Midterm Exam on the Rise of Islam PDF

**1. The Rise of Islam** **Origins of Islam:** - **Life of Prophet Muhammad:** - Muhammad was born in 570 CE in Mecca (in modern-day Saudi Arabia). He grew up to be a merchant. When he was 40 years old, he started receiving messages from God (Allah) through the angel...

**1. The Rise of Islam** **Origins of Islam:** - **Life of Prophet Muhammad:** - Muhammad was born in 570 CE in Mecca (in modern-day Saudi Arabia). He grew up to be a merchant. When he was 40 years old, he started receiving messages from God (Allah) through the angel Gabriel. These messages lasted for 23 years and became the basis of the Qur\'an. - Muhammad taught that there is only one God (Tawhid), and that people should worship and submit to God\'s will. - **The Message of Islam: Tawhid (Oneness of God):** - Islam teaches that there is one God, and Muhammad is His final prophet. Muslims believe in many prophets, like Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, but Muhammad is considered the last one. - **The Five Pillars of Islam:** These are the basic rules every Muslim follows: - **Shahada (Faith):** Saying, \"There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.\" - **Salah (Prayer):** Praying five times a day. - **Zakat (Charity):** Giving money to help the poor. - **Sawm (Fasting):** Fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset. - **Hajj (Pilgrimage):** Traveling to Mecca at least once in your life if you are able. **Spread of Islam After Muhammad's Death:** - **The Rashidun Caliphate (632-661):** - After Muhammad died in 632, his followers chose the first four leaders, called caliphs, to guide the Muslim community. These leaders expanded Islam by conquering large areas, including parts of the Byzantine Empire and Persia. - **The Umayyad Caliphate (661-750):** - The Umayyads took control after the Rashidun caliphs. They spread Islam further into Spain, North Africa, and Central Asia, making Arabic the main language and promoting Islam as the state religion. - **The Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258):** - The Abbasids took over in 750 and made Baghdad their capital. This period is known as the *Golden Age* of Islam, when science, medicine, and culture thrived. Muslims expanded Islam into more regions, including parts of India and Southeast Asia. **Key Concepts:** - **The Qur\'an:** The holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God revealed to Muhammad. - **The Hadith:** Sayings and actions of Muhammad that help guide Muslims in their daily lives. - **Jihad:** A term that means \"struggle\" or \"effort.\" It can refer to personal struggles to be a better person, but sometimes it's used to talk about fighting to defend Islam. **2. Islam Expands** **Expansion Under the Caliphates:** - **Military Conquest and Territorial Expansion:** - After Muhammad\'s death, Muslim armies expanded the Islamic empire through military conquests, reaching parts of Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, and Persia. - **Trade Routes and Cultural Diffusion:** - Islam also spread through trade. Muslim traders and missionaries helped share the religion along trade routes across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Islam became connected to major trading cities, like Mecca and Baghdad. - **Arabic Language and Islam as a Unifying Force:** - Arabic became the common language of government and religion, helping unify the diverse people in the Islamic world. The Qur\'an was written in Arabic, and understanding the language was important for religious practice. **Islamic Golden Age (750-1258):** - **Achievements in Science, Medicine, Mathematics, and Architecture:** - During the Abbasid Caliphate, scholars made important discoveries in many areas: - **Math:** Al-Khwarizmi developed algebra. - **Medicine:** Avicenna (Ibn Sina) wrote a famous medical book that was used in Europe for centuries. - **Chemistry:** Al-Razi (Rhazes) was an early chemist and doctor. - **Astronomy:** Muslims made advances in understanding the stars and planets. - **Architecture:** Beautiful mosques and buildings were built, like the Alhambra in Spain. - **Notable Figures:** - **Al-Khwarizmi:** The mathematician who created algebra. - **Avicenna (Ibn Sina):** A doctor whose medical writings were very influential. - **Al-Razi (Rhazes):** A doctor and chemist who made important contributions to medicine. **Spread of Islam to Africa, Asia, and Europe:** - **Africa:** Islam spread through trade in North Africa and later into sub-Saharan Africa. Many African kings and rulers, like Mansa Musa of Mali, became Muslim, helping to spread the religion. - **Asia:** Islam reached Central Asia, India, and Southeast Asia through traders, missionaries, and conquerors. In some places, it spread peacefully, while in others, it was through military conquests. - **Europe:** Islam spread into parts of Spain (known as Al-Andalus) and later influenced other parts of Europe, especially in science, medicine, and philosophy. In the East, the Ottoman Empire brought Islam to parts of Turkey and the Balkans. In short, Islam grew rapidly from its origins in the Arabian Peninsula, spreading through both conquest and peaceful methods like trade and missionary work. It had a lasting impact on many parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, and Asia, and became a major cultural, intellectual, and political force.