The People of the Sunnah HIST /2/13

What is Islam?

God Everything else

Islam during the Time of the Prophet Is there even anything called Islam? The Believers Movement Umma – Muhajirun, ansar, “converts,” allies, and tribal chiefs Accept the Qur’an as revelation, Muhammad as the messenger of God, and the umma as the community of true believers.

After the Prophet Sahaba – Companions of the Prophet Tabi`un – Muslims of the generation after Muhammad’s death Qurra’ – Teachers of the Qur’an Not formal institutions Teaching of Islam by those considered knowledgeable. al-Baqi Cemetary, Medina, before and after destruction by Wahhabists and Saudi government in 1925

Do you need to define Islam? Conquest and expansion Political debates (Kharijis and Shi’ites) Connection with other traditions – Jewish (isra’iliyyat) – Christian (Syriac) – Zoroastrian – Hellenistic – Persian – Arabian

Kalam - Theology Kharijites (657-present) – Anyone who fails to follow God’s command is not a true Muslim. Free will. Qadaris (late 7 th – early 9 th centuries) – An unrighteous ruler should abdicate or be deposed. Free will. Mu`tazilis (8 th -10 th centuries) – Sinful Muslims are neither true Muslims nor non-believers. Rationalists. Murji`a – Anyone who professes to be a Muslim is a Muslim. Supporters of non-Arab converts.

Kalam Free will, predestination, and God’s attributes Mu`tazili – God is unique, uncreated, and his attributes are neither physical nor literal. Qur’an is created, not part of God’s essence like Christian Logos. Men have free will, God does not create evil deeds nor punish for predestined deeds. Symbol of neo-Mu`tazilites

Mu`tazilites 1.Tawhid – Unity of God 2.`Adl – God is just 3.Reward and punishment belong in the afterlife. 4.A sinner is neither a true Muslim nor an apostate. 5.Muslims are responsible for promoting the good and suppressing evil.

Ahl al-hadith Traditionists God cannot be known by reason, only by revelation. Qur’an and example of Prophet Muhammad as found in hadith. God’s attributes must be real! God is absolutely omnipotent and inscrutable. All actions are the result of God.

Abu al-Hasan al-Ash`ari (d. 936) A happy medium… Theological tenets derived from tradition can be supported by rational arguments. The Qur’an exists in the divine essence… But in the form of letters and words it is created… al-Maturidi (d. 944): You can know God through reason, not just revelation.

Kalam Mu`tazilite – understand through reason Traditionists – understand through revelation - the Qur’an is uncreated Mu`tazilite – people have free will - the Qur’an is created Traditionists – God is all powerful

Kalam Ash`arites – Can be understood through revelation and explained through reason. - essence of the Qur’an Ash`arites – the precise letters and words of the Qur’an are created

Why would the Caliph Care? Mihna: Inquisition begun by al-Ma’mun in 833 Supports Mu`tazilite opinion Tries to ban traditionalists from holding office Is the Qur’an created or uncreated? Ahmad b. Hanbal ( ): Leading hadith scholar of Baghdad, critical of `Abbasid excess Caliphs unable to enforce theological stances

Fiqh Islamic jurisprudence Largely built on older traditions in dialogue with Qur’an and hadith Qadi: Judge, by late 8 th century, only `ulama’ Mufti: Legal authority Ra’y: Personal judgment of a qadi Ra’y can set precedent

Schools of Law Regional study circles Mecca, Medina, Kufa, Basra, Baghdad, and Fustat Sharing teachings of notable scholars creates legal networks As circles become more focused, they become legal schools with defined views and curriculum Madhhab: School of Law Hanafis: First legal school – based in Kufa and Basra on the teachings of Abu Hanifa (d. 767) – Established precedents, ra’y, and Islamic norms

Schools of Law Maliki: legal tradition of Medina – Malik b. Anas (d. 795), Muwatta’ – Qur’an, example of the Prophet (sunna), judgment of the sahaba, and traditions of Medina Shafi`i: – Abu `Abdullah al-Shafi`I ( ) – Qur’an, sunna, consensus (ijtima’), and analogy (qiyas)

Modern distribution of Madhhabs

Growing Importance of Qur’an and Hadith Hanafis: law based on precedent and legal judgments Malikis: traditions of the sahaba and people of Medina along with Qur’an and hadith Shafi`i: consensus and analogy in interpreting the Qur’an and hadith Hanbalis: Qur’an and hadith only, rejection of consensus and analogy

Hadith Collections Sahih Bukhari, Muhammad al-Bukhari (d. 870) Sahih Muslim, Muslim b. al-Hajjaj (d. 875) Sunan al-Sughra, al-Nasa`I (d. 915) Sunan Abu Dawood, Abu Dawood (d. 888) Jami al-Tirmidhi, al-Tirmidhi (d. 892) Sunan ibn Majah, Ibn Majah (d. 887) All six collections of sound hadith were collected by Persians. Tomb of al-Bukhari in Samarqand, Uzbekistan