The Rise and Spread of Islam: A Powerful and Influential Faith

1. Chapter 11: The Islamic World As the Byzantines were struggling to carry on the traditions of the Roman Empire, another empire was developing on the Arabian Peninsula based on a new religion. This faith would affect cultures and civilizations in a large part of the world. It is still one of the strongest spiritual movements in the world of today.

2. Terminology: The religion is called ISLAM. The people are called MUSLIMS. ARABS are people whose ancestry comes from the Arabian Peninsula (nothing to do with religion). 2

3. Section 1: The Rise of Islam

4. Section 1: The Rise of Islam Geography: Most of the Arabian Peninsula is desert – therefore many Arab herders (Bedouins) were nomads – herded sheep and camels Bedouins were organized into tribes and tribal leaders were called sheikhs

5. Coastal lands had milder climates and towns grew up in these areas People on the coasts became traders Goods were transported to the city of Mecca, on a caravan route running north to Syria

6. The Prophet Muhammad: • Born into a poor clan in Mecca about AD 570 • When he was about 40, the angel Gabriel told him he was a prophet of God • Rulers were against Muhammad’s teachings and feared he might stop Arab pilgrims from worshipping idols at the Kaaba in Mecca

7. The Kaaba Mecca, Saudi Arabia

8. Muhammad moved his followers to the town of Yathrip in a journey known as the hijrah Yathrip became known as Medina, the “City of the Prophet” Muhammad gained followers; led to war between Mecca and Medina

9. The Hijrah from Mecca to Medina

10. Finally Mecca submitted and Muhammad went back there in AD 630 • Idols were destroyed and Muhammad rededicated the Kaaba to the worship of one god, Allah • New religion was called Islam and Muhammad converted many Bedouin tribes • Islam spread across Arabia and the Middle East and into North Africa

11. Why Islam Spread Islam unified the fighting Bedouin tribes One God meant One People Islam was accepting of all people – young and old, rich and poor, men and women Gave them a common ground and no reason to continue fighting

12. The Spread of Islam

13. The Islamic Faith: Islam is monotheistic, and each believer must obey God’s will Followers are called Muslims Holy book is the Qur’an – word of God as revealed to Muhammad Five Pillars of Islam are rules for right living

14. Five Pillars of Islam Prayer: Muslims pray 5 times a day, facing Mecca Faith: Belief in one God and that Muhammad is his prophet Alms: Giving money to the poor is required, not optional Fasting: During the month of Ramadan, Muslims cannot eat or drink anything during daylight hours Hajj: Once in their lives, Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca (if they can afford it)

15. Jihad, or “the struggle to defend the faith” – some believed anyone who died in this struggle would be rewarded in heaven – only Muslim extremists take this to the point of terrorism Worship in mosques No official religious leaders (no clergy), just worship guides

16. Myth #1:Most Muslims are Arabs who live in the Middle East. 3

17. Reality: Of more than 1 billion Muslims worldwide, only about 1/5 are Arabs. 4

18. Try to Guess: Which country has more Muslims than any other country in the world? 5

19. Answer: Indonesia - with over 200 million Muslims. (The U.S. has about 5 million Muslims.) 6

21. Myth #2:Muslims have a strange religion and worship a god called Allah. 8

22. Reality: Muslims are monotheistic and worship the same one God as Christians and Jews. 9

23. Myth #3: Muslims believe it is okay to kill civilians in a holy war (“jihad”). 11

24. Reality: Only Muslim extremists believe this. (Just like most Christians do NOT believe in bombing abortion clinics.) 12

25. Myth #4: Most Muslim women wear veils over their faces and are treated very badly. 13

26. Reality: • Muslim women have many different styles of dress. (Very few cultures require women to cover their faces.) • The treatment of women varies from country to country and family to family. • Some Muslim countries have had female prime ministers. The U.S. has never had a female president. 14

27. Section 2: The Spread of Islam

28. At this time, Muslims were tolerant of Christians and Jews (called them “People of the Book”) • Did not demand conversion to Islam • Could choose to accept Islam or pay extra taxes – some who refused both options were killed • Muslims swept eastward through part of India and westward to much of North Africa • Also conquered islands in Mediterranean Sea • In 711, invaded Spain and thus brought Islam to Europe

29. Section 3: Islamic Civilization

30. A Culture of Traders: • Empire linked Europe, Asia, and Africa • Made textiles, products from gold and silver, steel swords, jewelry, perfumes, spices, pottery, glassware, leather goods • Islamic Empire became wealthy • Exchanged ideas through trade, too – many Europeans viewed the Muslim world as a source of advanced knowledge in science, banking, and trade

31. The Sciences: Advances in use of herbs, foods, and prepared drugs Improved surgical instruments and processes New ideas about hygiene First school of pharmacy

32. Accurate measurers of distance Accurate world maps Astrolabe – able to chart star positions (for sea travel) Math system based on 10 (Arabic numerals; used today)