Islam

Cornell Notes, Chapter 3:1 1. What background knowledge do I need to know?

2. What is the Arabian Setting?

1. Islam is a monotheistic (meaning one god) religion based on the teachings of Muhammad. 2. In southwest Asia, Arabia is more than 1,000 miles long.

Cornell Notes, Chapter 3:1 2a. Why was the land difficult?

2a. Arabia’s harsh environment: deserts both in the north (Nafud) and south (Rub al-Khali), and high mountain ranges in the south and west allowed it escape many foreign conquests. Oasis—a fertile place in the desert where a spring or well provides water supply.

Cornell Notes, Chapter 3:1 2b. What was 2b. In ancient Arabia, there were two ways of life: the Tribal  the nomadic (Bedouins) tribes were independent, Culture? sometimes vicious, lived in rural areas, crossed 

deserts on camels and herded animals the sedentary tribes were farmers and traders who lived near trade routes. Mecca, where Muhammad was born in 570, was the largest trade center.

Nomadic Life—people move from place to place, with no fixed home. Sedentary Life—people are settled.

Cornell Notes, Chapter 3:1 3. Muhammad grew up in Mecca (a 3. What was religious center) and worshipped at the Muhammad’s Kaaba. story? 3a. Orphaned, he grew up to marry Khadija. He became a wealthy and 3a. What respected societal member. Seeing happened in greed, corruption and violence, he retreated to a cave to pray. In 610 the Muhammad’s angel Gabriel appeared to him and early life? gave him a message. Although frightened, the visions continued and he became a ―prophet of the people.‖

Cornell Notes, Chapter 3:1 3b. Although he respected Judaism and Christianity, he believed he was god’s final prophet and he urged the Arabs not be sinful but worship ―the one true god.‖ Some received his words and became Muslims, but others were hostile. 3c. In 622 Muhammad and his followers fled to Yathrib (later known as Medina). This 3c. What was ―flight‖ was called the ―hijra.‖ In 630 he the Hijra? returned to Mecca after conquering it. He proclaimed Islam as the religion in Arabia. It spread quickly despite his death two years later.

3b. What happened during the rise of Islam?

Cornell Notes 3.2 The Beliefs of Islam  2.1 What are the Sacred Writings?

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 2.1a. What is the Qur’an?

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Muslims recognize the Jewish Torah and Christian Gospels as Holy Books Qur’an is most sacred text and the Muslim Holy book.

Qur’an is the word of God. Record of Muhammad’s revelations over period of 22 years Began in cave in 610, continued until Muhammad’s death in 632 Muhammad recited words, followers memorized and wrote some down

Cornell Notes Ch. 3 Sec 2 Cont.  1a. Continued

 Qur’an compiled in a book in 651 – 19 yrs after his death  Qur’an consists of 114 chapters made up of verses – Verses discuss nature of God, creation and the human soul – Also addresses moral, legal and family issues – Language is highly poetic

 1b.How is the Qur’an recited?

 Muslims believe that Qur’an is word of God and must be studied in original language  Treat with great devotion  Some carry with them wherever they go, memorize passages, parents recite to babies  1st lessons in reading/writing

Cornell Notes Ch. 3 Sec 2 Cont.  1c. What is the Sunnah?

 Other key source of Islamic thought  Traditions of the prophet  Refers to words and actions of Muhammad  Provides Muslims with guidelines for living proper life  Helps interpret difficult parts of the Qur’an  Sunnah is based on accounts from people who knew Muhammad

 1c. continued

 Followers recorded Muhammad’s thoughts in a collection of writings call the Hadith  Hadith is the written record of the Sunnah  Many passages deal with Islamic law  Others promote moral or ethical concepts  Muslims believe that because Muhammad was chosen by God, he is a perfect model for own behavior  Following the Sunnah = being faithful to Islamic principles

Cornell Notes Ch. 3 Sec. 2 cont.  2. What are Islam’s core beliefs?

 Several core beliefs form the basis of Muslim life: – Principle belief – existence of one God called Allah – God created universe and all things in it – Only one God in Islam; no human figure that represents God – Muhammad was prophet – no divine power – This sets Islam apart from Christianity  Christianity recognizes Jesus as the Son of God

Cornell Notes Ch. 3 Sec. 2 cont.  2a. What do Muslims believe about the soul and the afterlife?

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Muslims believe that each person has an individual and eternal soul. Freedom to choose between good and evil Choices in life affect what happens after death Afterlife spent in heaven or hell On a future judgment day, God will determine who will be saved Those who do not worship God will end up in hell Those who obey and surrender lives to God go to heaven Islam means ―surrender‖ in Arabic To be Muslim means to make a commitment to God

Cornell Notes Ch. 3 Sec. 2 cont.  2b. What are the Five Pillars?

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The Five Pillars are the five key religious duties 1. Declaration of Faith – ―There is no God but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God.‖ 2. Prayer – Muslims pray five times a day – In many parts of world, a muezzin, (or prayer caller) announces times of prayer from the tower of a mosque

Mosque – a Muslim house of worship - when they pray, Muslims kneel and face in the direction of Mecca - They begin prayers with the first line of Qur’an

 2b. Cont.

 3. Almsgiving – charity Alms - goods or money given to the poor or needy - Duty of all Muslims to share wealth with less fortunate

 4. Fasting during the month of Ramadan – Fasting means not eating or drinking for a period of time – Ramadan is the month in which Muhammad received his first revelation – During this month Muslims do not eat food from sunrise to sunset – Tests submission to God, reminds them of hunger of poor

Cornell Notes Ch. 3 Sec. 2  2b. continued

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5. Pilgrimage, or hajj

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Pilgrimage – a journey to a sacred place or shrine Sacred destination for Muslims – Mecca, the holy city of Islam Qur’an requires every Muslim to make the hajj at least once, if possible By bringing Muslims from all over the world together, the hajj strengthens the community of Islam Many rituals: – The most important is the circling of the Kaaba (building in which sacred black stone resides) – Kaaba is in the center of the courtyard of the Grand Mosque in Mecca (photo pg. 63) – Black stone came from heaven in ancient times – Pilgrims circle stone seven times hoping to touch/kiss the stone – Over centuries the touch of pilgrims has worn stone smooth

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Cornell Notes: Ch. 3, Sec. 3 The Spread of Islam  3.1 How  Spread of Muslim rule took place in 3 did Islam phases: expand? – 1. wave of conquests by Arabs – 2. series of conquests by non-Arab groups that adopted Islam – 3. peaceful spread of Islam through merchants and missionaries

Cornell Notes Ch. 3, Sec. 3 The Spread of Islam  1a. What were the early conquests?

 Before conquering others, Muhammad’s followers had to choose a new leader  win back loyalty of Arab tribes that had broken away  Leaders of dominant group selected Abu Bakr, caliph  Abu Bakr set out to reign over Arabian Peninsula  Using force, brought rebel tribes under Muslim rule

Cornell Notes Ch. 3 Sec. 3  1b. How did  First phase – conquests of Arabs  Next caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, took Muslims Islam to new lands – Mesopotamia, build an Palestine, Syria empire?

 Armies then moved to Persia and Egypt  Conquests continued under other caliphs  Arab armies moved into Afghanistan and India, North Africa and Spain  Effort to push deeper into Europe failed with loss of Battle of Tours in 732

Cornell Notes Ch. 3, Sec. 3  1c. What were the reasons for their success?

 Successful spread of Islam and Muslim rule was based on several factors. – 1. decline of Byzantine and Persian empires – 2. skill of Arab armies – expert in the use of soldiers on horseback; struck quickly and deadly in harsh desert environment – 3. energy and religious zeal of Arab warriors  Fought under banner of jihad, ―holy struggle‖  In Arabic jihad refers to striving hard in God’s cause  Sometimes means person’s internal struggle to live by Muslim principles  Can also mean waging war to spread Islamic faith

Cornell Notes Ch. 3, Sec. 3  1d. How did Muslims show religious tolerance?

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Arabs tolerance for other religions helped the spread of Islam Generally allowed people to practice own customs and beliefs – Muslims regarded the Torah and Bible as sacred books – considered Christians and Jews as ―People of the Book‖ Christians and Jews did not have same legal status – Had to pay special tax Success was also because of appeal of Islam – Offered a direct path to God – Emphasized equality of all believers regardless of race, sex, class or wealth – All had to do was follow Five Pillars

Cornell Notes Ch. 3, Sec. 3  1e. Who were the non-Arab peoples that conquered and helped spread Islam?

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Second Phase of spread was through conquests of non-Arab peoples. – Groups that converted while visiting Muslim lands then took Islam back to homelands – Most successful were Turks and Mongols

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Turks: – Central Asian people, fierce soldiers entered service to Muslim armies – Seljuks spread Islam into Central Asia – Ottomans created a large empire in 1400’s; they took Constantinople from Byzantines & carried Islam into southeastern Europe

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Mongols: – Also fierce warriors, swept into Muslim lands from Asia in 1200’s – Took new faith into Central Asia, western China and India

Cornell Notes Ch. 3, Sec 3  1f. How did merchants and missionaries help spread Islam?

 Third Phase of the spread of Islam was peaceful, though did not replace conquest  Muslim merchants traveled to trade took their faith with them  Missionaries often accompanied merchants to spread the word of God  Two parts of world exposed to Islam in this way – Southeast Asia- merchants traveled east from India by ship into Malaysia and Indonesia – West Africa- traveled south in camel caravans from North Africa into lands beyond Sahara – Missionaries followed merchants and converted many Africans and Southeast Asians to Islam

Cornell Notes Ch. 3, Sec. 3  2. What is Islam today?

 The spread of Islam is still going on today.

 2.1a. How is Islam growing today?

 Islam is second largest religion after Christianity  More than 1 billion people are Muslims (1/5th of global pop)  Although Islam associated with Arab peoples, fewer than 20% are Arab  Indonesia has largest population, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, India  Several million in U.S.

Cornell Notes Ch. 3, Sec. 3  2b. What are the divisions in Islam?

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Two main groups Sunnis – Majority Islamic sect, making up about 85% of Muslims

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Shiites – Form the largest minority of Islamic sect

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Some religious differences separate the two groups, but the origin of the split are political – Sunnis believed that a caliph should be chosen by leaders of the Muslim community – They viewed caliph as leader, not religious authority – Shiites believed that only Muhammad’s relatives should become caliph because his they were inspired by God

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Despite division, Muslims around the world are united in basic beliefs – Worship one God, revere the word of God as revealed to Muhammad in Qur’an, Five Pillars as guidelines for proper life