Islam: a Global Religion

ISLAM: A GLOBAL RELIGION

BEDOUINS BEFORE ISLAM  Arab pastoralists o o . blood feuds o claimed descent from

 Pre-Islamic religion o o Mecca . religious & commercial hub . . controlled by

MUHAMMAD: c570 CE-632 CE  Life in Mecca o o o contemplative  meditation at Mt. Hira

 Revelations, 610 CE o Angel Jibreel  o The message? = . memorized by Muhammad o obligation to evangelize . Muhammad = o Muhammad not accepted in Mecca  . . converted Yathrib  .  Return to Mecca o Muhammad = o Medina warred against Mecca . . destroyed idols & re-dedicated Ka’ba to Allah  Grand Mosque of Mecca

 Muhammad’s Death, 632 CE o o . caliph = . questions of leadership  rift in Islamic faith  o Arab raids into o Quran written down o

ISLAMIC DOCTRINE 

 Five Pillars of Islam o 1. o 2. o 3. o 4. o 5.

    no pork, no alcohol

A UNIVERSAL RELIGION  evangelistic   social justice    

 accepts many Jewish & Christian beliefs o Jews & Christians = o religious tolerance toward dhimmi

DEVELOPMENTS IN ISLAM AFTER MUHAMMAD  shari’a law o o 1st used by Umayyad & Abbasid Caliphates

 jihad o “struggle” o . o those who carry out jihad = mujahadeen