Post on 23-Dec-2015
SPREAD OF ISLAM
SPREAD OF ISLAM- EARLY LIFE OF THE PROPHET
AD 570- Mohammed is born in Mecca Mecca- on west coast of Arabia, trading and pilgrimage town, Ka’aba
(cube) AD 595- Mohammed marries Kadijah, a wealthy business woman, after
working for her AD 610- Mohammed becomes interested in religion- meditates in cave-
has visions of Archangel Gabriel telling him he would be a messenger of God- begins to preach monotheism in Mecca
SPREAD OF ISLAM
Mohammed and followers are persecuted in Mecca- many followers killed
AD 622- Hegira- “flight” or “migration” from Mecca to Medina with followers
After Hegira, religion comes to be called Islam, “to surrender to God” and followers Muslim, “the surrendering ones”
SPREAD OF ISLAM
Mohammed begins to lead raids against Meccan caravans
His victories begin to attract many Bedouin followers
Within 10 years, most Bedouins are Muslim
AD 630- Mohammed and an army of 10,000 followers take Mecca
Mohammed destroys all idols in the Ka’aba except for the Black Stone
Most of Arabian Peninsula is Muslim by this point
SPREAD OF ISLAM- BY AD 732, MUSLIMS CONTROL:
Iberian Peninsula North Africa (Carthaginians &
Berbers) Egypt Palestine
Mesopotamia Lands of the Persian Empire Arabia
REASONS FOR CONQUEST
Passion in Faith (Jihad) Arabia overpopulated Resistance weak (Byzantium &
Persia at war)
RESULTS OF CONQUEST
Two classes based on Arab ethnicity for Muslims
Lower classes of other religions with greater tolerance of Jews and Christians (People of the Book) in the early years
Became less of an Empire of Believers and more like past empires (political and financial goals)
SPREAD OF ISLAM BEYOND ARABIA
Caliphs- successors to the prophet
Orthodox Caliphate Umayyad Caliphate Abbasid Caliphate
1ST FOUR CALIPHS (ORTHODOX CALIPHATE)
AD 632-661 Four Caliphs-
all knew the prophet personally or were related to him
Islam’s wars of conquest launched under these Caliphs
1ST FOUR CALIPHS (ORTHODOX CALIPHATE)
Abu Bakr- 1st Caliph, ordered writing of the Koran
Omar- Conquered Syria, Egypt, most of Persia- stabbed to death by a Christian slave
Uthman- killed by rebel muslims Ali- assassinated
UMAYYAD CALIPHATE
AD 661-750 Umayyads killed the
Prophet’s grandson, Husayn, during their rise to power
Fleets attack Constantinople- held off by Greek Fire
Conquered Berbers of north Africa
Berbers help to invade Spain in AD 711
Spain conquered in 7 years (AD 718)
Conquered to the Indus River in the east
Rebellion kills all but one of the Umayyads, who escapes to Spain
ABBASID CALIPHATE
AD 750-1055 Came to power
through rebellion against Umayyads
Leader of revolt descended from Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle
Emphasized link to the Prophet
Supported by Persians
Beginning of Sunni- Shi’a split
SHI’ITE- SUNNI
Shi’ite- Early support of Abbasids, believed Husayn had been rightful heir and that descendants of the Prophet should lead Islam
Sunni- “orthodox” – hostility with Shi’ites
FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
Faith- Shahadah Prayer- Salah- 5
times a day facing Mecca
Fasting- Sawm- during Ramadam
Alms- Zakah Pilgrimage- Hajj-
to Mecca once in life
SIX ARTICLES OF FAITH
Belief in God Belief in His Angels Belief in His Books- Scrolls, Torah,
Psalms, Gospels (Injeel), Koran Belief in His Prophets/Messengers Belief in the Day of Judgement Belief in God’s Divine Decree