Islam

**Notes on Video**
 * __//Ancient Islam//__**

"Got is most great" "there is no god but God"
 * world wide power founded by faith, and later llaunch an empire
 * Cultuires around the world have been shaped by islamic civilization
 * Muhammad was the last prohet of the Qur'an (The messenger of God)
 * Born in 570 A.D
 * experienced life in the desert
 * when he was six parents died, but went to live with his uncle, developed very early on
 * was considered very adaptable
 * most important people in tribes were the ports and intellects
 * poets linked tribes to ancestors, poems were celebrate
 * most of the land is dry so water was key for developement and survival
 * Kabah provided place with peace
 * Mecca was the center for trade, perfumes, chine silks, and contained rich mixture of culture
 * Christians, Jews, and muslims were in Mecca
 * Muhammad became a merchant, and enjoyed trade, his talents cought the eye of a women who purposed marraige
 * Muhammad had a way of solving fights, and a way to solve problems in general
 * he also became known as the trusted one
 * thinker and extroadinary
 * in a cave of Mecca an angel was sent in the name of God, and was sent to spread that there is only ONE God
 * no more tribal divisions, and a strong social justice message he spread
 * all were equal, men, women, children, and black
 * meny were moved by Muhammad and his message, and his speaking skills, and verbal expression
 * some called him a poet, but he did not speak in desire but spoke for God
 * Muslims were those who surrendered to God
 * Quran is a revelation of social teaching of both evidence social guidence
 * power and tenderness came together in the Quran
 * displase a picture of the after life, imagery picture of paradise
 * Islam developed Gods representation on earth
 * nothing, and no picture could represent god
 * some didnt people didnt believe him because he needed a miracle, and the quran was his miracle but it wasnt enough
 * the idea of life after death was most hard to believe
 * business and trade suffered because pilgrims were scared of the fights, in conclusion people demanded muhammad out
 * nothing short of tribale war was to solve this now
 * Muhammads men were forced out, and to starve, some were tourchered and killed
 * his uncle and wife died, 619 A.D
 * other town heard muhammad was a good men and had skills to bring things together
 * Muhammad agreed to settle their, and for his people it was a test of devotion
 * they began a knew community, and tribe, and bound together by faith
 * their journey is known as the hidrah...622 A.D was marked as year 1 in their calender
 * town became known as the city of the prophet
 * Abraham was the first known believer
 * Muslims were outnumbered, and with few weapons
 * fought three bloody battles, but tribes from other parts saw muhammad and his faith in God and helped him, and one by one they grew in population
 * finally the city fell to muhammad, and 10000 strong men


 * Summary on Video**


 * This video mainly talked about Muhammad, who the Arabs believed was the last prophet sent by Allah, and his journey on conquering the islamic regions. Muhammad was born and grew up in Mecca, where today the Arabs consider the Holy City. This video talked about how Muhammad was a very generous, kind, and became a merchant who enjoyed trading which caught the eye of a women who he ended up marrying.**

Five Pillars of Islam
 * **Shahadah-** Faith or belief in the Oneness of God and the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad, the belief that there is only one "God" and you must worship muhammad who was sent from God to lead the people.
 * **Salah**- Establishment of the daily prayers; 5 times a day. Between dawn, and sunrise, noon to mid-afternoon, between mid-afternoon, at sunset, and after twilight until nighttime every muslim must pray inside the **Masjjid**.
 * **Sawm**- the need for a Muslim to fast, meaning they cant eat or drink anything between dawn, and sunset. Even though this is a duty of an adult children can practice it as well. Prayers must also be performed during fasting
 * **Zakah-** An annual giving of a percentage of a Muslims wealth and possessions beyond basic needs. A minimum of 2.5% is required to give to the poor or others who are in need.
 * **Hajj**- The pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able. It is performed by 2,000,000 people very year, and symbolically represents **Abraham**, his wife, and their son **Isma'il** 4,000 years ago.


 * Summary on Five Pillars of Islam**

The five pillars indicated, and showed us how religion is and should be everyones number priority, and how there is only one God, Alah, who rules the universe. This would include government officails, political leaders, and all citizens who practice the muslim faith, and religion, and believes in the Qur'an. The five pillars also showed strict but non cruel guide lines which made me realize how certain laws changed from Hummarabi's strict laws to Islam's religious attributes, and beliefs. They indicated a strong passion for Allah, and their belief in the afterlife. All of these pillars were similar by containing faith in God, and how muhammad was thier prophet and savior.

**ESPIRIT Chart** You must include main ideas and details in each category

Civilization/Nation/Group__Rise of Islam___

Time Period


 * E || * Conquered much of **Syria** and penetrated deep into the once powerful Sasanian empire centered on Persia
 * Muslim merchants became key to the tads in the mediterranian all the way to South China sea
 * Mecca was very important for trade especially for eastern asia to the mediterranian
 * Ideas were brought from Rome and China from merchants
 * Medina was a large trade route to **Mecca** and contained agriculture, and engaged heavily on it ||
 * S || * Arab social class contained **Shayhs who were the leaders of tribes and clans.**
 * civilization also had slaves which were obviously in the bottom of the class
 * Women unlike other civilization enjoyed more freedom during the bedouin times, and were considered important
 * Wars were fought along a code of chivalry. ||
 * P || * Wars between the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires
 * Clan loyalty was enforced by inter-clan rivalries over resources and pasturelands.
 * There was always war which severely weakened unity in Arabia
 * Bedouins wouldnt be able to interact with other regions outside Islam if they were fighting amongst eachother ||
 * I || * Egypt was conquered by the Arabs, but contained the most ancient, and most celebrated library in the world
 * Considered smart since Arabia was considered the most unlikely to be the birth of a knew civilization
 * Arabs were always fighting which severly weakened their unity and other interactions with other societies
 * Each Clan was enforced by fierce inter-clan rivalry and struggles to control critical pasture and water supplies. ||
 * R || * Birth of prophet and leader of Muslims, Muhammad was their main prophet in 570 C.E and died in 632 C.E
 * The worship of many gods in the **Ka'ba**
 * Polytheistic religion was the center of everything, and what dominated at this certain time period
 * Bedouin religion consisted of animals mixed with polytheism
 * Bedouins didnt focus religion on Allah but to other spirits
 * These practices were located in caves, grove of trees, and the only option for their nomadic lifestyles. ||
 * I || * Scholars studied, preserved, and improved the learning in ancient civilization
 * Arabs were considered ignorant, and wanting too much power.
 * probably the most important was poetry because muslims believed poets linked tribes to ancestors
 * Poets were very important because they told stories of love, generosity, and passion.
 * people who lived in tribes looked up to the poets and thought of them as high class and very influential ||
 * T || * The had wells for water supplies
 * Era of islam was very limited in technology, and some thought it wasnt the right path towards Alah. ||  ||
 * Era of islam was very limited in technology, and some thought it wasnt the right path towards Alah. ||  ||

Questions on Article

//__1. How did the death of Muhammad lead to the Expansion of Islam?__// When the prophet died, many lost faith, and were forced to convert back to the islamic ways, which lead to weak empires not being able to hold up tension between the Arabs, and were also forced in 633 C.E to return to thier original ways

//__2. What were the motivations for Islamic conquest?__// Motivations for the islamic conquest inlcuded unity, and the common cause which lead to Bedoiuns seeing these conquests as way of earning food, glorify the religion of islam, and collect booty.

//__3. How were the Umayyads able to defeat their adversaries?__// Muslims were able to conquer the byzantine, and the sansanian empire, which also included North Africa. The support of christians in Syria and lebonon and the fact that the sansanian empire was weak to begin lead to all of these conquests

//__4. What caused the major division in Islam?__// The sunni and Shia's became the tw divided parts of islam because some argued on who was to take the Muhammads place as the leader.The Sunni and Shi'a groups, divided due to conflict over who becomes the leader to take muhammad’s place as leader of Muslims. The shi’a wanted Ali to take the role of leader. The sunni believed that the heir should be

5__.What was the extent of the Islamic Empire under the Umayyads?__ The extent went into Asia creating conflict with the Buddhist religion. They spread in to North Africa, west to India’s border, and conquered Spain. But we stopped by Charles Martel, and the Franks.

__6. How were people of the book treated under the Umayyads? __ The people of the book were allowed to practice any religion but still had to pay taxes.

__7.Explain gender structures under the Umayyads? __ <span style="font-family: Arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Women were always expected to be married to another man, they could never have another husband but men could have up to four wives. Adultery was forbidden for both and women could not lead prayers.

__<span style="font-family: Arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">8. What factors led to the decline of the Umayyads? __ <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">They started to abandon Muhammad's teaching, and question his beliefs.

Most converts were won peacefully ||
 * E || * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">The Abbasid era was the time of great expansion
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">This linked to a revival of the Afro-Eurasian trading network.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">**dhows** were used to carry goods between civilizations, and Muslims merchants joined trading companies with Christians and Jews.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">invested in new business ventures, purchase of land, and construction of mansions. ||
 * S || * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">The growing wealth of the Abbasid elite lead to a growing demand for both male and female slaves.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">These slaves were prized for their beauty and intelligence, and slaves were often quite learned.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">The male slaves actually had more freedom than free wives.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">Although lower class women would farm, rich women weren’t able to do much outside their home. ||
 * P || * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">The continuous support of the Shi's and mawali allowed the Abbasid to defeat any political rivalry.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">The Abbasid betrayed their old allies, becoming more self-righteous, eventually establishing a central empire centered in **Baghdad**.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">There was an ever expanding group of bureaucrats and servants.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">This was especially reflected in the increased power of the **Wazir**, or chief. ||
 * I || * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">Mosques and Palaces were focused heavily when it came to architecture
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">The religious, politics, and philosophical discussion, they focused on math and science
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">Like most empires, they took ideas from Greeks and Romans ||
 * R || * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',sans-serif;">During the Abbasid rule, mass conversion to Islam was encouraged for all people of empire.
 * I || * The Christian **Crusades** were the first direct opposition to the Seljuk.
 * **Buyid**, of Persia invaded the heartlands of Abbasid in 945AD and capture the capital.
 * Buyid, who the title of **sultan**,


 * While the Buyid controlled the court.


 * The Buyid control over the caliphate was broken in turn by another nomadic group of invaders known as the **Seljuk Turks.**
 * The Christian **Crusades** were the first direct opposition to the Seljuk. ||
 * T || * chemistry discoveries were the classification of an object as animal, vegetable, or minerals. ||

//**Extra credit**//

__(1) What contributions did Muslim scholars and thinkers make to:__ __(a) science,__ __(b) medicine,__ __(c) mathematics,__ __(d) transmission of knowledge,__ __(e) trade,__ __(f) philosophy,__ __(g) Christian ecclesiastical architecture,__ __(h) Christian theology, and__ __(i) the beginning of Renaissance humanism in Europe?__

__(2) How did Islamic philosophical thought shape the philosophical underpinnings of Thomas Aquinas’ theology?__

__(3) What was the relationship between Muslims and Christians in the early period of the Muslim civilization?__

__(4) Why did relationship between Christians and Muslims become confrontational during the European Middle Ages? What happened? To what extent is it still affecting the worldviews and thinking of contemporary Muslims and Christians?__

Mark-up color = Yellow <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">The 5 Pillars of Islam ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Reading taken from //Muslim Holidays(//Fountain Valley, CA: Council on Islamic Education, 2002), 65-69

The word Islam means “peace through submission to God.” Muslim practice is defined by the Qur’an (holy scripture) and the Sunnah, or example set by Prophet Muhammad and transmitted through the Hadith (recorded words and deeds). Islam is a universal religion, meaning that anyone may accept its beliefs and become a Muslim, or follower of Islam. A Muslim is “one who seeks peace through submission to God.” This means striving to reach a goal rather than achieving a fixed identity. “ Seeking the face of God” is an expression often used to describe this lifetime goal. To fulfill the identity of a Muslim, a person must carry out certain acts, and live a moral, God-fearing life.

These basic acts required of a Muslim are called the Five Pillars. Accepting Islam requires only that a person state the basic creed, “There is no god but God” and “Muhammad is the messenger of God.” That is the first of the five basic acts or duties. The Five Pillars of Islam are: (1) shahadah -- to state belief in One God and the prophethood of Muhammad, (2) salat -- to pray five obligatory prayers each day, (3) siyam -- to fast from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan each year, (4) zakat – to pay obligatory charity each year, (5) hajj -- to make the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime.

The following sections describe the pillars in detail. 1. Shahadah (the Islamic Creed) The declaration of faith in Islam is a simple statement that begins Ashud anna,” (“I witness that”), and continues with the statement La illaha illa Allah (“There is no god but God”), and ends with the affirmation wa Muhammad rasul Allah (“and Muhammad is the messenger of God”). The first part defines the role of the Muslim, a continuous striving throughout life. This striving reaches into all aspects of personality and activity toward the self, the family and the community, to the entire community of humankind and the natural environment. The second part affirms the existence of one God by negating the existence of any other creature that people might worship, or any partner with God. It underlines the Muslim’s direct relationship with God as a witness and as a servant of God. No central authority nor privileged persons stand between God and the individual. The third part of the creed witnesses that God sent prophets to humankind, as stated in the scriptures revealed before the Qur’an. Then, it affirms that Muhammad was a prophet, or messenger who received revelation (the Qur’an) and guidance from God. Among the earlier revelations mentioned in the Qur’an are the Torah (given to Moses), the Psalms (given to David) and the Evangelium (given to Jesus). This series of prophets and revelation includes—among others—Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, and Muhammad, according to the universally accepted teachings of Islam. The Qur’an states that what was revealed to Muhammad confirmed the basic message of the earlier scriptures.

2. Salah (Muslims’ Daily Prayer) is the five daily prayers that are the duty of every Muslim. Muslims perform the recitations and physical movements of salah as taught by their prophet Muhammad, according to Islamic sources. Each of the five prayers can be performed within a window of time. ( 1) between dawn and sunrise, (2) noon to mid-afternoon, (3) between midafternoon and just before sunset, (4) at sunset, and (5) after twilight until nighttime. Prayer time is determined by the sun’s position, which Muslims today calculate by clock time, using charts that change with the longer and shorter days of each season. Before praying, Muslims perform a brief ritual washing. This purification prepares the worshipper for entering the state of prayer, of standing before God. It is a symbol of the cleansing effect of prayer. No matter what language they speak, all Muslims pray in the Arabic language. In the salah, Muslims recite specific words and selected verses from the Qur’an while standing, bowing, kneeling with the hands and forehead touching the ground, and sitting. Each cycle of movements is one rak’at, or unit of prayer, and each of the five prayers has between two and four units. At the end of the prayer, and throughout their lives, Muslims pray informally, asking for guidance and help in their own words. They also recite special prayers passed down as the words of the prophets. If two or more Muslims pray together, one of them will be the imam (prayer leader), and the others form rows behind the imam. Masjid is the Arabic name for an Islamic house of worship. T he common English term mosque is a French version of the Spanish word mezquita. The masjid is named after the position of prayer called sujud, which means kneeling with the hands and forehead touching the ground. The masjid is a simple, enclosed space oriented towards the city of Makkah (on the Arabian Peninsula ) where Islam’s holiest place—the Ka’bah –--is located. There is no furniture except mats or rugs, and Muslims stand shoulder to shoulder in rows, following the movements of the prayer leader all together. Because of these movements and the closeness of the worshippers, women pray together in rows behind the men.

3. Sawm (Fasting) During one month each year, Muslims fast, meaning that they do not eat or drink anything between dawn and sunset. Fasting is a duty for adults, but many children participate voluntarily, for at least part of the day, or only a few days. The fast begins with sahoor (a pre-dawn meal). While fasting, Muslims perform the dawn, noon and afternoon prayers, and go about their normal duties. At sunset, Muslims break their fast with a few dates and water, then pray, then eat iftar (a meal that breaks the fast). Iftar is usually eaten with family and friends, or at the masjid, which hosts meals donated by community members for all. After the evening prayer, many Muslims go to the masjid for congregational prayers that feature a reading of one thirtieth of the Qur’an each night. They complete the whole Qur’an by the end of the month.

The Qur’an links fasting with the practice of earlier prophets and religions: “You who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may learn selfrestraint.”(Qur’an 2:183) The fast begins at dawn on the first day of Ramadan, the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims may fast individually during the year, but doing it as a community magnifies the experience. The rhythm of life changes, and people’s relations soften. Daily schedules change, and some workplaces and schools can adjust their schedules. Living outside majority Muslim countries, Muslims find ways to cope and make the most of Ramadan. Gathering with others is an important part of that, whether in homes or in masjids and community centers. Each individual experiences hunger and its discomforts, but in a few days, the body gets used to it. Muslims are supposed to fast in the spirit as well, and make extra effort to avoid arguments, conflicts and bad words, thoughts, and deeds. Fasting builds will-power against temptation, helps people feel sympathy for those in need, and encourages generosity toward others. Fasting causes physical and psychological changes, and many claim that it is a healthy way to purify the body. Fasting helps people to reevaluate their lives spiritually, and draw closer to God.

3. Zakah (Charity as a Duty) is the annual giving of a percentage of a Muslim’s wealth and possessions beyond basic needs. The word means "purification," meaning that a person is purified from greed by giving wealth to others. When Muslims have cash savings for a year, they give 2.5% of it as zakat. Zakat on other forms of wealth, such as land, natural resources, and livestock is calculated at different rates. Paying the zakat reminds Muslims of the duty to help those less fortunate, and that wealth is a gift entrusted to a person by God rather than a possession to be hoarded selfishly. Prophet Muhammad set the precedent that zakah was collected and distributed locally, and what remained after meeting local needs was distributed to the larger Muslim community through the general treasury. Zakah money belongs to several categories of persons: “The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those [public servants] who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarers; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is knower, Wise.” (Qur’an 9:60). Muslims may distribute zakah to needy and deserving people and groups on their own, and each person is responsible for figuring out the amount owed. Of course, 2.5% is a minimum amount, and more may be given.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Islamic traditional sources mention charity often. A //hadith// of the Prophet said: “//Charity is a// //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">necessity for every Muslim.” //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">He was asked: //‘What if a person has nothing?’ The Prophet// //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">replied: ‘He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">earnings in charity.’ //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Companions asked: //‘What if he is not able to work?’// The Prophet said: //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">‘He should help poor and needy persons.’ //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Companions further asked: //‘What if he cannot do// //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">even that?’ //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Prophet said: //‘He should urge others to do good.’// The Companions said: //‘What// //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">if he lacks that also?’ //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Prophet said: //‘He should check himself from doing evil. That is also// //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">charity //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">.’”

5. Hajj (Journey to Makkah) The basic act of worship in Islam is the pilgrimage (journey) to the city of Makkah during a certain time of year. The hajj rites symbolically reenact the trials and sacrifices of Prophet Abraham, his wife Hajar, and their son Isma’il over 4,000 years ago. Muslims must perform the hajj at least once in their lives, provided their health and finances permit. The hajj is performed annually by over 2,000,000 people during the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Dhul- Hijjah. In commemoration of the trials of Abraham and his family in Makkah, which included Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in response to God’s command, Muslims make a pilgrimage to the sacred city at least once in their lifetime. The hajj is one of the “five pillars” of Islam, and thus an essential part of the faith and practice of Muslims. Muslims from all over the world, including the United States, travel to Makkah (in today’s Saudi Arabia). Before arriving in the holy city, Muslims enter a state of being called ihram. They remove their ordinary clothes and put on the simple dress of pilgrims--two seamless white sheets for men, and usually, white dresses and head covering for women. The pilgrims are dressed in the same simple clothes. No one can tell who is rich, famous or powerful. White clothes are a symbol of purity, unity, and equality before God. The gathering of millions of pilgrims at Makkah is a reminder of the gathering of all humans before God at the Judgment Day. It is a symbol of the Muslim ummah, because pilgrims gather from all corners of the earth. It is a symbol of the past, because the pilgrims visit places where Abraham and his family faced the challenge of their faith, and where Muhammad was born and preached. Pilgrims go around the Ka’bah. According to Islamic teachings, it was the first house of worship for one God on earth. Pilgrims call “Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk,” which means “Here I am at your service, O God, here I am!” This echoes the call of Abraham in the Hebrew Bible, in answer to the call of God. Pilgrims also walk seven times between the hills named Safa and Marwah, where they recall how Ishmael’s mother searched for water for him, and the spring of water called Zam-zam flowed under his foot, and still flows. Other stations of the pilgrimage are nearby Makkah, where they perform prayers, camp overnight, and stand all together on the Plain of Arafat asking for God’s forgiveness and guidance. They recall Abraham’s struggle with Satan by casting pebbles at three stone columns. Pilgrims complete the hajj by sacrificing a sheep or other animal, whose meat is to be shared with family, friends, and those in need. Nowadays, a meat processing plant near the place of sacrifice helps distribute the meat around the world. The sacrifice reminds of the Biblical and Quranic story telling how Abraham was willing to sacrifice even his son for God, and a ram appeared in the boy’s place. Pilgrims leave the state of ihram by trimming or cutting their hair and returning to Makkah for a final visit to the Ka’bah. A hadith of Prophet Muhammad says that a pilgrim “ will return as free of sin as a newborn baby.” The pilgrimage brings Muslims from all around the world, of different nationalities, languages, races, and regions, to come together in a spirit of universal humanity to worship God together.