The Rise of Islam

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The Rise of Islam
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• Objectives
• Know the early development of Islam.
• Know the importance of Mohammed to Islam.
• Know the importance of Mecca to Islam.
• Know the importance of Medina to Islam.
• Know the Five Pillars of Faith.

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Islam started on the Arabian Peninsula
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• The Bedouin people were tribal and nomadic
• Some had settled down into towns and engaged in
  trading.
• To understand the origins of Islam, you have to
  understand some economic factors.
• Oases were scattered. Where they were you had
  cities or towns. Trade routes would go from city
  to city, following the oases.

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• One of these cities was Petra in modern day
  Jordan.
• I mention it only because this structure, the
  Treasury of Petra, was featured in Indiana Jones
  and the Last Crusade.

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• Another important city on one of the trade routes
  was Mecca.

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• Mecca was also a religious center.
• It held a building called the Kaba that, legend
  has it, was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael.
  Contained within were many idols.
• Because Mecca was a religious center, fighting
  and weapons were not allowed. That enabled more
  effective trading to take place as rivals could
  not feud.

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• Mohammed
• Was born into a well-to-do family around 570 or
  571 in Mecca.
• In 610, he was meditating in a cave (as was his
  tendency), when he had a revelation.
• An angel named Gabriel appears to him and starts
  giving him the Koran (Quran).
• Mohammed is hesitant at first, but with prodding
  from his wife and her cousin, becomes convinced
  that God had spoken to him through the angel and
  that he was the fulfillment of prophecy the
  last prophet.

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• By 613, Mohammed is publicly preaching what has
  been revealed to him.
• This causes problems, though. Much of Meccas
  economy is built on people visiting the Kaba and
  its idols as part of a pilgrimage. If Mohammeds
  new religion starts taking root, then people will
  stop coming and their economy will fall apart.
• This is somewhat similar to the complaints Paul
  faced when he threatened the trade surrounding
  the cult and Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (which
  is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world,
  I neglected to mention.)
• So the citys leaders are upset. So are the
  people of his own tribe who didnt like him
  insulting their traditional religion.

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• In Muslim tradition, Mohammed also takes a tour
  of hell and heaven during this time. Al-Isra-
  The Night Journey
• Hes taken from Mecca to Jerusalem in one night
  on the back a strange beast called the Buraq.
  From there, he goes to heaven (Miraj)and is shown
  around by Moses.

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• The site from which Mohammed is believed to have
  ascended to heaven is the third holiest site in
  Islam and is where the Dome of the Rock is in
  Jerusalem on the Temple Mount.
• This same rock is believed by Jews to be the slab
  upon which Abraham bound Isaac and nearly
  sacrificed him (in Islamic tradition, it was
  Ishmael). And that it was the rock in the Holy
  of Holies upon which the Ark of the Covenant was
  placed.

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• There are several assassination attempts on
  Mohammeds life and he decides to get out of
  Mecca while the gettins good. He heads to
  Medina in 622. (Hes been having revelations all
  during this time too).
• This event is known as the hijra.
• While in Medina, he gets rival factions to settle
  down. Many convert to Islam. Others, especially
  most of those of the Jewish faith, refused.

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• Eventually war erupts between the Medina faithful
  and the Meccans.
• Mohammed started raiding caravans headed to
  Medina.
• Believed this piracy was justified because the
  Meccans had appropriated the property of the
  Muslims when they fled to Medina.

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• The pivotal battle is the Battle of Badr.

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• 300 Muslims confront 1,000 Meccans.
• Mohammed takes up a defensive position and relies
  on range weapons such as slings and arrows.
• The Muslims also had religious fervor on their
  side while the Meccans werent too enthusiastic.
• About 70 Meccans are killed and another 70 are
  taken prisoners. Only 14 Muslims fall.

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• War continues and Mohammed conquers Mecca in 630.
• He spares the populace that had opposed him and
  most convert to Islam.
• He proceeds to destroy all the idols in the
  Kaba.
• Hence, Islam takes root.

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• Beliefs
• There is but one God (Allah) and Mohammed is His
  messenger.
• Good and evil exist and the sinful will be
  punished for their sins.

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• Five Pillars of Faith
• These are required of all Muslims.
• Faith
• Must confess that there is no God but Allah and
  that Mohammed is His messenger. This is all it
  takes to convert and it is constantly reaffirmed.
• Prayer
• Must pray five times a day at dawn, noon,
  afternoon, sunset, and in the evening.
• Must be in Arabic.
• Must face Mecca.
• Ritual cleansing is done first because youre on
  holy ground wherever it is youre praying.

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• Alms
• All Muslims must donate to the poor.
• Fasting
• Must fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
• Ramadan shifts from year to year because its
  based on the lunar calendar where each month is
  only about 28 days long.

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• Pilgrimage
• The hajj
• Must be done once in every Muslims life who is
  able.
• Is a pilgrimage to Mecca and to the Kaba.
• Each pilgrim wears a simple draping garment so
  that everyone is equal.
• Different parts to it, but it culminates with
  walking seven times around the Kaaba to
  replicated Mohammed riding seven times around it
  when he conquered Mecca.

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