3. Specific objectives
• Identify the origin of Islam and its major beliefs.
• Describe the development of the Arab Empire.
• Identify the scientific and cultural achievements of
Muslim civilization.
4. The Arabian Peninsula before Islam
• It is a harsh desert land - early Arabs were nomads
living in oases.
• Organized into tribes ruled by a sheikh.
• Domestication of the camel - Arabs spread farther
into the desert.
• Expansion of trade routes - linking Indian Ocean and
Mediterranean Sea (continuation of the Silk Road).
• Communities along trading routes prospered.
5.
6. Early Religious Beliefs
• Polytheistic, though
recognized Allah as a
supreme god.
• All tribes worshiped
the Black Stone,
inside the Kaaba.
7. Life of Muhammad
• Born in Makkah (Mecca) to a merchant family.
• Became caravan manager and married Khadija.
• Troubled by economic inequalities, began to go to the
hills to meditate.
• There he received the revelation from God, through
the archangel Gabriel.
8. • Muhammad moved
to Yathrib (Medina)
in 622 - year 1 in
Islamic calendar.
• Returned to conquer
Makkah in 630.
• Died in 632.
9. The Foundations of Islam
• Monotheistic - one God, Allah, created the universe.
• Muhammad is a prophet, a
messenger of Allah's revelation - his
is the final revelation.
• Continuation of Jewish and
Christian revelations.
• The Quran is the sacred book of
Islam.
11. Primary Source - The Quran
"He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah, but if any turn
away, We have not sent thee to watch over them ...
Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah an excellent
example for him who Hopes in Allah and the Final Day, and
who remember Allah much ...
It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter
has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any
option about their decision. If any disobeys Allah and His
Messenger, He is indeed on a clearly wrong path..."
12. Primary Source - The Pilgrimage to
Makkah
"After entering Meccah we bathed, and when the noon drew
nigh we repared to the Haram for the purpose of hearing
the sermon. Descending to the cloistered below the Bab el
Ziyadah, I stood wonderstruck by the scene before me. The
vast quadrangle was crowded with worshipers sitting in
long rows, and everywhere facing the central black tower:
the showy colors of their dresses were not to be surpassed
by a garden of e most brilliant flowers, and such diversity of
detail would probably not be seen massed together in any
other building upon earth."
- Sir Richard Burton, from Personal Narrative
13. Islamic Law
• Islam stresses the need to obey the will of Allah -
through the 5 pillars.
• Islam is not only a set of religious beliefs but a way of
life.
• The shari'ah applies Quran teachings to daily life.
• Regulates all aspects of Muslim life (family life,
business practices, government, moral
conduct).
• Does not separate religion from civil law.
14. Islam, Christianity and Judaism
• They are all three monotheistic religions.
• Muslims believe that Allah revealed himself through
Abraham, Moses and Jesus but that Allah's final
revelations were given to Muhammad.
• Abraham and Moses are key prophets in all three
religions; Jesus is considered a prophet in Islam.
• Muslims do not believe Muhammad is divine, but
only a prophet.
