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Let’s Talk About It: Muslim Journeys
Laramie County Library2200 Pioneer Ave, Cheyenne, WY
Dr. Seth Ward, UW Religious Studies
Introduction to Islam for the Equality State
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.
BOARD MEMBERS 2013-14
Dave Reetz, President, PowellRex Myers, President-Elect, PowellTom Rea, Past-President, Casper
Linda Fleming, Membership Chair, Secretary, BaggsNish Goicolea Ferrero, Parliamentarian, Rock SpringsStu Healy, Development Task Force Chair, Cheyenne
Caroline Mills, Finance Committee Chair/Treasurer, Fort WashakieEric Sandeen, Grants Chair, Laramie
Carol Chidsey, LanderCarma Corra, Cheyenne
Antoinette DeNapoli, LaramieKaren Everett, CheyenneDon Hodgson, Torrington
JB King, MoorcroftJohn Tollakson, SheridanJan Torres, Rock SpringsCharlie Thomson, Jackson
Paul Ulrich, Pinedale
THANKS TO THE WYOMING HUMANITIES COUNCIL
STAFF
Shannon Smith, Executive DirectorSheila Bricher-Wade, Program OfficerJason Burge, Communications Manager
Kathy Burman, Fiscal OfficerLeslie Capps, Associate Director
Emy DiGrappa, Field OfficerJenny Ingram, Grants Coordinator
THANKS ESPECIALLY TO
In the Country of Men by Hisham MatarPersepolis by Marjane Satrapi
House of Stone by Anthony Shadid Broken Verses by Kamila Shamsie
Dreams of Trespass by Fatima Mernissi
READ THE BOOKS
Islam is the religion of more than one fifth of the world's people, and is often considered the fastest growing
religion in America. A brief presentation on Islam should examine its
practices and beliefs, its Scripture and its spirituality, its phenomenal growth in America and the political and religious goals which motivate activist adherents in
the Middle East and elsewhere. Muslims define the meaning of Islam as
submission to Allah's will. A believer is a "Muslim," the religion is "Islam."
"Muslim" or "Islamic" are adjectives, for example, "Islamic practices" or "Muslim beliefs."
AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM
Umar ibn al-Khattab, told me: One day we were sitting in the company of Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) when there appeared before us a man dressed in pure
white clothes, his hair extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. None amongst us recognized him. At last he sat with the Apostle (peace be upon him) He knelt before him placed his palms on his thighs and
said:Muhammad, inform me about al-Islam (submission to
God).The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Al-Islam implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah,
and you establish prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the (House) if you are solvent enough (to bear the expense of) the journey.
He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth.
“HADITH OF GABRIEL”
He (the inquirer) said: Inform me about Iman (faith).
He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of
Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil.
He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth.He (the inquirer) again said: Inform me about al-
Ihsan (performance of good deeds).He (the Holy Prophet) said: That you worship
Allah as if you are seeing Him, for though you don't see Him, He, verily, sees you.
He (the enquirer) again said: Inform me about the hour (of the Doom).
He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: One who is asked knows no more than the one who is inquiring (about it).
He (the inquirer) said: Tell me some of its indications.He (the Holy Prophet) said: That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and master, and that you will find barefooted, destitute goat-herds vying with
one another in the construction of magnificent buildings.
He (the narrator, Umar ibn al-Khattab) said: Then he (the inquirer) went on his way but I stayed with him (the Holy Prophet) for a long while. He then, said to me: Umar, do you know who this inquirer was? I replied: Allah and His Apostle knows best. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: He was Gabriel (the angel). He came to you in order to instruct
you in matters of religion.
ISLAMIC BELIEFS: THE FIVE PILLARS
1. Shahada—testimony
2. Salat—Prayer
3. Sawm—Fasting
4. Zakat-Alms
5. Hajj-Pilgrimage
SHAHADA: TESTIMONY
There is no God but God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God
SALAT صلوة
5 times a day
In the hadith of the “Night Journey and Ascent to Heaven” Muhammad goes to the 7th heaven and receives the command
regarding prayer.Term is the same as pre-Islamic Selota
All Prayers include the recitation of the first chapter of the Qur’an
Prayer TimesBetween Dawn and SunriseAfter the moment of Noon
Afternoon: halfway from Noon to Sunset Evening: After Sunset but before Dark
Night
ZAKAT زكوة
Term is the same as pre-Islamic Zechut “merit”
Sadaqa is used for “extra” alms.
Can be given to any deserving poor (not only Muslim).
ZAKAT CALCULATIONIn order to calculate your zakat, please fill all of the
fields. Please note that Women’s jewelry is not subject to Zakat unless its amount is excessive or the jewelry
is not being used.1. Cash on hand and in bank accounts (savings,
checking)2. Refundable deposits (e.g. on rented apartment)
3. Non-delinquent loans (money you loaned to others)4. Expected Tax refund
5. Gold and its certificate 6. Shares, stocks, bonds, IRA, pension plans, options,
etc.7. Business cash on hand and in banks plus invoices
due.8. Business inventory Enter $0 if less than Nisab.
9. Net income you are entitled to as of Zakat due date.10. Your liabilities
HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/KAABA
SIX BELIEFS
GodAngels
ProphetsBooks
JudgmentDivine Power and Determination
Muhammad lived approx. 570-632First Revelation: about 610.
Preaching in Public: 612.Emigration from Mecca to Medina:
622. "Farewell" Pilgrimage to Mecca:
632.
Muhammad's practice (“sunnah”) is known from the Hadith:
Muhammad's act, word, silence.
MUHAMMAD
QUR’AN
First RevelationCave of Hira 610
Taught privately for 2 years10 years in Mecca 612-62210 years in Medina 622-632
Complete with Al-Yawm akmaltu “To-day I have completedYour religion.”
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate! Praise belongs to God, the Lord
of the Worlds. The All Merciful, the Compassionate,
Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee only do we serve, to Thee alone do we pray
for help. Guide us on the Straight Path.
The Path of those whom Thou has graced; Not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of
those who are astray.
THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE QUR'AN
[2.190] And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits. [2.191] And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out
from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the
recompense of the unbelievers (defensive fighting verse)
[2.256] There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the
firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
(“No compulsion” verse)
[9.5] So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and
keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
(The Sword verse)
DEFENSE, NO COMPULSION, SWORD VERSES
114 chapters, Meccan and Madinan.Sermonic not narrative.
Stories of Prophets, support for poor.Legal material ususally Medinan.
Uthmanic Recension.God's uncreated Speech.
Qur’an memorized in Arabic.
Law: shari’a. “revealed law” fiqh “jurisprudence” fatwa “response/legal opinion” mufti “one eligible to
give a response.” Four sources of
Law: Qur’an, Sunna, Qiyas (analogy), Ijma’ (consensus).
Religious Calendar: Fridays-Jum‘a (gathering for prayer), not Sabbath;
Ramadan and ‘Id al-Fitr, Pilgrimage and‘Id al-Adha. Shia: ‘Ashura and Arba‘in.
LAW. RELIGIOUS CALENDAR
962 Mosques in 1994 2000: 1,209 2011: 2,106
Immigrant/African AmericanArab, Middle East (Turkish/Persian), African, South Asian, East Asian. Students, esp. University / Community / Prison
Bagby: Muslims who attend Eid Prayer (the high holiday prayers after Ramadan andHajj) increased from about 2 million in 2000 to about 2.6 million in 2011. Thetotal Muslim population cannot be determined by this figure, but it does call intoquestion the low estimates of 1.1-2.4 million Muslims in America. If there are2.6 million Muslims who pray the Eid prayer, then the total MuslimPopulation should be closer to the estimates of up to 7 million.
ISLAM IN AMERICA
Pew Study 2010
COUNTRY Est. 2010 Muslim Population
United States2,770,000
Rank 2010
Rank 2000
County Muslim Population 2010
% total population 2010
Muslim Population 2000
% total population 2000
157 74 Albany County, Wyoming
308 0.85 263 0.82
196 n/a Laramie County, Wyoming
408 0.44 No Info
No Info
WYOMING
Association of Religion Data Archives: Using data from the 1980-2010 Religious Congregations and Membership Studies, this list ranks U.S. counties on the highest total number of adherents and the highest percent of the population who are Muslim. You can sort the list by clicking on the column headings.Congregational "Adherents" include all full members, their children, and others who regularly attend services. "Percent" is the percentage of the total population that belongs to that denomination. Note: Adherents are sometimes residents of a county different than the location of their congregation.
