fountain in center for

purification…

• Mirab, a small niche indicating

the side facing Mecca…

The Mosque Layout Know the three basic components:

• Mihrab

• Minaret

• Muezzin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WToTxs9zU8A

The Five Pillars of Islam cont. The basic tenants of Islam concern the

nature of God, creation, humankind, and

the afterlife… To achieve Heaven, Muslims

must accept Allah, and fulfill five pillars:

1. The Islamic Creed (shahadah)

2. Daily Prayer (salat)

3. Charity or almsgiving (zakat)

4. Fasting during Ramadan (sawm)

5. Pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy city

Mecca (Saudi Arabia) • Birthplace of

Muhammad

• Site of first revelation

• Holiest city in the

religion of Islam

• Center of largest

annual gathering of

people in the world

• The journey to Mecca

is considered to have

roots in the the times

of Abraham…

Mecca in 1718

Mecca in the late 1880s

Jabal al-Nour is where Muhammad is believed to have received the first revelation of

God through the Archangel Gabriel.

Mecca seen from Jabal al-Nour

Chapter 7

Indian Civilization Hinduism and Buddhism

Early India 2500 to 1500 B.C.E

The first known Indigenous people of

the Indus valley were known as the

Dasas, or Pre-Aryan. They built

complex cities around the Indus and

Ganges Rivers…

The Vedic Period 1500 to 300 B.C.E

Sometime around 1500 B.C.E.

peoples from Russia and Central Asia

begin to settle in Northern India.

• Brought early forms of language,

Sanskrit… and Hinduism.

Hinduism The word Hinduism derives from the

word Sindhu, the Sanskrit name for

the Indus River. The Indus and the

Ganges River were used to purify...

Hindu worship focuses on a pantheon

of gods/supernatural…

In Hinduism the ideal life has four

basic basic goals:

1) Dharma: human righteousness

2) Artha: accumulation of success

3) Kama: pursuit of spiritual love

4) Moksha: release from pleasure

Ganesha (centre) with Shiva (top left),

Devi (top right), Vishnu (bottom left)

and Surya (bottom right);

Hindu Gods… At the Center of Hindu religious

thought is the idea of BRAHMAN

(sometimes called Brahmanism)

Brahman is best explained in 3 Gods:

1. Brahma: source of being the

creator…

1. Vishnu: the preserver,

forgiveness, and love…

1. Shiva: the destroyer, disease and

death…

Brahma, the god who created knowledge and then universe

Hindu Gods cont.

Vishnu is usually described as having

dark complexion of water-filled

clouds and having four arms. He is

depicted as a pale blue being, as are

his incarnations Rama and Krishna.

Four Armed Vishnu

Hindu Gods cont.

The main iconographical attributes

of Shiva are the third eye on his

forehead, the snake Vasuki around

his neck, the adorning crescent

moon, the holy river Ganga flowing

from his matted hair, the trishula as

his weapon and the damaru as his

musical instrument.

Hindu Class

Structure Among the worship of multiple

gods and natural forces, the social

structure of India is largely based

on the division of society into

four distinct classes, or castes…

• Brahmins - Priests

• Kshatriyas - Warriors

• Vaishyas - Merchants

• Shudras - Servants • Dalits, or outcasts… fall outside

of the main four…

“Untouchables” Group of Brahmanas, 1913

Brahmins – Priests

At the top of the social order, the

Brahmins serve as Hindu Society’s

priests, leaders, seers, and religious

authorities.

• Brahmins attained the highest

spiritual knowledge…

• Begin the study of the vedras

early in childhood…

• Responsible for religious

rituals in temples and

homes… Births, weddings,

birthdays, pilgrimages, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=442Yb2XXZQo

Kshatriyas - Warriors

In ancient times were Hindu

society’s kings and aristocratic

warriors, but more recently have

been its administrators, politicians,

and civil authorities. • It was considered their duty

(dharma) to acquire knowledge

of weapons and governance.

• The science of weaponry

(dhanurveda) was one of the

13 branches of learning.

• Allowed to take up trade and

choose their wives.