1. Creativity in the Desert

2.  2 nd largest religion  Fastest growing  Islam = religion  Muslim = adherent  “One who submits (to God)”  Majority found in North Africa & Asia

4.  Tribal society on the Arabian Peninsula  Caravan traders, nomadic shepherds  Tribal organization  Claimed descent from Abraham  Blood feuds  Pre-Mohammad Religion  animism  Mecca  trading & religious center  Ka’ba  controlled by Umayyad Clan

6.  Early Life  City of Mecca  Marriage & Business  Worked for Khadijah trading goods  Married Kahdijah, 15 years his senior  Marriage was idyllic  Contemplative person  Went to a cave at Mount Hira to meditate  While there…

7.  Angel Jibreel appeared  Revelations from Allah  Taught the basics of Islam  Qur’an (Koran)  similiar to the doctrine and covenants  Non-revealed teachings called hadith  Stories & sayings of Mohammad  Obligation to teach the world  Mohammad = the Prophet  Mohammad not accepted in Mecca and left  Why was he not accepted?

10.  The Hijrah (Hegira)  Mohammad’s trek from Mecca to Yathrib  marks 1 st year of Muslim calendar  Settled in Yathrib  Message was accepted  Jewish converts & interactions  Umma = Muslim community  Yathrib renamed Medina  “City of the Prophet”  1 st Muslim community  1 st mosque still exists

11.  Returned to Mecca  Now a religious, political, & military leader  War against Umayyads  Destroyed idols  Changed Ka’ba to a mosque  Umayyads convert  Died in 632 CE  Who will lead?  Abu Bakr (best friend) chosen as Caliph  Religious & political successor of Mohammad  Ali overlooked (cousin)  Question of leadership sets up rift in Islamic faith  Sunni vs. Shiite  Wars of Islamic Expansion led by Umayyads

12.  5 Pillars of Islam 1. Profess the faith 2. Pray 5 times daily 3. Fasting during the month of Ramadan 4. Give alms to the poor 5. Make a Hajj

16.  Appeals to people of many different backgrounds:  Accepted many monotheistic beliefs of Jews & Christians  5 Pillars can be followed easily by everyone  Polygamy permitted  Well-to-do encouraged to care for the needy  No priesthood developed  Prayer leaders instead  Equality of all people in the eyes of Allah  vs. in the eyes of man

17.  Interactions with Christians & Jews  Dhimmi = “People of the Book”  Believe in the same God  Need to accept Mohammad as last prophet  Christ is “word of God”  He did not die and was not resurrected  Definition of who were dhimmi changed as Islam expanded  ex. Hindus of India would later be included

18.  Jihad  Means suffering or struggle  Can be personal or national  To draw closer to God  People must unite in war to follow Allah’s will  Today  Terrorists call for jihad because of threat  BUT – innocent are killed and Muslims are not united in these jihads  Shari’a Law  Based on Qur’an & hadith  Muslim way of life; customs