Islam: The Third Abrahamic Religion
objective: To understand the origins, fundamental beliefs and spread of Islam.
Reading Questions
Reading Questions
- Who was the founder of Islam?
- Why did people go to the Ka'bah in Mecca prior to Islam?
- What is a Muslim?
- What are some similarities between Islam and the other Abrahamic Religions?
- What is the Muslim sacred text?
- What are the 5 Pillars of Islam?
- What is the ummah?
- What was the jizya tax?
- What were some of the reasons that people converted to Islam?
- Why was there a schism or split in Islam?
Origins of Islam
Islam emerged in the Middle East in the 600's long after the death of Christ. It grew very quickly and soon became one of the world's main religions. The Founder of Islam was Muhammad, who was born in Mecca around 570 CE. Mecca was an important trade city and pilgrimage site. Many people went to Mecca to worship at a shrine called the Ka'bah which housed statues of local gods.
As a child, Muhammad lost both of his parents and was raised by an uncle. He first worked as a shepherd but later became a trader. It was during that time that he would meet Christians along the trade routes. At the age of twenty-five he married a successful merchant widow named Khadija with whom he had six children. He would often withdraw to the mountains. There, like Jesus and the Buddha, he had an overwhelming religious experience. One day, according to Islamic teachings, while Muhammad was meditating in a cave, he was visited by the Angel Gabriel. The Angel told him he was chosen by God as his messenger. |
Around 613 CE, Muhammad began teaching in Mecca. He called Arabs to worship the one true God. In Arabic Islam means to submit. The followers of Islam were called Muslims meaning those who submit to God. The local leaders saw Islam as a threat to their power in the trading city of Mecca. They ordered Muhammad and his followers to leave. Muhammad and his followers traveled to the nearby city of Medina. While in Medina, Muhammad gained more followers until he had an army strong enough to return to Mecca. When he and his followers returned to Mecca, Muhammad took control of the city, destroyed the statutes in the Ka'ba and made it into a holy shrine for Islam.
Fundamental BeliefsMuslims recognize the Jewish and Christian prophets including Abraham, Moses and Jesus. However, the regard Muhammad as the last prophet. They believe the Qur'an (Koran), the Muslim holy book, contains the word of God as it was revealed to Muhammad.
|
Islam's message challenged the old polytheistic belief system replacing it with monotheism. More importantly, Islam challenged the tribal system of the region where people were loyal to their tribes while being in constant warfare. Islam encouraged people to identify as Muslims in a common moral and just society called the ummah. This community was to replace territory, language and tribal ties with common beliefs.
Islam requires acts of worship called the Five Pillars of Islam. The First Pillar is the profession of Faith: There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet. The Second Pillar is daily prayer. Muslims are supposed to pray five times a day: at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall. They kneel and face Mecca while resisting verses from the Qur'an. These prayers do not have to take place in a mosque (Islamic churches). The Third Pillar is charity. Muslims are supposed to give 2.5 percent of their yearly riches to the poor. The Fourth Pillar is fasting. The Qur'an instructs Muslims to refrain from eating and drinking during the daylight hours for the month of Ramadan. This is on the 9th month of the year in the Muslim calendar. This is to encourage self control and a clear mind to be at one with the faith. The Fifth and last pillar is a pilgrimage to Mecca called the Hajj. The Pilgrimage takes place in the twelfth month of the year. The Hajj is not required but all Muslims are encouraged to take it at least once in their lifetime.
Islam Spreads
Islam spread during Muhammad's lifetime because he was both a religious and military leader. His conquest included the western part of the Arabian Peninsula. His purpose was to gain converts while spreading Islam. Muhammad died in 632. Muslim leaders who followed continued to win battles and converts spreading the religion. By 750, Islam had moved beyond Arabia and become the main religion in the Middle East, North Africa and Spain.
by 1500 Islam spread to West Africa, East Africa, South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. Islam was a universalizing mission that was spread by missionaries and merchants. Periodically, Muslims also waged "holy war." Undoubtedly, many people converted due to a spiritual or psychological transformation. Form some that were Christian, the similar beliefs made for an easier conversion. Others felt their gods had been defeated by the Muslim God. At the same time, many converted for social and economic reasons. Slaves and prisoners of war became early converts since Muslims did not believe in holding other Muslims as slaves. Yet another economic reason was to avoid the jizya tax, a tax imposed on non-Muslims.
by 1500 Islam spread to West Africa, East Africa, South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. Islam was a universalizing mission that was spread by missionaries and merchants. Periodically, Muslims also waged "holy war." Undoubtedly, many people converted due to a spiritual or psychological transformation. Form some that were Christian, the similar beliefs made for an easier conversion. Others felt their gods had been defeated by the Muslim God. At the same time, many converted for social and economic reasons. Slaves and prisoners of war became early converts since Muslims did not believe in holding other Muslims as slaves. Yet another economic reason was to avoid the jizya tax, a tax imposed on non-Muslims.
Islam Splits
|
When Mohammad died, Muslims needed a leader or caliph. The First Four Caliphs or the "Rightly Guided" caliph led the community. However, for the 5th caliph a disagreement emerged. Many Muslims wanted Muhammad's family to be the caliphs or rulers while others wanted to elect non family members to lead the church. This led to a schism where Muslims that believed Muhammad's family should be rulers were called Shiites. Muslims that believed that caliphs should be elected and anyone could be caliph were called Sunnis.
|