Islam

1. Islam AP Human Geography Mrs. Lacks

2. Islam • Third Abrahamic religion (Father: Abraham, 2000 BCE) • Began around 610 CE in Mecca, Saudi Arabia when Muhammad, a 40 yr old shepherd, received a revelation from God (the angel Gabriel appeared to him • Muhammad began spreading God’s word, but had to flee to Medina to escape persecution • Both cities are considered holy

4. Core Beliefs • Belief in God: There is only one God - ALLAH • Belief in Angels: The Angel Gabriel brought down the Koran to Muhammad • Belief in God’s revealed books: • The Qur’an, or Koran (to Muhammad) • The Torah (to Moses) • The Gospel (to Jesus)

5. Core Beliefs • Belief in the prophets and messengers of God: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus. • But God’s final message to man, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad • Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet sent by God

6. Core Beliefs • Like other Abrahamic religions, Islam also teaches resurrection of the dead, a final tribulation and eternal division of the righteous and wicked

7. Core Beliefs AL-QADAR:Divine Predestination 1) God knows everything. He knows what has happened and what will happen. 2) God has recorded all that has happened and all that will happen. 3) Whatever God wills to happen happens, and whatever He wills not to happen does not happen. 4) God is the Creator of everything.

8. Core Beliefs • Five Pillars of Islam: the Framework of Muslim Life • The Testimony of Faith • Prayers 5 times per day • Give to the poor • Fasting during Ramadan • Complete a pilgrimage to Mecca

9. Testimony of Faith (Shahada) • There is only one God and Muhammad is his prophet

10. Prayer (Salat) • The direct link between the believer and God. • Muslims perform five prayers a day: dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night. • A Muslim may pray almost anywhere: fields, offices, schools or in the mosque, but must face East (or the direction of Mecca)

11. Giving (Zakat) • Be charitable; provide support for those less fortunate

12. Fasting (Sawn) • Month of Ramadan • all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown • The fast is regarded principally as a method of spiritual self-purification

13. Pilgrimage to Mecca (Haj) • The annual pilgrimage to Mecca is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it

14. Terms • The word "Islam" means Submission • "Muslim” (also spelled Moslem) means one who submits. • Submission is central to the Islamic way of life. • Imam: Religious leader; a person who leads a congregation in pray • Fatwa: decree given by an IMAM that is considered the law • Mosque: place of worship • Jihad: striving in the way of Allah by pen, tongue, hand, media and, if inevitable, with arms.

15. Holy Places • Masjid al-Haram aka Grand Mosque (Mecca) • Kaaba (within Grand Mosque, Mecca) • Al-Masjid al-Nabawī aka Mosque of the Prophet (Medina) • Dome of the Rock aka the Farthest Mosque (Jerusalem)

20. Calendar • a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days • Dates events in many Muslim countries (concurrently with the Gregorian calendar) • used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper days on which to observe Ramadan, to attend Hajj, and to celebrate other Islamic holidays and festivals • first Islamic year: AD 622 (emigration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra) • Each numbered year is designated either H for Hijra or AH for the Latin anno Hegirae (in the year of the Hijra); hence, Muslims typically call their calendar the Hijricalendar • current Islamic year is 1435 AH. In the Gregorian calendar 1435 AH runs from approximately 3 November 2013 (evening) to 23 October 2014 (evening).

21. Muslim Holidays • Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha are the two official holidays of Islam • EidAl-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan (a month of fasting), and Muslims usually give zakat (charity) on the occasion. • EidAl-Adha is where Muslims usually sacrifice an animal and distribute its meat among family, friends and the poor.

22. Local Autonomy • No local hierarchy • No formal territorial organization • Yes, leader in mosque, but everyone participates equally

23. Denominations (Sects) of Islam • Split occurred in late seventh century. Clash over who should be the successor to the Prophet Muhammad. • Sunni (Sunnis) • Shia (Shiites) • Sufi: • a religious branch historically deriving from Sunni Islam • defined by some adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam • Some say it predates Islam; focuses on perfection of worship

24. Sunni vs Shia • Sunni 90% majority of the Muslim world, and Shia, 10% (Iran, Lebanon & So Iraq) • Both groups hold to the Koran as the sacred text and Muhammad as the Prophet and basic religious practices.

26. How they differ • SUCCESSION • LEADERSHIP • THE SOURCE OF RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE. • HOW THE KOREAN IS INTERPRETED • INTERPRETATION OF ISLAMIC LAW

27. Succession • SUNNI: Believed that the authority after the Prophet passed to the first four caliphs after him. They recognize the heirs of these caliphs as legitimate religious leaders. • SHIA: Believe that ALI (the 4th caliph and the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law) and Ali’s heirs should be the successors because of their blood relationship to the Prophet.

28. Leadership • SUNNI: Believe that the authority after the Prophet should be passed to the most qualified through an election by elders. • SHIA: Only true leader is the IMAM. The first Imam appointed by God. Subsequent Imams are appointed by the Imam who preceded him. The Imam is both a religious and political leader

29. Source of Religion • SUNNI: The Last Prophet Mohammad and the Koran are the two primary sources of religion. • SHIA: Because of importance and position of the Imams - they are considered an autonomous source of religion. Anything an Imam says, does or narrates is “religion”

30. Interpretation of the Koran • SUNNI: The Koran needs no interpretation and can be taken at its word. • SHIA: The Koran must be interpreted by a religious leader - the Imam

31. Interpretation of Religious Law • SUNNI: Are Orthodox. They believe the law cannot be changed beyond the basic text of the Koran. • SHIA: They believe the law can be interpreted to keep up with the times and current needs.

32. Sunni & Shia Today • Have co-existed for centuries • In the past - differences between the two sects were a matter of intellectual debate among religious scholars • Today - sectarian violence against each other. Leaders use differences in belief for political reasons. (EX: Iran & Iraq)

33. Common Misconceptions • Most Muslims are not fundamentalists • Very few Muslims are involved in extremist organizations

34. Common Misconceptions • Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism • The Prophet Muhammad used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children • Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire • The act of inciting terror, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden according to Islam • Suicide is a sin that leads to eternal damnation

35. “If anyone kills an (innocent) person, … it will be as if he has killed the whole of humanity. And if anyone saves a person, it will be as if he has saved the whole of humanity.” (Koran, 5:32)

36. Background of Fundamentalist Thought • Power has been lost in modern times because Islam has been abandoned by many Muslims; too much Western materialistic influence • If Muslims can return to the original Islam as revealed by the Prophet Muhammad, they can restore their power in the world • Islam is a system: economic, educational, legislative, judicial, and military

37. Wahhabism • Founded by Muhammed bin Abd al-Wahhab (1703- 87). • Started as a movement for social and moral reform • Particularly austere and conservative brand of Islam • All law must conform to Islamic law, or Sharia Law

38. Wahhabism • Sharia Law (very strict): moral and religious code of Islam which includes • Dress code • Marriage • Hygiene and purification • Diet • Criminal law

39. Wahhabism • Examples of groups: • Al-Qaeda (Osama bin Laden’s followers) • The Taliban (who US & Afghanistan are fighting to keep out of Afghanistan) • Hamas (anti-Israeli group in Palestine)

40. Islam Today • Second most popular world religion • 1.57 billion followers (22% of world population) • Newest world religion • Fastest growing world religion • Iran is the only true Islamic State (theocracy) • Considered an Islamic Republic • President & elected assembly; but Supreme Leader (Ayatollah) has most power • Supreme Leader… • Appoints people to positions • Can veto laws • Controls all media outlets

42. Treatment of Women • Muhammad saw how women were considered second class in society and condemned this • He said women had legal rights in marriage, divorce and owning property • Role model is his wife Khadija • Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right. • Islam encourages the husband to treat his wife well • Mothers in Islam are highly honored.

45. Muslim-majority countries and members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation where sharia plays no role in the judicial system. Countries where sharia applies in personal status issues (such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and child custody), but otherwise have a secular legal system. Countries where sharia applies in full, covering personal status issues as well as criminal proceedings. Countries with regional variations in the application of sharia.

48. If traveling in an Islamic country…

49. Dress Code MALES • Shirt on even in hot weather • Boots/shoes off in a mosque • No shorts FEMALES • Long sleeved blouses • Boots/shoes off in a mosque • Head scarf in a mosque • No shorts or skirts that expose legs

50. Time & Space • Time is not as fixed as among Westerners; however you should not be late. Rushing will only be misinterpreted as an insult and have the opposite effect. • It is rude to be caught looking at your watch. • Personal space is much closer; considered rude to back away from someone speaking to you.