History of Islam
Islam is a monotheistic religion founded in the 6th century AD by the Prophet Muhammad who lived on the Arabian Peninsula. Today (2019) there are just over 1.8 billion Muslims around the world. Islam is therefore considered the world’s second largest religion. Only Christianity is larger by about 2.3 billion adherents [ PewForum ].
Islam is the youngest of the five world religions and the only one that became a recognized religion already during the life of its founder Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Also Read: Largest religions in the World
When Muhammad (PBUH) was about 40 years old, he appeared for the first time in Mecca .
His intention was to reform the ancient Arab religion ( just as Jesus in his day had wanted to change Judaism). Muhammad’s (PBUH) message was based on revelations that, according to Islamic tradition, had been sent to him from God with the archangel Gabriel.
He then felt a great calling to become a prophet as he wanted to complete and complete all previous revelations sent from God to other prophets (such as Moses and Jesus) and which formed the basis of Judaism and Christianity . Muhammad (PBUH) was convinced that he was God’s last prophet. He had received a new and final message from God that must now be spread to the people.
In the time of Muhammad (PBUH), there was great social unrest in the trading city of Mecca on the Arabian Peninsula. The society, which had previously been built on tribal community, was falling apart. Trade had increased with Syria and Yemen , leading to the emergence of large powerful businessmen. The rich businessman became something of an ideal and role model that more and more people wanted to emulate. These businessmen often acted entirely in their own interest, which meant that the less successful were expelled. It was among these socially and economically excluded that Muhammad (PBUH) sought followers. Muhammad (PBUH) offered them a community on a new foundation – Islam – which, among other things, required generosity and consideration for all fellow human beings.
Muhammad (PBUH) advocated monotheism and generosity
There is only one God. Allah is the only god, all other gods are idols. Allah is the Creator and the one who gave life to creation. He is also the almighty judge, which man should be very aware of. Generosity and empathy are the foremost of human virtues, greed is a grave sin …
This was not met with undivided joy in the trading city of Mecca. The rulers of the city were worried that the income from the temples would decrease if only one god could be worshiped. In Mecca at this time there were a number of temples for various gods and goddesses. Muhammad’s (PBUH) talk that there was only one god worried many merchants because the city’s revenue largely came from pilgrims who made pilgrimages to the city’s temples to pray to their gods. The demands for generosity and compassion also provoked the rich inhabitants of Mecca.
After persecuting and threatening Muhammad (PBUH) for a long time, the rulers of Mecca fled from his hometown to the neighboring city of Medina. This happened in the year 622 and has over time become a very important year for all Muslims as the emigration to Medina has been the starting year for the Islamic era.
In Medina, it was easier for Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers to realize their ideas. Here Muhammad (PBUH) founded the first Muslim congregation and established an Islamic community.
In 630, Muhammad (PBUH) led a large Muslim army against Mecca, which was conquered almost without a fight.
When Muhammad (PBUH) captured the city, he cleared the temple area of idols. The Kaaba and the temple area were then transformed into the holiest site and main pilgrimage site for Muslims. The inhabitants of Mecca now joined the prophet’s followers.
In 632, Muhammad (PBUH) made a carefully planned pilgrimage to Mecca . The rites he performed are the basis for the rites that the pilgrims perform there even today.
Shortly afterwards, in the year 632, Muhammad (PBUH) died lying in the arms of his favorite wife, Aisha. According to tradition, Muhammad ascended to heaven on a horse from a cliff in Jerusalem . There is now the Klipp Mosque.
By his death in 632, Muhammad (PBUH) had succeeded in uniting the entire Arabian Peninsula into a single kingdom based on the new religion.
The Arab tribes could not get along
Muhammad was born around 570 AD in the city of Mecca in present-day Saudi Arabia . Mecca was at this time a lush oasis and trading place where merchants from near and far met during their travels between East and West.
During the 5th and early 6th centuries, there was political and religious division in the Arabian Peninsula. The population was divided into different Bedouin tribes who often lived as nomads, without a permanent residence.
Within each tribe, there was a strong cohesion where all members knew the obligations and rights that applied within the tribal society. In the relationship between the tribes, on the other hand, there were few rules and laws. The tribes therefore found it difficult to agree among themselves. Family feuds and other strife were part of everyday life.
The division between the tribes was exacerbated by the fact that they worshiped different gods.
Poverty and social unrest
During the time of Muhammad (PBUH), the cohesion within the tribes began to decline. This was mainly due to the fact that many nomads moved to the emerging cities where they settled.
Among those who moved to the cities, the differences between rich and poor increased. The poor no longer received the same support from their relatives who became increasingly reluctant to help. The social safety net was thinned out. So it would have been in the tribe of Muhammad.
Muhammad – Prophet of God
Muhammad (PBUH) became an orphan at an early age and had to work as a camel driver for a rich widow named Khadidja.
In Mecca and through his work as a camel driver in various caravans, he came in contact with both Christianity and Judaism . He therefore knew the Bible with its teachings and the people mentioned there. Through the encounter with Jews and Christians, he became convinced that there is only one God.
After a few years, Muhammad married Khadidja. The poor camel driver then became a rich man with many servants. Muhammad now had more free time than before and could decide for himself over his life. For a period of time each year, he therefore used to retire in private to meditate and reflect on life. He then abstained from food.
The Qur’an tells us that the archangel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad on such an occasion and commissioned him to become the Messenger of God (Allah) on earth.
The revelations then repeated many times. During these meetings with Gabriel, he received God’s message to the people. Muhammad, who could neither read nor write, told others about his revelations and had them written down. The texts are called the Qur’an (recitation / reading) and are the holy scriptures of Islam.
According to Islam, God has revealed himself to the people through a number of different prophets who lived earlier in history, where Abraham, Moses and Jesus are the most important after Muhammad.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam are directed to the same God.
Muhammad, however, considered the written revelations in Judaism and Christianity to be incorrect. According to him, the content of the Bible did not agree with God’s message. Islamic tradition therefore emphasizes that Muhammad is the last and greatest of the prophets. He is the one who has received God’s latest and final message to mankind. Everything is recorded in the Qur’an. After Muhammad, no more prophets are needed.
Islam united the divided tribes of Arabia
Muhammad’s task was to go out and proclaim the only true doctrine to the people. He called his teaching Islam, which means submission to God’s will. A person who serves God according to the message of the Qur’an is called a Muslim.
For a Muslim, the Qur’an is the word and law of God. In addition to facts about life, death and heaven, the Qur’an provides a number of rules and laws about how people should be towards each other.
Muhammad’s teachings – there is only one God and Muhammad is his prophet – met with strong opposition from the ruling merchants in Mecca. This was because the trading town also served as a religious center where many people came to worship their various gods.
The merchants made a lot of money on all the people who made the pilgrimage there to pray to the images of the gods that were in the sanctuary of Kaba. They were therefore afraid that Muhammad’s message of “a God” would frighten people away and worsen their business.
Muhammad was chased away and fled to the neighboring city of Medina where he received protection and help. The event took place in 622 AD and forms the basis of Islam’s chronology.
With the support of the city of Medina behind him, Muhammad began the holy war, Jihad, which aimed to spread Islam. The doctrine quickly fell into good soil among the divided tribes on the Arabian Peninsula, which were thus united by the rules of life of Islam. Instead of fighting among themselves, they could now fight together under the banner of Islam against common external enemies.
After conquering all of Arabia, Muhammad returned in 630 to his old hometown of Mecca, which eventually also joined him. Muhammad was now a powerful man and the political and religious leader of the whole of Arabia. But he had grown old, over 60 years.
In Mecca, Muhammad had the idols found in the ancient temple of Kaaba cleared. He declared that from now on it would only be permissible to worship Allah – the only god. Mecca now became the holy city of Islam instead .
When Muhammad lay on his deathbed in 632, he must have felt satisfied. In just a decade, he had succeeded in creating a completely new influential religion and at the same time made Arabia a political power. Through the Arab Armed Forces, he and his successors (the Caliphs) had also been given a powerful tool that could spread Islam around the world. In the following centuries, both Islam and the Arab Armed Forces and culture would become widely known and have a major impact on world history.
Muhammad’s life is a model in Islam
Information about Muhammad’s life can be gleaned from a variety of sources. Because his life was considered a role model at an early stage, people around him began to write down episodes from Muhammad’s life.
Many stories about Muhammad’s life quickly arose. These stories are called hadiths . Gradually, many less credible hadiths were sifted away, while the more authentic depictions of the Prophet’s life were put together in large collections. It was specialists who dealt with this. These collections are considered ideals, Muhammad’s ideals of life, or Sunnah . The word can be translated with custom or tradition. In legal assessments, soundness is very important.
The Caliphs – Muhammad’s successor
The four rightful (legitimate) caliphs:
- Abu Bakr 632-634
- Umar ibn al-Khattab 634-644
- Uthman ibn Affan 644-656
- Ali ibn Abi Talib 656-661
After the Prophet’s death, there were disputes over who would take over the leadership. Before his death, Muhammad had not appointed a successor to the post. After Muhammad’s death, therefore, there was no leader or organization. Nor did anyone know how to go about appointing a successor.
There were divided opinions on how to proceed. Some believed that the appointed one should be related to the Prophet and possess special religious virtues (good moral qualities). Others argued that it was only the religious virtues that mattered and that kinship was not so important. It was these views that later gave rise to the division into Shia and Sunni.
Finally, the leading men gathered for a council to appoint a new leader. Most agreed to elect Abu Bakr , Muhammad’s father-in-law, as “the leader of the believers”. However, there were those who were very dissatisfied with this and who would have preferred Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, as his successor. But Ali was very young at this time.
Abu Bakr 632-634: The caliphate expanded during Abu Bakr’s reign. Muslims occupied Palestine , Syria and parts of Iraq . However, Abu Bakr did not last long as Islam’s main leader, he died after only two years.
Umar ibn al-Khattab 634-644: Umar was one of the Prophet’s closest friends and earliest followers. It was during his time that the title caliph began to be used. Caliph means “Deputy of Muhammad”.
The Arab empire expanded further under Umar’s leadership. During this time, parts of Iran were conquered , remaining parts of Iraq, Egypt and the coast of North Africa.
The Arabs did not expel the locals during their conquests, nor were there any demands for conversion to Islam. The Muslim conquerors just took over. The individual was therefore not very much affected by the takeover. This helped Islam to expand rapidly.
The Muslims introduced a provincial government with a governor in each province. The governors had their seats in different garrison towns. Basra in Iraq is an example of such a garrison city.
Umar was murdered in 644 by a Persian slave.
Uthman ibn Affan 644-656: Uthman was appointed by a traditional council. He was a member of one of the most powerful families.
When he came to power, he immediately appointed his relatives to the highest governing positions. Uthman was a rather weak regent and soon had problems with the Arab tribes. He also received strong criticism from the Prophet’s family.
Uthman was eventually assassinated by a group of Arab soldiers stationed in Egypt. After the murder, Ali (Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law) was accused of being behind it. Despite this, he was shortly afterwards appointed new caliph.
Ali ibn abi Talib 656-661: Ali immediately met with opposition from other groups dissatisfied with his appointment as caliph. Ali therefore traveled from Mecca to the city of Kufa in present-day Iraq, where he formed a new base. It is Ali’s followers, Shiat-Ali (Shia means party, Ali’s party) who will later be called Shia Muslims . Iraq has since been a stronghold of Shia.
The differences of opinion that have existed within the Arab tribes since Ali was appointed caliph, passed after a while in open war. Muawiya , who was Ali’s governor in Syria and belonged to Uthman’s family, wanted revenge on Uthman’s death, which he blamed on Ali. Muawiya also wanted to gain the title of caliph himself. Muawiya gradually gained the upper hand in the war, after which Ali agreed to negotiations and a settlement.
Muawiya belonged to a group called the Umayyads . Ali was murdered by an Umayyad in 661.
The Umayyad Caliphate 661-750
After Ali’s death in 661, some gathered around his son Hasan who they thought would inherit the title of caliph. But it was instead the Umayyad leader Muawiya who proclaimed himself caliph with his seat (capital) in Damascus, Syria.
Muawiya had previously been Ali’s governor in Syria and therefore had a strong army there.
In Syria, the Byzantine-Hellenistic (Eastern Roman) culture prevailed, which soon came to influence Arab culture . This is especially true in art and architecture.
The majority of Muslims considered Muawiya to be the rightful caliph. But for Shia Muslims, things were different. Hasan had retired and instead handed over the post of Muhammad’s successor to his brother Husayn , who was also Ali’s son and grandson of Muhammad.
The Battle of Karbala
After Muawiya’s death, his son Yazid entered the scene. Husayn’s supporters now urged Husayn to challenge the new leader Yazid. Husayn was not late in striking, but had to pay a high price when his troops suffered a terrible defeat at Karbala in 680. Yazid led an army of over a thousand men, while Husayn, according to legend, had only a small force of 72 men, one speeches that have since been of great importance to the Shiites.
The battle of Karbala has since had great significance for the Shiites. The event has colored their whole outlook on life where Husayn is a symbol of true martyrdom. Karbala, located in present-day Iraq, is therefore a holy site for Shiites alongside Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.
The Umayyads created a Muslim empire
During the Umayyads, the caliphate expanded further. Spain , Iran and Afghanistan were incorporated into the Muslim Empire. There was great openness to other religions. During this time there were close contacts with Jews and Christians.
The Umayyads were a distinct Arab dynasty. The caliph was always appointed from the same family. In Damascus, the organization of a central government according to the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) model was also started. The work of centralization was completed during Abd al-Malik’s time as caliph (685-705). The administrative language was initially Greek, but under al-Malik switched to Arabic.
al-Malik was also the first to mint Islamic coins. These coins were copies of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman). The coins were embossed with the Koranic quote, the creed and the name of the ruler. Previously, only the emperor of Constantinople minted coins in his own name, so this was a very important symbolic act for Muslims. The new Arab coins were intended to show that the caliph was now on an equal footing with the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) emperor.
The Umayyads were religiously inclusive , but ethnically exclusive . This is not least evident in the tax system, which states that Arab Muslims only had to pay a tenth in taxes. Those who were Muslims but non-Arabs, on the other hand, had to pay as much as 50 percent in taxes. But the worst affected were those who were neither Muslims nor Arabs, ie Jews and Christians, who in addition to paying 50 percent of their income in tax also had to be deducted with an extra tax because they were not Muslims.
Over time, a strong opposition (protest movement) grew towards the Umayyads. Arab elitism counteracted the cohesion of the great Umayyad empire, which therefore began to crack at the seams. The Arab tribal loyalty was still very strong and significant, but at the same time it acted as a divisive force that led other excluded social groups to unite and unite against the Umayyads. There was a revolt in 747 and a few years later the so-called Abbasids took up the fight under their black banner and finally defeated the Umayyads.
In the 750s, the leadership of Islam was taken over by the Abbasids and the capital was moved from Damascus to Baghdad in present-day Iraq. The Abbasid Empire lasted for five hundred years. The Abbasids were descendants of Muhammad’s uncle al-Abbas, which gave them an unrivaled trump card in the fight against the Umayyads.
The main goal of the Abbasids was to abolish the injustices that have arisen around the Muslim world under the rule of the Umayyads. Mawali , a group of Muslims but not Arabs, formed the basis of power. They consisted of merchants and craftsmen. The Abbasids therefore abolished the Arab-ethnic identity. The basis for loyalty would henceforth be Islam. This also included getting others to convert (convert) to Islam. Unlike the Umayyads, the Abbasids were religiously exclusive and ethnically inclusive . All non-Muslims were now given lower social status while distancing themselves from other religions increased. On the other hand, all Muslims – regardless of their ethnicity – were seen as equal followers of Islam.
In the early ninth century, the Abbasids of Baghdad began extensive translations of Greek texts. They now became interested in, among other things, medicine, mathematics, theology and philosophy.
The latter part of the period was marked by hostile invasions and wars. First against the fanatical crusader armies and then against the well-drilled Mongolian forces . During the Mongol invasion in 1258, Baghdad was conquered and destroyed. The Abbasid Empire now perished. The five hundred years under the Abbasid leadership are often seen as the heyday of Islam.
The Ottoman Empire from the end of the 13th century until 1923
The Ottoman Empire , or Ottoman Empire, was the Turkish empire that lasted for more than 600 years, from the end of the 13th century to 1923 when modern Turkey was formed. In connection with the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the Ottoman Empire became a world power. The Ottoman Empire was for a long time the main power of the Islamic world and posed a serious threat to Christian Europe. At its peak in the 17th century, it encompassed the entire Middle East, Turkey, the Balkans, and large parts of North Africa.
The Ottoman Empire perished after investing on the wrong side during World War I when the Turks fought alongside Germany . The remnants of the empire were then transformed into present-day Turkey.
Useful Concepts about Islam:
Allah: The Arabic name for God.
Fasting or fasting is a period when a person voluntarily refrains from food and possibly drinking to varying degrees.
Imam: Religious leader in Islam.
Islam: To obey God’s will – to be guided by God.
Jihad: Simplified, it can be likened to fighting evil, a kind of holy war.
Kaba: A cube-like building in Mecca and the holiest shrine of Islam. Muslims around the world should turn to the Kaaba in Mecca when they pray.
Caliph: Sunni Muslim spiritual and secular leader.
Convert: Change religion from one religion (or a direction within a religion) to another.
The Qur’an: The Holy Scriptures of Islam, a record, written by Muhammad and based on his revelations which are a depiction of God’s (Allah) message to mankind. The original is in heaven. Originally written down in Arabic and should therefore preferably be read in Arabic.
Rules of life: Rules that describe how to live your life, e.g. different commandments.
Doctrine: What one believes in a religion.
Medina: The first city to convert to Islam. Muhammad lived there for much of his life.
Mecca or Mecca: The holiest place in Islam (a city located in present-day Saudi Arabia), where a Muslim should preferably make a pilgrimage at least once in his life.
Minaret: Tower at the mosque used to call out when it is time for prayer.
Monotheism: Belief inone gud (mono = en | teos = gud).
Mosque: Muslims’ meeting place for worship, prayer, teaching, etc.
Muslim: Person who professes Islam.
Pilgrim: A person who makes a holy journey. A pilgrim has both an inner and outer goal with his walk. Some examples of inner goals can be increased self-awareness, feeling peace and God-present. The external destination is the geographical location where the journey ends.
Prophet: Person who comes with messages from God. Islam’s most important prophet is Muhammad.
Ramadan: The fasting month of Islam, when you usually do not eat when the sun is up.
Ritual: A special act with religious significance that is often performed in a special order, e.g. weddings, funerals, prayers, ceremonies, etc.
Sharia: Laws for society, based on Islam.
Shia: A minor focus. Sometimes called “Ali’s party” because they chose to follow Ali (Muhammad’s cousin) as leader after Muhammad.
Sunna: A collection of examples, oral and written (hadiths) from Muhammad’s life. Serves as a guide for believing Muslims.
Sunni: The largest focus in Islam. Chose Abu Bakr as heir to Muhammad. Their leader is called the Caliph.
Sura: Verses / chapters in the Qur’an.
Interpretation: How to look at a text, what it means.
Document: Scripture that forms the basis of a religion – an original scripture, e.g. The Koran.
Pilgrimage: Visit a sacred place to fulfill a religious duty, to pray and receive a blessing.
Did you know that:
History of Islam
Islam is a monotheistic religion founded in the 6th century AD by the Prophet Muhammad who lived on the Arabian Peninsula. Today (2019) there are just over 1.8 billion Muslims around the world. Islam is therefore considered the world’s second largest religion. Only Christianity is larger by about 2.3 billion adherents [ PewForum ].
Islam is the youngest of the five world religions and the only one that became a recognized religion already during the life of its founder Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Also Read: Largest religions in the World
When Muhammad (PBUH) was about 40 years old, he appeared for the first time in Mecca .
His intention was to reform the ancient Arab religion ( just as Jesus in his day had wanted to change Judaism). Muhammad’s (PBUH) message was based on revelations that, according to Islamic tradition, had been sent to him from God with the archangel Gabriel.
He then felt a great calling to become a prophet as he wanted to complete and complete all previous revelations sent from God to other prophets (such as Moses and Jesus) and which formed the basis of Judaism and Christianity . Muhammad (PBUH) was convinced that he was God’s last prophet. He had received a new and final message from God that must now be spread to the people.
In the time of Muhammad (PBUH), there was great social unrest in the trading city of Mecca on the Arabian Peninsula. The society, which had previously been built on tribal community, was falling apart. Trade had increased with Syria and Yemen , leading to the emergence of large powerful businessmen. The rich businessman became something of an ideal and role model that more and more people wanted to emulate. These businessmen often acted entirely in their own interest, which meant that the less successful were expelled. It was among these socially and economically excluded that Muhammad (PBUH) sought followers. Muhammad (PBUH) offered them a community on a new foundation – Islam – which, among other things, required generosity and consideration for all fellow human beings.
Muhammad (PBUH) advocated monotheism and generosity
There is only one God. Allah is the only god, all other gods are idols. Allah is the Creator and the one who gave life to creation. He is also the almighty judge, which man should be very aware of. Generosity and empathy are the foremost of human virtues, greed is a grave sin …
This was not met with undivided joy in the trading city of Mecca. The rulers of the city were worried that the income from the temples would decrease if only one god could be worshiped. In Mecca at this time there were a number of temples for various gods and goddesses. Muhammad’s (PBUH) talk that there was only one god worried many merchants because the city’s revenue largely came from pilgrims who made pilgrimages to the city’s temples to pray to their gods. The demands for generosity and compassion also provoked the rich inhabitants of Mecca.
After persecuting and threatening Muhammad (PBUH) for a long time, the rulers of Mecca fled from his hometown to the neighboring city of Medina. This happened in the year 622 and has over time become a very important year for all Muslims as the emigration to Medina has been the starting year for the Islamic era.
In Medina, it was easier for Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers to realize their ideas. Here Muhammad (PBUH) founded the first Muslim congregation and established an Islamic community.
In 630, Muhammad (PBUH) led a large Muslim army against Mecca, which was conquered almost without a fight.
When Muhammad (PBUH) captured the city, he cleared the temple area of idols. The Kaaba and the temple area were then transformed into the holiest site and main pilgrimage site for Muslims. The inhabitants of Mecca now joined the prophet’s followers.
In 632, Muhammad (PBUH) made a carefully planned pilgrimage to Mecca . The rites he performed are the basis for the rites that the pilgrims perform there even today.
Shortly afterwards, in the year 632, Muhammad (PBUH) died lying in the arms of his favorite wife, Aisha. According to tradition, Muhammad ascended to heaven on a horse from a cliff in Jerusalem . There is now the Klipp Mosque.
By his death in 632, Muhammad (PBUH) had succeeded in uniting the entire Arabian Peninsula into a single kingdom based on the new religion.
The Arab tribes could not get along
Muhammad was born around 570 AD in the city of Mecca in present-day Saudi Arabia . Mecca was at this time a lush oasis and trading place where merchants from near and far met during their travels between East and West.
During the 5th and early 6th centuries, there was political and religious division in the Arabian Peninsula. The population was divided into different Bedouin tribes who often lived as nomads, without a permanent residence.
Within each tribe, there was a strong cohesion where all members knew the obligations and rights that applied within the tribal society. In the relationship between the tribes, on the other hand, there were few rules and laws. The tribes therefore found it difficult to agree among themselves. Family feuds and other strife were part of everyday life.
The division between the tribes was exacerbated by the fact that they worshiped different gods.
Poverty and social unrest
During the time of Muhammad (PBUH), the cohesion within the tribes began to decline. This was mainly due to the fact that many nomads moved to the emerging cities where they settled.
Among those who moved to the cities, the differences between rich and poor increased. The poor no longer received the same support from their relatives who became increasingly reluctant to help. The social safety net was thinned out. So it would have been in the tribe of Muhammad.
Muhammad – Prophet of God
Muhammad (PBUH) became an orphan at an early age and had to work as a camel driver for a rich widow named Khadidja.
In Mecca and through his work as a camel driver in various caravans, he came in contact with both Christianity and Judaism . He therefore knew the Bible with its teachings and the people mentioned there. Through the encounter with Jews and Christians, he became convinced that there is only one God.
After a few years, Muhammad married Khadidja. The poor camel driver then became a rich man with many servants. Muhammad now had more free time than before and could decide for himself over his life. For a period of time each year, he therefore used to retire in private to meditate and reflect on life. He then abstained from food.
The Qur’an tells us that the archangel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad on such an occasion and commissioned him to become the Messenger of God (Allah) on earth.
The revelations then repeated many times. During these meetings with Gabriel, he received God’s message to the people. Muhammad, who could neither read nor write, told others about his revelations and had them written down. The texts are called the Qur’an (recitation / reading) and are the holy scriptures of Islam.
According to Islam, God has revealed himself to the people through a number of different prophets who lived earlier in history, where Abraham, Moses and Jesus are the most important after Muhammad.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam are directed to the same God.
Muhammad, however, considered the written revelations in Judaism and Christianity to be incorrect. According to him, the content of the Bible did not agree with God’s message. Islamic tradition therefore emphasizes that Muhammad is the last and greatest of the prophets. He is the one who has received God’s latest and final message to mankind. Everything is recorded in the Qur’an. After Muhammad, no more prophets are needed.
Islam united the divided tribes of Arabia
Muhammad’s task was to go out and proclaim the only true doctrine to the people. He called his teaching Islam, which means submission to God’s will. A person who serves God according to the message of the Qur’an is called a Muslim.
For a Muslim, the Qur’an is the word and law of God. In addition to facts about life, death and heaven, the Qur’an provides a number of rules and laws about how people should be towards each other.
Muhammad’s teachings – there is only one God and Muhammad is his prophet – met with strong opposition from the ruling merchants in Mecca. This was because the trading town also served as a religious center where many people came to worship their various gods.
The merchants made a lot of money on all the people who made the pilgrimage there to pray to the images of the gods that were in the sanctuary of Kaba. They were therefore afraid that Muhammad’s message of “a God” would frighten people away and worsen their business.
Muhammad was chased away and fled to the neighboring city of Medina where he received protection and help. The event took place in 622 AD and forms the basis of Islam’s chronology.
With the support of the city of Medina behind him, Muhammad began the holy war, Jihad, which aimed to spread Islam. The doctrine quickly fell into good soil among the divided tribes on the Arabian Peninsula, which were thus united by the rules of life of Islam. Instead of fighting among themselves, they could now fight together under the banner of Islam against common external enemies.
After conquering all of Arabia, Muhammad returned in 630 to his old hometown of Mecca, which eventually also joined him. Muhammad was now a powerful man and the political and religious leader of the whole of Arabia. But he had grown old, over 60 years.
In Mecca, Muhammad had the idols found in the ancient temple of Kaaba cleared. He declared that from now on it would only be permissible to worship Allah – the only god. Mecca now became the holy city of Islam instead .
When Muhammad lay on his deathbed in 632, he must have felt satisfied. In just a decade, he had succeeded in creating a completely new influential religion and at the same time made Arabia a political power. Through the Arab Armed Forces, he and his successors (the Caliphs) had also been given a powerful tool that could spread Islam around the world. In the following centuries, both Islam and the Arab Armed Forces and culture would become widely known and have a major impact on world history.
Muhammad’s life is a model in Islam
Information about Muhammad’s life can be gleaned from a variety of sources. Because his life was considered a role model at an early stage, people around him began to write down episodes from Muhammad’s life.
Many stories about Muhammad’s life quickly arose. These stories are called hadiths . Gradually, many less credible hadiths were sifted away, while the more authentic depictions of the Prophet’s life were put together in large collections. It was specialists who dealt with this. These collections are considered ideals, Muhammad’s ideals of life, or Sunnah . The word can be translated with custom or tradition. In legal assessments, soundness is very important.
The Caliphs – Muhammad’s successor
The four rightful (legitimate) caliphs:
- Abu Bakr 632-634
- Umar ibn al-Khattab 634-644
- Uthman ibn Affan 644-656
- Ali ibn Abi Talib 656-661
After the Prophet’s death, there were disputes over who would take over the leadership. Before his death, Muhammad had not appointed a successor to the post. After Muhammad’s death, therefore, there was no leader or organization. Nor did anyone know how to go about appointing a successor.
There were divided opinions on how to proceed. Some believed that the appointed one should be related to the Prophet and possess special religious virtues (good moral qualities). Others argued that it was only the religious virtues that mattered and that kinship was not so important. It was these views that later gave rise to the division into Shia and Sunni.
Finally, the leading men gathered for a council to appoint a new leader. Most agreed to elect Abu Bakr , Muhammad’s father-in-law, as “the leader of the believers”. However, there were those who were very dissatisfied with this and who would have preferred Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, as his successor. But Ali was very young at this time.
Abu Bakr 632-634: The caliphate expanded during Abu Bakr’s reign. Muslims occupied Palestine , Syria and parts of Iraq . However, Abu Bakr did not last long as Islam’s main leader, he died after only two years.
Umar ibn al-Khattab 634-644: Umar was one of the Prophet’s closest friends and earliest followers. It was during his time that the title caliph began to be used. Caliph means “Deputy of Muhammad”.
The Arab empire expanded further under Umar’s leadership. During this time, parts of Iran were conquered , remaining parts of Iraq, Egypt and the coast of North Africa.
The Arabs did not expel the locals during their conquests, nor were there any demands for conversion to Islam. The Muslim conquerors just took over. The individual was therefore not very much affected by the takeover. This helped Islam to expand rapidly.
The Muslims introduced a provincial government with a governor in each province. The governors had their seats in different garrison towns. Basra in Iraq is an example of such a garrison city.
Umar was murdered in 644 by a Persian slave.
Uthman ibn Affan 644-656: Uthman was appointed by a traditional council. He was a member of one of the most powerful families.
When he came to power, he immediately appointed his relatives to the highest governing positions. Uthman was a rather weak regent and soon had problems with the Arab tribes. He also received strong criticism from the Prophet’s family.
Uthman was eventually assassinated by a group of Arab soldiers stationed in Egypt. After the murder, Ali (Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law) was accused of being behind it. Despite this, he was shortly afterwards appointed new caliph.
Ali ibn abi Talib 656-661: Ali immediately met with opposition from other groups dissatisfied with his appointment as caliph. Ali therefore traveled from Mecca to the city of Kufa in present-day Iraq, where he formed a new base. It is Ali’s followers, Shiat-Ali (Shia means party, Ali’s party) who will later be called Shia Muslims . Iraq has since been a stronghold of Shia.
The differences of opinion that have existed within the Arab tribes since Ali was appointed caliph, passed after a while in open war. Muawiya , who was Ali’s governor in Syria and belonged to Uthman’s family, wanted revenge on Uthman’s death, which he blamed on Ali. Muawiya also wanted to gain the title of caliph himself. Muawiya gradually gained the upper hand in the war, after which Ali agreed to negotiations and a settlement.
Muawiya belonged to a group called the Umayyads . Ali was murdered by an Umayyad in 661.
The Umayyad Caliphate 661-750
After Ali’s death in 661, some gathered around his son Hasan who they thought would inherit the title of caliph. But it was instead the Umayyad leader Muawiya who proclaimed himself caliph with his seat (capital) in Damascus, Syria.
Muawiya had previously been Ali’s governor in Syria and therefore had a strong army there.
In Syria, the Byzantine-Hellenistic (Eastern Roman) culture prevailed, which soon came to influence Arab culture . This is especially true in art and architecture.
The majority of Muslims considered Muawiya to be the rightful caliph. But for Shia Muslims, things were different. Hasan had retired and instead handed over the post of Muhammad’s successor to his brother Husayn , who was also Ali’s son and grandson of Muhammad.
The Battle of Karbala
After Muawiya’s death, his son Yazid entered the scene. Husayn’s supporters now urged Husayn to challenge the new leader Yazid. Husayn was not late in striking, but had to pay a high price when his troops suffered a terrible defeat at Karbala in 680. Yazid led an army of over a thousand men, while Husayn, according to legend, had only a small force of 72 men, one speeches that have since been of great importance to the Shiites.
The battle of Karbala has since had great significance for the Shiites. The event has colored their whole outlook on life where Husayn is a symbol of true martyrdom. Karbala, located in present-day Iraq, is therefore a holy site for Shiites alongside Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.
The Umayyads created a Muslim empire
During the Umayyads, the caliphate expanded further. Spain , Iran and Afghanistan were incorporated into the Muslim Empire. There was great openness to other religions. During this time there were close contacts with Jews and Christians.
The Umayyads were a distinct Arab dynasty. The caliph was always appointed from the same family. In Damascus, the organization of a central government according to the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) model was also started. The work of centralization was completed during Abd al-Malik’s time as caliph (685-705). The administrative language was initially Greek, but under al-Malik switched to Arabic.
al-Malik was also the first to mint Islamic coins. These coins were copies of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman). The coins were embossed with the Koranic quote, the creed and the name of the ruler. Previously, only the emperor of Constantinople minted coins in his own name, so this was a very important symbolic act for Muslims. The new Arab coins were intended to show that the caliph was now on an equal footing with the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) emperor.
The Umayyads were religiously inclusive , but ethnically exclusive . This is not least evident in the tax system, which states that Arab Muslims only had to pay a tenth in taxes. Those who were Muslims but non-Arabs, on the other hand, had to pay as much as 50 percent in taxes. But the worst affected were those who were neither Muslims nor Arabs, ie Jews and Christians, who in addition to paying 50 percent of their income in tax also had to be deducted with an extra tax because they were not Muslims.
Over time, a strong opposition (protest movement) grew towards the Umayyads. Arab elitism counteracted the cohesion of the great Umayyad empire, which therefore began to crack at the seams. The Arab tribal loyalty was still very strong and significant, but at the same time it acted as a divisive force that led other excluded social groups to unite and unite against the Umayyads. There was a revolt in 747 and a few years later the so-called Abbasids took up the fight under their black banner and finally defeated the Umayyads.
In the 750s, the leadership of Islam was taken over by the Abbasids and the capital was moved from Damascus to Baghdad in present-day Iraq. The Abbasid Empire lasted for five hundred years. The Abbasids were descendants of Muhammad’s uncle al-Abbas, which gave them an unrivaled trump card in the fight against the Umayyads.
The main goal of the Abbasids was to abolish the injustices that have arisen around the Muslim world under the rule of the Umayyads. Mawali , a group of Muslims but not Arabs, formed the basis of power. They consisted of merchants and craftsmen. The Abbasids therefore abolished the Arab-ethnic identity. The basis for loyalty would henceforth be Islam. This also included getting others to convert (convert) to Islam. Unlike the Umayyads, the Abbasids were religiously exclusive and ethnically inclusive . All non-Muslims were now given lower social status while distancing themselves from other religions increased. On the other hand, all Muslims – regardless of their ethnicity – were seen as equal followers of Islam.
In the early ninth century, the Abbasids of Baghdad began extensive translations of Greek texts. They now became interested in, among other things, medicine, mathematics, theology and philosophy.
The latter part of the period was marked by hostile invasions and wars. First against the fanatical crusader armies and then against the well-drilled Mongolian forces . During the Mongol invasion in 1258, Baghdad was conquered and destroyed. The Abbasid Empire now perished. The five hundred years under the Abbasid leadership are often seen as the heyday of Islam.
The Ottoman Empire from the end of the 13th century until 1923
The Ottoman Empire , or Ottoman Empire, was the Turkish empire that lasted for more than 600 years, from the end of the 13th century to 1923 when modern Turkey was formed. In connection with the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the Ottoman Empire became a world power. The Ottoman Empire was for a long time the main power of the Islamic world and posed a serious threat to Christian Europe. At its peak in the 17th century, it encompassed the entire Middle East, Turkey, the Balkans, and large parts of North Africa.
The Ottoman Empire perished after investing on the wrong side during World War I when the Turks fought alongside Germany . The remnants of the empire were then transformed into present-day Turkey.
Useful Concepts about Islam:
Allah: The Arabic name for God.
Fasting or fasting is a period when a person voluntarily refrains from food and possibly drinking to varying degrees.
Imam: Religious leader in Islam.
Islam: To obey God’s will – to be guided by God.
Jihad: Simplified, it can be likened to fighting evil, a kind of holy war.
Kaba: A cube-like building in Mecca and the holiest shrine of Islam. Muslims around the world should turn to the Kaaba in Mecca when they pray.
Caliph: Sunni Muslim spiritual and secular leader.
Convert: Change religion from one religion (or a direction within a religion) to another.
The Qur’an: The Holy Scriptures of Islam, a record, written by Muhammad and based on his revelations which are a depiction of God’s (Allah) message to mankind. The original is in heaven. Originally written down in Arabic and should therefore preferably be read in Arabic.
Rules of life: Rules that describe how to live your life, e.g. different commandments.
Doctrine: What one believes in a religion.
Medina: The first city to convert to Islam. Muhammad lived there for much of his life.
Mecca or Mecca: The holiest place in Islam (a city located in present-day Saudi Arabia), where a Muslim should preferably make a pilgrimage at least once in his life.
Minaret: Tower at the mosque used to call out when it is time for prayer.
Monotheism: Belief inone gud (mono = en | teos = gud).
Mosque: Muslims’ meeting place for worship, prayer, teaching, etc.
Muslim: Person who professes Islam.
Pilgrim: A person who makes a holy journey. A pilgrim has both an inner and outer goal with his walk. Some examples of inner goals can be increased self-awareness, feeling peace and God-present. The external destination is the geographical location where the journey ends.
Prophet: Person who comes with messages from God. Islam’s most important prophet is Muhammad.
Ramadan: The fasting month of Islam, when you usually do not eat when the sun is up.
Ritual: A special act with religious significance that is often performed in a special order, e.g. weddings, funerals, prayers, ceremonies, etc.
Sharia: Laws for society, based on Islam.
Shia: A minor focus. Sometimes called “Ali’s party” because they chose to follow Ali (Muhammad’s cousin) as leader after Muhammad.
Sunna: A collection of examples, oral and written (hadiths) from Muhammad’s life. Serves as a guide for believing Muslims.
Sunni: The largest focus in Islam. Chose Abu Bakr as heir to Muhammad. Their leader is called the Caliph.
Sura: Verses / chapters in the Qur’an.
Interpretation: How to look at a text, what it means.
Document: Scripture that forms the basis of a religion – an original scripture, e.g. The Koran.
Pilgrimage: Visit a sacred place to fulfill a religious duty, to pray and receive a blessing.
Did you know that:
- Mecca in Saudi Arabia is the holiest city in Islam. Muslims should make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime. In Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was born.
- More than two million Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca every year. One makes a pilgrimage to show one’s obedience to Allah and to feel belonging to other Muslims. The ceremonies of the pilgrimage are many and take several days to complete. The highlight is walking around the Kaba shrine and kissing the black stone.
- Kaba is a 15 meter high, 12 meter long and 10 meter wide stone building. Kaaba is the house of God, dedicated by Abraham to the worship of God. Walled in in the southeast corner of the building is the sacred black stone, which is framed in silver. According to legend, it was first white but has turned black due to human sins. A common scientific explanation is that it is a meteorite.
