Islam

1. Islam Submission to the One God

2. Fast Facts • Second largest religion, 1.2 billion adherents • Islam means “to surrender or submit” • Muslim means “one who surrenders or submits” • Monotheistic • Muhammad is the last prophet • Qur’an is their sacred scripture • Deeply rooted in Biblical tradition • Trace back to Abraham • Reveres OT prophets including Jesus • Reveres the Blessed Mother as a model for women • Very influential to Western culture during the Middle Ages

3. Foundations • Elements of Islam • Qur’an • Primary sacred text and Islam’s earthly center • Prophet Muhammad • Received the contents of the Qur’an from Allah • His life provides Muslims with an example of human perfection • Primary Teachings • Derived from the Qur’an and the life of Muhammad • Muslim community • Umma bases its laws and lifestyle on the primary teachings

4. Qur’an • Earthly center of Islam • Dictated to and written by Muhammad • Miraculous, Muhammad was illiterate • Considered the sacred presence in the world • Source of Islam’s fundamental teachings • Divided into 114 suras, or chapters • Contains the direct words of Allah • Written in Arabic originally • Qur’an means “reading or recitation”

5. The Prophet Muhammad • Most perfect of all humans, but human nonetheless • Born about 570 AD, into the leading tribe of Mecca, orphaned and raised by an uncle • Honest and dependable, shepherd, then merchant/trader • Married Khadija, his employer at age 25, she was 40; He had 6or more children and they had a long happy union • Spent time in religious contemplation • Angel Gabriel appeared in a dream and commanded that he “recite”. After this first appearance he was visited for the next 22 years. • Was taken to meet God on the “Night Visit” • Converts • Wife was first, then some close friends • Citizens of Mecca responded with hostility since the teachings were contrary to their usual ways, • Monotheistic vs polytheistic • Social economic justice • Muhammad escaped to Medina, this flight was called the Hijra; it is considered the founding event of the community

6. Primary Teachings • Allah • The one God, Allah literally means “the God” • Originally worshipped along with other gods • Avoid artistic representations • Genderless • Transcendent and supra-personal, immanent and personal • Sufis experience the immanence and personal quality of Allah • Prophets • Provide a link between Allah and human history • Begin with Adam and end with Muhammad • Abraham- father of the Arab people • Moses- delivered the Ten Commandments • Jesus – proclaimed the Golden Rule • Muhammad- the seal of the prophets, last for now all has been revealed

7. Primary Teachings • Human nature and destiny • Human nature is good, but people forget their basic goodness and their passions lead them to sin • Humans need directives for correct behavior, these would be found in the Qur’an and other revelations of Allah • Day of Judgment ; all humans will stand before God • Coming of the Mahdi, a savior, who will restore Islam on earth, then Jesus will return to Jerusalem and usher in the Day of Judgment • Paradise • Hell • Nature of the world • Is good and worthy of reverence since it is a creation of God • The Cosmic Qur’an • Islamic scientific advances are a result of this reverence an they celebrate science as a means of knowing more about Allah’s perfect creation

8. Umma • Community of all Muslims • Transcends race, ethnicity, language, and other cultural factors • Brotherhood and sisterhood based solely on religion • Unity derived from the Shari’a or divine law • Formed by the Qur’an and the Sunna (teachings and actions of Muhammad) • Five categories: obligatory, recommended, indifferent, disapproved, forbidden • To ignore the Shari’a is to stop being Muslim • Intended as the law of the land-

9. Practices and Teachings • Five Pillars • Confession of faith Shahada “There is no god except God and Muhammad is the messenger of God” whispered at birth and at death • Prayer Five times a day Public prayer on Friday in Mosque with an imam leading Washing of hands and face Prostration toward Mecca Ritual movements • Fasting Ramadan During the ninth month of Muslim year No eating, drinking, smoking, sex, from dawn to sunset • Wealth sharing 2.5 % of the value of their possessions to a public treasury annually • Pilgrimage Hajj, a trip during a lifetime to Mecca circling the Ka’ba

10. Personal and Social Life • Care of the body • Belongs to God • To be kept clean (washing ritual is part of prayer) • Dressed modestly • Dietary laws • Sexuality is celebrated but only in marriage • Women • Men and women are equal but different • Women have most influence in the home, the central social institution • Veiling different interpretations in Qur’an • Jihad • Struggle to surrender and remain that way • Armed struggle in self defense

11. Expansion of Islam • Muhammad • Caliphs • Sunna • Shi’ite • Spread across the Mediterranean coast along North Africa and into Spain • Mogul Empire (India) • Ottoman Empire (Turkey) • Ended during European colonization

12. Varieties of Islam • Sunnism • The largest division of Islam. Originated after the death of Muhammad when his closest friend took over as leader • Shi’ism • Favor the leadership of Islam to be passed on to family as true descendants of Muhammad • Importance of the Imam • Islamic Mysticism • Sufism: to experience Allah as immanent and personal, to be at oneness with God

13. Islam Today • No division between the religious and the secular • All owe a repayment to God • Final revelation, others that came before are respected especially Judaism and Christianity • Ideal of unity • Second largest religion • Northern Africa • Middle East • Southwestern Asia • South Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia • United States • 6,000,000, 40% African American • Nation of Islam • Malcolm X – no discrimination