Introduction to the Study of Islam 21/22
Lecture 2 – Prophet Muhammad and the
Early Caliphs
Prophet's wars
1. Batle of Badr (622CE-0AH)
• Muslijms attack Meccan caravans and meccan army is defeated
▪ Worsening relations with Jewish tribes
• They did not participate in the war, violation of the Pact of Medina?
Because it was brought upon themselves
2. Battle of Uhud (625CE-3AH)
• Again worsening relations with Jewish tribes
▪ Suspicion of treason
▪ Tribe banished from Medina
3. Batthe of the trench (627CE-5AH)
• Again worsening relations with Jewish tribes
▪ Actively called for surrender
▪ Arbiter decided all men were killed and women+children sold
The development of Islam 0-5AH
• Believers started to call themselves Muslim
• Turning away from judaism after battle of Badr
• Prayer direction to Mecca
• Adaptation of dietary laws
• Yom Kippur -> Ramadan
• Special Islamic dress code
• Definitive distinction from Jews and Christians
Prophet as a leader
• Mohammed had many roles in society and additionally also the special mission as Prophet
• Had many wives (also more than was allowed at that time)
• All had special status (mothers of believers)
• All of his children died, except Fatima
The road to Mecca
• 630CE-8AH -> Mecca surrenders
• No forced conversions of Meccans
• Destructions of pantheon with idols
• But pilgrimage with Ka'ba remained
• Also clash between Byzantines and Sassanides at the same time
Spread of Islam
• Alliances with neighboring tribes
• Freedom of religion
• Recognition of Muslim supremacy
• Assitance in times of war
• Payment of taxes
• Not allowed to have razzas with muslim communities
▪ Had to go outside of community
,Introduction to the Study of Islam 21/22
Four rightly guided caliphs
• Religious-spiritual leadership
• 632-661CE or 10-40AH
• Large conquests lead to creation of Islamic empire
▪ No conversions
• There should be no force in religion
• Also could turn people agains you
• Non-muslim had to pay taxes
• Large source of income
• Inter-Muslim wars (Fitna wars)
• Lecture 3
What to make of the prophet's life
• Spiritual, kind, wise man
• Strict, uncompromising rule maker
• Someone who lives Islam
• Not like Jesus Christ
• Wives, wars, human error
• He was a special human being with all its shortcomings who was chosen to be
prophet
• Can make comparisons to other biblical heroes or greek mythology
• Non-Muslims may dislike Mohammed
• But liked other conquerors (roman, greek, european)
, Introduction to the Study of Islam 21/22
Lecture 3 – Divisions in the Umma and
Issues of Authority
Prophet died 632CE / 10AH
Who would succeed him?
Fatima was only child of Mohammed, she married Ali (first convert) and they had 2 sons
Tribal leaders said to stick to the sunna (tradition)
Family said blood ties (shi'a of Ali)
Shiites
• Imamate
o Lineage starts with Ali and Hussayn
o Religious-spiritual leadership
• Mostly lived in seclusion
Sunnites
• Four rightly guided caliphs
o Abu Bakr
o Umar
o Uthman
o Ali
• Combined religiousness and statemanship
o Established empire
o Also civil wars (Fitna)
• Caliphate by succesion (Dynasties) 661-1923CE / 41-1342AH
o Mostly worldly leadership
o Managing empire
Inter-Muslim wars (632-680CE)
1. Bedouin tribes break alliance after death of prophet
a. Ridda wars (apostacy wars)
b. Personal allegiance, leader died -> alliance gone
i. But for muslims this was not the case
2. Fourth caliph Ali fights fitna wars about succession
a. Unclear what it was about
b. Major players
i. Tribe of Quraysh
1. Clan of Hashim
a. Mohammed X khadija
i. Fatima x Ali
2. Clan of Ummay
a. 3rd caliph
b. Mu'awiyya (governor of Damascus
c. Ali was suspected of killing the 3rd caliph in order to get power
i. Vendetta?
d. First Fitna war
i. Ali against Aisha (probably most favorite wife of Mohammed
Lecture 2 – Prophet Muhammad and the
Early Caliphs
Prophet's wars
1. Batle of Badr (622CE-0AH)
• Muslijms attack Meccan caravans and meccan army is defeated
▪ Worsening relations with Jewish tribes
• They did not participate in the war, violation of the Pact of Medina?
Because it was brought upon themselves
2. Battle of Uhud (625CE-3AH)
• Again worsening relations with Jewish tribes
▪ Suspicion of treason
▪ Tribe banished from Medina
3. Batthe of the trench (627CE-5AH)
• Again worsening relations with Jewish tribes
▪ Actively called for surrender
▪ Arbiter decided all men were killed and women+children sold
The development of Islam 0-5AH
• Believers started to call themselves Muslim
• Turning away from judaism after battle of Badr
• Prayer direction to Mecca
• Adaptation of dietary laws
• Yom Kippur -> Ramadan
• Special Islamic dress code
• Definitive distinction from Jews and Christians
Prophet as a leader
• Mohammed had many roles in society and additionally also the special mission as Prophet
• Had many wives (also more than was allowed at that time)
• All had special status (mothers of believers)
• All of his children died, except Fatima
The road to Mecca
• 630CE-8AH -> Mecca surrenders
• No forced conversions of Meccans
• Destructions of pantheon with idols
• But pilgrimage with Ka'ba remained
• Also clash between Byzantines and Sassanides at the same time
Spread of Islam
• Alliances with neighboring tribes
• Freedom of religion
• Recognition of Muslim supremacy
• Assitance in times of war
• Payment of taxes
• Not allowed to have razzas with muslim communities
▪ Had to go outside of community
,Introduction to the Study of Islam 21/22
Four rightly guided caliphs
• Religious-spiritual leadership
• 632-661CE or 10-40AH
• Large conquests lead to creation of Islamic empire
▪ No conversions
• There should be no force in religion
• Also could turn people agains you
• Non-muslim had to pay taxes
• Large source of income
• Inter-Muslim wars (Fitna wars)
• Lecture 3
What to make of the prophet's life
• Spiritual, kind, wise man
• Strict, uncompromising rule maker
• Someone who lives Islam
• Not like Jesus Christ
• Wives, wars, human error
• He was a special human being with all its shortcomings who was chosen to be
prophet
• Can make comparisons to other biblical heroes or greek mythology
• Non-Muslims may dislike Mohammed
• But liked other conquerors (roman, greek, european)
, Introduction to the Study of Islam 21/22
Lecture 3 – Divisions in the Umma and
Issues of Authority
Prophet died 632CE / 10AH
Who would succeed him?
Fatima was only child of Mohammed, she married Ali (first convert) and they had 2 sons
Tribal leaders said to stick to the sunna (tradition)
Family said blood ties (shi'a of Ali)
Shiites
• Imamate
o Lineage starts with Ali and Hussayn
o Religious-spiritual leadership
• Mostly lived in seclusion
Sunnites
• Four rightly guided caliphs
o Abu Bakr
o Umar
o Uthman
o Ali
• Combined religiousness and statemanship
o Established empire
o Also civil wars (Fitna)
• Caliphate by succesion (Dynasties) 661-1923CE / 41-1342AH
o Mostly worldly leadership
o Managing empire
Inter-Muslim wars (632-680CE)
1. Bedouin tribes break alliance after death of prophet
a. Ridda wars (apostacy wars)
b. Personal allegiance, leader died -> alliance gone
i. But for muslims this was not the case
2. Fourth caliph Ali fights fitna wars about succession
a. Unclear what it was about
b. Major players
i. Tribe of Quraysh
1. Clan of Hashim
a. Mohammed X khadija
i. Fatima x Ali
2. Clan of Ummay
a. 3rd caliph
b. Mu'awiyya (governor of Damascus
c. Ali was suspected of killing the 3rd caliph in order to get power
i. Vendetta?
d. First Fitna war
i. Ali against Aisha (probably most favorite wife of Mohammed
