Chapter 9.2Arabian Peninsula and

Muhammad

• APWH 2013

Review

• Religious conflicts existed between the proud Christian Byzantine Empire and Zoroastrian Sasanids

• Arab nomads benefit from conflict economically and intellectually

• Increased contact with Christians spreads knowledge into Arabian peninsula

Geography of Arabian Peninsula

• Highlands of Yemen in South, fertile and watered by spring monsoons.

• Interior mountains to east drier, but in some places enough water to support farming.

• Southern region cut off from northeast by Arabian desert.

• Known as “Empty Quarter”

• During 7th century, people in southern Arabia knew more about Africa, India and the Persian Gulf than about the center of the great peninsula!

Geographic Determinism• Traditional

occupation farming

• Camel and sheep herding nomads lived in the desert.

Caravan Trade

• Several kingdoms rose and fell due to trans-Arabian trade routes.

• Frankincense and myrrh exported north (Spice and perfume route).

• Pastoralists and Nomads acted as guides

• Providing camels and safe passage across desert.

Caravan Cities• Emerged along routes.• Petra in southern Jordan• Palmyra in northern

Syria• Ruled by Bedouin

chiefs• Absorbed by Roman

empire• New trade goods by

100 CE included Camels, leather, gold and minerals

Petra

Palmyra

Palmyra

Mecca

• Late blooming caravan city

• Halfway between Yemen and Syria

• 500 settled by nomadic group called Quraysh (koo-RYYSH)

• Location away from Byzantine Syria, Sasanid Iraq and Ethiopian controlled Yemen provided safety.

Muhammad• Born in Mecca 570• Raised as an orphan by

his uncle• Married and had several

children.• Only son died• Worked in trade• Married a Quraysh widow

named Khadija

Muhammad• Began meditating

around 610• During “Night of Power

and Excellence” is visited by an angel of God

• Conceived Islam after experiencing revelations from the angel Gabriel

• Revelations continue until his death.

Arab Spirituality

• Jinns - unseen desert spirits

• Shaitans - demons• Believed in oracles,

seers• Poets believed to be

possessed by a jinn

Muhammad’s Teaching1. One God created

everything2. At the end time all will

be judged by sins vs. good deeds.

3. The blameless go to paradise.

4. Sinful will taste hellfire

• Muslim - Means “one who makes submission to the will of God.”

• Revelations include mentions of Noah, Moses and Jesus

• Muslims consider Abraham/Ibrahim the first Muslim

• Muhammad’s revelations criticize Jews and Christians for not preserving God’s revealed words

• Islam means “submission/surrender to the will of God”.

Hijira• “Muhammad’s flight”• 622 Muhammad flees

from Mecca to Medina.• Meccan leaders were

threatened by his popularity and drove him out.

• Medina located 215 miles to North

• Date marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar

Umma• Before leaving for Medina,

major kin groups meet with Muhammad and promise to protect him.

• Binding themselves together into a single umma - unified community of believers that accepted Islam

• Believed that Muhammad was the “Messenger of God”

• Plans are made to return to Mecca and conquer it.

Ka’ba• Religious shrine

located in Mecca• Reason Muslims pray

towards Mecca• Mecca surrendered to

Medina and Muhammad because of wars led by Muhammad

• Mecca becomes a new state based on a common religious faith.

• Medina also becomes a Muslim city-state.

• Home to many Meccan refugees• Not all of Muhammad’s original

followers became Muslims.

Review and Preview• Foundations of Islam• 1. Geographic Determinism• 2. Muhammad’s life 570 - 632• 3. Caliphate established after death Quran created 650 Sunni v. Shi’ite split• 4. Umayyad Caliphate 661-750 = Spread of

Empire• 5. Abbasid Caliphate 747 – 850 = Iranian

Scholars create Islamic fundamentalism

Muhammad’s Death• 632 dies after brief

illness.• Father in law of

favorite wife A’isha chosen as new leader by kin group elders

• Abu Bakr - chosen as caliph after Muhammad’s death.

• Kalifa = successor (caliph)

Five Pillars • Abu Bakr assembles basic religious codes.

• Basis of Muslim religious practices

• 1. There is only one God and Muhammad is his messenger

• 2. Prayer 5 times a day• 3. Fasting during lunar

month of Ramadan• 4. paying alms• 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca

once in life

Quran

• Abu Bakr collects and organizes all the records of Muhammad’s teachings.

• Completed in 650• “Recitation”• Contains Muhammad’s

revelations from the arch angel Gabriel

• Seen by Muslims as the word of God

Islamic Split• After Muhammad’s death umma splits after

third caliph Uthman is assassinated in 656.• Sunnis - followers of the “tradition” of

the community.• Leadership picked by council of elders.• Shi’ites -supporters of Muhammad’s son

in law Ali. Supported by Muhammad’s son-in laws and military

Battle of the Camel

• 656 Ali (Shi ‘ites) defeats opposition – A’isha (Muhammad’s first wife) and two of Muhammad’s close friends (Sunni).

• Ali is betrayed and assasinated.

Battle of the Camel

• Ali’s son will also be assassinated

• Shi’ites – sect established by supporters of Ali.

• Will be supported by Muhammad’s relatives and military groups.