Transcript The Origins of Islam

The Origins of Islam
Standard 7.2.1
• Identify the physical features and describe
the climate of the Arabian peninsula, its
relationship to surrounding bodies of land
and water, and nomadic and sedentary
ways of life.
Standard 7.2.2
• Trace the origins of Islam and the life and
teachings of Muhammad, including Islamic
teachings on the connection with Judaism
and Christianity.
Background Knowledge
• We previously learned about Christianity in the
Byzantine Empire.
• Islam was developing around the same time
• Based on the teachings of the prophet
Muhammad.
• Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam was based
on the worship of one god.
• Geography and culture of Arabia, where Islam
began.
The Arabian Setting
• Arabia is a large peninsula more than
1,000 miles long. It is located in southwest
Asia, between Mesopotamia and Africa.
The Arabian Setting
A Difficult Land
• Arabia is nearly surrounded by water.
– The Persian Gulf lies to the east, the Arabian
Sea to the south, and the Red Sea to the
west.
• Arab sailors crossed those seas to trade
with East Africa, India, and China.
A Difficult Land
• For most of its history,
Arabians were able to avoid
foreign conquest.
• Harsh environments
Nafud Desert
– Nafud Desert
• natural barrier between
southwest Asia.
– Rub al-Khali “Empty Quarter,”
• covers much of the Arabian
interior to the south.
Rub al-Khali
A Difficult Land
• Rugged mountains along the western and
southern edges of the Arabian Peninsula.
– rainfall and conditions are better for settlement.
• Arabia has little water and no permanent
rivers.
A Difficult Land
• Oasis - a fertile place in the desert where
a spring or well provides a water supply.
A Tribal Culture
• Nomadic life - people move
from place to place, with no
fixed home.
• Sedentary life in oasis
towns or trade centers.
• Both organized into tribes.
– loyalty was to tribe and
family, not rulers.
A Tribal Culture
• Nomads
– Bedoiuns
• Herd sheep or goats
• Camels for transportation
• Sometimes raid other tribes for
supplies
A Tribal Culture
• Sedentary
• Farmers and traders
– Farmed lands around oases
– Traded in towns along routes
• Mecca
– Commercial center
The Story of Muhammad
• Mecca was a trading city,
and a religious center.
• Kaaba
– where people worshiped the
local gods.
• Drew thousands of visitors
Muhammad’s Early Life
• Married a wealthy,
widowed merchant
named Khadija.
• Concern with the
greed, corruption, and
violence in Meccan
society.
– traditions of honor and
duty were being
ignored.
Muhammad’s Early Life
• Muhammad retreated
to a cave to pray and
reflect.
• The angel Gabriel
appeared before him
and told him to spread
God’s word.
The Rise of Islam
• Muhammad began to
preach in the streets of
Mecca.
– He told Arabs to worship
the one true God, called
Allah in Arabic, and to give
up their sinful ways.
– Allah was the same God
who had spoken to
Abraham, Jesus, and the
other prophets of Judaism
and Christianity.
The Rise of Islam
• Final prophet with the
most complete version
of God’s truth.
• The Qur’an names this
religion Islam.
– Submission (to God)
The Rise of Islam
• Gradually, Muhammad
began to win believers.
They were called Muslims,
or followers of Islam.
• Many Arabs were hostile to
Muhammad’s message,
however. They began to
persecute Muhammad and
his followers.
The Hijra
“city of the prophet.”
• Medina
Yathrib
• 275 miles
• Mecca
In 622, Muhammad and
his followers flee
The Hijra
• Muhammad continued
his religious teaching
and became Medina’s
political and military
leader.
– He began to lead raiding
parties on Mecca and its
caravan trade.
The Hijra
• In 628, After several key
victories the Muslims
attempt the return to
Mecca
• Treaty of Hudaybiyyah
– Peace between the
Muslims and the
inhabitants of Mecca
The Hijra
• In 630, peace is broken
– Muhammad returned to
Mecca banned worship of
the old gods and
proclaimed Islam to be
the religion of Arabia.
• Conversions throughout
the Arabian Peninsula
– united under Muslim rule
• Muhammad died two
years later.
– Islam continued to spread
across the Middle East.