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3
The prophet Mohammed (570-632)
Unity? World conquest
Many ready to submit? Cultural influences – historical, but many original? Problems for neighboring peoples
China Europeans India
Success , yet failure!?!
Introduction
5
Caravans then marriage then voices and
visions Mecca preaching
His message Ka’aba Allah Day of judgment
Claiming the Judeo-Christian heritage
Early life
6
City/ Desert divide
Some Jews, some Christians, many pagans Early expectations
At first, expected Jews and Christians to convert.
He was restoring, not preaching something new 622 – Flight to Medina (Hegira) Mohammed’s new life
Jews v Pagans Need for law giver – He did it.
Reaction to Mohammed
7
Pagans convert, Jews – not
Also new recruits from Mecca Crisis = shortage of land for food as new
comers arrive. Mohammed the caravan raider
Median revenge army defeated. Sign from God
Jews driven out, land seized More growth, so attack a near by oasis
But now make Jews pay a tax
Median Success
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Tolerate Christians and Jews , attack heretical
Moslems No forced conversions, but a tax
Why? People of the Book Mohammed defines what is expected of
faithful Combination of revelation and causal actions Became binding on all Moslems Islam – submission to God’s will
Toleration
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Pray 5 times a day Civil and religious authority fused
God’s will in all things Public acknowledgement of God’s unity and
Mohammed’s prophetic status 3 other rules
Aid to poor Fast in Ramadan Pilgrimage to Mecca Five Pillars of Islam
Other rules – division of spoils, number of wives – later and not duties.
Mohammed and God’s Will
10
Band of devoted followers Daily prayer and phalanx spirit Successful raiders Meccans not certain it was right to oppose
Mohammed In 630 CE, he returns in triumph to Mecca Other tribes accepted or faced attack One by one they came over.
Mohammed in Medina
12
Mohammed dies - 632
Issues: how could community continue What bout chiefs who had severed allegiance?
Abu Bakr Not prophet Became Caliph Attacks tribes who had withdrawn 634 dies – united again
The Crisis
13
His character His campaigns
636 – Byzantine army @ Jordan River ( B of Yarmuk)
Mesopotamia = Palestine and Syria – Egypt falls 636
Sassanian Empire collapses in 651 Key factor factor was the conviction that God
was with the Moslems
Omar
14
Preferred to keep the Muslims together and
communities Use of garrison cities – new deserts Conquered people = taxes
Kept Persian and Byzantine systems in force Same officials
Division among the garrisons Like a dividend for soldiers
Still tribal Tribal garrisons Old customs and feuds ? New rules of conduct?
* Organizing the lands
16
Since we can’t trust Othman… Laying out the suras Presume completenesss? The EXACT word of God
Rejection of other scriptures Next, language studies…..
* The Koran
17
Standard practices Crisis after second assassination (656) Two conflicting principles?
Members of Mohammed’s family Ali
Tribal custom Family
War? Postphoned – Ali assassinated
* Succession
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Mauwiyah – Omayyad head
Forestalls Husain Bases of power and forces in play….
Ex-Persian vs. ex-Byzantine Tribal differences
First split Religious enthusiasts – only perfectly pious Hidden Iman Others – true successor was other descendant – 7
generations, 12 generations All agreed present leaders = no go
Shia v Sunni
* The Conflict
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661-750 Omayyad govern Spain 711 Visigoths India – 705 Central Asia = Chinese defenses attacked
Talas 751 Old Persian and Carthaginian empires combined
Failure at Byzantium – 717 Psychologically important
Expansion and Success
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New territories = new spoils, failure = none Disgruntled groups had outlet - now????
Internal conflict Scale of fighting increases
Radical sects, tribal and clique intrigues Omayyad overthrown – 750
Abbasid’s – till 1258
* Why the failure mattered
22
Conqueror not eager to evangelize!
Taxes Undermining traditional structure (wanderers)
No help in revelation Converts = equality and discontent
Arab v Non-Arab
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