History of Islam

Meaning of Islam• Term “Islam” often translated “submission”

• A Muslim is “one who submits or surrenders to the will of Allah”

• Believed that submitting to the divine will brings harmony, peace, and order to the universe

• Islam means both submission and peace (salam)

Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael

Abraham is the Father of the Faith

• Abraham and Hagar’s son Ishmael is in the lineage of Islam

• Through Abraham, Islam received the covenant to become as numerous as the stars and a mighty nation in the land of Canaan

• Abraham is believed to be the first Muslim – one who submitted to the will of God (Allah)

Muhammad the Prophet• Muhammad ibn Abdallah lived in Mecca, from

about 570 ce to 632 ce

• At about 40 years of age began to receive the revelation of God

• Revelations came through the angel Gabriel

• Continued for more than 20 years

• Prophet’s teachings became foundation of Islam

• Revelations recorded in the Quran, Islamic holy book

The Quran• Believed to be the direct and

inalterable word of God• Includes instruction on: religious

beliefs, human conduct, relationships among people, government, and events similar to events in the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible

• Important that the Quran is memorized and recited

• Quran is itself the holy presence of Allah – treated with ritual purity

Three Holy Cities:Mecca

• Muhammad began preaching the revelation of Allah in 610 ce

• Forced to leave due to persecution in 622 ce

• Returned to Mecca in 630• Became center of Islam in Arabia

Mosque of the Prophet Muhhamad, Medina

Three Holy Cities:Medina

• Muhammad continued preaching• Consolidated religious, political and

military power over a group of Arab tribes (like clans)

• The move to Medina is known as the Hejira (migration), became year 1 of the Islamic calendar

Three Holy Cities:Jerusalem

• Mystical journey to Jerusalem accompanied by angel Gabriel

• Prayed with earlier prophets including Abraham and Jesus

• Ascended into heaven into the presence of Allah

• Daily prayer cycle of five prayers from this revelation

Islam after Muhammad

• Political leaders known as Caliphs – from Arabic Khalifa : “deputy” or “successor”

• Captured major cities throughout the Middle East

• Cultural diffusion with Jewish, Christian, Persian, and Zoroastrian traditions led to a rich cultural development in 9th & 10th centuries

• Became world power under the Ottoman Turks controlling North Africa, southeastern Europe and the Middle East