Islamic and Persian Literature

Getting Started Islam is the name for the religion practiced by Muslims. The word Islam means "peace." Not all Arabs are Muslims; some practice Judaism, Christianity, and Druze. Islam was founded in Arabia by Muhammed.

Difference between Arabs and Muslim culture Arabs in various countries have their own cultural traditions, which determine such things as the forms of dress. Men might cover their heads with a turban The head might be covered with a smaller hat called a kufi. All adult male Muslims must have a beard All women must cover themselves.

Path to Eternal Life Islam demands five things from the believer: No God but the one Allah Praying five times each day Give to charity (alms) Fast (refrain from eating) Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca

Islamic Afterlife Soul exists and lives beyond physical existence. Day of Judgment Two options: Hell or Paradise Physical resurrection Warriors gain immediate entrance to Paradise. Enemies of Islam immediately descend to Hell

Major Text: The Qur'an Only book means “recitation” The angel Gabriel came to the prophet Muhammad in dreams. First visit during Ramadan (Islamic Holiday) 610 CE

Types of Writing Qur'an contains: Moral guidelines Laws of God Rules of Islamic Faith owever, as soon as we open the Qur'an we encounter a hitherto completely unfamiliar genre of literature. We notice that it embodies precepts of belief and conduct, moral directives, legal prescriptions, exhortation and admonition, censure and condemnation of evildoers, warnings to deniers of the Truth, good tidings and words of consolation and good cheer to those who have suffered for the sake of God, arguments and corroborative evidence in support of its basic message, allusions to anecdotes from the past and to signs of God visible in the universe. Moreover, these myriad subjects alternate without any apparent system; quite unlike the books to which we are accustomed, the Qur'an deals with the same subject over and over again, each time couched in a different phraseology.

Language & Genre Written in Arabic Only one type of writing: Prophecy Any translations are considered "interpretations" Only one type of writing: Prophecy

Work Period - Page 578 Answer these questions on the paper: What is the moral/theme of the Surah? What type of literature is the surah? How is this religious literature similar to other types of religious literature we have read?

Persian Literature

1001 Arabian Nights Frame Narrative – One story that contains many other stories Includes Sinbad and Ali Baba Told by Scheherazade to keep from being killed by the Sultan (king)

Sinbad (p.584) Do NOT write the questions. Where is Sinbad’s home city? How does Sinbad become stranded on the island? What is a Roc and what does it have on the 1st island? What is guarding the diamonds on the 2nd island? What does Sinbad find in the cave? How does Sinbad escape the snakes using a sheep? What is extracted from the trees on the island that Sinbad is taken to? What is another name for a rhinoceros? How does the rhinoceros kill an elephant? When Sinbad returns off what does he do with his wealth?

Sinbad Writing Prompt In 7-9 good sentences describe the character of Sinbad. Use quotations from the story as your evidence.

Rubaiyat Written by Omar Khayyam Language – Persian A ruba'i is a two-line stanza with two parts per line A rubáiyát (from the Arabic for "four"), means "quatrains“ (4 lines). May have been a sufi (inner mystical Islam) or a mystic Translated and made to rhyme = transmogrification

Activity Read the mini poems from the Rubaiyat starting on pg. 594. Find your favorite Get a piece of construction paper and write it on your paper then explain what it means. Draw the images in the mini- poem.

Quiz The word Islam means ______. The name of their god is? How many “pillars” of Islam are there? Name one of the pillars of Islam. Who is their prophet who received the word of Islam? From whom did he receive the word? What is the name of the holy city? The name of the Islamic Holy book is? The Holy book is divided into chapters called? The Holy book is written in this language.

Quiz Peace Allah 5 No God but Allah OR pray 5 times a day OR give to the poor (alms) OR hajj to Mecca (pilgrimage) OR Fast Muhammed Angel Gabriel Mecca Koran or Qur’an Surahs Arabic

Rumi Jalal ad-Din Persian poet Muslim religious scholar Followed mystical Islam – Sufism Seek spiritual guidance by direct personal experience with God. Dancing monks called Dervishes