Islam

 Islam = a state of peace achieved through surrender to God/Allah.  Muslim = one who has achieved this state.  Islam = a state of peace achieved through surrender to God/Allah.  Muslim = one who has achieved this state.

Qur’an  Qur’an = Quran = Koran  Muslim Scripture  Last and complete revelation of God’s will.  Words of God dictated to Muhammad by an angel.  Any translation is no longer “Koran”  114 chapters (surahs)  Qur’an = Quran = Koran  Muslim Scripture  Last and complete revelation of God’s will.  Words of God dictated to Muhammad by an angel.  Any translation is no longer “Koran”  114 chapters (surahs)

Origins  Muslims believe Islam has always existed, that God has provided a true path for humans since the beginning of time.  There has never been a people who did not have a prophet who spoke to them in their own language.  Muslims believe Islam has always existed, that God has provided a true path for humans since the beginning of time.  There has never been a people who did not have a prophet who spoke to them in their own language.

Pre-Islamic Arabia  Bedouin Arabs, nomadic tribes  Animists: believed in a number of spirits, powers and demons. Spirits associated with rocks, trees, springs especially important.  The Kaaba was already an important religious focal point. Many clans had different shrines to their own gods in Mecca.  Bedouin Arabs, nomadic tribes  Animists: believed in a number of spirits, powers and demons. Spirits associated with rocks, trees, springs especially important.  The Kaaba was already an important religious focal point. Many clans had different shrines to their own gods in Mecca.

Transition to Monotheism  Influence from Semitic peoples introducing deities associated with heavenly bodies.  Allah was a superior deity, but with vague function.  Arabs already practiced many “Islamic” traditions and duties.  Influence from Semitic peoples introducing deities associated with heavenly bodies.  Allah was a superior deity, but with vague function.  Arabs already practiced many “Islamic” traditions and duties.

Prophets (rasul)  Abraham: epitomized condition of obedience to the divine will.  Moses, David, Jesus: especially sacred because of revelations of the divine in texts associated with them.  Muhammad: functioned to renew and restore guidance given by those before him.  Abraham: epitomized condition of obedience to the divine will.  Moses, David, Jesus: especially sacred because of revelations of the divine in texts associated with them.  Muhammad: functioned to renew and restore guidance given by those before him.

Muhammad the Man  Born circa CE  Member of Quraysh tribe  Merchant known for integrity and justice  Married to Khadijah, with no sons  Moved to Medina in 622 CE to help resolve issues between tribes  Died 632 CE  Born circa CE  Member of Quraysh tribe  Merchant known for integrity and justice  Married to Khadijah, with no sons  Moved to Medina in 622 CE to help resolve issues between tribes  Died 632 CE

Muhammed the Prophet  At age 40 (610 CE) began to receive verses of the Quran in a cave above Mecca.  Continued “receiving” the Quran over the course of 22 years.  623 CE entered Mecca and returned Kaaba to the worship of one God  At time of his death, Islam provided unity to tribes of Arabs that had traditionally fought.  At age 40 (610 CE) began to receive verses of the Quran in a cave above Mecca.  Continued “receiving” the Quran over the course of 22 years.  623 CE entered Mecca and returned Kaaba to the worship of one God  At time of his death, Islam provided unity to tribes of Arabs that had traditionally fought.

Kaaba/Mecca  Muslims believe the Kaaba is a stone placed on its site (in Mecca) by Abraham as an altar to worship God.

Expansion of Islam

First 4 Caliphs  A successor or representative.  Abu Bakr  Umar ibn ulKhattab  Uthman  Ali ibn Abi Talib  A successor or representative.  Abu Bakr  Umar ibn ulKhattab  Uthman  Ali ibn Abi Talib

Sunni’ism  Largest group within Islam  Majority of Islamic populations in most nations except Iraq and Iran  Historically, acknowledged first four caliphs as leaders of Muslim community  “sunna” = “the path”  Refers to exemplary practices, customs, and traditions of Muhammed written in the Hadith.  Largest group within Islam  Majority of Islamic populations in most nations except Iraq and Iran  Historically, acknowledged first four caliphs as leaders of Muslim community  “sunna” = “the path”  Refers to exemplary practices, customs, and traditions of Muhammed written in the Hadith.

Shi’ism “Part of Ali”  Historically, recognized Ali, son-in-law of Muhammad, and Imams as the legitimate leaders of Muslim community  Imams = Muhammad’s direct family members and descendents  Today led by ayatollahs who represent the Imams  Druze and Bahai were Shi’a, are now independent  Historically, recognized Ali, son-in-law of Muhammad, and Imams as the legitimate leaders of Muslim community  Imams = Muhammad’s direct family members and descendents  Today led by ayatollahs who represent the Imams  Druze and Bahai were Shi’a, are now independent

Iraq Ethnic and Religious Groups  Sunni groups largely in the North.  Shi’a groups largely in the South.  Within their religion, Shi’a reject the idea of leadership by election, believe in divine right of leadership.

Islamic Law  Fiqh = human efforts to understand and translate will of God into rules.  Shariah = the pathway in which people should walk to please God.  Religion provides guidance for life above all else.  i.e. Right ways of acting.  Fiqh = human efforts to understand and translate will of God into rules.  Shariah = the pathway in which people should walk to please God.  Religion provides guidance for life above all else.  i.e. Right ways of acting.

Shariah, All human action:  Fard: obligatory  Mandub: recommended  Mubah: neutral, neither good nor bad  Makruh: subject to punishment  Haram: forbidden  Duties owed to both God and people.  Fard: obligatory  Mandub: recommended  Mubah: neutral, neither good nor bad  Makruh: subject to punishment  Haram: forbidden  Duties owed to both God and people.

5 Pillars 1.Confession of Faith 2.Worship 3.Wealth Sharing 4.Fasting 5.Pilgrimage 1.Confession of Faith 2.Worship 3.Wealth Sharing 4.Fasting 5.Pilgrimage

Shahadah  Declaration of faith  “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”  Declaration of faith  “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”

Salat  Worship  Formalized prayer  Recited 5 times a day at given intervals  Done facing Kaaba (Mecca)  Preceded by ablutions  Worship  Formalized prayer  Recited 5 times a day at given intervals  Done facing Kaaba (Mecca)  Preceded by ablutions

Zakat  “sweetening”  Wealth sharing  All wealth belongs to God  Moral considerations in wealth gathering  Institutionalized charity:  Levy, not just a recommended tithe or voluntary donation.  “sweetening”  Wealth sharing  All wealth belongs to God  Moral considerations in wealth gathering  Institutionalized charity:  Levy, not just a recommended tithe or voluntary donation.

Siyam  Fasting  Ritual from dawn to sunset during month of Ramadan (9th month of lunar year according to Muslim calendar)  Time for spiritual stock-taking  Self discipline  Fasting  Ritual from dawn to sunset during month of Ramadan (9th month of lunar year according to Muslim calendar)  Time for spiritual stock-taking  Self discipline

Hajj  Pilgrimage  Only a duty for those who have the wealth, have paid the Zakat, an can provide for their dependents during absence.  Journey to Mecca to worship, meet the Creator, and pay respects to the Prophet.  Pilgrimage  Only a duty for those who have the wealth, have paid the Zakat, an can provide for their dependents during absence.  Journey to Mecca to worship, meet the Creator, and pay respects to the Prophet.

Understanding Osama  The four primary ethnic groups in Afghanistan are the Pashtuns, the Hazara, the Uzbeks, and the Tajiks. The Pashtuns are Sunni Muslims.

Do This:  Write an essay comparing “Male and Female in Islamic Perspective” (Eastman pp ) with the gender relationships portrayed in Osama. What similarities and differences do you see between Islamic philosophy and Taliban rule?