HISTORY OF ISLAM

MUHAMMAD�

• Lives from 570 – 632 A.D.
• Is a merchant before becoming a prophet.
• Around age of 40 Muhammad begins praying at Mount Jabal al-nour, where he receives visions.
• Begins preaching in Mecca around 620 A.D. promoting Islam, and that the Allah is the one and only God.
• Believes Allah is the God who sent Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
• After being persecuted by locals Muhammad migrates to Medina in 622 A.D. This migration is known as the Hegira and marks the first year of Islamic calendar.
• Starting in 624 A.D. Muhammad leads military campaigns against Mecca, and conquers Arabia by the time of his Death in 632 A.D.

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KEY SCRIPTURES

• Quran – Teachings of Muhammad as revealed by the angel Gabriel beginning in 609 A.D. The Quran is divided into chapters called Surrahs. There are 114 Surrahs in the Quran. 86 were written in Mecca, while 28 were written in Medina. Muhammad was illiterate so did not directly write the Quran, but had scribes record his reported visions.
• Hadith – The spoken word of Muhamad, as recorded by his followers. Sayings, and practices attributed to Muhammad.

KEY TERMS

• Jihad – Means to struggle. Can be categorized into the greater jihad, which refers to the struggle with oneself against sin, and the lesser Jihad which refers to holy war.
• Zakat – A tax on Muslims generally to provide for the needy.
• Jizya – A tax non-Muslims pay. Rate is higher than the Zakat.
• Shariah – Islamic Law.
• Allah – God
• Halal – What is legal.
• Haram – What is illegal.

5 PILLARS OF ISLAM (CORE BELIEFS)

• Profession of Faith
• Prayer
• Alms
• Fasting
• Pilgrimage to Mecca

CONQUESTS OF MUHAMMAD

• Prior to the spread of Islam, Arabia mainly has polytheistic beliefs, although Christianity and Judaism are also practiced.
• Beginning in 624 Muhammad is involved a series of battles with the citizens of Mecca called the Quraysh. These battles include the battle of Badr in 624, Uhud in 625, and Khandaq in 627.
• In 628 a treaty with Mecca was signed at Hudaybiya. In 630 Mecca submits to Muhammad.
• Western Arabia is under Muslim control by the time of Muhammad’s death in 632 A.D.
• Tribes submit through force as well as diplomacy.

EARLY ISLAMIC EXPANSION��LIGHT PINK �= BYZANTINE EMPIRE��DARK PINK �= PERSIAN EMPIRE�

RASHIDUN CALIPHATE

• After Muhammad’s death leaders of the Muslim community are called Caliphs. Islamic Empires are called Caliphates.
• The First Caliphate was called the Rashidun Caliphate which lasted from 632-661.
• The first Caliph was Abu Bakr who ruled from 632-634. Muslim territories continue to expand under the rule of Abu Bakr, and Mesopotamia and parts of Syria come under Muslim control.
• The second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab who rules from 634-647 continues the Islamic conquests expanding Muslim territory into Iran, Egypt, and further into Syria.
• The third Caliph Uthman rules from 654 – 656 before being assassinated. Under the rule of Uthman internal problems begin to develop, specifically when dealing with distributing the wealth captured from the Persians.

CIVIL WARS

• The 4^th Rashidun Caliph was Ali Ibn Abi Talib the cousin of Muhammad who ruled from 656 – 661. Under his reign internal conflict over whether he is the rightful Caliph leads to a civil war.
• Opponents of Ali believe Muawiyah, who had been a governor over parts of Syria, and Palestine, is the rightful Caliph.
• The war lasts until 661 when Ali is assassinated by the Kharijites who initially supported him. Ali’s Son Hasan surrenders the title of Caliph to Muawiyah which begins the Umayyad Caliphate.
• Although the civil war ends it leads to the creation of two separate denominations of Islam. The Shiites (Shia Islam) who are followers of Ali, and the Sunnis (Sunni Islam) who are followers of Umayyad.

SUNNI VS. SHIA

• Sunni – Largest denomination of Islam, making up 90% of believers. Believe that Caliphs should be democratically elected. Sunni Leaders are called Caliphs. Historically have not adhered to the principles of democracy.
• Shiites – Minority denomination making up around 10% of believers. Believes caliph should be descended from Ali. Shia leaders are called imamates. Various sects of Shia include the Twelvers, Ismailism, Zaidiyyah, Alawites, Druze.
• The adherence of modern Muslims to one of these two denominations is primarily based off of the denomination of historical Islamic states that ruled the territories their ancestors descend from. For example people who live in Iran are Shia because in 1503 the Safavid Dynasty chose to be Shia in order to oppose the Sunni Ottomans. Where as Muslims in North Africa, and the Western Middle east are Sunni because the Ottomans were Sunni. These territories have chosen their denominations.

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MAP OF SHIA VS SUNNI POPULATIONS

PEAK OF SHIA INFLUENCE OVER ISLAMIC WORLD

UMAYYAD CALIPHATE

• The Umayyad Caliphate was established in the aftermath of the first civil war and lasted from 661-750. Ali’s son Hasan agreed to allow Muawiyah become caliphate. The Umayyad Caliphate was the first Islamic dynasty, meaning the rulers all descended from Muawiyah, and the title of Caliph was hereditary.
• Between 680-692 a second civil war occurs regarding the same dispute as the first. The Umayyads are victorious.
• The Umayyad Caliphate continues to expand Islamic territories. In the west they spread across North Africa and into Spain. In the East they spread into Central Asia.
• The majority of the population in these territories were still non-Muslim. Conversion slowly occurs.
• Non–Muslims pay a higher tax rate called the Jizya, while Muslims pay a lower tax rate called the zakat.

MAP OF UMAYYAD CALIPHATE

ABBASID CALIPHATE

• The Abbasid Caliphate is established in 750 after the Abbasid revolution.
• Abbasid territories slowly break up into providences. Persia and Egypt split off during the 9^th century. Abbasid power wanes.
• Between 948 -1118 the Buyid dynasty who are Shia and based in Persia conquer the Abbasid Caliphate, although still recognize the Caliphs control over Baghdad. The Seljuks a Sunni empire ruling from 1037-1194 also do the same.
• Baghdad had around 1 million citizens and was the center of the Islamic empire, and largest city in the world
• Golden age of Islam occurs during this time. Innovation in sciences, medicine architecture occur and Fiqh schools ate established.
• Various other dynasties form throughout the Islamic Empire and power continues to be localized.

MAP OF ABBASID PROVINCES AROUND 900 A.D.

FIQH SCHOOLS OF ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE

• Fiqh refers to the understanding or study of Sharia Law. Fiqh schools are similar too denominations. Each school has its own interpretation of sharia law.
• Sunni Fiqh schools include Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki, Shafi’i.
• Shia Fiqh schools include Ismaili, Jafari, Zaidi.
• These schools produce various literature.

MAP OF FIQH SCHOOLS

SULTANATES

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• Lands ruled by a Sultan, another term for an Islamic Kingdom, Empire of Dynasty.
• Sultan is a title of a ruler that is not as prestigious or authoritative as Caliph.
• The Ghaznavid Dynasty was the first sultanate and ruled from 977-1186 in central Asia.
• The term sultanate then spreads throughout the Islamic world being used from West Africa to Indonesia.
• Over 100 sultanates have existed throughout Islamic history.

ISLAM UNDER SIEGE

• Christian crusades began in 1096 and lasted until 1291. Muslims lost minor amounts of land along the Mediterranean in modern day Israel, and Lebanon. Eventually Christians were driven out by forces led by Saladin, who then went to founding the Ayyubid dynasty.
• Mongols conquer Muslim territories between 1220-1260. Muslims look at this as the apocalypse. The Mamluks eventually defeated the Mongols, halting the Mongols advance into Islamic territory.
• Mongols eventually begin converting to Islam
• The Ilkhanate Empire converts to Islam between 1252-1295.
• The Khanate of the Golden horde converts to Islam in 1313.
• Chagtai Khanate has several leaders that convert to Islam.

MAP OF MONGOL EMPIRE

OTTOMAN CALIPHATE

• The Ottoman dynasty begins in 1299 and practices Sunni Islam.
• In 1362 the Ottomans begin claiming Caliphal authority.
• Ottomans spread into Christian territory in Southeastern Europe. In 1453 Constantinople fell to the Ottomans. In 1683 at the Battle of Vienna the Ottomans were defeated and marked a turning point in Ottoman power in Europe.
• In 1517 the Ottomans conquer the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt.
• The Safavid dynasty rules over Persia starting in 1503 and practices Shia Islam in order to differentiate themselves from the Ottomans.
• The Ottoman Empire dissolves in 1922 following WW1.

ISLAM IN AFRICA

• Under the Rashidun and Umayyad Caliphates Islam first spreads across North Africa and eventually into Spain. However in these initial years Islam does not spread south into the Sahara.
• Muslim traders in reach West Africa by the 10^th century. In the 11^th century various kingdoms begin to convert to Islam. Overtime these Kingdoms included gao, ghana, takrur, Mali, Kanem and Songhay.
• Timbuktu became a famous Islamic center of learning in West Africa.
• In 1324 Mansa Musa considered one of the richest humans ever, makes his famous pilgrimage across Africa to Mecca.
• The region of Sudan is initially allowed to continue practicing Christianity, however after repeated conflicts with the Muslims are conquered in 1324.
• Muslims traders begin migrating to east Africa in the 8^th century, in search of economic opportunities. In the late 17th century the Omani Empire begins to govern the East African coast after expelling the Portuguese.

MAP OF OMANI EMPIRE

ISLAM IN INDIA

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• Arab merchants begin bringing Islam to India in 7^th century.
• Umayyad campaigns begin to invade India in the 8^th century but are stopped in Sindh, a province of modern Pakistan.
• The Ghaznavids also began campaigning in India in the 10^th century.
• Eventually the Ghurid dynasty conquers Northern India and establish the Delhi Sultanate in 1206, the first Islamic state in India. The Delhi sultanate fights off the Mongol invasions.
• The Mughal Empire was founded in 1526 and was another Islamic state that ruled large portions of India, until it was completely disbanded in 1857 due to British imperialism.
• When India gains Independence from the British in 1947, the country is split in two based on religion. The Northeastern part of India is turned into a state for Muslims and is the modern state of Pakistan. This process is known as the Partition of India.
• In India there are currently around 200 million Muslims making up 15% of the population. Pakistan has a population of 200 million with 95% being Muslim.

MAP OF DELHI SULTANATE

MAP OF MUGHAL EMPIRE

MAP OF MUSLIM POPULATION IN INDIA

INDIA POPULATION DENSITY

ISLAM IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA

• Arab merchants are already trading in South-East Asia Prior to Islam. Undr Islamic rule, trade increases and Islam begins to be introduced in South East Asia.
• From 1100 to 1500 Southeast Asia begins converting to Islam. Several sultanates are established such as the Samudera Pasai Sultanate, and the Malacca Sultanate.
• During the 1500s the Portuguese and eventually other European powers begin to campaign militarily in South East Asia. These campaigns forced Christianity on settlements but did little to convert mass populations. However, the Spanish and the Portuguese did stop the spread of Islam into Indo-China.
• In Indonesia 87% of population is Muslim, in Brunei 79% of the population, and in Malaysia 60%.

ISLAM IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA

EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM

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• European colonialism begins occurring in Islamic territories in the 1800s. North Africa is colonized by the French, West Africa by various European powers, and India by the British. In the 1900s the Near East is colonized following WW1. Territories gained independence between 1930-60.
• This process of colonization is what created the borders of most modern states that practice Islam.
• There are currently 49 countries where Islam is practiced by the majority of the population, and around 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide.