Islam

1. Islam an introduction

6. As of 2014 over 2 Billion Muslims representing 28.26% of world’s population • Almost one of every four persons in the world is a Muslim • Fast approaching to be the world’s largest religion • Fastest growing religion in the world

7. The Muslim population of the world map by percentage of each country, according to the Pew Forum 2009 report on world Muslim populations. 62% live in Asia-Pacific; 20% in the Middle East-North Africa;15% in Sub-Saharan Africa; around 3% in Europe; and 0.3% in the Americas

8. Basic overview • “Youngest” of the major world religions • Founded circa 610 CE with the revelation of the Qur’an by angel Gabriel • Another, continued growth of the Abrahamic religions • Many Muslims actually date the founding of the religion back to Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael; Muhammad is believed to be a direct descendant of Abraham • There are two main types of Islam: Sunni and Shia; 85-15% split between the two—many Sunnis deny Shia exists; Largest Shia state is Iran • Some Muslims also identify as Sufis (mystics), but very few; illegal in some places to by Sufi • Founded by Muhammad (PBUH), who is believed to be Allah’s last and greatest prophet • also recognizes many Judeo-Christian prophets (Moses, Jesus, etc.); Muslims see those faiths as “people of the book” who they should hold in high regard • 2nd largest (and fastest growing) religion in the world • Unquestionably monotheistic—Islam means “submission”—with devotion to Allah • Belief in the oneness of the soul, which goes to heaven or hell upon death • Several different ways to get into heaven, but all have to believe in Allah • Sacred Texts: Qur’an, Hadith, Bible (kinda), and other various Sufi & Imam writings • Holy sites (in order): Mecca: Masjid al-Haram (Sacred mosque) & the Kaaba, Medina: al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet), Jerusalem: Al-Aqsa Mosque (Dome of the Rock/Temple Mount) • Holy Days: Ramadan & Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (festival of sacrifice), Hajj, Muhammad’s birthday, Night of Fortunes, Night of the Prophet’s Journey, Islamic New Year, etc.

9. American Muslims • ~ 8 million • About 30% Afro-American • Not all Muslims are Arabs • Not all Arabs are Muslims • Very diverse community

10. Muslim Americans Exemplify Diversity, Potential (Gallup Poll 2009) In the first-ever nationally representative study of a randomly selected sample of Muslim Americans, Gallup reveals that Muslim Americans are the most racially diverse religious group surveyed in the United States, with African Americans making up the largest contingent within the population, at 35%.

11. Muslims American Demographic Facts • American Muslims are Well-Educated • 67% of American Muslims have a Bachelor's degree or higher • 44% of Americans have a Bachelor’s degree or higher • The Variance for Advanced Degrees is even greater. • One in ten American Muslim is a physician/medical doctor 67% of adult American Muslims are under 40 years old 67% of the adult American population is over 40 years old • 8 Million Muslims in North America • 7 million in the U.S.; 1 million in Canada. • Larger than Norway, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland & Sweden. • Annual growth rate of 6% versus 0.9% for total U.S.2 • Interaction between Indigenous and Immigrant Muslims is limited. • Same size community as Hispanics 25 years ago.

12. Why are we here? • Allah created the world—exactly like the other creation stories of the Abrahamic religions, mostly—in six days • Four days to create the Earth and mountains, and two to create the heavens and stars; celebrate the holy day/Sabbath as Friday • One place in the Qur’an claims eight days, but most Muslims read this and agree on six • Allah created three types of beings: angels, jinn, and humans • Angels were created from light and see their father as God, they have no free will and do as he commands, hence they are sinless • Jinn are spirits of fire and see their “father” as Satan  but not all jinn are bad; they have free will and can be good, bad, or neutral • Humans were created from earth (clay, soil, sand and water) and see their father as Adam. They too have free will. • After creating Adam, Allah ordered all beings to bow down to him; everyone did except for Iblis (Satan), who became the first of the bad jinn. God kicked him out of paradise and he vowed revenge • Much like the other two Abrahamic religions, Adam and Eve are in paradise, but unlike the other two, Iblis IS the serpent (this is later tradition in the others, but not in the Bible) and he gets revenge for his exile by convincing them to eat the apple and corrupt the earth

13. What is the human condition? • Allah created man and it is their role to honor him • People are there to honor and thank their creator—hence the praying five times per day (but he is reasonable and understanding, if you miss a prayer, much like school, you’re supposed to make it up) • But he also gave them free will, and much like the Jinn, they do sin and can chose to turn away • Unlike the other Abrahamic religions, Allah does have a breaking point, and people can sin enough that he’ll basically give up on them and condemn them to hell (more on this later) • In order to help instruct humans, Allah has sent a series of prophets, from Abraham on down (including Moses, David, and Jesus); the final and most important is Muhammad, to whom the unaltered Qur’an was revealed • Muslims are also responsible for introducing the word of Allah to as many people as possible, peacefully. They should want everyone to be Muslim so everyone goes to heaven, kinda like salvation being a group achievement, in Mahayana or some parts of Christianity • (A recent poll found that in the US, Muslims; atheists; and agnostics were most likely to “reject violence”, whatever that means) • All this leads to the legislation of morality and strict moral codes in many countries where Islam is the chief or state religion

14. Topics from Intro (pp. 1377-1386 & 1401-1404) for discussion • Outline the history/hagiography behind the Qur’an and its revelation. Explain the importance of the text and its history to Muslims and their religious experience. • Compare on contrast the importance of Muhammad’s life and the Hadith with the importance of the Qur’an to both Sunni and Shia Muslims. • Investigate the spread of Islam and compare it with the spread of other (Abrahamic and non) religions. • Explain Sharia law and it’s impact. To what extent is the legislation of morality based on religion appropriate? • Examine the impact European colonialism had on Islam. • Evaluate the role and importance of Islam within the 20th century. To what extent have the teachings of Islam modernized with time?

15. Only one hundred years after Muhammad’s death, Islam had spread around the Mediterranean. Its diffusion continued for centuries and the numbers of converts are still increasing, making Islam the fastest growing religion today. Of areas previously converted to Islam, all remain Muslim except Spain, Greece, and the Mediterranean islands.

17. The Indian subcontinent includes areas that are now politically separate from India. The Indus Valley, for instance, lies in what is now the Muslim state of Pakistan. Another Muslim state was carved out of the eastern portion of India in 1947, becoming the independent state of Bangladesh in 1972.

18. Where are we going? • To akhira(h) (the afterlife), which is to heaven or hell. Islam does not sugar coat this in anyway whatsoever: • Believe and have faith in Allah and do good things and you to paradise—word is, it’s pretty awesome • Sin and you go to hell—forever, maybe, which would generally suck • Generally Allah is loving and merciful, but he does have a breaking point—i.e. unlike in Christianity, you cannot, in Islam, be a condemned serial killer, ask for forgiveness before your execution and go to heaven. At that point, Allah is done with you. • don’t believe in Allah but do good things, that’s where it gets a little tricky… • يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّأَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ (الحجرات: 13). • Ch49:13 O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). • More liberal Muslims use this verse to justify Allah’s supreme mercy and assume he will accept anyone who is good into paradise • more moderate and conservative Muslims (and virtually all Shia’s) dispute all or some parts of the above

19. How do we get there? • Submission to Allah, mainly. Most notably this includes the Five Pillars of Islam: • Shahada — profession of faith • Salat — Prayer five times daily • Zakat — Giving to charity (at least 2%) • Sawm — fasting during Ramadan • Hajj — Pilgrimage to Mecca • In doing that, one follows one of the two types of Islam: Sunni (≈85% of Muslims) and Shia (≈15% of Muslims) • Many Sunnis do not acknowledge Shia as a different sect, and more see them somewhere between misinformed to heretical • Covered in the Shahada, one must acknowledge the tawhid (oneness of Allah), and submit to his will by following the words of the prophet, the chief of whom was “his messenger Muhammad” • Muslims must also follow key laws from Allah, like strict gender codes of socialization & dress (although, women actually have equal rights in Islam under the law), dietary restrictions (halal), etc. • Some of these are adopted from local custom or in the Qur’an, but the fact the Qur’an is believed to be the unchanged word of Allah makes them indisputable

20. Why are we here?Creation & Cosmology (pp. 1424-1432) • Compare and contrast God (Allah), his laws, his stories (i.e. Abraham and choosing the Jews, etc.), and ideas with YHWH and the God of the New Testament. • Outline Allah’s commentary on non Muslims (both “People of the Book” and zimmis) and how they should interact with Muslims • Examine the commentary on akhira throughout this section of the Qur’an. • Discuss the relevance and meaning of Sura 4:102 (p. 1427). Explain how this informs Islam and the religious experience for Muslims. • Explain the Qur’an’s thoughts on Allah’s forgiveness and repentance—and back up your explanation and argument with direct quotes. • Examine the importance of Sura 4:170-172 (p. 1432).

21. Why are we here?Allah (pp. 1439-1442) • Outline the achievements of Allah. • Examine the “personality” of Allah. • Investigate the Muslim idea of “submission” in the context of this passage. • Evaluate how the Qur’an changes your understanding of the Western, monotheistic God. Muslims express their belief in the Oneness of the divine by saying the Shahada (“There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God”). However, much like both the Christian and Jewish Gods, Allah is formless and cannot be represented. In order to prevent the worshiping of false idols or the Catholic “cult” of saints, Allah also decreed no images of Muhammad should be created either.

22. Why are we here?People of the Book • As we know, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam descend from the same idea of a chosen people/covenant, revealed scripture, and monotheistic God • Incidentally, those are also the things religious studies scholars have labeled as the characteristics of what is most likely to cause religious war. • But these three Abrahamic religions also have some differences that go way, way back married married or concubine Sarah Abraham Hagar Isaac Ishmael Judah David Muhammad Jesus • As a result, Muslims are taught that Christians and Jews are fellow “People of the Book;” as a result, they are told to treat Christians and Jews better than other zimmis (non believers) and historically Islamic law has made more “exceptions” for them.

23. Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Jerusalem. Stands on the site of the former Jewish Temple, and site believed to be where Abraham tried to sacrifice Isaac (Foundation Stone aka the rock) and where Muhammad’s journey during the Night of Ascension occurred. Completed in 692; through a compromise today the Temple Mount is reserved for Muslims, and the lower area (i.e. The Western Wall) for Jews

24. What is the human condition?The messengers of Allah • Muslims believe and follow key people, whom they call prophets in Judaism and Christianity • This includes Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jesus, the Virgin Mary, etc. • Those in bold + Muhammad are the Six Major Prophets of Islam • But they have some very different views on these people (i.e. Abraham from earlier): • Moses (Musa): Muslims believe that Moses was the first identified prophet (even though others came before him) of Allah because he is the first one to talk to Allah and the first one to have scripture revealed to him • It is also believed Moses started Salat on the Night of Ascension (more later) • And that to avoid death he slapped the Angel of Death, Azrael in the face . • Jesus (Isa ibn Maryam): Muslims believe Jesus (PBUH) is neither God nor the Son of God, nor someone who died for man’s sins. They also believe: • In his miraculous birth to the Virgin Mary, and in her importance within the tradition • In miracles, some in the Bible, some not, i.e.: he spoke in the cradle • He was not crucified—God lifted him up to heaven and another (Simon of Cyrene) died in his place • He is the Word of God (also The New Testament was revealed to him) and will return in a Second Coming. • They believe Muhammad to be the last and greatest of the prophets • however he is NOT the messiah nor associated as part of God in any way (i.e. no trinity) because of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) • Muslims also believe that from Moses on, all prophets predicted the coming of Muhammad, most notably in Gospel of Barnabas—one of the non canonical gospels • Of note: many experts dismiss the Gospel of Barnabas as a late medieval work at best

25. What is the human condition?The life of Muhammad (pp. 1467-1471, 1473-1474, & 1499-1502) • Aka “The Prophet” (may peace be upon him) • He was a real person, he did exist—no one reputable doubts that; Hadith & Siratells his life story • Descendent of Ishmael, born in Mecca circa 570 CE • Grew up with uncles, who were powerful leaders of a local clan—traveled via trade • Heard of Christianity and Judaism in trading • Qur’an assumes familiarity with a number of Jewish and Christian stories • Married rich widow—Khadijah—had 6 kids with her (and others with his 10+ more wives). His family and friends are the first converts to Islam. • December 22 609 CE (when he was 40), after meditating, the Angel Gabriel came and told Muhammad he was the final prophet. Over the course next 22 years, until his death in 632, the Qur’an was revealed to him at Mecca; founded Islam in 613 • Persecuted at first had to go the Medina and back to keep the religion alive • Night of Ascension (Isra & Mi’raj) circa 621 in Jerusalem—Muhammad ascended through 7 heavens into Divine Proximity, met former prophets and teachers, Adam and Jesus, saw paradise and hell and received great blessings from the Divine Presence. • Identify Muhammad’s mission and the importance of the Qur’anusing direct quotes. • Evaluate the importance of Ali. To do this well, quickly research his importance within the religion. • Compare and contrast the language and tone in the Sira with the Old Testament and the New Testament • Outline the events of the Night of the Ascension in the Hadith. Compare and contrast them within the context of the other two Abrahamic religions (you might want to look up “The Transfiguration” if you don’t know what that is. Deduce the importance of these comparisons within you understanding of religions.

27. Islam Socratic Seminar • Texts: from the Qur’an Suras 78-114 (pp. 1442-1462)—this a lot, skim, but it also the most important bit of the Qur’an; from Sira “Covenant with the Jews” (pp. 1478-1479 ); from Ocean of Light by Majlisi (pp. 1519-1526, this is a Shia text, FYI); from The Book of Healingby Sina (pp. 1603-1608); “Concerning the Chastisement and Regulation of Wives” by Al-Tusi (pp. 1652-1665); from Mathnavi by Rumi (pp. 1768-1778, these are Sufi poems); from The Autobiography of Malcom X (pp. 1897-1902); from “The World Islamic Front” by bin Laden (pp. 1919-1922); from “The Rights of Women” by Khan (pp.1929-1932) • Discussion on the ideas and beliefs of Islam, understanding and critiquing the religious texts of Islam, interactions between different sects and society, and Islam’s understanding of life, time, and human nature. • You will receive talking points for HW the night before. • This is a (50 point) culminating grade.

29. Islam in India: -2nd largest mosque in India (top left) -Ornate Mughal era mosque (center) -House and throne room of the Muslim Nizam (monarch of Hyderabad)

30. Islam in Sarajevo: -GaziHusrev-beg Mosque: outside (bottom and top right, bottom left) inside (center) -largest historical mosque in B-H; partially rebuilt after 1990s war -Muslim grave markings (upper center)

31. Where are we going?Muslim Eschatology • Unlike other religions, Islam has by far the least ambiguous “where are we going?” & it has a very clear eschatology that borrows a lot from the Judeo-Christian traditions and local traditions: • During Qiyama the final judgment of Allah will occur in which all life is ended, judged, and resurrected (both humans and jinn) • During this time all hell—pun intended—will break lose as the world is ruled by Masih ad-Dajjal (the anti-messiah). We will know about the coming because: • The Sea of Galilee will dry up; date trees will stop bearing fruit; and Satan worship will become common; etc. • During his reign: • People will stop praying; dishonesty will be common and become a virtue; people will care more about worldly gain than faith; usury and bribery will be legal and common; famine will be acute and common; shame will have no effect; and people will not respect the elderly, etc. • After this Mahdi (final redemptive figure in Islam) and Isa (Jesus) come down with a massive army, crush the anti-messiah and begin Yawm ad-Din, the final judgment, a time of peace followed by the Hour of Judgment in which Allah will save the righteous and punish the wicked (each will walk over a bridge to the afterlife that narrows based on sin) like Zoroastrianism • All this is very, very similar to the Christian Revelation but the amount of time is much shorter—like a max of 20 years for each rule • Many modern Muslims extremists claim to think all this has already started

32. Muslim cemetery from the Mt. of Olives. While not on top like the Jewish one, it is nearby and again believed to be starting point of the last judgment/resurrection, etc.

33. Where are we going?The afterlife: Hell • When you die in Islam: 1.) you quickly go to both heaven and hell to get a preview 2.) come back and hover near the body as it is prepped for burial 3.) reunite with the body during while its being interred 4.) be judged by Munkar and Nakir who will test your faith in Islam and be sent to barzakh. • There, if you have not sinned much and are a good Muslim you’ll get to chill; those who are not the above will be tortured in Jahannam or Hell • Qur’an says that “enemies of Islam” will go right to hell upon death for good, implying some might be able to get out—esp. “People of the Book”—but it’s not super clear. • "unbelievers" will "undergo eternal torment in Jahannam", while wrongdoing Muslims will be released to paradise "after either a long or short duration" in Jahannam, as appropriate. (Unbelievers means those who do not believe after being given the true word from Allah, like above.) –fiqh (commentary on Sharia Law) NOT the Qur’an. • Also the Hadith and Muhammad himself claim that “Allah will bring people out of the Fire and admit them to Paradise” & a time will come when Hell is blown by wind and “there shall be none in it, and this shall be after they have remained therein for many years,” respectively. • Jahannam is a place of both spiritual and physical torture • Like Christian tradition, there are layers of hell (seven)—each on worse than before; there are also seven different gates to hell • It’s mostly hot—and the two appear together in the Qur’an 200+ times, but there is also a bottomless pit at the bottom, which some things say gets cold • Punishments get fairly brutal—horrible food, scalding with boiling water, faces on fire, lips burnt off, clothes of fire, disembowelment, people dragged around on flaming coals, etc.

34. Where are we going?The afterlife: Paradise (pp. 1511-1514) • If you’re good you chill in a comfortable place in barzakh • Jannah (Paradise) will be opened during judgment day with each person going to one of eight gates (there are levels of heaven in Islam) • Highest level is Muhammad and the other key prophets, the poor, and the most pious; most of other based around Five Pillars/other virtues • While there everyone lives a happy life without hurt, sorrow, fear or shame in which every wish is fulfilled • It also notes everyone will be of the same age and income level (not that you need money)—seriously, this isn’t a joke • Outline both the key physical and spiritual happenings in Paradise. • Examine the values of Islam as outlined by the description and commentary on Paradise. Use direct quotes.

35. Faithful Muslims pray five times a day, no matter where they are. The prayer rug provides a sacred precinct from which one can turn toward Mecca, the center of the faith.

36. How do we get there?Five Pillars of Islam • Shahada — Profession of faith • “There is no God but God and Muhammad is his messenger” • this is necessary for conversion to Islam and daily life and belief • Salat — Prayer five times daily • Muslims must pray and to prostrate down to God at least five times a day: Dawn, Noon, Afternoon, Sunset and Night. • No intermediary between Muslims and Allah • Allah created us and asked us to prostrate down to Him. • Zakat — Giving to charity (at least 2%) • Muslims must share portion of their wealth with the poor • Building Mosques and Islamic institutions is not considered Zakat. This is called Sadakah, which Muslims are also asked to do • Sawm— fasting during Ramadan • Muslims fast during the holy month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset. • Sick people, people who cannot do it for work reasons, etc., are given a pass but asked to give to charity instead • Hajj — Pilgrimage to Mecca • Muslims go on the pilgrimage journey to Mecca for Hajj once in their lifetime, if they have the means (health and financial) to do so. • Those who take the journey follow the footsteps of Abraham, Hagar, & Ishmael.

38. How do we get there?Six Articles of Faith • Along with the Pillars of Faith, these are central to the submission to Allah, but get a lot less press: • One God (Allah) — almost identical to the Shahada, this is the main and most important belief in Islam • Angels of God — the belief in angels (and by extension jinn) who communicate and carry out the responsibilities of wishes of Allah • The Books of God — the belief in and recognition of the teachings of the Qur’an, most importantly, and other Abrahamic-based revealed texts • The Prophets of God— the belief in the words of the prophets of God, most notably Muhammad, but also all the other ones • The Day of Judgment & afterlife — belief in the end of the days and heaven and hell along with the mercy of Allah • Supremacy of God’s Will — submission to Allah’s supreme plan; sometimes this is called predestination, but that does not mean a lack of free will, it means an omniscience of Allah and his master plan

39. How do we get there?Sharia Law (pp. 1905-1909) & Muslim countries? • Sharia Law is the law of Islam drawn from a variety of canonical sources. Based on four sources: • Qur’an, Sunnah (words & actions of Muhammad), community consensus/precedent, legal reasoning • It does not exist in a pure form anywhere in the world—countries that “follow Sharia Law” pick a chose a few key parts • Most common examples of it include the hijab and halah (both meat temperance); most violent ones include stoning and behanding • Discuss this clip from CNN with Professor Reza Aslan • Read this article from the Economist as a class. Discuss. • Quickly research Sharia Law and any questions you may have around it. Discuss. • Oultine the key value prescribed by Khomeini as to his interpretation of Islam • Examine how those value contribute to both the “Muslim state” and key practices of Sharia Law. To what extent do they align with traditional Islam?

42. How do we get there?Sects of Islam Two main schools of modern day Islam: Sunni & Shia • Make up ≈ 85% of Muslims • Found everywhere, most countries where Islam is the main religion are well over 50% Sunni • No offshoots of subsects • Believe Muhammad did not designate a successor and any successors were/are chosen by humans, not Allah • Rarely acknowledge Shias exist—they’re misinformed/heretical • Imams are leaders; mujtahids (legal authorities) no longer exist, they used to • Imams are humans and fallible • Mahdi will come later with Isa • Make up ≈ 15% of Muslims • Only Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, & Azerbaijan have majority Muslim populations of Shia (about 10% in USA) • Has sub sects most notably Twelver • Believe Allah designated Ali ibn Abi Talib (usually just Ali) as Muhammad’s successor and spoke to him as well. • Acknowledge other sects of Islam, but generally think they’re wrong and heretical • Iman and mujtahids are leaders—and the later still make decisions about Sharia Law • Imams are versions of Allah and infallible • Mahdi has already come (and he disappeared in 940), we just have to find him • A third branch of Islam, named Sufi Islam—a form of mysticism—exists • Believed to have a direct line of Imams going back to Muhammad; but historically persecuted • Most famous Sufi is Rumi, a 13th century poet, currently hip in the West • Hold an esoteric belief they know more than others (almost like Gnosticism) and put emphasis on Eastern ideas of asceticism and dhikr (chanting), but still follow Islamic law; like a hybrid

43. How do we get there?Jihad • Directions: The purpose of this assignment is to understand jihad and how radical Islam is created, accepted, practiced, etc. Basically to answer questions like “Why are kids running off the join ISIS?” or “Why would one become a suicide bomber” or “Why would people commit honor killings?” To do this you will need to come up with a couple key questions to answer, find out what jihad is and how it works, and then research some possible reasons behind the issues. Be sure look past religion into socioeconomic or cultural ideas too. How you display this is up to you and your table groups. Use good sources. You have the period.