Life of Muhammad and the

Genesis of Islam
AP Ch. 6 pt. 2

Muhammad
Orphaned, raised by uncle and
grandfather
Caravan trips exposed to
Christian/Jewish faiths

Trader for Khadijah later wife

Saw: inequity
class rivalries
Umayyads-rich through commerce
monotheistic religions
610 revelation from Gabriel
Allahs words in Qur-an

Persecution, Flight and Victory

Threat to Umayyad in
Mecca
Escaped to Medina in 622
invited in to resolve
disputes
wisdom won converts

Umayyad attacks on
Muhammad
proves himself as strong
military leader
10,000 enter Mecca,
destroys idols, Mecca
converts

Attraction of Islam

Monotheism-single tribe
No intermediaries, priests
End to vendettas, feuds
Turned violence against selves into
violence against others
Ethical system to live lives
zakat charity tax

All aspects of life-prepare for

Judgment Day

Elements in Islam

uncompromising monotheism
highly developed legal codes
egalitarianism
sense of community - Ummah
similar Judaism and Christianity
Muhammad a prophet

Five Pillars
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

No god but Allah

Pray five times a day
Fast during Ramadan
Zakat for those in need
Hajj - pilgrimage to Kaba

Umayyad Empire
Death of Muhammad
Some renounced faith
argued over successor

Consolidation and Division in the Islamic

Community
No procedure for appointing successor
Ali son-in-law - too young
Abu Bakr closest friend

Ridda Wars Bedouin tribes brought under power

of Islam
showed weakness of Persians and Byzantines

Unity of faith
Booty bread and dates
Not driven by desire to win converts
Wanted tax money

Sasanian and Byzantine

Empires
Sasanian Empire of Persia
Emperor manipulated by aristocrats
Zoroastrianism ignored by common people
Failed to realize threat, fled east, killed

Byzantine Empire stronger

Defection of frontier Arabs
Invaders supported by Christians from Syria
and Egypt
Copts and Nestorians would rather be taxed
less
Success in early battles, would continue
siege for centuries

The Sunni-Shia Split

SuccessionProblem
Animosities
Murder of third Umayyad caliph Uthman

Ali the son-in-law of Muhammad

Doesnt punish assassins
Decides on mediation at Battle of Siffin
Looks weak, loses support

Umayyads - new caliph from

Jerusalem
Ali assassinated
Son Husayn tries to regain power, killed

Game on!

The Umayyad Imperium

Moves East and West
Conflict with Buddhism
Spain-stopped by Charles Martel at
Poitiers in 732

Capital-Damascus, Syria
Tried to keep Muslims separate
Dont want to lose taxes (Muslims
not taxed)

Converts and People of the

Book
Mawali Muslim converts taxed
Some pay jizya a surtax for
nonbelievers
Few converts

Dhimmi People of the Book

tolerated and taxed

Family and Gender Roles

Husband-up to four wives,
must support them all
No infanticide, property
rights to women
Veiling isnt mentioned
Women strongest early
followers
Kadijah helped compile Quran

Umayyad Decline and Fall

Umayyad caliphs luxury and easy
life
Stopped fighting wars, built palaces
revolts start

The Frontier
warriors identified with region
Rarely given share of treasure
Umayyad elite excess
Under the Abbasid party banner
Joined with the Mawali
Umayyad Invited family to gatheringkilled

Caliphate of Cordoba survives in exile