Islamic Religion

What is Islam?
• Second largest religion in the world
– 1.2 Billion Muslims (20% of earth population)

• Began in modern day Saudi Arabia

• Based on beliefs on Jews & Christians

– Abraham is first important figure
– Belief in the same, single God

• Follows the teachings of the prophet Muhammad

 What is the Qur’an?
• Holy Book of Islam

• Revealed to Muhammad by the Angel

Gabriel

• Contains the words of Allah.

• Ideally, it should be read and printed

in Arabic only.

• Contains parts of the Torah and Bible

 Who is Muhammad?
• A prophet of God, but not a god himself
– He is not worshipped

• Born in Saudi Arabia, in city of Mecca

• A trader until age 40, when Qur’an revealed to

him.

• His teachings are the foundation of Islam.

 Who is Muhammad?
• Claimed to travel with Angles to Jerusalem one night
– Given tour of Heaven and Hell
– Temple built over the site where he went to heaven.

• He and his followers make polytheists in Mecca angry, move to

Medina. (hijra)

• After a decade, he invades Mecca.

• Later, he leads some battles himself to “defend the faith.”

• Dies in Medina at age 63

– No male sons
– Only one daughter
 Basic Islamic Beliefs
1. One unique god, without a partner or son.

1. Belief in God’s revealed books:

- Torah, Bible, Qur’an

2. Belief in all Gods prophets:

- Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad

3. A final day of judgment.

4. Belief in the angels of God.

 Other Beliefs
• Islam Emphasizes:
– Tolerance, Humility, Justice, generosity,
obedience to law, and courage.

• Islam Forbids the consumption of:

– Pork (pigs believed to be unclean)
– Alcohol
 The Five Pillars of Islam
• Muhammad said five pillars held up the building of
Islam:
1. Testimony of Faith
- “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”
2. Prayer:
- 5 times a day
3. Charity:
- 2.5% of Muslim income goes to the needy, mosques, etc
4. Fasting
- During Ramadan, no eating during the day
5. Hajj:
- Travel to Mecca at least once, if physically/financially able.
 The Hajj
• The Fifth Pillar of Islam
– Pilgrimage to Mecca

• 3-6 days of rituals and prayer

• Focus is on the Ka'ba, the holiest

shrine and supposed first house of
mankind.

• Pilgrims are called “hajji”

– Not to be used as a derogatory word
– Women may not go without men.
 Sects of Islam
• Two Major Sects:
– Sunni
– Shi’a (Shiite)

• Sunni
– approx 90% of Muslims
– Believe successors to Muhammad should be chosen by the community
– Do not believe in intermediary (middle-man) between Allah and people.

• Shi’a (Shiite)
– approx 10% of Muslims
– Think Muhammad’s successor should be his relatives
– Believe in an intermediary called an Imam
– Those with religious authority should rule govn’t too.
 Successors of Muhammad
• Abu Bakr is chosen as Caliph
– Bakr’s advisor becomes caliph later.

• To avoid civil wars of succession, each

diverted attention by invading neighboring,
non-Muslim nations.

• Weak Persian and Byzantine empires

made conquest easy.
Spread of Islam
 Spread of Islam
• Islam spreads despite major geographic barriers
including mountains and deserts.

• Is at first spread along the major trade routes to Mecca

and Medina.

• Arabic language facilitated trade and intellectual

activities.
– Arabic was the language of the Koran
– Therefore, all Muslims could communicate in Arabic.
– Traders thus spread the religion and other ideas as they traded.
 Arabs as Conquerors
• Tolerant of conquered people.

• Conquered people had three choices:

1. Convert to Islam
2. Don’t convert, pay annual tribute
* Non-Muslims could not be in government
3. Refusal of both meant death

• Muslims conquer major cities of Jerusalem and Damascus.

• Muslim invasion into Europe stopped at battle of Tours when Franks

defeat the Moors of Spain.

• In less than 100 years, Muslim/Arab empire spread from India to

Spain.
Spread of Islam
 The Crusades
• Muslims called Seljuk Turks invade Byzantium.

• Westerners try to “recapture” the Constantinople and

other “Holy Lands.”

• Seljuk Turks defeated.

• Crusades spread Arab ideas, culture, and art to

Western Europe.

• 200 years later, the Ottoman Turks finally defeat

Byzantine Empire in 1453 AD.
 Little Political Unity
• Despite a common language and religion,
political unity if the first Muslim Empire was
short-lived.
– People fought over who should be Caliph
– Sunni / Shi’a split

• Eventually the Muslim world split into three

caliphates (areas).
– Capitals at Cordova (Spain), Cairo (Egypt), and
Baghdad.
– Each had its own caliph.