Understanding Islam: Origins, Quran, and Muslim Culture

• Islam is the second largest religion in the world, following Christianity.
• Globally, there are over two billion Muslims.
• Historically, Islam has been associated with some of the largest empires, including the Ottoman, Safavi, Iranian highlands, and the Mughal empires.
• Muslim architecture is a notable aspect of Islamic civilization.

Origin of Islam

• The Arabic root "al-silm," meaning "submission" or "surrender," is where the word Islam originates.
• Islam means submission to God's will and obedience to His law in a religious context.
• Islam is a way of life, and Muslims claim to live by its principles.

The Qur'an

• The Qur'an ('Qor-Ann') is believed to be a divine message from Allah to humanity.
• It was revealed to Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
• The revelations occurred over about 23 years(610 CE to 632 CE).
• Muhammad was 40 when the Qur'an began to be revealed to him, and 63 when the revelation was completed.
• The Qur'an contains 114 Surahs (chapters) with over 6,000 verses.
• Islam, Judaism, and Christianity share the same holy sites like Jerusalem, and prophets like Abraham.
• They are referred to as the Abrahamic faiths because of Abraham and his family's vital roles in the formation of these religions.

Muhammad the Prophet

• "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his messenger" is a central tenet of Islam.
• In 570 CE, Muhammad was born in Mecca.
• Khadija, a wealthy widow 15 years his senior and also his employer, became his wife.
• Around 610 CE, he was instructed to recite by the Angel Gabriel during his first religious experience.
• Muhammad passed away in Medina in 632.
• After introspection, Muhammad accepted his role and began preaching the word of Allah, with his wife being his first convert.
• The Qur'an's books (surahs) and verses (ayat) are formed by his divine recitations.
• Early Muslims faced persecution for preaching monotheism that threatened the ruling tribe of Mecca, the Quraysh.
• In 622, Muhammad and his followers fled to Yathrib (Medina), known as the Hijra or emigration.
• The Muslim calendar starts in 622 A.H., the year of the Hijra.
• One of Muhammad's first actions as leader was to purge the Kaaba of all idols.
• The Kaaba was previously a site of pilgrimage for polytheistic traditions, containing idols of pagan gods.
• Abraham (or Ibrahim) and his son Ishmael are believed to have built the Kaaba.
• The Kaaba is considered the most important center for pilgrimage in Islam.

Basic Islamic Beliefs

• Allah is the one and only God.
• The Qur'an mentions 25 messengers and prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.
• Their message is to submit to God’s will and obey His law.
• Revelations and the Qur'an.
• The Qur'an is the final divine book of guidance from Allah, revealed to Muhammad through the angel Jibraeel (Gabriel).
• Every word of the Qur'an is the word of Allah.
• Angels are spiritual beings created by Allah, not requiring food, drink or sleep, who spend their time in His service.
• Islam integrates religion into all aspects of life, making unlawful any law contradicting the Qur'an and Sunnah.
• A Muslim's life purpose is to worship Allah, obey His commands, do good, shun evil, and be just to Him, oneself, and others.
• The Day of Judgement entails the end of the world and the trial of the dead.
• People will be rewarded and welcomed to Heaven (Jannah) or punished and cast into Hell (Jahannam)
• Jahannam is a place of scorching fire pits and boiling water.
• Every person is born free from sin, and is accountable from the age of maturity.
• There is no inherited original sin.
• Salvation requires a combination of faith, action, belief and practice.
• Faith without good deeds is insufficient, and likewise good deeds without faith.
• Allah holds people responsible only if He has shown the Right Way.
• Muslims must preach Islam in words and action.
• Faith requires well-grounded convictions, not blind acceptance.
• Islam ensures freedom of belief and forbids compulsion in religion.
• The Qur'an is the word of Allah revealed to Muhammad through Angel Gabriel.
• Revealed in Arabic, the Qur'an answers questions, solves disputes, provides guidance, and remains in its original Arabic version.
• The Qur'an rejects the concept of the Trinity.
• Jesus was a messenger of Allah, not divine.
• Muslims believe in Allah and the revelations to prophets like Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus.

Five Pillars of Islam

• Shahada is the statement of faith: "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet". It must be declared publicly with genuine belief.
• Salah is the obligatory prayer offered by every Muslim male and female who is sane, mature, and free from menstruation or childbirth.
• Requirements of prayer include ablution, purity of body and ground, proper dress, and facing the Qiblah (Kaaba in Mecca).
• Zakah is the obligatory charity: It mandates that Muslims with means donate annually an amount to rightful beneficiaries.
• Zakah is paid on the net balance after expenses and taxes.
• Those with 85 grams of gold (or equivalent) must give Zakah at a minimum rate of 2.5%.
• Taxes do not substitute for this religious duty.
• Sawm is fasting from dawn till sunset, abstaining from eating, drinking, intimate sexual contacts, and smoking.
• Obligatory fasting occurs during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year.
• Recommended fasting includes Mondays, Thursdays, three days mid-month, six days after Ramadan, and days prior to Ramadan.
• Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca: It is obligatory once in a lifetime for Muslims who are mentally, physically, and financially able.

Early Islamic Caliphates

• The century after Muhammad's death involved military conquest and expansion, Muhammad was succeeded by four "rightly-guided" Caliphs.
• Abu Bakr ruled from 632-34 CE.
• Umar ruled from 634-44 CE.
• Uthman ruled from 644-56 CE.
• Ali ruled from 656-61 CE.
• Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r. 632–634 CE) was a close companion and father-in-law of the Prophet.
• He is known for unifying the Arabian Peninsula and preserving the Quran in written form.
• Abu Bakr laid the foundation for the administrative structure of the Islamic state, ensuring continuity after the Prophet's passing.
• Umar ibn al-Khattab (r. 634–644 CE) is known for his administrative reforms and expansion of the Islamic empire.
• This involved expansion into Persia, the Levant, and Egypt.
• The Islamic legal and governance system was established by Umar.
• He established the Diwan (bureaucratic system), a centralized treasury, and public welfare programs.
• Umar instituted fair judicial systems and policies that protected non-Muslim minorities under Islamic rule.
• Uthman ibn Affan (r. 644-656 CE) oversaw the compilation of the Quran into a single, standardized text.
• Furthermore, he expanded trade networks and improved infrastructure and continued the expansion into North Africa and Central Asia.
• Ali ibn Abi Talib (r. 656–661 CE) was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, whose caliphate faced internal strife.
• He is regarded by Shia Muslims as the first Imam.
• He was renowned for his wisdom, eloquence, and understanding of Islamic jurisprudence, which influenced Islamic scholarship.

The Umayyads

• The Umayyads were the "first" dynasty of the Islamic world.
• The Dome of the Rock, the Great Mosque in Damascus, and the Great Mosque in Córdoba are all associated with the Umayyads.
• 'Ali's assassination marked a crossroad for early Muslims and resulted a series of civil wars (or fitnas).
• Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan (661–680 CE) was the founder of the Umayyad dynasty.
• He moved the capital to Damascus, established a hereditary monarchy system, and strengthened the navy.
• He is known for expanding the empire into the Mediterranean.
• Yazid I (680–683 CE) is known for events like the Battle of Karbala, which led to the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali.
• He continued the consolidation of Umayyad rule despite internal strife.
• Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (685–705 CE) centralized government administration by adopting Arabic as the official language.
• He introduced the first Islamic coinage and completed the construction of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.
• Al-Walid I (705–715 CE) oversaw the greatest territorial expansion, including parts of Spain, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
• He built infrastructure, including mosques like the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, and Expanded social service.s
• Includes hospitals and education.
• Umar II (717–720 CE) is known for piety and efforts to reform governance to align with Islamic principles.
• He abolished discriminatory taxes on non-Muslims who converted to Islam and Promoted justice and equality within the empire.
• Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (724–743 CE) presided over cultural achievements, strengthened frontier defenses, and promoted agriculture.
• Promoted agriculture and economic stability within the empire and expanded into southern France.

Decline of the Umayyad Dynasty

• The Umayyads favored Arab Muslims, giving them higher status and privileges.
• Mawali (non-Arab converts, mainly Persians and Berbers) were treated as second-class citizens and taxed like non-Muslims.
• This alienated a large portion of the Muslim population and led to growing resentment.
• While non-Muslims (dhimmis) were taxed under jizya and kharaj, non-Arab Muslims were burdened with these taxes after converting to Islam.
• This fueled widespread dissatisfaction and opposition to Umayyad rule.

Arab Tribal Rivalries

• The Umayyads originally relied on the Quraysh and other Arab tribes for support.
• Inter-tribal conflicts , especially between the Qays (northern) and Yemen (southern) Arab factions, weakened the unity of the state.
• Later Umayyad rulers, such as Al-Walid II (743–744 CE), faced criticism due to their lavish lifestyles and negligence of state affairs.
• This led to economic problems, reduced economic problems and loss of public trust.
• After Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik ruled from 724-743 CE, there was a period of instability with four caliphs in just six years, between 743-750 CE.
• Frequent changes in leadership weakened central authority.

Revolts against Umayyad Rule

• The Berber Revolt in 740 CE in North Africa was due to discrimination and heavy taxation, weakening Umayyad control in the Maghreb and Spain.
• Shia Muslims opposed the Umayyads for sidelining the family of Ali ibn Abi Talib, who they considered the rightful successors.
• The Abbasid family (descendants of Prophet Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. capitalized on Shia discontent and led a revolt.
• Abbasid Revolution (747–750 CE).
• The Battle of the Zab (750 CE) resulted in the Abbasids defeating the Umayyad forces and Caliph Marwan II was killed. officially ending Umayyad rule in the Middle East.
• The Abbasid family, from Prophet Muhammad's uncle.
• The Abbasids succeeded after overthrowing the Umayyads in the Abbasid Revolution in 750 CE.
• They claimed descent from Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, an uncle of Prophet Muhammad.
• This shifted the caliphate's focus from Arab dominance to a more inclusive Islamic civilization.
• Abu al-Abbas as-Saffah (750–754 CE) was the Founder of the Abbasid Caliphate.
• Abu overthrew the Umayyads and established rule in Kufa which later moved to Baghdad.
• Abu consolidated power through military victories against Umayyad loyalists..
• Al-Mansur (754–775 CE) founded Baghdad (762 CE) making it a center of learning and culture.
• Al-Mansur strengthened administration and developed a more efficient bureaucracy and promoted Persian influence.
• Harun al-Rashid ruled from 786–809 CE and his reign was the Golden Age of Islam.
• Baghdad became a global center and He established the House of Wisdom translating works.
• Al-Ma'mun was in power from 813–833 CE expanding the House of Wisdom.
• He also encouraged theological and scientific debates.
• Al-Mu'tasim was in power from 833–842 CE He made the Mamluk military system. He built the new capital of Samarra.

Decline of the Abbasid Caliphate

• The Mongol Invasion occurred in 1258 CE. Hulagu Khan's Mongols sacked Baghdad which ended Abbasid rule.
• Abbasid caliphs were re-established in Cairo under the Mamluks and served as religious leaders until the Ottoman conquest. This was until 1517 CE.

Sunni and Shia

• The division between Shia and Sunnis began upon the death of Muhammad.
• Difference of opinion on chosen successor.
• Spiritual and political authority were important aspects of the division.
• The Shia believed Muhammad's successor is divined.
• Muhhamad appointed cousin and son in law Ali as his successor.
• The successpors are the Vicars of God and have authority.
• Further successors, called Imams, must be similarly chosen from Muhammad and Ali's bloodline.
• They are infallible in religious matters and have ritual and belief and spiritual truth.
• Sunnis believe succession can be chose thru consensus.
• The successors are only entitled to politcal authority and not religoius.
• They believe rightful rule lies with the sunni religious scholars and clerics (called ulama, Muftis, and Faqihs).
• A sunni follows the religious leaders and the caliph.

Explore the origins of Islam, its core beliefs, and the significance of the Quran. Learn about the historical empires and cultural contributions of Muslims worldwide. Discover the meaning of Islam as submission to God's will.