MS. MITCHELLCULTURAL REVOLUTIONSANDOVER HIGH SCHOOL

Islam, Turkey & Snow

ISLAM

What is it?

Islam is a major world religion with approx. 1.3 billion followers

Islam is one of the world’s fastest growing religions

It originated in (Saudi) Arabia, in the city of Mecca

No central religious governing body

Islam, continued

Islam is Arabic for “submission, surrender,

obedience”

Followers of Islam are called Muslims

Muslim is Arabic for “those who submit to

God”

In order to be considered Muslim one must

practice complete submission to God

Qur’an

Qur’an = Koran.The Qur’an is the holy text

of Islam. It is a rule book.Qur’an is Arabic for

“recitation”It is meant to be read out

loud, and in reading it out loud, one is communing with God

Muslims believe it to be the direct message of God, as given to the prophet Muhammad.

Qur’an, continued

No chronology, more stream of consciousness in style

114 chapters, or, surasContains many stories that are known in

Christianity and JudaismEveryone’s interpretation of the Qur’an is their ownTherefore, there are thousands of different

interpretations of the Qur’an—ranging from very peaceful, to very violent

Muhammad’s teachings were about equality, empowering women and the poor

Muhammad

Muhammad is the only prophet of IslamBorn in MeccaAgainst the Islamic faith to show or create a visual

depiction of the prophetFelt disturbed by the inequalities paganism brought

about and often went to meditate in a caveOne day, while meditating, Muhammad heard from GodOver the next several decades Muhammad would

continue to commune with God and spread his wordThis was all done orally. No written version of the

Qur’an existed until about 20 years after Muhammad’s death.

Universality

Muslims claim that Islam is a universal

religion, not handed down to a specific

people, at a specific time, but to all people for

all times.

However, verses of the Qur’an are very

specific to the Arab people at that time Ex) The visions of heaven and hell in the Qur’an

appeal to a the needs and desires of a desert people

1. BELIEF IN THE ONENESS OF GOD2. BELIEF IN GOD’S ANGELS

3. FAITH IN THE BOOK OF GOD4. FAITH IN GOD’S PROPHETS

5. BELIEF IN LIFE AFTER DEATH

Articles of Islamic Faith

1. Belief in the Oneness of God

I. Belief in the Oneness of God No other God but God “ilah” = One who is worshipped

Includes infinite powers Others depend on him, he is dependent on no one Unseen and imperceptible

Allah = personal name of the Muslims’ GodLa ilaha illallah = There is no ilah other than

the One Great Being known by the name Allah

Effects of Belief in the Oneness

One who believes… Can never be narrow minded. His mind is as liberal as the

kingdom of God Has the highest degree of self-respect and self esteem Is modest and humble Is virtuous and upright Does not become despondent or broken hearted under any

circumstances Has determination because he works for and trusts in God Is brave Is peaceful and content Observes and obeys God’s laws

2. Belief in God’s Angels

God has angels and we must follow them

Almighty beings we can’t see = angels

We are told to believe, and therefore disbelief

= denial of God

3. Faith in Books of God

There were books of God which came before

the Qur’an (Books of Abraham, Torah of

Moses, Psalms of David, and the Gospel of

Jesus Christ)

God’s original words have been corrupted in

these texts.

Qur’an is the last book. It is different from

the others.

Why the Qur’an is different

Exists in original form. Not translated.

Pure word of God

Evidence proved it was told directly to

Muhammad. Dates and times are known.

“Live” language. Not dead.

Universal in scope and audience.

Comprehensive moral guide.

Nothing obscene. Full of wisdom and truth.

4. Faith in God’s Prophets

Implicit faith in God’s prophetsThere have been over 124,000 prophets over

the history of the EarthMuhammad is the one true prophetMuslims are required to believe in all

prophets specifically mentioned in the Qur’an even if they exists outside of Arab countries

Not allowed to speak ill of other religion’s holy men

Why is Muhammad the One True Prophet?

Sent for the whole world and for all times

Remaining scriptures from other prophets

have been corrupted. Only Muhammad’s

word is pure.

Other prophet’s words were amended by

successors. Muhammad has had no

successor.

5. Belief in Life after Death

Resurrection after death

Day of Judgment in the Divine Court Everyone who has walked the Earth will be presented

before God and be given final judgment

Reward/Punishment

Paradise/Hell

Believing in this holds one responsible for his

actions and determines his course of life

IBADATSALAT

FASTINGZAKATHAJJ

J IHAD

Prayer and Worship

Ibadat

Ibadat = acts of worship

Abd = submission

God is master, you are the servant

Islamic concept of worship is very wide

Acts of worship are the pillars upon which

Islam is founded

Salat

Daily prayer5 times a day, always

pointing in the direction of Mecca

Positions are positions of submission

Recitations show one’s commitment to the creator

Must cleanse before each salat

Symbol of equalityWhen possible, should be

done with others

Fasting & Zakat

Fasting during the month of Ramdan

From dawn to dusk, no food, no drink

Builds spiritualityEqualityCleanliness,

righteousness, purity

Zakat is charitable giving

Minimum of 2.5% of your net worth each year

Seeking to achieve a more balanced distribution of wealth

The more one gives, the better he looks in God’s eyes

Islam is the sworn enemy of selfishness and greed

Hajj

Hajj = Pilgrimage

One in a lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca for

Muslims who can afford it.

Those who cannot afford it are not faulted for

it.

Thoughts should be concentrated on God.

All words and actions during the pilgrimage

should be pure. No violence.

Jihad

Jihad = struggle

War waged in the name of God against those

who perpetrate oppression as enemies of

Islam

Countries must help one another

Muslims must help each other as a while

Divine Law

Divine Law

All the rules and regulations Muslims must follow

Determined by the Qur’an and the HadithHadith = collection of rules delivered by the

prophetEach version of Divine Law is delivered by

the prophet, for the specific people and time he preaches to.

Since Muhammad has no successor, we still follow his Divine Law

Principles of Divine Law

The Rights of God No other God but God Follow, worship, and obey him

The Rights of Self Forbids all which could injure a man’s physical, mental, or

moral being No drinking, no eating unclean blood (pork, beasts of prey,

poisonous animals) No nudity Work hard Sex in marriage Forbids suicide— “most outrageous and ridiculous

manifestation of man neglecting the rights of his self”

Principles of Divine Law

The Rights of Other Men Do not violate the rights of others No lying, no theft, bribery, forgery, cheating No gambling No murder No adultery, fornication, or “unnatural” sexual practices Rules regarding the family unit No mingling of the sexes Dress code

The Rights of All Creatures No hunting for sport Respect the land and God’s creatures

T U R K E YS Y R I A

A F G H A N I S TA NI R A NI R A Q

S A U D I A R A B I APA K I S TA N

Our Studies

BY ORHAN PAMUK

Snow

Facts

Published in Turkish in 2002, in English in 2004

Ka = central characterKars = setting of the storyKar = snow

Told in third person by an narrator who sometimes breaks the wall and speaks to the reader

Focuses on the suicide of some young Muslim women who were forced to remove their headscarves to attend school

Confused yet?

Plot Summary

Ka is a poet, who returns to Turkey after 12 years of political exile in Germany. He has several motives, first, as a journalist, to investigate a spate of suicides but also in the hope of meeting a woman he used to know. Heavy snow cuts off the town for about three days during which time Ka is in conversation with a former communist, a secularist, a fascist nationalist, a possible Islamic extremist, Islamic moderates, young Kurds, the military, the Secret Service, the police and in particular, an actor-revolutionary. In the midst of this, love and passion are to be found. Temporarily closed off from the world, a farcical coup is staged and linked melodramatically to a stage play. The main discussion concerns the interface of secularism and belief but there are references to all of Turkey's twentieth century history.

--wikipedia

Secular

Secular: not pertaining to religion; the separation of

religion from the state