Mid-East Geography and Islam

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Mid-East Geography and Islam
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The crossroads of 3 continents

• Trade
• Invasion
• Cultural diffusion

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Resources of the Middle East

• Textiles
• Metals
• Water
• Oil
• Natural Gas

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The Arabs

• Arabs are Semitic-speaking nomadic peoples living
  on the Arabian Peninsula
• Sheikhs are Arabs leaders elected by the village
  council of elders
• Worked as farmers and sheep herders
• Polytheistic beliefs with Allah being the supreme
  god
• Arabian Peninsula more important when trade
  routes shifted to area due to dangers in Egypt
  and Mesopotamia which allowed the area to prosper!

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Important Cities

1. Mecca
2. Medina
3. Jerusalem home of sites holy to Jews,
   Christians, and Muslims

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Personal Information

• Born in Mecca, 570 CE
• Father died before birth and his mother died at
  age 6
• Raised by grandfather and then uncle
• Worked as a shepherd and trader

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Personal Information

• Called al-Amin meaning the trustworthy man
• Became a caravan trader with the Bedouins
  (leading group)
• Married widow Khadija at age 25 (she had employed
  him)

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The Prophecy

• Muhammad is frustrated by lack of charity and
  false worship in his community so he goes to
  meditate
• 610 CE the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad
  and proclaimed him to be the messenger of god
  while meditating
• Muhammad began to preach to a small group
  including his wife

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Muhammad

• Muhammad preached Islam (peace through surrender
  to God) to his followers
• Monotheistic faith
• Conflicted with priests and wealthy traders in
  Mecca

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The Hijra

• 622 CE - Muhammad was forced to leave Mecca (life
  threatened)
• Welcomed in Medina
• 630 CE - returns to Mecca with army
• Destroys icons in the Kaaba except the Black Stone

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Muhammad

• Mecca becomes spiritual center of Islam
• Muhammad died in 632 CE
• Succeeded as Islamic leader by his father in law
  Abu Bakr

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The Koran or Quran

• Holy book of Islam
• Written down after Mohammads death
• Means recite

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The Five Pillars
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1. Shahada

• Faith There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is
  his prophet

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2. Salaat

• Prayer said five times each day, facing Mecca,
  in Arabic

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3. Zakat

• Charity Give to those in need and in turn
  receive purity and growth
• Creates an economic balance in Islamic society
  in theory no overly poor and/or starving
  population

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4. Ramadan

• Fasting no food, drink, or sexual relations
  during this month from sun up to sundown
• It brings self-purification and discipline to the
  individual

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5. Haj

• A pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim should
  attempt once in his or her lifetime (as long as
  he/she is physically and financially able to make
  the trip)

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Islam..

• Religion is a way of life
• Role of women
• Islamic Law shariah

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Islamic Worship