The Rise of Islam -Muslims: followers of Islam; came from Arabian Peninsula (desert)

-Bedouins: nomadic herders

Muhammad Becomes a Prophet

-Mecca: market, pilgrimage center, Arabs prayed @ Kaaba (ancient temple), safe placefor businesses

-Muhammad early life- shaped by desserts & trade centers, led caravans->successfulmerchant

-25: married Khadija- wealthy widow, ran caravan business-Known for honest business, devoted husband/father

-Troubled by Meccan society ills (greed) -> meditate-40: heard angel Gabriel calling to be messenger of God -> wife encouraged to accept->

she became first convert to faith Islam-Islam: to submit to God

-Urged Arabs to submit to Allah-622: faced w/ threat murder -> ;eft Mecca for Yathrib (journey to Hijra)-> Yathrib

remained Medina (city of prophet); first year of Muslim calendar-Hijra: turning point; in Medina Muslim converts welcomed Muhammad -> community

of Muslims (umma) -> created rules that governed -> throusands of Arabs adopted Islam-Muslims attacked several caravans -> Meccans prepared for war

-630: battles w/ Meccans, Muhammad returned to Mecca-Destoryed idols Kaaba- temple that he believed Abraham built to worship 1 true God

-Rededicated Kaaba to Allah -> became most holy place in Islam-Died in 632 but faith still spread

-Islam is one of the worlds major religionsTeachings of Islam

-Islam: monotheistic- based on the belief of one God-Quran: the sacred text; states God is all powerful and compassionate, people responsible

for own actions-Believe God has sent other prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, but Muhammad

was the last and greatest prophet-Quran: sacred word of God, teaches Gods will and provides guide to life; emphasize

honesty, generosity, social justice; harsh penalties for crimes-Quran is direct, unchangeable

-All Muslims, including converts to Islam learn Arabic-Perform Five Pillars of Islam: make a declaration of faith, pray five times daily, face

holy city of Mecca to pray (usually pray in masjids or mosques-muezzin calls the faithfulto prayer), give charity to the poor, fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of

Ramadan, make the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)-Jihad- struggle in God’s service, personal duty for Muslims

-Muslims, Jews, Christians worship same God; Quran teaches Islam is God’s final andcomplete revelation; Muslims consider Jews and Christians to be “People of the Book”

Islam: A Way of Life

-Both a religion and a way of life

 

-Sharia: body of law that includes interpretation of the Quran (examples of behavior fromMuhammad’s life and Muslim traditions); does not separate religion from criminal law-

applies religious principles to all legal situations-Some communities- women active in religion, trade, politics

-Most societies- women had limited rights-Arab women- can’t inherit property, obey male guardian, unwanted daughters killed at

 birth -> Quran prohibited killing of daughters, granted women an inheritance, andallowed women to reject a marriage offer, encouraged education for men and women

-Men and women had different roles and rights-Women’s lives varied according to region and class

-Peasant women had to work