Religion (Islam)

Islam 2nd largest world religion about 1.3 billion adherents Fastest growing, why? Islam Map of Muslim World (above) – notice how it stretches across N. Africa. Also, to the southeast, Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim country

Overview & Origins ~600 A.D. Hearth? Arabian Peninsula (today: Africa, Europe, Asia) Universalizing; Monotheistic; Allah Prophet Muhammad Thoughtful man who prayed in desert; Had vision – Angel Gabriel told him he was to become “Messenger of God.” Calls on people to submit to will of Allah. Muslim – “one who submits” Mecca + Medina Mecca = Holiest City of Islam - Saudi Arabia; birthplace of Muhammad – Medina (Yathrib) Hajj to Mecca (Kaaba) – polytheistic practice adopted by Muhammad to appease enemies

The Five Pillars 1. Faith - monotheism, There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of God 2. Prayer - 5 times a day facing Mecca 3. Almsgiving - money for the poor, religious tax 4. Fasting - fast between dawn and sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. - spiritual needs > physical ones. - strict lunar calendar; Ramadan moves every year: winter has shorter days (preferable) 5. Pilgrimage - hajj Other customs/morals/laws: - forbidden to eat pork or drink alcoholic beverages - women wear hijab (covering)

Links Between Islam and Christianity and Judaism? -Monotheism Allah is the same God (according to Muslims); Muhammad was final prophet - Almsgiving - charity - Roots can be traced back to Abraham (1st patriarch of Jewish people – father to all Jews, Christians, Muslims) - Heaven, Hell, Judgment Day (Christianity) - Similar sacred places (Jerusalem) Believe same God is worshipped… Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, not Son of God. Qur'an revealed to Muhammad - similar to Torah, Gospels revealed to Moses and New Testament writers. Qur’an perfects earlier revelations. Muhammad was the final prophet. Heaven, hell judgment day. People of the book. Trace ancestry to Abraham, as do Jews and Christians. Shiari’a law required Muslim leaders to extend religious tolerance to Christians and Jews. Common holy places -- Jerusalem, Dome of the Rock

Muslim Holy Places life of Muhammad, why? Universalizing religion! Kaaba (black stone) in Mecca 5th pillar = hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca remnant of polytheism syncretism What type of effects does the hajj have on the environment? Medina (city of the prophet) “Yathrib” – city of exile Muhammad’s tomb Dome of the Rock Muhammad’s night journey on Temple Mount Site of Jewish temples Sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham

Hajj to Mecca, Saudi Arabia Hajj to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Al-Masjid Al-Ḥarām - The Sacred Mosque, which contains the Kaaba (black stone)

Islam 2 significant branches Sunnis (83%) Shias or Shiites (16%) Arose over religious disagreements over who should be the successor of Muhammad. (Sunnis have more open viewpoint) Sunnis (83%) More open viewpoint of who can be successor of Muhammad Indonesia has the largest Sunni population Know this! College Board wants to trick you; they’ll assume you’ll say Saudi Arabia bc it’s close to the hearth. Saudi Arabia Shias or Shiites (16%) You have to descend from Muhammad’s son-in-law (bloodline) Primarily clustered (majorities in) in Iran + southern Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bahrain + others Other significant minorities in: Lebanon, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan Islam

When you have area suffering from outside forces trying to compete within it, what is that called? Shatterbelt: Middle East is a shatterbelt today (Syria Iraq  Yemen) where Shia + Sunni are in conflict. Iran is a sponsor of Shia; Saudi Arabia is a sponser of Sunni. Conflicts: Syrian Civil War, Iraq can’t get act together, huge crisis in Yemen (ppl dying of starvation) Factions in both Saudi Arabia + Iran; ppl who want modernization/ secular mindset + others who believe in sharia law (Islamic law; theocracy – gov by religion) Wahhabism – sect of Sunni that is strict.

Intrafaith boundary: Sunni vs. Shia The rise of Shiites in Iraq + Lebanon, backed by Iran, is challenging the traditional Sunni powers of Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

Islam Places of Worship Calendar Mosque Minarets Strict lunar calendar muezzin calls to prayer (5x) Other distinctive traits Calligraphy Arabesques Reflects proscription against figurative art Pointed arches Keyhole arches Strict lunar calendar Holidays shift annually

Islamic Courtyards How do walled off courtyards reflect the cultural values of Islam? Reflects purdah the seclusion, isolation, “modesty” of women (also in Hinduism) originated in pre-Islamic societies (Persia, Babylon ?????) Islamic courtyards: Open courtyard in homes Women’s roles – private, no front patios Purdah**

Good map for overall spread, read worksheet post on website to fully understand methods of diffusion

Make sure this shatterbelt is accurately reflected on your religious distribution maps