Spread Of Islam

Before Muhammad was born...

545

Makkah
Important trade stop and religious center of Arabia
Many people because of the fresh water well
Location of the Kaaba-shrine (300 idols)
Many religions
Arabs:
Abhar=to move or pass
Majority of first inhabitants=Bedouins
Arabs are Semites-descendants of Noah's son
Qur'anic tradition-descendants of Abraham's son Ishmael
Camels and Swords
No strong central govt.
Animistic Polytheism
Quraysh:
powerful local tribe of Arabs
wanted tribes to give idols to put in Kaaba with fee for protection

Birth Of Muhammad

570

Muhammad's Early Life

590

Angels told Amina, from the Hashim family of the Quraysh tribe, to name her son Muhammad, or "highly praised". Muhammad was born between 570 and 580. His father died before his birth, and his mother died when he was 6. He was raised by his uncle, Abu Talib.
He was not educated, but became very good at work:
Young man-worked for a wealthy widow, Khadija
Reputation-seeker of solitude

Muhammad's realization

Nov 1, 600

Married-Khadija, had 7 children-1 daughter survived-Fatima
Around the age of 40, Muhammad started to think about the flaws in the society. He believed there was something wrong with the way people lived in Mecca. Many were wealthy, but many were poor and not getting help. The tribes were constantly at war with each other.
He retreated to the mountains
He found a cave and stayed to pray and fast
Finally, a vision of the angel Gabriel came to him...

What Gabriel revealed

Nov 6, 612

Gabriel revealed the name of Allah, in Arabic
He told Muhammad to
repeat the sacred word and share it with the people
After two years of continuing to go to the cave and learn the teachings of Allah, he began preaching the visions
Muhammad is seen as a prophet
He told the people that Allah was the only G-d all people should worship. Jews and Christians don't have to convert
The rich need to share with the poor
Strong protect the weak
pray 3 times a day
His beliefs were written down in the Quran

But...:(.....:)

Nov 6, 614

The Quraysh were not happy with his teachings
Merchants too disliked the message
617 him and his followers now called muslims began facing discrimination in Mecca
The leaders of the city told the people to boycott the muslims and not give them food. This lasted for 2 yrs, starvation, the death of Muhammad's wife and uncle
Another vision
He flew to Jerusalem, preached to prophets, and then got to take a tour of the heavens
621-Yathrib-tired of fighting-converted to Islam-First Islamic Community

From Mecca to Yathrib to Medina

Nov 6, 622

Although he had a victory, they were still in danger
622-they all moved to Yathrib (this year is known as the beginning of the Muslim era)
The Quraysh were mad
Muhammad's action:
first time a tribe split off
all things were based on kin, but the only thing for them was religion
Muhammad got all people of Yathrib together- told them they would protect eachother--Medina

Medina

Nov 6, 632

His home was the first mosque-open rooms
Muhammad took as many as 11 wives-rule was four
Muhammad let all people with other faiths worship freely
Another vision-change the direction the muslims face for their prayers-quiblah
faced Jerusalem-Mecca
death- 632
united most of the region under islam
After his death, Islam still spread

After Muhammad's Death...immediate effects

Nov 10, 633

After the year 632 when Muhammad died, nobody knew who would lead the 100,000 muslims in their faith, and the political state for them. As a result, many tribes who had converted fell, and the fights between tribes began happening once again. Some tribes began to not pay the zakat at all.

After The Death.....continued

Nov 11, 633

Abu Bakr
one of Muhammad's first followers
good friend of his
After Muhammad died, a council of his closest advisors concurred that Abu Bakr should become the Caliph-religious and political
needed to reunite the community
military campaigns in 633 against the "ex-muslims"-Riddah Wars
revived islam tribes
he started making the Qu'ran
he died in 634-he still made a difference
inner and political damage to Byzantine empire-634-holy war!

Ridda Wars

Nov 13, 633

military campaigns in 633 against the "ex-muslims"-Riddah Wars
revived islam tribes/led by Abu Bakr needed to revive the islamic religion-forced tribes to return
he did get many many muslims back, and he also was able to redirect their fighting to other empires.

Umar

Nov 13, 634

secong of the"four righteous caliphs"
used to be an enemy of muhammad
umars daughter married muhammad
umar became muhamads advisor
Abu Bakr chose himto lead after he died
experienced military leader
great expansion of arabs-conquered byzantine empire(including mesopotamia and syria)
israel became muslim--causes the modern day long term conflict
umar was a brilliant organizer
let conquered ppl retain their lands if they payed a certain tax
he was harsh but respected.

Uthman

Nov 13, 644

third of the "four righteous caliphs"
noble fam
one of the first muslims-memorize the entire Qur'an
married two of muhammad's gaughters
umar was wounded, so a council appointed him to lead
he expanded the islamic empire to iran, north africa, and caucuses
his fam was made into athority-this angerred many--maybe corruption
he was assasinated
civil war bc assasins were not punished
uthman standardized the qu'ran
completed it and sent manuscripts to write new ones
all other ones are burned

Umayyad Dynasty 661-750

Nov 14, 661

expansion of islam after muhammads death--military campaigns--expand arab rule
100 year period--Arab Expansion
Arabs conquered Byz. Empire, Sassanid emp.
Arab kingdom--empire of caliphate--from atlantic to china
not for islam-nobody forced to change religion-just to expand arab land
661-750=arab kingdom ruled by the umayyad fam-they added spain, north africa, and parts of central asia...doubled size
fell to rebel fighters in 750--abbasid dynasty ruled until 1258

Byzantines vs Persian empire

Nov 13, 750

they been conflicted for a long time
after muhammads death they were exhausted and weak bc of inner religious and political stuff
abu bakr--holy war
Byz..
greek+christian
umar took over the fighters
conquered jerusalem, iraq, syria, palestine, egypt, and annexed mesopotamia
Persian..
Zoroastrianism-prophet was zarathustra-first major monotheistic religion
750 arabs were from atlantic to india
jews and christians could still worship as long as long as they payed respects to leaders
muslimempires

Abbasid Dynasty 750-1258

Nov 14, 750

one of the two impt dynasties that made up the Empire of the Caliphate--all lands and ppl under muslim rule
abbasids took over umayyad
1258-mongols invaded and overthrew tham
umayyads-attention was on the west (Southern Europe, Mediterranean, North Africa)
Abbasids-Looked East-capital is Baghdad
internal rivalries weakened and later broke it--separate nonreligious dynasties that collapsed when Mongols came