Islam

Introduction

Arabia 6th century• Byzantine Empire

– Greek-speaking Roman Empire– Capital at Constantinople– Christian

vs.

• Sassanid (Persian) Empire– Euphrates to Indus Rivers– Capital near ancient Babylon, modern Baghdad– Zoroastrian / Zarathustrian

Byanztine Empire 600s

Sassanid (Persian) Empire

Arabia 6th century

• Central & North Arabia: Bedouin tribes

• South Arabia: agriculture, towns, states

• Caravan routes:

Palestine (Christian, Byzantine)

Persia & India & China

• Mecca: community of merchants at center of caravan routes

Bedouin Religion

• Each tribe had own gods & goddesses

• Pilgrimage centers with “idols” to tribal deities

• Jinn spirits & Evil Eye

• Mecca: Zam-zam well -- sanctuary

• Mecca: ka’ba shrine with many “idols,” including black stone (meteorite?)

6th century Mecca

• Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism widely known

• al – lah = “the god” or “god” worshipped as supreme God by some, including Mohammed’s father cAbdallah

• Desire among town-dwelling merchants for monotheistic rather than tribal religion?

Prophet Mohammed

• Born 571 (probably) in Mecca, in Quraysh clan

• Father cAbdallah died before or soon after Mohammed’s birth

• Mother Amina died when Mohammed was 6

• Prophet was an orphan

Prophet Mohammed

• Taken in by uncle Abd Manaf ( = servant of goddess Manaf), usually known as Abu Talib ( = father of Talib)

• In 20s, rich widow Khadija employed him as a caravan merchant

• Khadija (at 40) married Mohammed (at 25)

• Had six children, but both boys died

Prophet Mohammed• By mid-30s, retreated during month of

Ramadan to refuge / cave on Mt. Hira (north of Mecca) to meditate or pray.

• 610 (age 40) heard voice of angel Gabriel ordering him to “recite!”

Recite in the name of your Lord who createdwho created man from clots of bloodRecite! Your Lord is the most Bountiful Onewho by the pen taught man what he did not know

Gabriel appearingto Mohammed

Turkish, 18th century

Gabriel orderingMohammed torecite!

Turkish painting1595

Prophet Mohammed

• More “recitations” followed

• Mohammed terrified & doubted, but Khadija reassured him

• New religion worshipping Allah began to take shape

• Khadija 1st convert; cousin cAli was 2nd

Hijra: emigration• Preached submission (“islam”) to

supreme God (“al-lah”)

• Opposed tribal worship of lesser gods and idols

• Merchants + tribal & town leaders opposed him -- rumors of assassination

• 622 hijra (emigration) to Medina

Medina

• Mohammed built first mosque and created first Muslim society – devising rules in accordance with recitations

• Quran: recitations of God

• Hadith: sayings of the Prophet

• Sunna: exemplary life of the Prophet

Battles• Medinan Muslims raided caravans from

Mecca

• Meccans sent large force to protect caravan, which Prophet & Muslims defeated at Badr

• Adopted rites distinct from Jews, and drove some from Medina

• Meccan army defeated Medinan Muslims below Mt. Uhud

Battle of Uhud

Turkish painting1594

Battles• Muslim expeditions drove off several

tribal groups preparing to attack Medina

• Conflicts with remaining tribe of Jews ended with their massacre in 627 (the details of responsibility in dispute)

• Created state at Medina

• Recitations give rules for Muslim society

Battles• Mohammed and Meccans signed treaty

that allowed Prophet to make pilgrimage to Kaba shrine

• 630 Mohammed raised army of 10,000 and marched on Mecca

• Mecca surrendered without fight

Mohammedpilgrimage to Kaba

Turkish 1595

Mohammed advancingOn Mecca(with four angels)

1595 painting

Battles

• Mohammed proclaimed Allah Akbar at black stone; destroyed other idols

• Meccans acknowledged him as messenger of God and swore obedience

Mohammed entering Mecca

German 19th

century

Mohammed destroying idols at KabaPersian, 11th century

Death of the Prophet

1595 Turkish painting

Died 632

FatihaIn the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds; Most Compassionate, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek, Show us the straight way, The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

Sunni and Shi’i

• cAli:cousin of Prophetfirst male convert to Islamson-in-law (married daughter Fatima)4th caliph – head of Muslim

community

• Shi’i = “partisans of Ali”believe community should be led bydescendant of the Prophet

632 - 656

• Arab-Muslim armies conquered Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt

• First 3 caliph-s (heads of Muslim community): from Arab tribes that had supported the Prophet

656 – 661: Civil War

• 3rd caliph – Uthman – member of Prophet’s tribe, killed by rebel tribe

• cAli made 4th caliph in Kufa (Iraq)

• Relative of Uthman in Damascus claimed caliphate

• Battle ended in stalemate

• cAli assassinated

• Mu’awiya became caliph in Damascus

661 - 680• Husayn -- 2nd son of cAli & Fatima –

moved into Iraq to continue fight against “usurper” caliphs, now Yazid

• 680: Husayn and family surrounded and killed at Karbala (Iraq)

• Martyrdom of Husayn became central event for Shi’I

• cAshura commemoration: passion play

Husayn surrounded by Yazid’s army

Husayn attacked at Karbala

Husayn martyred at Karbala

Imam Husayn mosque Karbala

Husayn’s tomb, Karbala

Ashurapilgrimage to Imam Husayn mosque,Karbala

Ashura “passion play”

Ashura mourning

Ashura self-flagellation

Ashuraprocessionflagellation

Passion of Christ

Husayn

Feb 2006, Samara:

bombing of Golden Mosque with tombs of Ali & Hassan

Sunni and Shi’i• Shi’i: Imam = divinely-inspired,

infallible guide– Ayatollah rules in place of Imam– Mahdi: “occulted” imam will return in final

days to prepare for Judgment Day– Ashura martyrdom celebration

• Sunni: Caliph = selected by communityof believers

– Ramadan & ‘Ayd al-Adha celebration

Arab-Muslim Civilization

• 650 – 750: Muslim conquests

Northern India to North Africa & Spain

• 750 – 1000: Formation of Arab-speaking Muslim civilization

Spread of Islam 632 - 733

Al Azhar Mosque, Cairo

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Mosque, Isfahan -- Iran

MosqueIsfahanIran

MosqueIsfahanIran

Mosque Isfahan, Iran

Great Mosque, Cordoba Spain

Alhambra, Grenada Spain

Great Mosque, Mali

wudu: ablution before prayer

wudu

wudu

Prayer postures

Takbir: Entering into the state of prayer by glorifying God. Muslims face towards Makkah and make the intention to pray. To begin the act of prayer, they say 'Allahu Akbar' meaning God is great, raising the hands to the ears or shoulder.

Qiyaam: Muslims place their right hand over their left on their chest or navel while in the standing position. A short supplication glorifying God and seeking His protection is read. This is then followed by Surah Al Fatiha, which is the first chapter in the Qur'an. Verses from any another chapter are then recited.

Ruku means bowing. During ruku, Muslims says 'glory be to God, the Most Great', three times.

Qiyaam: While moving into the upright position, recite 'God listens to the one who praises Him' and while in the standing position, 'To God belongs all praise' then is recited. 'God is Great' is recited again. Each movement is always preceded by the phrase 'God is Great'. This indicates to followers of the prayer that the leader is about to make the next movement.

Sujud means to prostrate. While in the prostration position 'Glory be to God, the Most High' is repeated three times. Palms, knees, toes, forehead and nose must be the only body parts touching the ground.

'God is Great' is recited while moving to the sitting position. Muslims pause here for a few seconds, either staying silent, or reciting a shorter prayer. 'God is Great' is recited once more as the sujud position is taken again.

Sujud: This sujud is the same as the first one. After reciting 'Glory be to God, the Most High', one 'raka'ah', or unit is complete. Each salah has its own number of units though. The shortest prayer, Fajr, has two.

Tashahhud: After saying God is Great, Muslims return to the sitting position. They recite a set number of short prayers in Arabic, praising God, and sending peace on the Prophet. They repeat the declaration of faith, raising the forefinger of their right hand, in order to act as a witness.

To end the prayer, Muslims first turn their face to the right saying 'Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.‘ This is said to the Angels which Muslims believe accompany each human being to record their actions.

'Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah' is repeated turning to the left side now. Muslims believe the Angel on the right side records all good actions and thoughts, while the one on the left records all bad actions.

Hajj Pilgramage

Kaba

Kaba

Kaba:black stone

Saints

Saints