Lesson 9: The Origins and Spread of Islam

The Origins and Spread of Islam

By Josefine Pettit

Arabia Before Islam

• Setting the Stage: In 6th century Arabia, Mecca was a prosperous trading city at the crossroads of major trade routes

• Economy: Merchants traded spices, sheepskins, and dates; wealth concentrated among a few powerful clans

• Society: Arabs lived as either nomads in the desert or in urban settlements

• Religion: Most Arabs practiced polytheism (belief in many gods)

• Culture: The Ka'bah in Mecca was an important religious shrine housing hundreds of idols

• Tribal Structure: No central government; people pledged loyalty to clans and tribes

Multiple Choice

Before the founding of Islam, most Arabs followed

• polytheism
• Judaism
• monotheism
• Zoroastrianism

​Muhammad's Early Life and Call to Prophethood

• Birth and Childhood: Born around 570 CE in Mecca to the Hashim clan

• Early Years: Orphaned young; raised by grandfather and uncle

• Occupation: Became a respected merchant known as "the Trustworthy"

• Marriage: Wed Khadijah, a wealthy widow who ran a trading business

• Spiritual Journey: Often retreated to mountains for prayer and meditation

• Divine Revelation: Around 610 CE, in a cave near Mecca, the angel Gabriel delivered God's message

• Core Belief: Muhammad taught monotheism - worship of one God (Allah)

Multiple Choice

According to Islam, early in his life, Muhammad gained the nickname "al-Amin," which means

• the wise
• the brave
• the honest
• the trustworthy

Dropdown

The Arabic word for God is ​

Select answer

, and followers of Islam are called ​

Select answer

According to their beliefs, Muhammad was informed by ​

Select answer

that he was the prophet of God. ​

Select answer

was the first convert to Islam. The messages from Muhammad were recorded in the ​

Select answer

​The Birth of Islam

• First Followers: Muhammad's wife Khadijah, cousin Ali, and friend Abu Bakr were among the first Muslims

• Key Teachings:

  • Monotheism (one God)

  • Equality of believers

  • Charity toward the poor

  • Improved status for women

  • Care for orphans and the needy

• Opposition: Powerful Meccans rejected Muhammad's message and persecuted Muslims

• The Qur'an: Muslims believe these revelations from God were memorized and later written down

• Night Journey: Muhammad reported traveling miraculously to Jerusalem and through seven levels of heaven

Categorize

Options (5)

They called Muhammad a liar

The followers of Muhammad were persecuted

Meccans establised a business boycott of the followers of Muhammad

They convinced Abu Tablin to turn on Muhammad

They killed many Muslims during the infamous Night journey raids

What was true was that the Meccans did to discredit the teachings of Muhammad

True

False

The Hijrah and Growth of Islam

• The Migration: In 622 CE, Muhammad and followers moved to Yathrib (Medina) - the Hijrah

• New Community: In Medina, Muhammad developed a growing Muslim community

• Brotherhood: Muslims emphasized faith bonds over tribal connections

• Relations with Others: Muhammad taught respect for "People of the Book" (Jews and Christians)

• Military Conflicts: Muslims fought and won battles against Meccan forces

• Return to Mecca: Around 630 CE, Muslims peacefully took Mecca and cleansed the Ka'bah of idols

• Muhammad's Death: After delivering his final sermon during a pilgrimage to Mecca, Muhammad died in 632 CE

Word Cloud

Describe one word that stood out to you during the last slide

​The Spread of Islam After Muhammad

• Leadership Challenge: After Muhammad's death, Muslims needed to choose a leader (caliph)

• The First Four Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali (the "rightly guided" caliphs)

• Expansion: Under these caliphs, Islam spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and parts of Asia

• Division: After Ali's death, Muslims split into two groups:

  • Sunnis - accepted Umayyad leadership

  • Shi'ites - believed only Muhammad's descendants through Ali should lead

• Cultural Impact: Spread of Arabic language, new systems of government, and scientific advancements

• Legacy: Created one of the world's largest empires and a civilization that preserved and advanced knowledge

Open Ended

How did Islam originate and spread?