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Islam.

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Presentation on theme: "Islam."— Presentation transcript:

1 Islam

2 The Islamic World is not at all a monolithic entity

3 A Bit About Arabic Semitic Languages based on three-letter roots
Example: s-l-m, connotes wisdom, harmony Salaam, peace Suleiman (Solomon) Islam (submission to divine will) Muslim (one who submits to divine will)

4 A Bit About Arabic European languages modify words mostly through suffixes Arabic relies extensively on prefixes as well Hence there are no simple alphabetical dictionaries of Arabic Arabic has numerous sounds not found in English Arabic omits most short vowels in print Arabic does not distinguish o and u clearly, or e and i. There is no single way to transliterate Arabic and English

5 Imagine Rome Never Fell ….

6 Imagine Rome Never Fell ….
Now imagine all those people, as loyal Catholics, insisted they were still speaking Latin That’s very much the story with Arabic Written Arabic isn’t spoken Spoken Arabic isn’t written Arabic is the language of the Koran and all Arabic speakers insist they speak Arabic Linguists would (and some do) subdivide Arabic into 5-6 distinct languages

7 Arabia in Mohammed's time
Various tribal religions Jewish communities Christian communities, usually splinter sects

8 Mohammed Born about 570 in Mecca
About 610, claims to receive visions and messages. These collected and written down about as the Koran. Flees to Medina, 622 (hegira) Return to Mecca, 630 Unified Arabia by the time of his death in 632

9 The Pillars of Islam 1. Creed 2. Five daily prayers 3. Alms
4. Fasting during Ramadan 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) Haji denotes one who has made the Hajj Some authorities add a sixth pillar: 6. Jihad or Holy War in defense of Islam. Means active opposition to evil and injustice, more than literal warfare.

10 Sources of Islamic Doctrine
Koran (from root meaning read or study) Hadith (tradition): traditional sayings of Mohammed and other early followers Tradition of the Mahdi Sharia (way): Codified Islamic Law

11 The Koran About as long as the New Testament
114 suras, arranged from longest to shortest Most suras are collections of Mohammed’s teachings with no overall theme Suras are labeled by distinctive or unusual words found in each No historical chapters Considered the definitive form of Arabic Strictly speaking, cannot be translated, only paraphrased

12 The spread of Islam Inherent appeal Jihad Conversion Incentives Trade
Simplicity Equality Rights for Women High moral teachings Jihad Military skill Good government Tolerance Conversion Incentives Tax on "People of the Book” - Originally Christians and Jews, later Hindus and certain other groups as well. Forced conversion of pagans Trade Indonesia and sub-Saharan Africa

13 The spread of Islam

14 The World of Islam

15 Schism about 700 A.D. Reasons:
Succession to Caliphate (Kalifa, successor; successor of Mohammed) Incorporation of non-Koranic elements into Islam Worldliness of Caliphs, discrimination against non- Arab Muslims Shiites (shia: party or faction) about 10% (mostly Iran) Fundamentalist? Sunnites (Sunna: beaten path) about 90%

16 Effects of Islam Preserve classical learning
Innovations in astronomy and mathematics Link between East and West "Arabic" numbers from India Trigonometry also from India Sanctuary for Judaism

17 A Few Arabic Contributions
Alcohol Alkali Alchemy Benzine Boron Zircon Jar Alfalfa Algorithm Algebra Almanac Azimuth Alidade Most Star Names

18 Star Names

19 The Spanish Connection
Wadi-al-yahara (Valley of Flowing Water)  Guadalajara Al-ghattas (type of sea bird) Alcatraz (pelican) Al-amir-al-bahr (lord of the sea) Almirante Admiral Jebel Tariq (Tariq’s mountain) Gibraltar Much “Spanish” architecture is actually Arabic

20 Islam Penetrates Europe

21 Islam Penetrates Europe

22 The Islamic World Today
OIL! Sunnite vs. Shiite Secularism vs. Dogmatism Russian Southward Expansionism. Began in 's. Temporarily(?) halted by collapse of Soviet Union. Terrorism: Shiite is not a synonym for "terrorist" or "extremist." Israel and the Palestinian Problem


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