Islam Spreads From Arabia

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Islam Spreads From Arabia

• Most of the Arabian peninsula is a desert
  plateau.
• The herders or Bedouins lived as nomads.
• Tribal leaders were called sheiks.
• Mecca was the start of the caravan route to Syria.

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Islam Spreads From Arabia
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Muhammad the Prophet

• Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 A.D. (
  Caravan route) (ideas)
• He was raised as a Hanif or believer in one god
  like the Hebrews.
• When Muhammad was 40 he had a religious vision of
  Gabriel telling to preach the word of Allah or
  God.
• Meccas rulers didnt like Muhammads preaching.
  Forced to flee. ( hijra)

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Muhammad and Islam

• Muhammad goes to Medina on his hijra and converts
  many to Islam.
• He returns to Mecca and takes the city and the
  holy shrine, the Kaba.
• He destroys the many idols in the Kaba, and it
  becomes the focal point of the pilgrimage to
  Mecca.
• By 632, Muhammads death, most of Arabia had
  accepted Islam.

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The Faith of Islam

• The central belief of Islam, There is no god but
  Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.
• The Quran is the holy book of Islam.
• Muhammad taught tolerance for the religions of
  Christianity and Judaism.
• The Quran is written in Arabic and Muslims
  discourage translations.
• This spread the Arabic language.

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The Faith of Islam(cont)

• Muslims must meet five obligations. The Five
  Pillars of Faith. Recite the words of witness.
  There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his
  prophet.
• Worship five times a day facing Mecca.
• Give alms o the poor and needy.
• Fast during Ramadan. The ninth month of the
  Muslim calendar.
• Try to visit Mecca on a pilgrimage.

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The Faith of Islam(cont)

• Islam requires the virtues of temperance,
  humility, justice etc. Drinking alcohol and
  eating pork are forbidden.
• Islam only allowed four wives per husband. Slaves
  had to be treated humanely.
• Balal, Muhammads slave became the first muzzin
  or the caller to prayer.
• The jihad or defending the faith to the death was
  sacred and a way to heavan.

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The Faith of Islam(cont)

• Muslim mosques, or places of worship have no
  pictures.There is no elaborate ritual or priests.
  
• Fridays at noon male Muslims gather for prayer
  and worship. Women must worship at home or
  seperately.
• Abu Bakr was chosen in 632 as Muhammads
  successor. The caliph or successor to the
  prophet. Umar was the next caliph. They fought to
  spread Islam.

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The Spread of Islam

• Conquered people had three choices, convert, pay
  tribute, or die.
• Those that paid could keep their religion but
  could not hold political office.
• In less than 100 years Islam had spread over most
  of the Mediterranean region, northern Africa and
  parts of India.
• The Berbers or Moors entered Europe in Spain.
  Tariq conquered the Visigoths, Muslims turned
  back at Tours in France.

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Divisions in Islam

• The Sunnis believed there was no intercessor
  between Allah and the believer, except for the
  Quran.
• The Shiis believed that an imam or spiritual and
  secular authority was the true intercessor for
  Allah. The imam also was the head of government.
• The Sufis were Muslim mystics who led a Spartan
  life and communicated directly with Allah.

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