The Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula A crossroads

The Arabian Peninsula • The Arabian Peninsula - A crossroads of three continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe –Mostly desert with small amount of fertile land • Bedouins – Nomadic tribes that live in the desert (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, etc. ) –Live in clans and herd animals –Migrate between the dry and wet seasons –Trade with other clans and villages/towns –Polytheistic – worshipped gods including lunar deity Allah

The Prophet Muhammed • A. D. 570: Muhammad is born into a powerful Bedouin merchant family – Born in Present-Day Mecca, Saudi Arabia – Becomes a trader, marries wealthy businesswoman, Khadijah • AD. 610: Muhammad received a revelation from the angel Gabriel while praying in the wilderness – He had been wondering at the difference between rich and poor around him – went to think about it • The Angel told him there is one God, Allah; Muhammad is his prophet – Gabriel told Muhammad to spread the word that Allah is the true God of the world

The Prophet Muhammed (Cont. ) • Muhammad founds religion of Islam—“submission to the will of Allah” – Tells people about his revelation and the identity Allah, his role as Allah’s prophet • Followers of Islam are Muslim— “one who has submitted” – There weren’t many people that actually converted to Islam in the beginning though – they wanted to keep their old Gods – According to tradition, it took 3 years to get 30 followers

The Hijrah • Muhammad’s followers are attacked; they are exiled from Mecca in A. D. 622 – go to Medina (Hijrah) • Muhammad attracts many more followers in Medina, becomes great leader: • -political leader—joins Jews and Arabs of Medina as a single community • -religious leader—draws more converts to Islam • -military leader—tackles growing hostilities between Mecca and Medina • A. D. 630: Muhammad and 10, 000 followers return to and conquer Mecca – Continues military expansion of Islam throughout Arabian Peninusla

Islam • Main Teachings of Islam • Only one god – Allah • People are equal under Islam • People are responsible for their actions; there is good and evil • Muhammad rose to heaven to learn Allah’s will • Respect the people of the book: Christians and Jews

Sources of Authority • Qur’an— Holy book of Islam –Contains revelations Muhammad received from Allah –Believed Muhammad didn’t write them down himself because he was illiterate • Guidance of Qur’an assembled in Shari’a – Laws taken from Qur’an Muslims must follow • Operates outside of legal courts (religious court) • Many Muslim dominant countries operate under Shari’a rather than legal courts

Sharia Law 12 - Sharia dictates death by stoning, beheading, amputation of limbs, flogging even for crimes of sin such as adultery

Islam (Cont. ) • Muslims must carry out five duties—the Five Pillars of Islam – -statement of faith to Allah and to Muhammad as his prophet – -pray five times a day, can use a Mosque—Islamic house of worship – -give alms, or money for the poor – -fast between dawn and sunset during holy month of Ramadan – -perform the Hajj— pilgrimage to Mecca—at least once in their lifetime

Five Pillars of Islam Activity • Students will get a white piece of paper and draw five pillars on it • Students will cut out pillars and paste them onto a sheet of construction paper • Students will then look up the Five Pillars of Islam and write down the titles of the pillars and the definitions/duties for each pillar • Students will then answer documents comparing Islam with Christianity and staple the documents to the back of the pillars • Students will turn in the pillars/documents