Islam
Surrendering to the Will of God
Key Questions Day 1 IslamHow 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)
Thought to be the last and greatest prophet 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 continuedEarly 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 (Gabri-el, or Mouth of God) and the “Book” was opened to him
Went back to Khadija: she became first convert
Preached for 23 years, persecuted, insulted, ultimately conquered all of Arabia
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
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.
1) The Creed- the Shahadah “There is not God but God, and Muhammad is
His Prophet.” 2) Prayer - salah
Five times daily, Facing Mecca, Washing precedes it
Ends in the prostrate position Symbolizes the fetal position (rebirth) and
submission before Allah 3) Charity - zakah
2.5% of all holdings 4) Fasting – Ramadan 5) Pilgrimage to Mecca – the Hajj
In Mecca, all Muslims wear two white sheets
Five Pillars
Modern PeriodKey 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?
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
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)
Successors to MuhammadWhat 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 grandson Ali (son of daughter Fatimah) was rightful heir
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, enlightened, 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
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
Sacred Time and FestivalsRamadanMonth of fastingCommemorates
the revelation of Qur’an to Muhammad by Gabri’el
Eid al FitrFestival of
Breaking the FastPartiesChildren 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