ISLAM: AFTER HIJRA Chapter 6 #2

RECALL: 622 CE, MUHAMMAD  MEDINA  The community governed by the revelations to M.  Many from Mecca joined  Battles in Mecca, truce eventually in 628 CE  630 CE surrender  Mecca accepted Islam, M  Medina  632 M. visits Mecca last time  This pilgrimage: Hajj

AFTER MUHAMMAD  Abu Bakr caliph after Muhammad  Islam spread rapidly, 637 CE Muslims in Jerusalem  Muslim rulers did not force conquered people to convert to Islam  By 150 after M., Islam: in N. Africa, Spain, central Asia

SHI’ITE MUSLIMS  Early split: who should succeed Muhammad?  Ali, a cousin thought he should (as a direct relative)  Ali’s followers chose leaders based on blood relationship to M.  These are called Shi’ite muslims

SUNNI MUSLIMS  Others believed the best suited person should lead, regardless of ancestry  Followers: Sunni  Sunnis emphasize a person’s direct relationship with Allah  Shi’ites emphasize the role & authority of religious leaders  Today: 90% Sunni, 10% Shi’ite

FIVE PILLARS  Ritual acts to express faith & identify as Muslim  Give practical descriptions as to how Muslims worship and live as Muslim  Creed  Prayer  Almsgiving  Fasting  Pilgrimage

FIRST PILLAR: CREED  Shahadah  “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”  This is the key belief  It is a sign of being Muslim  One only has to say it aloud before 2 witnesses

SECOND PILLAR: PRAYER  Salat  Prayer of praise, 5 times/day  Quiet verbal prayers, & gestures  Can be anywhere, as long as it’s clean  Fridays: mosque for community prayer  Private prayer: du’a

THIRD PILLAR: ALMSGIVING  Zakat  Those who can, must donate to the needy, to build mosques, etc.  Helps to share wealth in a Muslim society more fairly

FOURTH PILLAR: FASTING  Sawm  During month of Ramadan  (the month M. received the message)  During daylight: no food, evil thoughts, drinking, smoking, sex  Evening: families & friends, gather to break the day’s fast with a light meal  Ramadan ends: 3 day feast of Eid al-Fitr

FIFTH PILLAR: PILGRIMAGE  Hajj  Pilgrimage to Mecca, only once in lifetime  If, you can afford it, and are healthy enough  It is a supreme experience

PILGRIM CLOTHING  Special gown: ihram  Men: 2 seamless garments, white cloth  Women: only faces & hands uncovered  Ihram emphasizes equality of all pilgrims and that in death, all material things left behind

THE KAABA  The cube-shaped shrine in the centre of the Great Mosque in Mecca  The holiest place  Pilgrims circle the Kaaba 7 times

KAABA