Rise of Islam

Background

• Began in Arabia circa 600 CE • Bedouins - Arab nomads, great traders

• Mecca- trading crossroads, important city

Arabian Peninsula

Muhammad (570-632 CE)• Orphan- Mecca, good reputation, honest trader• Married at 25 to 40 yr. old wealthy widow• Worried-greed• Spent time praying & reflecting alone• Experienced revelation, or vision from God

• voice told Muhammad that he was Allah’s (God’s) prophet, his duty to warn the people about divine judgment

Muhammad

• 613 CE, Muhammad began spreading new religion called Islam (surrendering to God)

• Followers called Muslims (surrendering ones)

More Muhammad

• Wealthy Arabians rejected Muhammad’s teachings (rich should share their wealth w/the poor)

• Muslims won support throughout Arabia • Muhammad died in 632 CE after a brief illness

Muslim Beliefs• Sacred Text=The Quran• Written in Arabic• Basic moral values & rules to guide

Muslims in everyday life• Five Pillars of Islam

• Shahada: Declaration of faith• Salat: prayer 5 times a day facing

Mecca• Zakat: charity to sick & poor• Sawm: fasting during Ramadan, the

holiest month in the Muslim calendar• Hajj: a pilgrimage to Mecca at least 1

in a Muslims’ life

Spread of Islam• Caliph leader or successor

• 680 CE-split in Islam• Issue- who should be the caliph• Sunnite Muslims believed that

the caliph was a political leader, not a religious authority

• Shi’ite Muslims believed that the caliph should be a relative of Muhammad

• Infidels- non-believers

Muslim Accomplishments

• Developed the concept of “0” & algebra

• Advanced in medicine: Inb Sina wrote book Canon of Medicine

• calligraphy, the art of elegant handwriting

• Dome of the Rock, the famous mosque in Jerusalem