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4. Representative Muslim Institutions & Their Dynamics
Frederick M. Denny, Islam and the Muslim Community(Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland Press, 1987), 77–106.
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
204/21/23
Turkish children on a break during“vacation Qur’an school”
Learning the Qur’an• Muslims strive to master
Arabic For worship For meditation For reading and reciting the
Qur’an Once memorized, it must be
kept in memory through continuous practice
Quasi-musical (chanting) At least initially, essentially a
mimicking process Schools for learning the
Qur’an are called pesantren (medrese in Turkish)
Many residential pesantren Taught by a kiai (“master”) Focus on the text of the
Qur’an, read and recited Contests for students to
show their mastery of the recitation
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
304/21/23
Qur’anic Piety Recitation is tilawa, from the word “to
follow” Includes obeying the Divine message A true Muslim is one grounded in the
Qur’an
To Muslims, the Qur’an is active & powerful
Like a living reality Power to inspire
The Qur’an provides the central source of meaning, values, and spiritual power for Muslims everywhere, throughout changing times
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
404/21/23
Muslim Veneration of Saints Muslims recognize the
importance of sacred persons
Venerate Seek guidance, boons,
and intercession with God
The Qur’an never speaks of the holiness of persons—God alone is holy.
The Arabic term walî, usually translated “saint,” means “friend” (as in “friend of God”)
A Hajji (someone who has made the Hajj) can be a kind of living saintly presence
Pilgrims visiting the tomb of the Mevlana,
Sufi mystic and Saint,Jalal al-Din Rumi
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
504/21/23
Sayyid Ahmad al-Badawi Greatest Egyptian Muslim Saint
Remembered through a mawlid (birthday festival)
Brought the Sufi Order to Egypt Lived when Sufi brotherhoods, tariqas,
were being established throughout the Umma
Muslims must be careful not to deify saints
Little if any Qur’anic basis for intercession of saints
People still seek such intercession in many ways, and do not consider it idolatrous
View it as asking friendly help of a holy person
Saint veneration has been outlawed in some parts of the Muslim world
Al-Badawi Mosque in Tanta i Nedre, Egypt, built over the grave of 12th century Sufi saint, Sayyid Ahmad al-Badawi
(Photo © Richard J. Natvig)
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
604/21/23
The “Nine Saints” of Java
Entrance to the tomb of Sunan Ampel, Surabaya, JAVA
The graveyard at NgampelThe Sunan is buried within the fenced enclosure (right rear of photo).
According to legend, Java was Islamized by nine holy men who brought the teaching of the Qur’an to that island in the 15th-16th centuries.
They are known collectively as the walî songo or “nine saints.”Sunan Ampel is one of these walî
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
704/21/23
Shi’ite Saint Veneration Shi’a Muslims
celebrate holy personages
Unlike Sunni Islam, Shi’a tradition accords a central place to visiting the burial places of its sacred heroes
If they cannot make the Hajj to Mecca, Shi’ite Muslims will make a substitute pilgrimage to the tomb of a Muslim “saint” or walî
The tomb of the Mevlana, Sufi mystic and Walî,
Jalal al-Din Rumi
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
804/21/23
Key Rituals of Muslim Life No formal rite of initiation
To join the Umma, one need only utter the Shahada with a sincere heart in the presence of another Muslim
Once a Muslim, all the duties and privileges of membership in the Umma are immediately in force
An adult male convert must be circumcised, if he is not already
Most converts take an Islamic name (e.g., Cassius Clay took the name Muhammad Ali)
Ablution fountain inside the Ulu Cami Mosque
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
904/21/23
Rites of Passage
Puberty Rites Vary from region to region For young women, taking
the hijab (head covering) For young men,
circumcision (usu. associated with 1st public recitation of the Qur’an)
Birth Rites & Early Education Devout parents utter Basmala
before marital relations (“In the Name of God the Merciful the Compassionate”)
First act after a child is born is to whisper the Call to Prayer into the newborn ear
Qur’anic training begins ASAP
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
10
04/21/23
Marriage One of greatest
transitions in life Expected (“only half a
man” before marrying) Simple marriage
ceremony Signing of contract Festivities
Courtship is chaperoned: Laws of mahram prohibit any female associating with a non-mahram male unless one of her blood relatives is present
Polygamy is permitted, although no longer common The Qur’an permits a man to have up to four wives
concurrently, provided all are treated equally
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
11
04/21/23
Death & Funerary Rites Final transition in
human life The dying person
looks toward Mecca and recites the beginning of the Shahada: “There is no god but God.”
After death, the deceased’s body receives final ablution
Funeral Salat Reciting Qur’an is
best way to show respect and grief
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