Origins of Islam

1. The Arabian Peninsula Bedouins Limited Farming Trading towns Nomadic Arab people Limited Farming Trading towns Mecca Both a trading and religious center Kaaba Ancient Building considered sacred Holds what is believed to be a meteorite

2. Muhammad the Messenger His Life Born about 570 A.D. Married at the age of 25 Judaism and Christianity influenced his thinking 610 A.D., had a dream in which he was commanded by an angel to speak messages, or revelations by God (Allah) Would become both a prophet and political leader

b. Revelations Allah was the one and only true and all-powerful God Began preaching in public 3 years after his dream Criticized the belief in many gods

c. Sharing Revelations 622- Muhammad move to Medina His journey from Mecca to Medina would become known as the hejyruh or hijra Built up followers and their faith became known as Islam Means “achieving peace through submission to God” Followers became known as Muslim

3. Basic Ideas of Islam Followers would later write down Muhammad’s revelations This would form the Qur’an Sacred text of Islam 5 pillars of Islam Profession of faith “There is no god but God (Allah) and Muhammad is the messenger of God” Signals acceptance of the faith Denies existence of gods and goddesses Affirms that Muhammad was a man not a deity

ii. Performance of five daily prayers Worshipers always face Mecca when they pray iii. Giving of alms, or charity, to the needy and poor Required to give certain amount of their income to charity iv. Required to fast Go without food or water from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan

v. Journey to Mecca Only if you are financially and physically able Journey called hajj Gather and pray around the city’s mosque Building where Muslims worship

d. Guidelines for Behavior Qur’an provides guidelines for moral behavior Forbidden to eat pork or drink alcoholic beverages Must wash themselves before praying to be pure before God Prohibits murder, lying and stealing

ii. Jihad Has several meanings Can be translated to mean “Struggle for the Faith” Struggle to defend the Muslim community Has also been translated as “holy war”

e. The Summa and Sharia Summa Means “tradition” Provides guidance in many areas Personal relationships Business dealings Religious practice

ii. Sharia Law Part of the Muslim legal system Outlines methods of reasoning and arguing legal cases

f. The People of the Book Islam is monotheistic, like Judaism and Christianity Teach that Allah is the same God in Jewish and Christian traditions Muhammad saw Abraham, Moses and Jesus as messengers from God, but he was the last prophet

iv. See the sacred text from Judaism and Christianity as coming from Allah but Qur’an has the greatest authority v. Told to respect Jews and Christianity as “people of the book”

4. Division in Islam Sunnis Followers of Mu’awiya Name means “followers of Summa” or “way of the prophet”

b. Shia Formed by those who did not support Mu’awiya Followed Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali Believed God had blessed Ali’s descendents because they were Muhammad’s true heirs Call each of Ali’s successors Iman

c. Sufis Seek a mystical, personal connection with God