ISLAM

Muhammad Born in Mecca in 570 AD, orphaned at age 6, taken in by grandfather and uncle, both in the caravan business.

Muhammad met Jews and. Christians on his travels, Muhammad met Jews and Christians on his travels, learned stories from the Old and New Testaments.

Married Khadijah, a wealthy. widow, in 595 AD, and was Married Khadijah, a wealthy widow, in 595 AD, and was freed from the life of a traveling merchant.

In 610 AD, Muhammad. the archangel In 610 AD, Muhammad the archangel Gabriel appeared to him and told him to “recite” (qur’an in Arabic) everything he said. These were the first revelations from Allah.

His messages attacked idolatry His messages attacked idolatry. By 622 he had gathered enough followers that they were forced to leave Mecca for Medina. Muslims refer to this event as the Hijra; it is the year “1” on the Muslim calendar; A.H. = “year of Hijra.” Madinah(Medina) Makkah (Mecca)

By 630 the believing. community was large enough to By 630 the believing community was large enough to return to Mecca in triumph and establish Islam as the official religion.

Muhammad died suddenly in. 632 before appointing a. successor Muhammad died suddenly in 632 before appointing a successor. Arguments over the rightful heir to his leadership caused the divisions within Islam that persist to this day.

Sunnis believe the true Caliph should be chosen by those close to Muhammad; did not have to be a relative of Muhammad. Most Muslims (85%) are Sunni.

Shi’as (word means “division”). believe Muhammad appointed Shi’as (word means “division”) believe Muhammad appointed Ali, his son-in-law, before he died, even included the choice in the Qur’an, but others secretly burned those copies. They maintain that the true Caliph must be a direct descendant of Muhammad.

Qur’an Called the “book of heaven,” s believed tobe dictated to Muhammad by angel Gabriel.

Divided into 114 chapters called suras, arranged from longest to shortest; a little shorter than the NT.

It was composed throughout Muhammad’s life.

Muslims consider the Hadith, the words and deeds of Muslims consider the Hadith, the words and deeds of Muhammad, to be authoritative also.

What are the main concepts in the Qur’an? Submission. The word “Islam” means “submission”; a “Muslim” is “one who submits.”

The oneness of God. Muslims confess throughout The oneness of God. Muslims confess throughout the day, “There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is His prophet.” (The confession is called the Shahada.)

Theological Basics Basically the same as Judaism and Christianity There is one creator God whom we must love and obey Humans who do the will of God go to Paradise Humans who defy God’s will go to Hell There will be a judgment day at the end of time. In addition to God, there are angels. Against God are The Devil and his demons

What are the main practices? They are called the “five pillars of Islam”.

1. Say the Shahada throughout the day.

2. Pray five times daily, facing Mecca. Each prayer begins with a recitation of the opening chapter from the Qur’an.

“In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate Praise belongs to God, the Lord of all Being, the All-merciful, the All-compassionate, the Master of the Day of Doom. Thee only we serve; to Thee alone we pray for succour. Guide us in the straight path, the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray.”

Prayers are formal and. memorized and prayed in Prayers are formal and memorized and prayed in various postures, from bowing to kneeling. The word mosque means “place of prostration.”

Muslim communities gather for collective prayer mostly on Fridays.

3. Alms: Muslims are required to. give 2. 5% of their assets to the 3. Alms: Muslims are required to give 2.5% of their assets to the poor.

4. Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) Every able bodied Muslim must make this pilgrimage once.

Activities during hajj re-enact important events in life of Muhammad

Focal point of the pilgrimage is the Ka’aba, recast as an Islamic, not a pagan shrine. (Muslims believe the Ka’aba houses the stone Allah gave Ibrahim when he almost sacrificed Ishmael.)                 

5. Fasting in the daylight hours. during Ramadan, the month the 5. Fasting in the daylight hours during Ramadan, the month the Qur’an “came down.”

Islam and the Bible Ibraham *Isaac *Ishmael

The Muslim Jesus

What do orthodox Muslims say about Jihad or “Holy War”? 1. Physical violence must never be used to advance Islam. 2. Islam should be propagated only by reason and persuasion.

3. An Islamic nation may defend. itself when attacked by 3. An Islamic nation may defend itself when attacked by another nation. 4. If a non-Muslim nation uses physical force to oppress Muslims, Muslims may respond with force.