OpenStax Chapter 11.1

Learning Objectives

  • Describe political, geographic, and economic circumstances in the Middle East during the rise of Islam.

  • Discuss the origins of Islam and the career of the prophet Muhammad.

  • Explain the uniqueness of the community Muhammad built.

Pre-Islamic Arabia

  • Arabia was harsh and seemingly marginal during the fifth and sixth centuries CE.

  • It was home to diverse kinship-based tribes, often divided by conflict and competition.

  • Both the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires viewed Arabia as a backwater, not worth conquering.

  • The region included polytheistic Bedouin tribes and the influence of Judaism and Christianity.

The Role of Abraham in Islam

  • Abraham (Ibrahim) is seen as the first monotheist, associated with the Kaaba in Mecca.

  • His descendants, the Arabs, lapsed into polytheism (jahiliyyah) until Muhammad's prophethood.

The Influence of Existing Monotheisms

  • Judaism and Christianity were present and influential in Arabia before Islam.

  • The Himyar kingdom in Yemen was significant in trade and early conversion to Judaism.

Muhammad's Life and Message

  • Muhammad was born in Mecca, part of the Quraysh tribe, and engaged in trade.

  • Received revelations from God via the angel Gabriel starting in 610 CE, leading to the Quran.

  • Faced opposition in Mecca, leading to the hijra (migration) to Medina in 622 CE, marking year one of the Islamic calendar.

Establishment of the Muslim Community

  • Muhammad united tribes in Yathrib (Medina) and established the Constitution of Medina for mutual defense.

  • Early Islam had similarities with Judaism and Christianity, emphasizing the worship of the same God.

Hajj and Core Beliefs

  • The pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) is a Pillar of Islam, reflecting Islamic beliefs and history.

  • The Five Pillars of Islam include:

    • Shahada: declaration of faith.

    • Salah: daily prayers facing Mecca.

    • Zakat: charity to the needy.

    • Sawm: fasting during Ramadan.

    • Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca.

Conclusion

  • Muhammad's leadership unified Arab tribes under Islam, culminating in the conversion of Mecca in 630 CE.

  • Muhammad died in 632 CE, having substantially spread the message and community of Islam.