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
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