Origins of Islam - ISRA Academy

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Origins of Islam


In this topic, students will,O

utco

mes

Specific for SoR and SaC

• P2 identify the influence of religion and belief systems on individuals and society

• P4 examine significant aspects of religious traditions

• P5 describe the influence of religious traditions in the life of adherents

• P8 use appropriate terminology related to religion and belief systems


Cont

ents

ü Pre-Islamic Arabiaü The Life of the Prophet Muhammadü The Role of the Prophet Muhammad for Muslims ü The Development of Islam in the Era of the Rightly

Guided Caliphs


Pre-Islamic Arabia


Global Context During Pre-Islamic Arabia


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Global Context• The Western Roman Empire had

collapsed in the previous century and as a result Europe was split into many Germanic Kingdoms

• The surviving Eastern Roman Empire had recaptured North Africa and Italy at the beginning of the 6th century

• There were successive wars between the Persian Empire and Eastern Roman Empire to determine borders and religious rights

• Around 565 the Byzantine Empire was the largest and most powerful state in the region

• The Byzantines can control of Constantinople – a major center of the world



Social Conditions

• Arabia was located at the fringe of civilised world.

• Mecca was the hub of Indian Ocean trade; Medina was agricultural town

• Tribal conventions and customs (no central power or laws)

• Good virtues: Bravery, hospitality and freedom

• Poor ones: No rights for women, poor, slaves and foreigners, Infanticide of the first born girls.



Sanctity of Mecca• Mecca has always been

regarded as Holy Land by the Arabs

• It is referenced in the Bible as a place of respite for pilgrims

“As they pass through the valley of Bakkah, they make it a spring, the rain also covers it with pools” (Pslams 84:6)

• As it was the place where Abraham established the Ka’ba the religion of Abraham (monotheism) lingered in the region but was diluted over time


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Arrival of the First Idol in Mecca• In approximately 250CE the first

idol arrived in Mecca

• Amr bin Luhay was the leader of a Meccan tribe named Khuzaand travelled to Rome and contracted a skin disease

• As he returned through Jordan, he came across and idolatress who was able to treat his skin condition

• As a result, he admired the system of idolatry and asked them to gift him an idol



Arrival of the First Idol in Mecca• They gifted him a large,

male, stone idol made of Aqeeq stone • The idol’s name was

Hubbal• It was introduced into

Meccan society as an intercessor before God –this was the only way it could be integrated into the monotheistic belief system of the Meccans



Religious Practices

• During the time before the Prophet, it was a mainly pagan belief system – no belief in afterlife.

• They knew about ‘Allah’ as the transcendent “God in the sky”.

• There were many earthly gods as intermediaries: Hubbal, Lat, Manat, Uzza were main pre-Islamic gods.



Religious Practices

• Each of the 360 Arab tribes had a tribal god represented in Ka’bah.

• Pilgrimage rites around the Ka’bah of Abraham was altered over time.

• When Islam came to the Arab. peoples in 7th century, it introduced progress in all areas of life and religion.

• Ka’bah originally built by Abraham and Ishmael who are considered Prophets in Islam.


The Life of the Prophet Muhammad



Main Phases in the Life of the Prophet• The life of the Prophet

Muhammad is generally presented in three distinct stages.

1. Early life as an ordinary person (571-610)

2. Mission in Mecca as a religious minority (610-622)

3. Independent community and polity in Medina (622-632)• Early Medina (CE 622-628)• Peace with Mecca (CE 628-630)• Mass conversions of Arabian

tribes (CE 630-632)



Prior to Prophethood

• Prophet Muhammad was born in 571.

• He was orphaned at a very young age.

• His father passed away before he was born

• He mother passed away when he was 6 years old

• In his youth, he gains a reputation for trustworthiness (nickname Al-Amin – the trustworthy).

• He mainly engaged in trade and had a reputation of helping the poor and needy.

• In his late thirties, he becomes increasingly spiritual and withdraws himself to meditation and solitude on a mountain-top cave.



First Revelation• In 610, at the age of 40, he

received his first revelation.

“Read in the name of your Lord Who created, created man from a clot of congealed blood. Recite: and your Lord is Most Generous, Who taught by the pen, taught man what he did not know” (Qur’an, 96:1-5)



Meccan Period

• Meccan establishment first ignored him; they ridiculed him; and then they violently opposed him.

• 619-622 were the hardest years for the Prophet and his followers.

• There was an economic and social boycott that was applied to Muslims.

• This boycott was responsible for the death of many Muslims, including the wife of the Prophet

• His wife Khadijah and tribal protector Abu Talib (his uncle) die.



Meccan Period• After the death of his uncle

and wife – he attempted to travel outside Mecca to spread the message of Islam

• The people of Ta’if rejected Islam and threw rocks at him whilst he left the city

• After he was insulted and abused, he did not plan to exact revenge, instead he said “I rather hope that God will raise form amongst their descendants who will worship, God, the one and will not ascribe partners to Him”.



Migration to Medina

• Islam rapidly spreads in Medina whose inhabitants invite the Prophet to the city as a peacemaker and leader.

• In 622, Muslims start to migrate to Medina.

• The Prophet leaves last in an epic escape from bounty hunters.

• Despite the abuse and oppression, the migration from Mecca to Medina was undesired by the tribes in Mecca

• Loss of the Muslims from the meant loss of power and control

• Year 622 marks year 1 in the Islamic calendar.



Constitution of Medina

• Following the migration of the Muslims to Medina, an agreement was drawn up between the Muslims, main tribes of Medina, Jews, Christians and the newly converted Muslims

• It established all these groups as one ummah (community)

• They were united beyond tribal society

• The agreement also noted that each religious group was free to practise it’s religion freely



Early Years of Medina

• After migration to Medina, the first mosque in Islamic history is built• Masjid Quba is located

on the outskirts of the city of Medina (approximately 6km from the city) and the first Friday prayer is conducted



The First Military Encounter - Badr• In 623, Meccans send a large

trade caravan to Syria with the assets confiscated from the homes of Muslims forced out of Mecca.

• The Prophet and Muslim council decide to intercept the caravan.

• The caravan escapes and they have to face the Meccan army at Badr.

• Muslims deliver a decisive victory.



Revenge of the Meccans

• Seeking revenge for the loss at Badr the Meccans march on to Medina in 624.

• Muslims decide to face the enemy outside the city against the opinion of the Prophet.

• Muslims initially strike success but when archers desert the back post, Meccan attacks from behind.

• It is a loss to Muslims



Meccan Siege of Medina

• In 627, Meccans establish a coalition army of 10,000 comprising of major Arab tribes and march on to Medina.

• Muslims dig a trench around the exposed city front.

• Meccans leave after a month of unsuccessful siege.



Treaty of Hudaybiyyah• In 628, about 1,500 Muslims without

arms set out to visit Mecca and pay pilgrimage.

• They are stopped by Meccans and prevented entering the city.

• The Prophet calls for a peace treaty and a 10 year peace treaty is signed.

• The conditions of the treaty were not advantageous towards the Muslims and many of the companions questioned why Muhammad had agreed to many of the terms

• This is a major turning point for Islam as thousands convert to Islam under peaceful atmosphere.



Conquest of Mecca

• Mecca breaks the treaty two years later.

• In 630, the Prophet leads an army of 10,000 towards Mecca.

• After successful diplomacy the city surrenders.

• The Prophet declares general amnesty to all Meccans, despite the years of persecution suffered.

• This is remarkable considering the abuse, torture and oppression the Muslims suffered under the hands of the Meccans



War and Peace

“But above all, we can learn from Muhammad how to make peace. His whole career shows that the first priority must be to extirpate greed, hatred and contempt from our own hearts and to reform our own society. Only then is it possible to build a safe, stable world, where people can live together in harmony, and respect each other’s differences.”

— Karen Armstrong, Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet



Mass Conversions

• 630-632 period is called the period of delegations as Arab tribes one after the other convert to Islam in mass.

• During this period it is estimated that anywhere between 60-100 tribes and their members converted to Islam

• These tribes were from all different regions of Arabia

• The Prophet sent companions to each of these tribes to accompany them on their journey and to teach their communities the practises and beliefs of Islam



Farewell Pilgrimage • In 632 as the time of

pilgrimage drew near, the Prophet announced his intention to make pilgrimage (Hajj) • Thousands of people

travelled to Medina to join the Prophet in this pilgrimage • During this time,

knowing his death was near, Muhammad gave his final sermon known as ”The Farewell Sermon” at Mount Arafat


for Question and Answers when paired with the next slide

“O People, listen well to my words, for I do not know whether, after this year, I shall ever be among you again. Therefore, listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today…Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Treat others justly so that no one would be unjust to you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds….Every right arising out of homicide and blood-killing in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived…

O People, it is true that you have certain rights over your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under God’s trust and with His permission…

All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action…

I am leaving you with the Book of God (the Quran) and my Sunnah. If you follow them you will never go astray… Be my witness O God, that I have conveyed your message to your people.”



Death of the Prophet

• Muslim pilgrims

• After a 13 day illness he passes away of natural causes in the arms of his wife Aisha

• He is buried on the same ground where he dies

• Today, many Muslims visit this site when they visit the city of Medina


The Role of the Prophet for Muslims



Role of the Prophet in Qur’an• “Say: "If you do love God,

follow me; God will love you and forgive you your sins; For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Qur’an, 3:31)

• “You have indeed in the Messenger of God a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in God and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of God.” (Qur’an, 33:21)



Prophet’s Example

• Sunnah – the words, actions and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad set a standard of practice for Muslims and source of knowledge in Islamic law.

1. Symbols of Islam (mosque, call to prayer, Eid, etc)

2. Practices pertaining to worship

3. Prophetic moral standard

4. Manners in everyday life



Prophet’s Example

• Sunnah is captured in two ways• Recorded in text form as narrations

from the Prophet’s immediate followers (Companions). Each narration is called a hadith.

• Represented in human conduct and transmitted from master to student since the time of the Prophet.

• Sunnah refers to the exemplary aspects of the Prophet (i.e. Prophet's way)

• Hadith refers to written reports/narrations about the Prophet’s actions, words and approvals.



Why do Muslims Love and Believe in Muhammad (pbuh) as a Genuine Prophet?

• The same reasons that caused Muslims to love and believe in Muhammad (pbuh) as a Prophet initially are the same today that convince people he is a true Prophet of God

• The evidence of Prophethood falls into three categories

1. The strength of his character2. The miraculous quality of the

Qur’an3. Many inexplicable acts that

he exhibited




• Since the advent of Islam, Muhammad’s (pbuh) conduct has so deeply impressed people that they are attracted to Islam

• The miraculous nature of the Qur’an, and it’s eloquence is beyond human capability

• When the Qur’an is recited well –many people are moved to tears, even if they do not understand the meaning

• Muslims have a genuine love for the Prophet for being the link between them and the book of God




• There were also many paranormal events surrounding the Prophet (pbuh) during his mission

• Out of more than three hundred authentically reported miracles, some include:• Flowing of water from his fingertips • The satisfying of large amounts of

people with little food• Healing the sick• Disclosing people’s secrets that only

they could know • Predicting the conquest of

Constantinople by the Muslims • The prediction that his daughter

Fatima would be the first one to join him after his death



The Character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

• He led a simple life and had minimal worldly possessions when he had the opportunity to live like king

“What have I to do with worldly things. My connection with the world is like that of a traveller resting for a while underneath the shade of a tree and then moving on.” (Bukhari)



“Head of the state as well as the Church, he was Caesar and Pope in one; but, he was pope without the pope’s claims, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar, without an standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue. If ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by a right divine it was Muhammad, for he had all the power without instruments and without its support. He cared not for dressing of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life.”

Reverend Bosworth Smith



The Character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)• He enjoined upon Muslims

to treat the poor kindly and to help them with alms, charity and in any other way.

“He is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbour go hungry.” “Do you love your Creator? Then love your fellow beings first.”



The Character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)• He was gentle, kind-hearted, always

inclined to be gracious and overlook the faults of others

• Politeness, courtesy, compassion and tenderness, simplicity and humility, sympathy and sincerity were some of the keynotes of his character

• Though a virtual head of Arabia and an acclaimed prophet, he never assumed an air of superiority.

• He used to pray, “O God! I am but a man. If I hurt anyone in any manner, then forgive me and do not punish me.”



The Character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)• He always received people with

courtesy and showed respect to young and old and stated: “To honour an old man is to show respect to God.”

• On another occasion, he was sitting with his companions when a funeral procession passed him. He immediately stood up in respect of the deceased. His companions stated that the deceased was not a Muslim. He replied: “Irrespective, he is still a human being”.



The Character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)• He avoided sitting at

prominent places in gatherings

• There was no type of housework that was too lowly or indigent for him

• He did not hesitate to do the menial work of others, particularly orphans and widows

• He was particularly compassionate with children and would often get into the childish spirit of their games



The Character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)• The Prophet Muhammad

was known as a truthful person, so much so that even after he proclaimed his prophethood, his enemies could not accuse of him of lying.• He was not only

trustworthy towards people, but even warned people against deceiving animals.



The Character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)• Muhammad asked people to

shun notions of race, family or any other form of superiority based on mundane things

• He said that righteousness alone was the criterion of one’s superiority over another.

• His chief assistant in the mosque was a black African named Bilal at a time when blacks were considered inferior and deemed worthy of being only slaves.


> Resize shape to fit text

Make sure verse reference is positioned

“Fear God in your treatment of animals”

Abu Dawood



"Verily in the messenger of God you have a good example for him who looks unto God and the Last Day, and remembers God much.”

Qur’an, 33:21



The Prophet as a Role Model • Following the Prophet shapes

and guides the daily life of Muslims

• All of the characteristics of an exemplary human being are manifested within the Prophet

• The Qur’an refers to him as uswa al-hasana (the best of examples)

• Muslims not only follow the example of the Prophet because Islam states that his example is the one to be followed, but also out of love, awe and admiration



The Prophet as a Role Model • When humans grow to

love, admire and respect someone, it naturally follows they want to emulate them• Muslims strive to

emulate the Prophet in character, outwardly appearance and his habits • Many people do this

with other celebrities


Development of Islam in the Era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs



Rightly-Guided Caliphs (Successors)• Abu Bakr – The 1st Caliph, Successor to

Prophet, (632-634), first adult male Muslim and close friend of the Prophet Muhammad. Father in-law to the Prophet.

• Omar Ibn Al Khattab – The 2nd Caliph (634-644). Initially hostile to Islam; his conversion in the 6th year strengthens Islam. Father in-law to the Prophet.

• Uthman bin Affan – The 3rd Caliph (644-656). Early convert. Contributed to Islam with preaching and through his philanthropy. Son-in-law of the Prophet.

• Ali ibn Abu Talib – The 4th Caliph (656-661). First child convert to Islam, Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law.



Caliphate of Abu Bakr

• When the Prophet passed away in 632, people could not believe it.

• Abu Bakr said, “whoever has been worshipping Muhammad know that Muhammad is dead. But those who worship God, know that He is the Living and will never die”. (Khalid, 2005, p. 6)

• He then recited the verse:

“Muhammad is but a Messenger, and Messengers passed away before him. If, then, he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back on his heels can in no way harm God. But God will reward the thankful ones.” (Qur’an, 3:144)




• Three main groups, the Ansar (Helpers), the Muhajirun (migrants) and the tribal members of the Prophet (pbuh) gathered to mourn.

• Various people spoke and made suggestions on who should be the successor to the Prophet in terms of leader of Muslims.

• Shortly before the Prophet’s death, he asked Abu Bakr to lead the prayer, some had taken this as an indication of the Prophet’s preference as Abu Bakr to be his successor

• Eventually Abu Bakr is elected as the caliph.

• Ali was not present at these deliberations.




• During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr, Islam had spread throughout Arabia entirely and was under a unified Muslim leadership

• Islam had also spread further through conquests of Syria (under the control of the Byzantines) and Iraq

• He also began the process of collecting transcriptions of the Qur’an



Abu Bakr’s Legacy

• He was seen as a resolute leader.

• He showed good leadership after the death of the Prophet to hold the community unified.

• He preserved the integrity of Islam with his stance at the zakat crisis.

• Abu Bakr commissions the compilation of the Qur’an into a volume.



Omar’s Election

• When Abu Bakr was ill, he called for council of leading companions and nominated Omar as the next caliph.

• Overwhelmingly, people agreed with the nomination.• Only Ali and Talha raised

concerns saying that Omar had a rather harsh disposition.

• Abu Bakr said that the weight of the role would soften him up.

• All swore allegiance to Omar including Ali and Talha.



Omar’s Caliphate • The Byzantine

superpowers are defeated by the Muslim’s • The Byzantines are pushed

out of Syria• The Persian super power’s

were also defeated in Iraq • Jerusalem was conquered

• When Jerusalem was conquered, Omar announced that the Jews that were previously were welcome to return

• Muslims conquered Egypt



Omar’s Legacy

• In 644, Omar was assassinated by a disgruntled Persian prisoner of war.

• He was known as a just ruler with his unwavering sense of justice

• Established the start of the Muslim calendar with migration to Medina (622) as year one

• Established a welfare state with financial and social services

• Established new cities like Cairo, Basra and Kufa – in these cities he maintained local peoples freedoms



Uthman’s Election

• Omar suggested that next caliph should be chosen from the six leading companions –Ali, Uthman, Abdurrahman, Sa’d, Zubayr and Talha.

• After deliberations and consultations with people it was close between Uthman and Ali.

• Finally the public opinion swayed towards Uthman.

• Everyone swore allegiance to Uthman including Ali.



Compilation of the Qur’an• Uthman’s most notable

contribution was the final compilation of the Qur’an • Since Islam had spread

into so many different regions, there was a need for an authentic copy of the Qur’an• Copies were sent to

surrounding regions to new Islamic states



Uthman’s Caliphate

• In the first six years • The borders of Islam grew

further west in North Africa and Central Asia

• Definitive copy of the Qur’an was produced in standard pronunciation and sent to the Muslim world

• Second six years• He was accused of being

soft and appointing people from his tribe to key posts

• A small group of rebels from Egypt come to Medina and end up assassinating him



Ali’s Election and Immediate Issues• Ali was unanimously elected as caliph

in 656 in Medina when the city was under rebel control.

• He had two immediate issues to deal with.• Catching and punishing the murderers

of Uthman

• How to deal with governors who were the source of complaints.

• He opted to wait until he had full control to punish the murderers.

• He replaced all governors immediately.

• Mu’awiyah, governor of Syria, refused to step down until assassins of Uthman were punished.



The First Break in Muslim Unity • Meanwhile A’isha, Muhammad’s

wife, was returning from Mecca to Medina when she heard of the murder of Uthman and election of Ali as caliph.

• She decided to return to Mecca and wowed to avenge Uthman’s murderers.

• A’isha together with others went to Basra and raised an army to punish the murderers of Uthman.

• Meanwhile, Ali was preparing to march Syria but turned towards Basra to deal with this situation.

• Eventually fighting broke out. A’isha and her forces were defeated.



An Inevitable Confrontation • Ali took control over the Muslim

world with the exception of Syria.

• The confrontation with Mu’awiyah, governor of Syria, came when two armies met at Siffin.

• Negotiations failed and fighting broke out.

• Caliph’s forces were winning the battle when the other side asked for arbitration.

• Arbitration failed and resulted in two caliphs – Ali centred in Iraq and Mu’awiya centred in Syria.



End of an Era

• A group amongst the army of Ali refused the idea of arbitration.• They became the Kharijites

(outsiders) who accused both Ali and Mu’awiyyah.

• Kharijites became a major problem for civilians and authorities as they carried out violence against civilians.

• Eventually Kharijites assassinated Ali in 661 ending the thirty year era of Rightly Guided Caliphs.



Ali’s Legacy

• Ali was a popular, charismatic heroic leader

• Lead Muslims during transitions from the generation of companions to the next generation

• Ali tried to maintain a pious state rather than lapse into an imperial one

• He was tasked with the enormous responsibilities of brining the assasins of Uthman to justice and dealing with the first war amongst the Muslims


Outcomes of the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs



Conquests

• Islam rapidly spread to a large geography through conquests.

• People were not forced to convert.

• Times of peace were the only times when Islam spread

• Often Muslims won over the indigenous populations by their tolerant and fair rule.

• When judging matters amongst people, the Prophet would rule according to the laws and traditions of those people



Sunni-Shi’ite Divide• Sunni à Comes from the word

“Sunnah”• Shi’ite à Comes from the term

“Shi’ite Ali” meaning “Partisans of Ali”

• The Shi’ite viewpoint that after the Prophet’s death, Ali should have immediately assumed leadership

• The political polarisation during Ali’s tenure eventually lead to the Sunni-Shi’ite orientations.• Main issue was the idea of justice

on the murder of Uthman.• While Ali wanted delayed

absolute justice, others wanted immediate justice.



Sunni-Shi’ite Divide

• Debate over whether caliphs represented religious and political authority produced further differences.• Shiites believed caliph must

have both whereas Sunnis saw that caliphs were not perfect therefore caliphs represent executive power and scholars the religion.

• Opposition to Umayyad rule (681-750) coalesced around the family of the Prophet Muhammad – Ali and his sons Hassan and Husayn (also grandsons of the prophet).



Similarities

• Because of the unique disposition of each human being, it is inevitable that there will be different religious interpretations • Whilst Sunni and Shi’ite

Muslims have differences, there are also many similarities amongst the two groups



Similarities1. The Qur’an is

accepted as the ultimate reference

2. The essentials of faith, the five pillars of Islam are the same

3. The objectivity of early Muslim scholars in preserving the sunnah

4. Islamic practices continued to be carried out in communal matters


Practical Differences Sunni Islam

1. Leadership in the Sunni orientation is elected on the basis of competence and leadership

2. Sources of Islamic Law come from Qur’an, Hadith and scholarly interpretations

3. There is a direct relationship between God & human beings, and scholars are nothing but interpreters of the religion

Shi’ite Islam

1. In Shi’ite Islam, the leader of the community should be a direct descendant of the Prophet

2. Shiite maintain their own collections of the traditions, which include the Sunnah of the Prophet and also those of Ali and the Imams. Shiites also do not accept any narratives from the majority of the companions of the Prophet.

3. Ali, and the other Imams were divinely inspired and intermediaries between God and the believers


Practical Differences

Sunni Islam

4. General Islamic holidays such as both Eids and Ramadan are celebrated

5. Sunni practice is centred on the five pillars of Islam and the associated practice of the Prophet.

Shi’ite Islam

4. Shi’ite Muslims celebrate the same holidays Sunni Muslims do, however they also celebrate the birthdays and mourn the deaths of the Imams. They also mourn Husayn’s martyrdom at Karbala. 5. In addition to daily prayers, Shiism has developed dramatic recitations, passion plays and street processions centring on the tragedy of Karbala.



Preservation of Islam

• Scholarly companions and their gifted students stayed out of politics and focused on teaching Islam and preserving its spiritual tradition.

• The Qur’an was put into a volume early and hadith were collected.

• All Islamic scholarly disciplines have their foundation in this period.

• Islam grew over time as people converted at will as “there is no compulsion in religion” (Qur’an, 2:256).


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