Islam

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

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Quran

• Quran Quran Koran
• Muslim Scripture
• Last and complete revelation of Gods will.
• Words of God dictated to Muhammad by an angel.
• Any translation is no longer Koran
• 114 chapters (surahs)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Muhammad the Man

• Born circa 570-580 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

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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.

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Kaaba/Mecca

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

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Expansion of Islam
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First 4 Caliphs

• A successor or representative.
• Abu Bakr
• Umar ibn ulKhattab
• Uthman
• Ali ibn Abi Talib

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Sunniism

• 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.

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ShiismPart of Ali

• Historically, recognized Ali, son-in-law of
  Muhammad, and Imams as the legitimate leaders of
  Muslim community
• Imams Muhammads direct family members and
  descendents
• Today led by ayatollahs who represent the Imams
• Druze and Bahai were Shia, are now independent

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Iraq Ethnic and Religious Groups

• Sunni groups largely in the North.
• Shia groups largely in the South.
• Within their religion, Shia reject the idea of
  leadership by election, believe in divine right
  of leadership.

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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.

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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.

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5 Pillars

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

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Shahadah

• Declaration of faith
• There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his
  prophet.

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Salat

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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Understanding Osama

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

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Do This

• Write an essay comparing Male and Female in
  Islamic Perspective (Eastman pp. 435-444) with
  the gender relationships portrayed in Osama.
  What similarities and differences do you see
  between Islamic philosophy and Taliban rule?