Islam Civ

Five Pillars of Islam

The five duties that every Muslim must perform: shehada, daily prayer (salat), fasting (sawm), almsgiving (zakat), and Hajj. These pillars are essential to the practice of Islam but do not encompass the entirety of the faith.

Shehada

The declaration of faith stating: 'There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.' This is the only requirement to become a Muslim.

Salat

Daily prayer, the most frequent of the Five Pillars, which renews commitment to God and seeks forgiveness. There are five obligatory prayers.

Sawm

Fasting during the month of Ramadan (a lunar month that shifts approximately 10 days earlier each year). Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and pleasures from dawn to dusk. It teaches self-control and empathy for the poor. Exceptions are made for the elderly, sick, pregnant, nursing, and travelers who must make up the fast or feed the poor.

Zakat

Almsgiving that requires capable Muslims to give 2.5% of their salary to the needy, regardless of their religion. All possessions are viewed as gifts from God meant to be shared.

Hajj

A pilgrimage to Mecca that occurs over five days and includes nine steps, required of every Muslim who is financially and physically able to undertake it.

Bedouins

Desert Arabs who were mostly nomadic, but some settled in oases or towns

Badawah

The grim nomadic life characterized by competition for limited resources.

Glazu

Raids conducted to acquire resources, accepted as a way of life in Bedouin culture, but always avoiding killing to prevent vendettas.

Karim

A generous Bedouin hero who gives lavishly, even to the point of poverty, to show that people matter more than possessions.

Hasah

A special bond of muruwah passed generationally, representing ancestral honor and emphasizing the superiority of the tribe over individuals.

Sheikh

The leader of a Bedouin tribe.

Hijra

Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina, marking a significant turning point in Islamic history.

Muhammad

Prophet of Islam, born into a ruling Meccan family and a successful caravan trader. After receiving revelations from the archangel Gabriel, he began preaching monotheism, gained followers, and later migrated to Medina (Hijra), where he led and expanded the Muslim community.

Islam

Submission to God's will as conveyed through the teachings of Muhammad.

Muslim

One who submits to the faith of Islam.

Ka’bah

A sacred religious site in Islam that Muhammad sanctified, replacing its pagan practices with monotheism.

Qu’ran

The holy book that contains the recorded teachings of Muhammad, written by his followers after his death. It revises Judeo-Christian narratives, acknowledges Jesus as a messiah, but not as the son of God, and establishes social and militaristic commandments.

Caliph

A political and spiritual leader of the Muslim community, considered 'God’s deputy'.

Caliphate

The governmental system established under a caliph.

Abu-Bakr

The first caliph after Muhammad, who controlled the Arabian tribes and managed civil conflicts during his two-year rule.

Umar

The second caliph, a father-in-law of Muhammad, who significantly spread Islam into the Middle East, including areas of the Fertile Crescent, Sassanid, and Byzantine territories.

Uthman

The third caliph, known for commissioning the writing of the Qu’ran. His tenure ended in assassination due to allegations of nepotism.

Ali

The fourth caliph and Muhammad's son-in-law, who faced a civil war after failing to punish Uthman's assassins, leading to conflict with the Umayyads.

Mu’awiya

The governor of Damascus who defeated Ali and established the Umayyad dynasty.

Sunni

The majority branch of Islam (about 80%), which believes that a caliph should be elected based on merit and faithful practice.

Shia

The branch of Islam that holds that a caliph must be a descendant of Muhammad, specifically from Ali.

Khalid ibn Walid

Known as 'The Sword of Allah', he was a prominent military commander who led significant victories for Umar’s forces: The Battle of Chains (634) against Persians, and the battles of Qadisaya (636) and Yarmuk (636) against Byzantines.

Umayyad Caliphate (661-750)

The caliphate established following Ali's assassination; it had its capital in Damascus and featured Greco-Roman influences.

Abbasids

The dynasty that overthrew the Umayyads; under Al Mansur (754-775), they established Baghdad as a major cultural and political center.

Vizier

A bureaucratic official who assists the caliph in administering the government; Harun al-Rashid is a notable example who created the House of Wisdom in Baghdad.

Imam

A title for individuals with religious authority in Islam.

'Ulama

Religious scholars tasked with interpreting Shari’a law derived from the Qur’an.

Mamluks

Initially slave soldiers who converted to Islam, they eventually became a powerful military force and played a significant role in the Abbasid era.

Al Ma’mun

The son of Harun al-Rashid who declared himself as imam and initiated an inquisition to enforce theological authority for the 'ulama, eventually leading to the isolation of the caliph in Samarra.

Fatimids

A Shi'ite dynasty claiming descent from Ali and Fatima, who established Cairo as a center of trade and intellectual activity after seizing Egypt.

Ghaznawids

A dynasty that emerged from mamluks and was known for expanding Islam into India, highlighted by Mahmud's sack of the Somnath temple.

Saljuqids

Turkic nomadic tribes that entered Iran in the 1030s and served as protectors of the Abbasid caliphate, resulting in conflicts with local farmers.

Il-Khans

Mongol leaders who succeeded in capturing Baghdad in 1258, ending the Abbasid reign; Ghazan, a notable ruler, converted to Islam in 1295.

Mamluk Sultanate (Egypt)

A powerful Islamic polity that overthrew the Ayyubids, achieved victories over the Mongols and Crusaders, and eventually fell to the Ottomans in 1517.

Umayyad Spain

An intellectual and cultural hub in Cordoba, famous for its libraries and advancements in various fields during Umayyad rule.

Battle of Chains

A battle fought in 634 against the Persians where Muslims emerged victorious despite being outnumbered, with Persian slaves chained to ensure they did not flee.

Battle of Qadisaya

A decisive battle fought in 636 against the Persians, where Muslims emerged victorious despite being outnumbered.

Battle of Yarmuk

A significant battle fought in 636, where Khalid ibn Walid led the Muslims to victory over the Byzantines, despite being outnumbered.

jizya

A wealth tax imposed on non-Muslims in Muslim-ruled territories.

kharaj

A land tax imposed on non-Muslims in Muslim territories.

House of Wisdom

An academic institution in Baghdad during the Abbasid period, analogous to the British Library, that served as a hub of learning, arts, and sciences.

Dome of the Rock

A significant Islamic structure in Jerusalem built during the Umayyad period.

Al Aqsa Mosque

Another important Islamic site in Jerusalem established during the Umayyads.

Greek Fire

An incendiary weapon created by the Byzantines to repel attacks during the Umayyad invasions.

Abd-al-Malik

An Umayyad caliph known for expanding and consolidating Muslim leadership, ruling from 685 to 705.

Harun al-Rashid

An important Abbasid caliph and vizier, known for developing the House of Wisdom and contributing to the golden age of Islam.

Al Mansur

The Abbasid caliph who overthrew the Umayyads and founded Baghdad as a political and cultural center.

Shari’a

Law based on Islamic principles derived from the Qur’an, interpreted and applied by the 'ulama.

Atabeg

Rulers like regents or generals who govern on the behalf of maliks or sultans. Led to hereditary offices, they then stopped paying Saljuqid rulers, weakened Saljuqids.

What did the weakening of the Saljiquids allow?(2 things)

1. Allows for christians to have a successful first Crusade

2. The arriving of the Mongols

What are the two types of Bedouins?

Those who settled near an oasis and nomads (badawah) who constantly moved and lived a grim lifestyle.

What is Muruwah?

A Bedouin code of law: obey the chief, avenge wrongs, and generosity above all; noble Bedouins would host huge parties giving away all they had.

Describe Bedouin religion and society before Muhammad.

They had no interest in conventional religion, no hope of an afterlife, male-dominated, focused on customs, some wealth from caravan trade, and not unified.

What were important cities for the Bedouins?

Medina (Yathrib) and Mecca.

How did Muhammad receive his visions?

Through the archangel Gabriel during long walks.

Why did Muhammad get into trouble in Mecca?

1) Preached monotheism, threatening Mecca's polytheistic trade. 2) Claimed only worshippers of Allah go to heaven, splitting families.

What is Usury?

Charging interest on loans; Christians viewed this as a sin.

What changes did Muhammad make after returning to Mecca?

Outlawed infanticide and sanctified the Ka’bah for monotheistic Islam.

What is the Islamic holy book?

The Qur’an.

How does Islam differ from Christianity in social conduct?

Islam rejects gambling, alcohol, and pork and has detailed rules for social conduct, while Christianity focuses more on general teachings like love, forgiveness, and moral behavior with fewer strict laws.

Name the first 5 caliphs and one achievement each.

Abu Bakr: Held the faith together after Muhammad’s death. Umar: Spread Islam through the Middle East. Uthman: Authored Qur’an, appointed deputies (nepotism). Ali: Civil war after Uthman’s murder; faced internal rebellion. Mu’awiya: Led civil war against Ali, became caliph.

What are the two major branches of Islam?

Sunni (any good Muslim can be Caliph) and Shia (Caliph must descend from Muhammad).

Who was Khalid?

Muslim general who defeated Persians and Byzantines.

Name three important battles during early Islamic expansion.

Battle of Chains, Battle of Qadisayah, Battle of Yarmuk.

How were captured people treated by Muslims?

They could convert, pay taxes and keep their religion, or be executed if they rebelled.

Dhimmi’s

Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians tolerated under Muslim rule but taxed(taxes were generally lower than those previously imposed by Roman or Persian authorities).

What is the Umayyad Caliphate known for?

Founded by Mu’awiya, capital in Damascus, built sacred sites over former religious sites.

What is the Abbasid Caliphate known for?

Founded by Al Mansur, capital in Baghdad, all Muslims under one political group, last time Islam was united under one government.

Who are Viziers, Imams, ‘Ulama, and Mamluks?

Vizier: administrator for the caliph. Imam: religious authority. ‘Ulama: scholars interpreting Shari’a/Qur’an. Mamluks: slaves converted to Islam and trained as soldiers, gained political power.

Name two famous Abbasid leaders.

Harun al-Rashid (House of Wisdom) and Al Ma’mun (moved capital to Samarra).

What were Umayyads in Spain known for?

Building Cordoba.

Who were the Fatimids?

North African dynasty claiming descent from Muhammad, built Cairo.

Who were the Ghaznawids?

Mamluks who created their own caliphate in Afghanistan and Iran, spread Islam into India.

Who were the Saljuqids and Atabegs?

Saljuqids: Central Asian converts to Islam, real power behind Abbasids. Atabegs: Governors under sultans, became hereditary and weakened Saljuqids.

Who defeated the Abbasid Caliphate and Islamic leadership?

Mongols under General Hulegu.

Who were the Il-Khans?

Mongol leaders who converted to Islam (Il-Khan Gazan, Oljeytu).