ISLAM

1. ISLAM • Definition of Islam (slm): Submission, Obedience, Salaam • Diversity seen in geographical spread; interpretations; dress; cultural expressions; adapting; reformers; revivalists; extremists; • Second largest and fastest growing religion in the world. 1.2 billion followers • Faith of Abraham and Ishmael in strong monotheism. • The three Abrahamic religions share a faith in God, Satan, angels, heaven and hell and evil, divine judgment, eternal reward or punishment. For Muslims the revelation in the Quran is the final and complete revelation. • It contains references to Musa Issa Ibrahim and Joseph and Mary. • Umma – transnational all-embracing community of peace • As the will of God is played out in history this peace will spread throughout the world • Religion involves personal and public life. It is not just a religious denomination that you join, you join a total society. • Modernity raises the question, should Islam be restricted to personal life? Relationship to minorities (non-Muslims) and status of women. • In western Europe and North America, Muslims face same issues as devote Jews. Fridays, Holy Days. • Within Islam there is now a struggle over who will define Islam. • Misconceptions: Only 20% are Arabs; terrorism (a very small minority) has driven the media presentation of Islam in Western popular culture. People say Islam rather than extremism.

2. QURAN • Quran is eternal living Word of God that is uncreated • It confirms the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament but sees them as having been corrupted • Therefore it is a corrective to them as the original and final Word of God. • Because of this Islam sees itself as the oldest of the monotheistic faiths. • 22 years of revelations to Muhammad are compiled into the Quran. • They were preserved in both oral and written tradition during Muhammad’s life time • Then compiled into present format by the third Caliph. 114 chapters • Median Chapters – more practical in socio-politico in character. • Meccan Chapters – Primarily religious in character • Arabic is seen as Sacred language because the Quran was revealed in it. • Quran is studied and memorized in Arabic. • Central to Quran is “Allah” • Transcendent, all powerful and all knowing creator, sustainer, ordainer, judge of universe • Although transcendent and therefore unknowable, Allah nature is revealed in creation: his Will in revelation, His action in history. • Absolute monotheism • Christian Trinity is heresy • Absolutely apopathic • While being judge, God is also compassionate and merciful. • All will be judged however based on their deeds in this world.

3. Quranic Worldview • Universe is made up of Heaven, hell and earth • There are angels, the devil and spirits • Angels are seen as messengers and links between God and humans • Jinns (spirits) live between angels and humanity and can be good or bad and will be judged. • Devils are evil and Satan is their leader. Evil is defined as Disobedience. • While Adam and Eve did fall, there is no belief in vicarious suffering or atonement for sin rather each individual must repent and return to the right path. • God gave the earth to human beings as a trust • The spirit is breathed into us to fulfill this trust. • There is not an emphasis on shame or guilt because of disobedience but rather jihad (the struggle to return to the path) • Believers belong to a universal community (ummah) that transcends tribe, national or ethnic boundaries. • Faith is to be lived in community • Responsibility to social justice in the Quran. • Inheritance laws for widows and children • Right to join armed defense. (jihad) • Believers both men and women are protectors of one another. • There is to be no compulsion of religious belief. • Jews and Christians are seen as people of the book who share a belief in the one God. • God’s messenger is the perfect living model of the living of Quran’s teachings in both public and private life • The Sunnah is the record written examples of Muhammad’s life in the concrete hadith.

4. Muhammad • Lived from 570 to 632. • Personal background • Orphan and raised by uncle • Illiterate caravan manager • Married Khadiga who was the first to believe in the messages of Muhammad. • After her death he did marry other women • Became prophet and statesman of a community state • 610 Remembered as the “Night of Power” came the first revelation to Muhammad “through the angel Gabriel. “Recite” • Reluctant response because of uncertainty and fear and turned to Khadiga who assured him that he wasn’t crazy. They also consulted with Khadiga’s cousin who was a Christian and she assured Muhammad that like Moses and Jesus truly he was the prophet of God. • More than a prophet he is the living example and his life sets the standard for fulfilling your faith. • This example refers to all aspects of life including being a husband and family life.

5. Socio-economic background of Mecca • Situated between two warring empires; Byzantine and Sassanid Persian on the other. • Rising commercial center • Tribal religious and socio-economic • Pilgrimage site for the worship of 360 deities at one time • Polytheistic with each tribe having their various gods. • Kaaba is seen as home of these many gods • Allah was seen as most powerful. • Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism • Add to this then the preaching of Muhammad • His preaching called for major reforms in Arabic Society: (Jahiliyya referred to the society that had not known Islam, but is now used referring to modern societies both non-Islamic and some of their own Societies that don’t follow a holistic approach to Islam.) • End of polytheism • Emphasis on membership in faith community rather than tribal affiliations • Each individual is responsible for their life against the tribal understanding. • Implementation of social justice, particularly for women and the poor • Limitations on materialism, corruption and avarice

6. Ten years of persecution in Mecca, • including attempts at starving them and denying them opportunities for business • Derision • Violence • Conspiracy to assassinate Muhammad • The Night Journey • Was mystically taken to Jerusalem and then climbed ladder to the Throne of God • Met the patriarchs and prophets along the way • Fixing of the five times of prayer • Muhammad and the early Muslims (hijra) moved to Medina and he served as: • Prophet • Political ruler • Military commander • Chief judge and lawgiver

7. The beginning of the Muslim community • 622 is the year of hijra and first year of the Islamic calendar. • Competing principles of hijra and jihad. • Medina becomes the nascent model for Islamic communities • Charter of Medina – Constitution of rights and duties of community members and relations to others. • People of the book • Battle of Ditch (627) marks shift in power relations (Wars between Muslims and Meccans) • Also relations with Judaism were markedly damaged by this war and its aftermath. • 630 Muslims conquer Meccans and within two years all of Arabia is united under Islamic faith.

8. Five Pillars of Islam • The Central Observances of All Muslim • Declaration of Faith (Shahada: witnessing to this faith) • There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God. • Allah • Tawhid – the unity and oneness of God • Associating any image with God is idolatry. The absence of art or only the presence of abstract or floral designs to decorate mosques. • Muhammad is God’s messenger • Not only prophet but messenger • Prophet is seen as reformer and warner • Messenger is one who brings revelation • He is the ideal model (What he did is the gauge for how we should live. (Sunnah) • Prayer (Salat) • Five times a day: Dawn; noon; mid afternoon; sunset and evening • Entire Day is sanctified • Call to prayer • Facing Mecca where the House of God (kaaba) built by Ibrahim and Ishmael is preserved • Friday noon prayer is communal • Not equivalent to sabbath • Done at Mosque (place of Prostration) • Mibrab – Niche in the wall indicating direction of Mecca; Minbar is the place of sermon • Courtyard will have place of washing. • Dua are included at the end as form of personal prayers.

9. Zakat (purification) • Paying of the tithe purifies the person. Reminds believers that Wealth is a gift from God. • Charitable support of poor through the community and personally • It is an obligation and not charity • 2.5% of total assets paid during Ramadan. • Originally it was collected by the government and used to support, hospitals, schools shelters, etc. • More recently it has been done by families and local mosques in reaction to abuse and corruption within governments. • The fast of Ramadan once a year • Ninth month of the lunar calendar – Month that Mohammad first received the message. • Dawn to sunset from food, drink and sex. • At dusk the fast is broken with light meal • Many then go for evening prayer • Larger meal at night with family and friends • The purpose is to foster spiritual growth. • Entire Quran is read in this month in thirty sections. • 27th day is Night of Power as commemoration of receiving the first revelation. • If you are sick or traveling, then you make up for those days. • Ends with great feast of Idd el Fitr.

10. The pilgrimage to Mecca • About 60 days after the end of Ramadan. • Every adult Muslim is required to make this pilgrimage at least once. • Events in the life of Ibrahim, Hagar, Ishmael and Mohammad are commemorated. • All wear similar clothing of two white pieces for men indicating their equality before God. Women are to be completely covered except for their eyes, hands and feet. • They proclaim “I am hear oh God” • Belief that done faithfully sins will be forgiven • Seven circles around kaaba reminiscent of angels circling the throne of God. • Kaaba has a black stone that is believed to have come from Heaven from the heavenly throne of God. • Tradition has it that Hagar and Ishmael are buried near the Kaaba • Second part is a running back and forth between the nearby hills commemorating Hagar's running back and forth in frantic search for water for her son. At the spring they try to drink for the water and also take home small containers of that water. • Casting of seven stones commemorating Ibrahims refusal to follow the temptations of Satan not to follow God. • Finally the gathering on the plain where Muhammad delivered his final sermon. Reflection on that last sermon. • Ends with feast of Idd al-Adha. It is a day of sacrifice commemorating Ibrahim’s substituting an animal for his son.

11. Jihad • As individual and community to strive to follow and realize God’s will: to lead a virtuous life and to extend the Islamic community through preaching, education, living example, and writing. • It means to struggle in defense of Islam: It includes the right in fact obligation to defend Islam and the community against aggression. These were revealed in the aftermath of moving to Medina. • Despite that it is not to include aggressive offensive warfare, this has occurred throughout history. • Quran makes it clear that it is defensive in nature and the response should be proportional. • From earliest times it was forbidden in Islam to kill noncombatants including women children monks, priests and rabbis. • Muhammad is reported to have said to his followers after returning from a battle: “We return from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad.” The greater jihad is the more difficult and more important struggle against one’s ego, selfishness, greed and evil. • Sword Verses: Have been used by non Moslems to see Islam as inherently violent against non-believers and abused by Moslems to defend their aggressive acts. These verses seem in their context to be about the payment of tax (zakat) after which they are to be left alone.

13. ISLAMIC DIVERISTY • Sunni (90%) • Death of Muhammad 632 CE • Abu Bakr became the first caliph (successor, delegate) • Close companion and father-in-law of Muhammad • Sunnah which became the written examples of the life of the Prophet and Quran with Itihad (independent reasoning) and ijma (consensus of the community which meant legal scholars) are the only legitimate sources of Islamic laws. • Four schools of legal interpretation (fiqh) developed (sharia) • Hanafi - more emphasis on reason and most liberal of the four schools • Maliki - includes not only what was recorded in hadiths, but the legal rulings of the four rightly guided caliphs , in addition, relies heavily upon the practice of the Salaf people of Medina as a source. More conservative • Shafii - The Shafii school also refers to the opinions of Muhammad's companions • Hanbali - Return to those first three generations of pure Islam. • Source of historical development of the Golden Age of Islam from 8th to 12th Century • The Crusades 1095 – 1453 • Sultanates of the Ottoman Empire, Persian and Indian Mughal until decline in 18th century after Industrial Revolution and European Colonialism.

14. Shiia (10%) • Believed that succession should be hereditary • Ali, Muhammad’s cousin, son-in-law and closest living male relative should be the caliph • Eventually Ali becomes the fourth caliph in succession but shortly is assassinated • His son Hussein and a small band of followers were overrun and killed by the Sunni caliph • His “martyrdom” is ritually reenacted yearly by Shiia Moslems and serves as a symbol for such movements as the Iranian revolution • Believe in Divinely appointed intermediaries as true Caliphs or Imams who serve as both political and religious leaders and the final interpreter of God’s law. • Shia split into • IthnaAshariahya • (Twelvers) Legitmate imams are twelve and the last disappeared in 873 and will return shortly before the day of judgment • Present successors are protecting Islam until that return. • Ismaeli • Split after the sixth Imam over who was the legitimate successor. Ismael was the older son and they believed he was the rightful successor • Believe that for example the Aga Kahn is the legitimate successor to Muhammad • Another group known as the Fivers.

15. Sufi – Islamic Mysticism • Followers are also within Sunni and Sufi branches. • It was a reform movement of the wealthy and powerful Islamic empire. • Emphasis on interior spiritual path of simple life like that of Muhammad • Life of prayer, asceticism, fasting and ecstasy. • Adopted many elements from other mystical traditions • This led to their persecution by other Moslems. • In 12th century it organized itself around orders or brotherhoods that became real missionaries of Islam. • Formed monasteries and rituals of initiation. Tezbi developed as way of praising God. They combined dance and song into their practises.

16. REFORM and REVIVALS • Revivalists: Calling Moslems to return to the fundamental principles of Islam. • Removal of non-Islamic elements • Righteous community of Medina at time of Muhammad is the ideal. • This included rejection of interpretations of Islam • Rejection of Sufism • Rejection of the Ulama • Wahhabis – Saudi Arabia • Puritanical Sunni who grew out of the Hanbali school. • Overthrew Ottoman Turks in Arabia (Riyyadh) and set up the House of Saud • Unitarians who uphold a strict monotheism • Jihad against deviation • Destroyed all shrines and tombs • Mahdi – Sudan • Ahmad claimed to be divinely appointed to interpret Islamic law • Fought against Moslem Turkish rulers of Sudan claiming them to be blasphemers • Reformed Sufism • Outlawed alcohol, prostitution, gambling and music. • Fulani - Nigeria • Sanusi - Lybia

17. Reformists: Accommodation to Modernity • Rejected blind return to the past • Claimed the progressive, creative role of interpreters of the past led to a flourishing of Islam • The continued survival and revitalization of Islam required bold reinterpretations of Islam. • Ijtihad was a tradition itself within Islam that opened the right to reinterpret. • Develop science and education in order to develop Islam. Islam, science and reason are compatible. • Elements of faith like the five pillars cannot change but social, family and penal laws can. • Ahmad Khan went even further stressing that reason was supreme. • His disciples became the great reformers of Islam that gave rise to the Salafiyyah • Muhammad Iqbal (Pakistan) went further in calling for an Islamization of what were seen as western institutions. • Stressed the creative and dynamic elements of Islam.