Islam

Islam today Roughly 1.6 billion Muslims Roughly 1.6 billion Muslims –Around 85% Sunni –2.1 billion Christians –900 million Hindus –375 million Buddhists –14 million Jews Fastest growing religion in many regions Fastest growing religion in many regions Multicultural Multicultural Largest Islamic population: Indonesia Largest Islamic population: Indonesia –Followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, India –Less than 15% of Muslims are Arab

Sunni and Shi’a Concerns beliefs about family of Muhammad (Hussain, 43) Concerns beliefs about family of Muhammad (Hussain, 43) –Issue: Who would succeed Muhammad? –One group (Sunni) chose an elder; another (Shi’a) chose Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali Leadership Leadership –Sunnis have caliphs: spiritual leaders, chosen by people (ummah) –Shi’a have imams: political and spiritual leaders, chosen by heredity Geography Geography –Sunni: 85% of Muslims in world –Shi’a: Iran, now in power in Iraq Doctrine Doctrine –Shi’a hold belief in imamat as one of the 5 Pillars

Origins Context: Arabia: polytheistic, tribal Context: Arabia: polytheistic, tribal Muhammad ( CE) Muhammad ( CE) –Qu’ran records revelations to Muhammad Revelations begin in 610 Revelations begin in 610 Qur’an written by 650 Qur’an written by 650 –Other stories of his sayings and actions (Sunnah) recorded as Hadith –Unified Arabs and started missions out of Medina and Mecca ( )

Five Pillars Belief and witness Belief and witness Daily prayer (5x) Daily prayer (5x) Tithe (Zakat) Tithe (Zakat) –Must give 2.5% of wealth to needy –Shi’a give 20% of disposable income (half to clergy, half to needy) Fasting Fasting Pilgrimage (Hajj) Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Beliefs Unity of God Unity of God –Major sins: idolatry, ungratefulness Unity of humanity Unity of humanity Mediators Mediators –Revelation, Qur’an –Angels –Prophets and Messengers Justice Justice –Now (society, shari’ah) –Afterlife (reward or punishment for deeds)

Mosque, International Medical Center, Saudi Arabia

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (former Orthodox church, now a museum)

Hagia Sophia

Page of an illuminated Qur’an

Example of a contemporary Christian illuminated Bible: Page of Genesis St. John’s Bible (21 st century)

Jihad “Striving” “Striving” “Sixth pillar” “Sixth pillar” Types Types –Greater: spiritual struggle Within oneself or for justice Within oneself or for justice Many regard as the dominant type Many regard as the dominant type –Lesser: physical struggle

Mysticism All religions have forms of mysticism All religions have forms of mysticism –Resist legalistic, overly defined or dogmatic forms of religion –Use poetry and experience to move beyond ordinary language and definition Goal: union with the divine (immediate experience) Goal: union with the divine (immediate experience) Uses bodily experience, meditation, finding God in creation Uses bodily experience, meditation, finding God in creation

Sufism Ascetic Ascetic Focus on experience and unity of God Focus on experience and unity of God –leads some Sufis to accept ideas of other religions Dance, music, poetry, meditation are modes of divine experience Dance, music, poetry, meditation are modes of divine experience