ISLAM - “to submit”“There is no god but Allah:

Muhammad is the prophet of Allah”

Call to prayer

Muhammad “The Prophet”• born @ 570 CE in Mecca• raised by an Uncle

– Quraish clan

• Hermit: spent time in solitude– prayed in mtn caves– Angel Gabriel appeared to him

• “RECITE”• became QURAN• Ramadan was t/month that Quran was recited to

Mu.

• Khadija – 1st convert to Islam– Muhammad’s 1st wife– merchant

HEJIRA • 622 CE• first year of Muslim Calendar• migration of Mu. & Muslims

fm Mecca to Medina – Medina (City o/t Prophet)

• 2nd holiest site in Islam

• 630 CE: war w/ Meccan’s– captures Mecca

• dedicates KA’ABA to Allah

• smashes all idols

• holiest site in Islam

Muhammad’s Miracles

• Heart cleansed with snow by two angels

• ascension to heaven:– Dome o/t Rock

• 1500 Muslims drank water from one vessel from Mu’s hand

FIVE PILLARS of ISLAM• Proclamation of Faith• Prayer five times a day

– facing Mecca

• Alms (charity) to the poor & aged• Fasting during Ramadan

– Gabriel spoke to Mu– Hejira– no food/water btwn sunrise &

sunset

• Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca ONCE in a lifetime

KA’ABA in MECCA

The QURAN• Muslim holy book– sits at the right hand of Allah

• exact word of Allah as revealed to Mu. by Angel Gabriel– God becomes the Word

• SHARIA LAW– authority on religion, politics, law,

economics & social life– forbidden to translate from Arabic

• link btwn all Muslims

Quranic teachings• “people of the book”

– Jews & Christians

– treat w/ tolerance

• be merciful & compassionate

• repeat 1st Pillar three times in front of male Muslim to become a Muslim

• “I divorce you” x3

• Paradise or Hell (Judgment Day)

• Hadith: traditional sayings o/t prophet

• Inshallah (the will of God)– Belief in predestination– God controls all that happens

GOLDEN AGE OF ISLAM• 1st four Caliphs: successors to the Prophet

The Arab-IslamicConquest

EXPANSION OF ISLAM• ARAB-MUSLIM CONQUESTARAB-MUSLIM CONQUEST • Arab armies united by their belief in Islam• Muslim warriors who died in combat won

a place in Paradise– Jihad

• lure of riches (loot)• tolerant conquerors

– special non-believers tax

• Commerce spread• The WAQF is born:

Islamic Sects (divisions)• Sunni Muslims

– any devout male Muslim can be Caliph

– high moral character– majority

• Shi’ites (Shiah or Shia)– only descendents of Muhammad can

be Caliph– 12th Imam will return on Judgement

Day– only Imams can guide Muslims to

salvation– minority (except Iran & Iraq)

• Sufism: mystical Islam

Islamic Art

Mosques

What is a minaret?

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What is a muezzin? ____________________________

Islamic Customs and Laws• Follow strict dietary laws-

– HALAL - name of Allah must be mentioned while animal is slaughtered –

– Can’t eat pork• Can’t drink alcohol• No gambling• Can’t kill animals for sport• Strict punishments for crimes- In some strongly

Muslim countries there’s little difference between religious laws and country laws. (i.e. Shari’ah)

• 99 names for God/Allah: http://www.islamicity.com/Mosque/99names.htm

• How to pray: http://muslim-canada.org/salaat.html

Women in Islam• Men & women are spiritual

equals• Hijab shows Muslim identity

– recognize intelligence, not sexuality

– seen as feminine

• Surah 4:3: If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly, then marry only one.

• Hadith: “seeking knowledge is mandatory for all Muslims”

The Islamic (Arab) Empires

• Umayyad Dynasty (661-750 CE)– Damascus is capital– emphasized Arab culture

• Arabic main language• gov’t jobs went to Arabs

• Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 CE)– Baghdad (God given) is capital– more than 1 million ppl– Muslim more important than being

Arab– built libraries, hospitals, irrigation,

mosques, schools

Golden Age of Islam (1st four Caliphs: successors to the

Prophet)• Abu-Bakr (632-634 CE)• Mu’s father-in-law

– Ayesha• united all Arab tribes

• Umar (634-644)– Ridda Wars– captured Baghdad & Jerusalem– most of Persia conquered– murdered by Persian slave

• Uthman (644-656)– captured Egypt & N. Africa– assassinated by fellow Muslims

• Ali (656-661)– Mu’s son-in-law (Fatima)– assassinated by own people

The Arab-Islamic Conquest