Understanding Islam :. Islam Today: Demographics There are an estimated 1.2 billion Muslims...
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Transcript of Understanding Islam :. Islam Today: Demographics There are an estimated 1.2 billion Muslims...
Islam Today: Demographics• There are an estimated 1.2 billion
Muslims worldwide– Approximately 1/5th of the world's
population – Growth without missionary efforts
• Where Do Muslims Live?– Only 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world – 20% are found in Sub-Saharan Africa – 30% in the South Asian region of Pakistan,
India and Bangladesh– The world's largest single Muslim
community is in Indonesia • The Top 9: 1) Indonesia, 2) Pakistan, 3)
Bangladesh, 4) India, 5) Turkey, 6) Iran, 7) Egypt, 8) Nigeria, and 9) China
Two Main Braches of Islam• There are two main branches of Islam today
• Sunni recognize the male heirs of the first 4 elected (according to Muhammad's instruction) caliphs (or spiritual heads) after Muhammad’s death
• Shiite recognize the decedents of only the 4th caliphs—Ali (M’s son-in-law & cousin), the only true descendent of Muhammad
• In all other ways Sunni and Shiite are very similar
The Life of Muhammad:The early years
• Muhammad was born in Mecca around the year 570 (A city of western Saudi Arabia)
• Mecca was not a kind, friendly culture
• These tribes all worshiped many different gods (polytheistic)
• Muhammad began working as a merchant and was known for his trustworthiness
• Muhammad and Khadija (wife) had 4 daughters and 2 sons
Muhammad as a young man • Gained a reputation as being honest and reliable – nicknamed al- Amin, “the trustworthy.”
• Worked as a shepherd, then as in trade
• Began to work for the wealthy widow Khadija; they married (she was 40 and he was 25).
•Began to contemplate the low level of moral and social life in Mecca; felt great sympathy for orphans, widows, outcasts and the poor; critical especially of the practice of burying infant daughters alive.
•Became a highly disciplined spiritual seeker (Denny, 51).
Mt. Hira – north of Mecca
Koran (or the Qur'an)
• Introduction– God's revelations to
Muhammad– Islam’s religious text
• The Creation of the Book
The sacred text of Islam:
The Koran
• Organized into 114 chapters, called suras.
• Written in Arabic; recited in Arabic.
• Meccan suras and Medinan suras
• Text is understood as offering “guidance for the world” or “a clear sign for those who can understand.”
• Recitation, or revelation, of what God plans to reveal to humanity
The Five Pillars• The believer worships God directly without the
intercession of priests or clergy or saints. • The believer's duties are summed up in five simple
rules, the so-called Five Pillars of Islam:
• 1) Belief
• 2) Worship– A) Worship God five times a day — at dawn, noon,
mid-afternoon, sunset, and nightfall.
– B) All males gather together on Friday for the noon prayer and listen to a sermon by the leader of the community.
Pre-Islamic Africa• Extremely diverse societies developed• Political unity was difficult because of terrain• Bantu: primary language spoken
• Oral traditions; very few written records• Most communities are preliterate (lacking writing system)
• Animistic and polytheistic religions• Power of natural forces; ritual and worship• Dancing, drumming, divination, and sacrifice• Witchcraft; cosmology• Ancestors are called upon
• Economies vary by region• N. Africa: Islamic trade routes and Mediterranean trade• Sub-Saharan: agriculture; ironworking; tribes and herders• Africans exchanged abundant raw materials (esp. salt) for manufactured
goods
Geography of Africa
Africa’s geography was very diverse
& Africans were lived differently based on where
they lived
Geography of Africa
The Sahara is the world’s largest desert & acted as a barrier to separate North Africa
from sub-Saharan Africa
Early Societies of Africa
By 750, North Africans were part of the Islamic Empire, converted to Islam, & shared Arabic culture
Early societies of North Africa were influenced by
Mediterranean cultures such as the Phoenicians & Romans
Early Societies of Africa
African societies south of the Sahara were
isolated & missed out on
the cultural diffusion of the
Classical Era
Influence of Islam in Africa• 640-700: Muslims moved west from Arabia
across N. Africa to spread Islam• Rapid conversions by Berbers (Saharan nomads)• Spreads along pre-existing caravan routes
• Maghreb: NW Africa (W of Egypt); Islamized• 11th-12th centuries: Almoravids and Almohads
(ultra-conservative Muslim Berbers) grow in power• Reformers: launch jihad (war to spread and protect
faith) against “lax” Muslims• Almohads defeat Almoravids • Almohad Caliphate: 1121-1269• These groups are essential to the spread of Islam
throughout Africa.• Why is Islam attractive?
• Egalitarian; reinforced kings’ authority; equal footing politically/religiously/economically with Arabs
Almoravids1040-1147
Characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa■While the societies of sub-Saharan Africa
were diverse, they shared some similarities:–Most societies lived in farming villages in
family-based clans–Few societies had
written languages; Histories were shared orally by storytellers (griots)
–Made iron tools
Characteristics of Africa■Sub-Saharan people
were polytheistic:–Practiced animism,
a religion in whichspirits exist in nature &play a role in daily life
“Stateless” Societies
• Many small African communities are politically organized in this way• There are authoritarian and centralized empires, however
• Lack concentration of power and authority• Authority and power normally exercised by a ruler and court
is held by a council or families or community• Not a “fulltime job”
• Weakness of stateless societies• No organization to collect taxes no effective militaries• No consensus Difficult to resist external pressures• No undertaking of large building projects
• Internal problems could be resolved by allowing dissidents to leave and establish new villages
The Bantu Migration
Over the course of 4,000 years, Bantu peoples of central
Africa migrated south in search of farmland
These Bantu migrations helped spread new farming & ironworking techniques
East Africa■The societies of East African participated
in the Indian Ocean trade network & were shaped by cultural diffusion:–The kingdom of
Aksum trade withPersia, India, Arabia, & Rome; Aksum became a Christian kingdom
Swahili Coast of East Africa• Islamized trading ports along coast by 13th c.
• Most merchants converted; financial motivation
• Ibn Battuta: Islamic scholar/writer who visits these cities; refers to them as Muslim cities
• Swahili language (Bantu + Arabic) emerged in urbanized trading ports• Syncretism: merging of different cultures
• Swahili civilization = set of commercial city-states stretching along the East African coast
• Kilwa, Mogadishu, Mombasa: large city-state and trading centers along coast• Each city-state was politically independent
with its own king• Sharp class distinctions in each city-state: big
gap between the merchant elite class and the commoners
East Africa■ Arab merchants
introduced Islam to East African trade cities–The mix of African &
Arab cultures led to a new Swahili language
–Towns had mosques & were ruled by a Muslim sultan
–But many people kept their traditional religious beliefs
KILWA• Located on East African Coast
• Independent City-State - not part of kingdom
• Monopolized (controlled) gold trade with interior
•Swahili Culture: • Islamic & African culture blended
• Swahili language
• Beautiful mosques
Hail Mary in Swahili
West African Kingdoms
• Grasslands Kingdoms = West African Kingdoms= Sudanic States = Ghana, Mali, Songhai
• Sahel Grasslands: transition zone between Sahara Desert and savannahs to the south
• Point of exchange between North and Sub-Saharan Africa; important region of trade once gold is found
West Africa■West Africa was
were shaped by the trans-Saharan trade network:–West Africans
had large deposits of gold, but lacked salt
–The gold-salt trade connected North & West Africa
West Africa■The gold-salt trade
increased cultural diffusion with Muslim merchants:–Islam was
introduced in West Africa & slowed gained converts
–Many Africans blended Islam with animism or never converted
West African Kingdoms• Islam reinforced ideas of kingship and
power: “royal cult”• Joining Islam gives rulers prestige and
associates them with other great Muslim leaders
• Majority of population never converted; retain their polytheism/animism• Rulers were more concerned about
political benefits of Islam than conversion• Trade gold and salt• Mali, Ghana and Songhai
• Combine Islamic religion/culture with local practices
• Each incorporates the previous kingdom; bigger than last
• Each will exert power over subordinate communities through taxes, tribute, and military support
West Africa■The gold-salt trade led
to wealth & empires in West Africa–By 800, Ghana
became an empire by taxing merchants, building a large army, & conquering surrounding people
–Ghana kings served as religious leaders, judges, & generals
Ghana Empire400? – 1076
• 1st great West African empire
• Trade salt and gold• 10th c: rulers convert to
Islam while common people remain loyal to polytheism
• 11th c.: political height• Almoravid armies
invaded Ghana in 1076
West Africa■The kings who ruled
Mali after Sundiata converted to Islam
■The most important king was Mansa Musa:–He built a 100,000
man army to keep control over Mali
–He divided Mali into provinces ruled by appointed governors
Mali Empire(1230-1600)
• Broke away from Ghana in 13th c.• Economy: agriculture and gold trade
• Traders spread beyond W Africa• Very wealthy empire
• Islamized state in 13th c. when rulers convert• Mosques built; public prayers
• Founder: Sundiata (dies 1260)• “Lion Prince”• Divides society into clans with different jobs• Peace created through loyalty; crimes
severely punished• Credited with Malinke expansion and
creation of unified state with each tribe having a representative at court
• Heavily defended empire
Mali Empire(1230-1600)
• Jenne and Timbuktu• Major cities of commercial
exchange• Scholars, artisans, merchants• Mosques, libraries,
universities• Mostly agricultural; polygamy
allowed because of Islamic beliefs and for the ability to have children work
• Irrigation along Niger River
Mansa MusaMansa Musa was a devout Muslim & went on
a hajj to Mecca in 1324
Mansa Musa passed out gold nuggets to the people he met along the way
Mansa Musa: Malinke Ruler
• Second ruler of Mali• 1324: Hajj to Mecca
• Aligns himself with Islamic rulers• Brings back scholars, architects,
artists• Ishak al-Sahili: architect who
builds great Mosque of Jenne• Inadvertently devastates
economies he enters as he passes out gold and spends it
• Symbol of existence of wealthy, sophisticated empires in Africa
• Estimated wealth: $400 billion
West Africa■When he returned
from Mecca, Mansa Musa built mosques throughout Mali, including Timbuktu–This trade city
attracted scholars, doctors, religious leaders
–It had a university & became an important center for learning
West Africa■When he returned
from Mecca, Mansa Musa built mosques throughout Mali, including Timbuktu–This trade city
attracted scholars, doctors, religious leaders
–It had a university & became an important center for learning
West Africa■After Mansa Musa,
Mali declined & was replaced by Songhai –Kings gained control
of trade cities along the gold-salt routes
–Songhai grew into the largest of the West African empires
–Its fall in 1591 ended a 1,000 year era of empires in West Africa
Songhai Empire(1464-1591)
• Independent from Mali in 1370s• Prospered as a trading state and
military power.• Founded by Sunni Ali (1464-1492)
• Great military leader; extended rule over the entire Niger River valley.
• Rulers practice Islam; people maintain polytheism• Muslims are merchants (wealthy);
become elite• Songhai remained dominant until
defeated by Moroccans in 1591 for practicing a lax form of Islam
Influence of Islam in West African Kingdoms
• Islam provided universal faith, sense of community, and a strong political/legal system.
• Royal Cult: rulers reinforced authority through Muslim ideology; spiritual and political leader
• Many who are exposed to Islam do not convert but remain practitioners of their indigenous religion• Many Sudanic societies were matrilineal.
• Hesitancy over conversion to Islam since it restricted women more than these societies did
• Islam supports interregional trade• Slavery and slave trade grew in prominence (7 million traded)• Slave trade has existed since Classical period; Islam helps
globalize it• Majority of Africa, even after introduction of Islam, will
remain in isolation and not connected to larger networks
Global Connections• Spread of Islam brought large areas of Africa
into the global community through increasing contact from 700-1500 CE. • Specifically, Sudanic states and East Africa
• However, most of Africa evolved in regions free of Islamic contact (Central + Southern Africa). • Organized their lives in stateless societies.
• While no universal empires and religions develop in Africa, Christianity and Islam impact the region through political, economic, and cultural development.
• Reality is there are more written records in regions affected by Islam; knowledge is not even