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Life of Prophet Muhammad

  • Birth: Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 CE.

    • His family was part of the Quraysh, a merchant Arab tribe that controlled Mecca.

    • His uncle, Abu Talib, was a powerful figure in Mecca.

  • Marriage: He married Khadijah, a wealthy widow.

  • Divine Revelations: At the age of 40, Muhammad began receiving divine revelations from the angel Gabriel.

    • These revelations formed the basis of the Quran and focused on strict monotheism and the coming Judgment Day.

  • Hejira: In 618 CE, following the death of Abu Talib, Muhammad fled to Yathrib (later called Medina), marking the start of the Islamic era.

Burial of Muhammad

  • Tomb Location: Muhammad was buried in Aisha's house in Medina.

  • Expansion of Mosques: Under the Umayyad caliph al-Walid I,

    • The al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet) was expanded to include Muhammad's tomb.

    • The Green Dome above Muhammad's tomb was constructed by the Mamluk sultan Al Mansur Qalawun in the 13th century, with the green coloration added in the 16th century under Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Core Tenets of Islam

  • Essential Tenet: Acceptance of and submission to God's will.

  • Koran: The sacred book of Islam, codified by the Muslim ruler Uthman (reigned 644-656).

    • The word Koran means "recitations," referring to Gabriel's instruction to Muhammad in 610 to "recite in the name of God."

    • The Koran consists of 114 surahs (chapters) divided into verses.

Early Islamic Leadership After Muhammad

  • Following Muhammad's death in 632, the Shura (council) selected Abu Bakr as the first caliph, marking the beginning of the Al-Rashidun Caliphate (632-661).

    • Known as the "Rightly Guided" caliphs in Sunni Islam.

    • Caliphs:

    • Abu Bakr (632-634): First convert and Muhammad's father-in-law; known for the conquest of the Fadak oasis.

    • Umar ibn al-Khattab (634-644): Expanded Islamic conquests into the Persian Empire; assassinated in 644. Facilitated the collection and codification of Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet).

    • Uthman ibn 'Affan (644-656): Began conquests in Armenia, Fars, and Khorasan; appointed family as governors; assassinated in 656.

    • Ali ibn Abi-Talib (656-661): Married to Fatima (the Prophet's daughter); presided over the First Fitna (civil war), leading to a permanent division between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Ali was assassinated during the Fajr prayer in the Great Mosque of Kufah (Iraq).

  • Medina became the capital during the Rashidun Caliphate.

The Umayyad Caliphate (661-750)

  • Establishment: Initiated at the end of the First Fitna in 661 CE; recognized as the first hereditary dynasty.

  • The Umayyad family, initially a merchant family from Mecca, became influential, with Uthman being a key member.

  • Capital: The Umayyads established Damascus as their capital and maintained their power base in Syria.

Key Caliphs After Muhammad's Death

  • Mu'awiyah (661-680): Became the sixth caliph post-First Fitna.

  • Yazid (680-683): His accession triggered the Second Fitna, which involved conflicts over succession.

  • Continuity of Caliphs:

    • Include Umar (634-644), Uthman (644-656, Umayyad), Ali (656-661), Mu'awiyah II (683-684), Marwan I (684-685), Abd al-Malik (r. 695-705), al-Walid (705-715), Suleiman (715-717), Umar II (717-720), Yazid II (720-724), Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (r. 724-743), Walid II (743-744).

Influence of the Sassanid Empire

  • Sassanid Empire timeline: Reigned from 224 to 651 CE.

  • Key ruler: Queen Boran, daughter of Khosrau II, was one of the last significant rulers of the timeline.

Development of Islamic Architecture

  • Dome of the Rock: Erected by Abd al-Malik (r. 695-705) between 685 and 691-692 to mark Islam's triumph in Jerusalem, functioning as a religious focal point during his civil strife.

    • Abd al-Malik constructed it when he lacked control over the Kaaba (Islam's holiest shrine).

  • Architectural Elements: The Dome incorporates earlier Roman and Byzantine architectural elements.

The Abbasid Caliphate

  • Established Kufa as a core governmental area and soon moved to Baghdad in 762 CE.

  • Caliph Al-Mansur founded Baghdad near the Sasanian city of Ctesiphon.

  • The Abbasid period is noted for the inclusion of Persian governance and customs, which encouraged a vibrant cultural and scientific environment, leading to the Golden Age of Islam.

  • Al-Mansur is recognized as the true founder of the Abbasid Caliphate, focusing on stabilizing and institutionalizing the rule.