Islam

Surrendering to the Will of God

Quiz #1 Islam

1. The Arabic word ‘Islam’ derives from the same root as which Hebrew word?

2. Islam means what?3. Why do Muslims believe all of creation

is Muslim?4. Why do Muslims consider Jesus,

Moses, and Abraham genuine Muslims?5. At the center of Mecca is a cube-like

structure called what?

Quiz #1 continued

6. The ‘Hijrah’ means this, referring to which historical event in Muslim history?

7. Regarded as the ‘successors to Muhammad’, these Sunni leaders are called what?

8. Shi’ah Muslims support these leaders known as what?

9. Enforcing Shari’ah, or______, is the primary duty of the caliph

Key Questions Day 1 Islam

How has Muslim history and geography influenced the development of Islam?

How has Muslim civilization contributed to Western civilization?

A. ROOTS1. Religious: Abrahamic Family

Judaism Christianity

2. Etymologies Islam - Arabic s-l-m: “peace” or

“surrender” Muslim - M-s-l-m: “one who

surrenders” (peacefully) Allah – al + Ilah: “The God”

B. Life in Mecca (during Muhammad’s time: 6th Century AD)

The desert’s profound impact on Islam. Life in the desert was:

Violent: tribes robbed and fought for scarce resources

Fatalistic: life was often brutal and short Society: chaotic, harsh, tribal,

Traders: prostitution, drinking, gambling religion: animistic polytheism demons: personifications of people’s fears; jinn

Arabia needed a social revolutionary

Muhammad “the Seal of the Prophets” (570-632 CE)

Born into the leading tribe of Mecca: the Koreish

Father died before his birth; mother died when he was eight

Adopted by uncle Own hardships allowed him to feel

compassion (like Jesus, Siddhartha)

Muhammad Life continued

Early Adulthood Disgusted by public life, isolated himselfDeveloped reputation for honesty, kindness

Adulthood (age 25)Entered caravan businessMarried Khadija (wealthy and 15 years older)

married 15 years, four children, all theirs, later: more wives

Spirituality Mount Hira: retreated to a cave in prayer “Allah” – Arabic creator deity worshipped by

hanifs (mystics) All-night vigils allowed Muhammad to feel

the awesome presence of Allah Muhammad’s religious experience began

with, “La ilaha illa ‘llah! There is no God but God!”

The Night of Power (Al-Qadir) – 610 CEIn the cave, he heard, “Proclaim” from an

angel and the “Book” was opened to himWent back to Khadija: she became first

convertPreached for 23 years, persecuted, insulted,

outraged

Ministry Did not pander to miracle-hungry people Did not inflate his own image:

“I never said that God’s treasures are in my hand, that I knew the hidden things, or that I was an angel. I am only a preacher of God’s words, the bringer of God’s message to mankind.”

Signs of God Not in supernatural miracles (magic), but in the miracle

of Creation, the order of the universe (Natural world as Cosmic Qur’an)

Led Muslims to science long before the West Only miracle was the Koran “God dictated to me”

(Muhammad, like most Arabs of the day, was illiterate) Muhammad’s illiteracy believed to be an essential

element of faith: it makes the Koran more miraculous

Reaction of Mecca’s religious and political establishment

Threatened polytheistic beliefs Threatened revenue coming into Mecca from

pilgrimages to 360 shrines Moral demands: end licentiousness Challenged an unjust social order: democratic,

equality before God Muhammad was first greeted with ridicule,

then open persecution In 3 years, there were only 40 converts In 10 years, there were a few hundred families

The Hijra, (migration to Medina “Yathrib”) 622 CE…Muslim calendar is dated from

here Too dangerous for Muhammad to stay

in Mecca Left with 70 families Medina (“the City”) was ridden with

tribal rivalries and needed an objective leader

The leaders of the town invited Muhammad to govern. If he was successful, they would all convert

The Spread of Islam

Muhammad died in 632 CE with all of Arabia converted

Armenia, Persia, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, No. Africa, & Spain were conquered by 700 CE

Defeated in 733 CE by Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours

All of Europe may have been Muslim

Sacred Stories Sacred Scriptures

The Qur’an: most sacred book: direct “Word of God”

The Sunnah: authoritative commentary on Qur’an: 2nd most important

Hadith: similar to Sunnah; stories of Muhammad Hebrew and Christian Scriptures?: revealed

word but incomplete: “second hand” Examples of Christian Scripture you have

memorized?

The Qur’an (Koran) Recitation Most recited and read book 4/5 the size of the New Testament Muslims tend to read the Koran literally Revelations from Gabri’el to Muhammad over 23

years Considered the culmination of the Old and New

Testaments. Also thought to be a return to the original, pure faith of Abraham

Old and New Testaments are only part of the Truth and were partially corrupted in transmission.

The Koran is the final and infallible revelation of God’s will.

Islamic Belief and Practice Three instances that the Koran mentions polygamy as

acceptable: war, when the wives are treated equally, when there are less than four

What did Allah reveal through Jesus? the Golden Rule, love your neighbor

The Shahadah? The Muslim Creed: There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet

Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day: sunrise, noon, or zenith of sun, mid-decline of sun, sunset, before bed: Collective prayer in mosque at sundown, Friday

Difference between Greater and Lesser Jihad

The Creed- the Shahadah “There is not God but God, and Muhammad is

His Prophet.” Prayer - salah

Five times daily, Facing Mecca, Washing precedes it

Ends in the prostrate position Symbolizes the fetal position (rebirth) and

submission before Allah Charity - zakah

2.5% of all holdings Fasting – Ramadan Pilgrimage to Mecca – the Hajj

In Mecca, all Muslims wear two white sheets

Five Pillars

Modern Period

Key Questions:How did the rise of Western Europe lead

to the decline of Muslim world?How did Muslims come to view Christian

missionaries from the West?How did certain Muslim leaders come to

explain the political, economic and moral decline of Islam?

The Modern Period: Background

The Golden age of Islam ended with the Rise of Western Powers (Spain, Great Britain, France, United States)

Arab empires followed by the Ottoman Empire

Economic, industrial, military, political power of West led to colonization of Islamic lands

With this came Christian missionaries

Successors to Muhammad

What is the origin of the Sunni-Shia split?No male heirs led to problems and the rise

of Sunni and Shia divisionsAbu Bakra, (Father in Law to Muhammad,

succeeds Muhammad (senior of Koreish, or Quraysh tribe)

Others believed Muhammad’s son in law Ali was rightful heir (hushand to daughter Fatimah

Sunni-Shia Relations over the years?

On way to coronation, Ali assassinated, as was son Hussein (Shias reenact martyrdom of Ali annually)

Marked by periods of tension and cooperation

Tends to violence in times of uncertainty and unrest (Syrian civil war)

Two Main Sects in Islam

Sunnis Means: “well-trodden

path” (or tradition) 940 million (90% of all

Muslims) Majority in South East

Asia, Arab world, China, Africa

See selves as rightful followers of Muhammad

Shia Means “Partisan”, or

party of Ali 140 million (10% all

Muslims) Majority in Iran, Iraq,

Lebanon, Azerbijan, Bahrain

See selves as persecuted minority, martyrs

Sunnis and Shia Differences

Sunnis Followers of Caliphs, or

Caliphate: successors to Muhammad

Caliph more a political figure

Shia Followers of Imams, or

imamates Imams only legitimate

leaders of Islam Imamate more prophetic:

believe imams have special spiritual wisdom that is passed through bloodlines of Ali and Fatimah

Similarities of Sunnis and Shia

Sunnis Believe Five Pillars are

foundation Belief in Mahdi: during

End of Days, elightened, rightly guided leader will appear to establish a perfect and just Islamic society

Shias As do Shia Also believe in Mahdi but

some known as Twelvers (12th Imam has already come and will return during End of Days

Key Questions continued

Who was the “Sick Man” of Europe at the beginning of the 20th century?

How did secularization and colonization lead to the Iranian Revolution?

What are some of the key beliefs of the Nation of Islam?

Why do many Sunni Muslims not accept the Nation of Islam as true Muslims?

Sacred Time and Festivals

RamadanMonth of fastingCommemorates

the revelation of Qur’an to Muhammad by Gabri’el

Eid al Fitr

Festival of Breaking the Fast

PartiesChildren get

presents

Eid al-Adha

Celebrates end of the Hajj

Commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael

Muslims often slaughter an animal

Ashura

Celebrates God freeing Moses and the Hebrew people from Egypt

A day of fasting Shia Muslims

remember martydom of Husayne

Reenact his death through passion plays

Basic Review

Islam A monotheistic religionMuhammad’s birthplace: MeccaMuslim holy text: the Koran: the most

widely read book in the worldKnow the Five pillars Muslim house of worship: mosqueMuhammad’s wife Khadji

Review continued

Muhammad’s religious experience in cave Know the Muslim Holy Month: Ramadan Meaning of the words Islam and Muslim: to

submit, a slave to God Know where Muhammad set up the first Muslim

community: Yathrib Know Koran forbids primogeniture: passing

wealth of family to one child, usually eldest male The ultimate power women have when it comes

to marriage: they inherit the husband’s wealth