• Key Terms, Names, and Dates:

Islam Mohamed 570 C.E.

Caravan Quraysh Tribe 622 C.E.

Kaaba Abu Talib Idol

Mecca Khadija Hijra

Pilgrimage Gabriel

What is Islam?

• Islam is:

• a monotheistic religion.

• followed by more than 1.2

billion people.

The Expansion of Islam

Religion in Mecca

• In Mohamed’s time, most people believed in many deities and were polytheistic worshipers.

• Mecca was always an important holy city as the Kaaba, built by Abraham, was holy site where Arabs kept religious items (idols).

• Each year, a pilgrimage would be made to see the relics. This event brought a great deal of money to the city and the Quarysh.

The Prophet

• The Prophet Mohamed was born around 570 C.E. in the small town of Mecca.• The Arab tribe, Quraysh, which he belonged to

controlled Mecca and grew wealthy from supplying the trade caravans that traveled between Yemen and the Byzantine and Persian Empires.

• His uncle, Abu Talib raised him as a shepherd and trader.

• He married Khadija, a wealthy business woman.

Mohamed Becomes a Prophet

• Mohamed spent a great deal of time meditating in a cave near Mecca. One day, when he was 40, Mohamed was spoken to by an angel named Gabriel.

• Mohammed, while hesitant at first, told the people that he was instructed to be God’s messenger.

• Khadija is believed to be the first Muslim.

• Mohamed soon began preaching to the people of Mecca that there was only one God, Allah, and that he (Mohamed) was his prophet.

• There were many disbelievers of this new message as it meant that the old ways, and social structures were threatened.

• Khadija and his uncle Abu Talib were powerful enough to protect Mohamed, but after their deaths, Mohamed was continually harassed.

• In 622 C.E., Mohamed moved the small community of the devoted to Medina (the Hijra).

Victory in Mecca• Key Terms and Dates:

Medina Battle of Badr Battle of Uhud

Battle of the Ditch 630 C.E. 632 C.E.

This Battle of Badr depiction is from the early 14th C. 

Mohamed and his Followers in Medina

• Medina was an oasis city torn by fighting because it was inhabited by many tribes who did not get along. Mohamed was welcomed because its citizens thought that he might have solved their problems.

• Mohamed hoped that the cities Jewish population would be more welcoming as they too were monotheistic.

• While most polytheistic tribes converted to Islam, the Jews did not accept Mohamed as a prophet.

Disagreement came over several issues including the Abraham/Ishmael/Isaac.

• This set back aside, Mohammed soon became the sole leader of this large, fertile area and was ready to challenge Mecca.

The Battle for Mecca

• Medina based Muslims began to raid caravans from Mecca.

Battle of Badr: This famous battle saw the Muslim forces defeat a larger Meccan force.

Results:

I. Muslim victory.

II. Enhanced the prestige of Mohamed.

III. Led to other Arab tribes joining Mohamed’s forces. Conversions increased.

Other Battles

• Battle of Uhud:

Meccans defeated the Muslims.

• Battle of the Ditch:

The Meccans were beaten back to a draw. It

illustrated that Medina was not to be defeated.

Miniature painting of Murat II during archery practice, c. 1570. Topkapi collection.

15.10.3 n.d.H.

23.3.625 n.Chr. Battle of Uhud

Victory for the Muslims

• In 630C.E., the Muslims were finally able to defeat Mecca.

• Mohamed forgave the Quraysh who had fought against him.

• Mohamed removed the idols from the Kabaa and declared it the holiest shrine in Islam.

• Mohamed returned to Medina and died in 632 C.E.

The MosqueA mosqueis a placeof worshipFor followersof the Islamicfaith. Mosques areknown aroundthe worldfor theirgeneralimportance tothe Muslimcommunity aswell as theirdemonstrationof Islamicarchitecture.

Mosque Layout

Parts of the Mosque

• 1. Minbar

• 2. Minaret

• 3. Qibla

• 4. Mihrab

Muslim Beliefs and Teachings

• The Five Pillars:• The most central beliefs and activities of a true

believer in Mohamed’s teachings.

The Five Pillars are:1. Believe that, “There is one God, Allah, and

Mohamed is his Prophet.” While other prophets are respected (Musa, Issa, and Ibrahim) Mohamed is believed to be the final prophet.

2. Pray five times per day. Prayer is often done in mosques and facing Mecca.

3. Give to the poor. Muslims believe that one must help the poor. By giving Zakkat, muslims reinforce the idea of community.

4. Fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

5. Pilgrimage. Muslims are expected to make a Hajj (religious pilgrimage) to Mecca once in their lives.

The QuranThe Muslim holy book.

According to the Muslim belief, it is the word of God.

Is seen as a complete guide to living.

Is believed to be the

complete and final set

of instructions from God.

Cannot be translated into other

languages as its words are the complete and

unchangeable words of God.

The Quran• The Quran contains laws on such matter

as:

a. Property inheritance

b. Marriage

c. Divorce

d. Crimes

e. How to treat people of other religious groups

The Teachings

a. Christians and Jews are ‘People of the Book.’ Because these groups share the same God, their books are believed to be holy, but incomplete. Followers of these religions are to be treated with great respect.

b. Conversion is forbidden. People who are Muslim are forbidden from converting. Muslim men are able to marry non-Muslim but all children must be Muslim.

c. Food restrictions. Muslims are not allowed to eat pork.

d. Muslims are not allowed to loan money with interest.

e. Alcohol, drugs, and gambling are forbidden.

f. Art is not allowed to represent people or animals.

g. Follow Five Pillars. Following the Five Pillars will lead to a place in heaven.

h. Men and women have different rules and roles.

Hadiths• Writings that many Muslims believe provide

better understanding of parts of the Quran.• Written down after Mohamed died by the first

Muslims who knew him.• The Hadiths speak on many issues like:The time of prayer. Islamic (Sharia) Law.

* Not all Muslims agree on the importance of the Hadiths.

Different Muslim Groups

• As in Christianity, there are different Muslim sects. While still Muslim, there are theological differences between the Sunni and Shia Muslims. All sects share:

Imams: religious leaders who inherit their position.

Caliphs: successors to the Prophet; Sunni and Shia Muslims disagree about whether the caliphs were all legitimate successors to the prophet.

Islamic Art and Architecture

• Traits of Islamic ArtNo representations of

animals or people.

No representations of

God, or the Prophet.

Types of Islamic Art & Architecture

a. Calligraphy: Artistic Arabic script. Muslim calligraphers mainly use verses from the Quran.

b. Geometric Design: Patterns with intricate repetition of shapes.

c. Arabesque: A combination of floral design and artistic patters.

d. Mosques: As structural representations of Muslim thought, and Islamic tradition.

An Example of Islamic Art & Architecture

Calligraphy