Islam and the Early

Caliphates

The Arabian Peninsula Pre-IslamThe Arabian Peninsula Pre-Islam• mostly nomadic tribes (Bedouins)mostly nomadic tribes (Bedouins)

• Tribes often foughtTribes often fought

• Worshipped a large variety of godsWorshipped a large variety of gods

• Took pride in oral traditions/group Took pride in oral traditions/group loyaltyloyalty

• TRADERS (Muhammad was a TRADERS (Muhammad was a merchant)merchant)

Abraham’s GenealogyAbraham’s Genealogy

ABRAHAMABRAHAM SARAHSARAHHAGARHAGAR

IsaacIsaac

EsauEsauJacobJacob

12 Tribes of Israel

12 Tribes of Israel

Ishmael

Ishmael

12 Arabian Tribes

12 Arabian Tribes

The Prophetic Tradition

The Prophetic Tradition

Adam

Noah

Abraham

Moses

Jesus

Muhammad

MeccaMecca

• Major trading/religious cityMajor trading/religious city• Importance of the KaabaImportance of the Kaaba• located between Byzantine and located between Byzantine and

Sassanid EmpireSassanid Empire

The MessengerThe Messenger

• Muhammad (570-632 C.E.)Muhammad (570-632 C.E.)• Retreats and revelationsRetreats and revelations• Famous text: QuranFamous text: Quran• Rejection of the Kaaba’s godsRejection of the Kaaba’s gods• Growing movement towards Growing movement towards

Allah/Yahweh as deity #1! Allah/Yahweh as deity #1! • Followers were kicked out of Followers were kicked out of

town (the Hijra) town (the Hijra)

QuranQuran

• Holy book of IslamHoly book of Islam• Called for a creation of a new Called for a creation of a new

society (Umma) based on justicesociety (Umma) based on justice

The Five Pillars of The Five Pillars of IslamIslam

1. The Shahada1. The Shahada

11

The declaration of faith:

There is no god except God, There is no god except God, and Muhammad is Hisand Muhammad is HisMessenger.Messenger.

There is no god except God, There is no god except God, and Muhammad is Hisand Muhammad is HisMessenger.Messenger.

2. The Salat2. The Salat

22

Prayers performed 5 times a day: * dawn * noon * late afternoon * sunset * before going to bed

Wash before praying.

Face Mecca and use a prayer rug.

2. The Salat (continued)2. The Salat (continued)

22

The call to prayer by the muezzin in the minaret.

Pray in the mosque on Friday.

3. The Zakat3. The Zakat

33

Almsgiving (charitable donations).

About 2.5% of your wealth.

4. The Sawm4. The Sawm

44

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.

5. The Hajj5. The Hajj

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The pilgrimage to Mecca.

Must be done at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime.

2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year.

Pil

Pilgrims On The Road toAnd Camped

Outside of Mecca

Muslims in the WorldToday

Muslims in the WorldToday

Countries with the Largest Muslim

Population

Countries with the Largest Muslim

Population1. Indonesia 230,000,00

06. Iran 62,000,000

2. Pakistan 134,000,000

7. Egypt 59,000,000

3. India 121,000,000

8. Nigeria 53,000,000

4. Bangladesh

114,000,000

9. Algeria 31,000,000

5. Turkey 66,000,000 10. Morocco 29,000,000* Arabs make up only 20% of the total Muslim population of the

world.

In What region of the world do the In What region of the world do the largest number of Muslims live?largest number of Muslims live?

a.a. EuropeEurope

b.b. North AfricaNorth Africa

c.c. The Middle EastThe Middle East

d.d. South and Southeast AsiaSouth and Southeast Asia

e.e. Sub-Saharan AfricaSub-Saharan Africa

The Spread of IslamThe Spread of Islam Easy to learn and practice.

No priesthood.

Teaches equality.

Follow one law; The Sharia

Non-Muslims allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes.

Easily “portable” nomads & trade routes.

The Weakness of nearby empires (Byzantine & Persian) allowed conquest

The Dar al-Islam: The Unity found across Muslim areas supported

by common practice

The Dar al-Islam: The Unity found across Muslim areas supported

by common practice

11 22 33 44 55

The WorldThe Worldof Islamof Islam

The WorldThe Worldof Islamof Islam

Arab Empire: Early Arab Empire: Early YearsYears Muhammad’s death

caused division – who should lead?

Abu Bakr elected (632-Abu Bakr elected (632-634)634)

Goal of conquest brings Goal of conquest brings the the ummaumma together together

Motives for Motives for ConquestConquest United

Distraction from internal fighting

Promised a share of the booty

AVOIDED mass conversions

so they wouldn’t have to share their booty

so they could tax subjects at higher rates

Chart Time!Chart Time!

• Instructions: Make a Venn Diagram Instructions: Make a Venn Diagram with 3 circles with at least three with 3 circles with at least three examples of how Islam spread by examples of how Islam spread by way of social, religious, and military way of social, religious, and military factors (at least one of each).factors (at least one of each).