11-2 Spread of Islam

Objectives

1. You will learn how the Muslims expanded their empire.

2. You will also discover why the Islamic community divided.

Focus Questions

1. What steps did Abu Bakr and ‘Umar take to spread Islam?

2. What are the similarities and differences between the Sunni and the Shi’ah?

3. What evidence would you give that the Muslims had a large and well-trained army?

Vocubulary

Abu Bakr: Muhammad’s successor, who was given the title of caliph

caliph: Title for Islamic religious and political leader, meaning “successor to the Prophet”

Umar: Ab_ Bakr's successor and the second caliph, who expanded the Islamic Empire

Sunni: Branch of Islam that believed agreement among Muslim

people should settle religious and worldly matters

Shi’ah: Branch of Islam that believed that only imams should decide religious and worldly matters

imams: Spiritual leaders who, according to Shi’ah Muslims, should be direct descendants of Ali

Sufi: Muslim mystics who tried to live simple lives

Rabiah al-‘Adawiyah: One of the greatest Sufi mystics and one of the first female Sufi mystics.

Tariq: Berber general who led a Muslim army across the Mediterranean and conquered Spain

Moors: Muslims who invaded Spain in the A.D. 700s and made Spain their home

sultan: Ruler of the Turks who claimed to serve the Muslim caliph

Section 2 Summary

When Muhammad died in A.D. 632, his followers chose Abu Bakr (uh·BOO BAK·uhr) as their next leader. Abu Bakr was given the title caliph (KAY-luhf), meaning “successor to the Prophet.” Abu Bakr helped bring the Arabic tribes together and expanded Islam’s influence northward. Umar succeeded Abu Bakr as caliph. Umar was a strong leader with a well-run government. He continued expanding the empire, and the people shared in its wealth. Umar’s armies won much of the former Persian Empire and Iraq. Fierce and fearless in war, the Arabs also made treaties without battle. They did not force all conquered people to convert to Islam. At first they were tolerant of Christians and Jews, called “People of the Book.” Muhammad had accepted the Torah and the Christian Bible as part of God’s teachings.

The caliphs after Umar expanded Muslim influence even more. Muslims swept eastward into India and westward across North Africa. They conquered islands in the

Mediterranean and controlled trade routes. They failed, however, to conquer Constantinople.

Islamic government allowed the caliph to exercise great authority. People disagreed, however, about who should be caliph. These differences split the community

when Umar’s successor, Uthman (ooth·MAHN), was murdered.

Muhammad’s son-in-law, ‘Ali, was chosen as the next caliph, but Uthman’s relative Mu‘awiyah (mooh·AH·wee·ya) protested. War broke out, and ‘Ali was killed.

Most Muslims agreed to accept Mu‘awiyah as caliph. They became known as the Sunni (SOOH·nee). They believed that agreements among the Muslim people should settle religious matters. ‘Ali’s followers, however, believed that only his descendants should be caliphs. They became known as the Shi‘ah (shee·ah). They believed that ‘Ali’s descendants, called imams (i·MAHMZ), should decide both religious and worldly matters. The split deepened when Mu‘awiyah’s descendants killed ‘Ali’s son Husayn. The split still exists today.

Later another split developed. Muslim mystics who tried to live simple lives centered on God became known as the Sufi. The Sufi rejected worldly wealth and success. They believed that faith in God was the mark of a person’s worth. Rabiah al-‘Adawiyah was a great Sufi mystic and the first female Sufi mystic.

Despite these splits, the Muslim Empire continued to spread. The Berbers from North Africa converted to Islam. In the A.D. 700's a Berber general named Tariq led a Muslim army to Spain.

(Strait of Gibraltar, connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, lying between southernmost Spain

and northwestern most Africa. It is 36 miles (58 km) long and narrows to 8 miles (13 km) in width between .)

They crossed the Mediterranean at the great rock known in English as the Rock of Gibraltar. It became known as Jabal Tariq, or “Mount Tariq.” Tariq’s army quickly conquered Spain. Muslims who made Spain their home were called Moors. The Moors crossed into France but were defeated by the Franks. They continued

to rule parts of Spain for more than 700 years.

Turkish-speaking groups from the steppes began moving west and south. They were a tough, nomadic people who lived by fighting. Their conquests brought them into contact with Muslims, and soon many Turks converted to Islam. They settled around the Muslim city of Baghdad, in present-day Iraq, and served the caliph as troops. Gradually power shifted away from the caliph. A sultan ruled the Turks, claiming to serve the caliph. By the mid-1000's the Turks won control of Baghdad. They became the dominant force throughout the Islamic world. Turkish Muslims seized Syria, Mesopotamia, and much of Asia Minor. Fighting on horseback, they conquered most of northern India. In the A.D. 1250's Christians from the West captured some Muslim cities, and Mongols from the East destroyed Baghdad.

Implications of Sunni Vs. Shia can be seen today in various conflicts.

This conflict can partly account for the civil war that is going on in Syria right now.

Answers to Focus Questions

1. What steps did Ab_ Bakr and ‘Umar take to spread Islam?

• Abu Bakr and Umar spread Islam by unifying Arab tribes and expanding the empire by wars and treaties.

2. What are the similarities and differences between the Sunni and the Shi’ah?

• The Sunni and the Shi’ah both follow the teachings of Muhammad,but they disagree about who should be caliphs and who should settle religious and worldly matters. The Sunni believe that agreements among the Muslim people should settle religious matters. The Shi’ah believe that only ‘Ali’s descendants, calledimams, should be caliphs, and that the imams should decide both religious and worldly matters.

3. What evidence would you give that the Muslims had a large and well-trained army?

• Evidence that the Muslims had a large and well-trained army comes from their success at conquering Spain, Syria, Mesopotamia, and much of Asia Minor.