Understanding Islam

Understanding Islam Why should we study the religion of Islam? There are over 1 billion Muslims in the world.

Islam Identifications • Muslim: person who follows Islam • Ka’aba: Islam’s holiest shrine – located in Mecca – Arabic for cube • Qu’ran: secret text, holy book of Islam • Mecca: birth place of Islam, holiest city, Saudi Arabia • Mosque: Muslim house of worship • Allah: Arabic for God same as J and C • Medina: first Islamic community, 2nd Holy city, Muhammad gains political and religious power – City of the Prophet • Hejira: 622 – Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina; marks first expansion of Islam • Jerusalem: 3rd Holiest city to Islam – Dome of the Rock

Five Pillars of Islam • Islam means: (#2) • to submit/submission • Five Pillars of Islam: (#3) • Declaration of Faith (Shahada) • Prayers (Salah) • Charity (Zakat) • Fasting (Sawm) • Pilgrimage (Hajj)

The Rise and Spread of Islam

Arabia in the 7th Century

Mecca

Muhammad (#4) • Born CE 570 • Parents died • Raised by Uncle • Marries Khadija • Merchant/trader • Meditated in desert • Daughter Fatima married to cousin Ali • Video 3:29

Muhammad: Founder of Islam • Muhammad was born in Mecca about 570. • His parents died when he was very young, but he was sent to live with his uncle, who was a Bedouin tribesman, even before they died. • Muhammad became a merchant. • When he was 25, he met a wealthy widow named Khadija, and married her.

Muhammad (#5) • Final Prophet/Founder of Islam • Means to surrender/submit (#2) • Messages from God compiled in the Qur’an • Spread the message of one God

The Hejira • Muhammad began to speak about this new religion to the Arab tribes people around Mecca. • Some began to follow him. Others did not like his message, and plotted to kill both him and his followers. • In 622, Muhammad and his followers fled from Mecca to Yathrib, a town to the north. • This journey was known as the hejira. • Yathrib was later renamed Medina, which means “City of the Prophet.”

Medina and Hejira 622 Marks the beginning of expansion of Islam (#10)

Sacredness of Jerusalem • “Night Journey” from the nearest mosque to the farthest (“al-Aqsa”) mosque - 619 AD in Jerusalem • Is believed to be when Muhammad “flew” to Jerusalem and met with the old Prophets: Abraham and Moses The Night Journey

Umayyad Culture Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem Video Al-Aqsa (“furthest”) mosque, built CE 715

People of the Book (# 6) • Muhammad’s Term for Jews and Christians • Cause followed Gods teachings • Old and New Testament were God’s words but had been corrupted over time • Christianity and Judaism influenced Islam

Return to Mecca – 628AD Mecca

Kaaba • Housed 360 idols • Muhammad Smashed idols and dedicated to God (360) (#5) • Pilgrimages during holy month Dhul-Hijjah • Kiswah: the cloth that covers the Kaaba • Embroidered in gold the Muslim Declaration of Faith • At the end of the ḥajj, the new kiswah is put in place, and the old one is cut into small relics that are sold to pilgrims. Ka’bah

Spread of Muslim Rule

Two Main Branches of Islam Battle of Karbala: 661 A.D. 11

Schism • Disagreement over style and qualifications leader • Bloody massacre • (#11) Split into Sunni and Shi’a during Umayyad Dynasty – Mid 600’s • over the choosing of caliph – successor to Muhammad as leader of Islamic community (#11) • (#12) Sunni – 80% caliph based on merit – anyone • Shi'ite/Shi’a – caliph descendent of Muhammad Shrine at Karbala

7. Quran, Sunnah, Hadith make up the Sharia Sharia – sacred law of Islam Sunnah: Islamic Faith in practice Hadith: accounts and sayings of Muhammad 8. oneness of God and Muhammad Final Prophet 9. Birth, Marriage, Death Aqiqah Link 10. Hejira (622), Muslim Army united by Jihad (to struggle to be the best Muslim/Holy War) and promise of riches, resentment of foreign rule, Conversion (equality of believers), tolerance

11. Umayyad, choosing a caliph 12. Shi’a (Shiite) and Sunni 13. Halal In Arabic, the word halal means permitted or lawful. Halal foods are foods that are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines No pork or alcohol

Five Pillars of Islam • Declaration of Faith (Shahada) • Prayers (Salah) • Charity (Sawm) • Fasting (Zakat) • Pilgrimage (Hajj) Video 2:00 • Another Hajj Video • And one more

Ramadan (#14) 9th month of the Islamic/lunar calendar Month that Qur'an to Muhammad Fasting from sunup to sundown Focus on relationship with God/spiritually Night of Power: last days of the month it is believed that Muhammad first received the Qur'an. Eid ul-Fitr (The Festival of Fast-Breaking): holiday that marks the end of Ramadan and fasting Show Wolper Video

Monotheism Prophethood Golden Rule Jerusalem Holy Judgment Day Heaven Prayer Charity Coming of Age Pilgrimage Dietary Laws Ethical world view Islam, Christianity, and Judaism Similarities

Early Islamic Empires

The Spread of Islam • Within 120 years of the Prophet Muhammad’s death, the religion of Islam had spread from the Arabian Peninsula to include the following areas: • http://www.explorethemed.com/RiseIslam.asp

Early Caliphates Umayyad Dynasty (661-750 A.D.) Emphasis on Arab Culture & Language Capital: Damascus, Syria Sunni Muslim

Umayyads (661–750)

Umayyad Culture Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem Video Al-Aqsa (“furthest”) mosque, built CE 715

Shi’ism Today

Umayyad Decline • Fragmentation • split • Non-Arabs • Leadership problems

Early Caliphates Abbassid Dynasty (750-1250 AD) Included People from other cultures Capital: Baghdad Golden Age of Muslim Civilization Persians Indians • Advances in architecture • Control of trade routes • Advances in science, medicine, mathematics • Poetry and philosophy Turks

Abbasids (750–1258)First 100 years 1st Golden Age (#15) Because of economic power, medicine, science, math, and architecture

Islam’s First Golden Age The Abbassid Caliphate was established in 750 A.D. The capital of this new Islamic Empire was established in Baghdad, not Damascus. Founded by al-Mansur, the second caliph of the Abbassid Dynasty. This new caliphate was more inclusive of different people, including Persians, Turks, and Indians, which gave it more appeal.

Islam’s First Golden Age Commerce and Economics This new empire controlled the trade routes between the East (India and China) and the Mediterranean, Africa, and Europe. This led to thriving, wealthy cities, such as Baghdad. To help trade prosper, the Abbasids developed many useful business practices.

Abbasid Culture • Trade revival • Arabic numerals • Algebra

Science and Medicine • Astrolabe • Medicine • Ibn Sina (Avicenna) • Muhammad Al-Razi • Muslims used the magnetic needle to produce the mariner’s compass, as well as the astrolabe. • These inventions would become VERY important during the Age of Discovery hundreds of years later. Astrolabe

Medieval Renaissance Man IbnSina – known also as Avicenna Wrote more than 100 books on astronomy, music, philosophy, medicine, and poetry

Islam’s First Golden Age Advances in Learning: • Muslim scholars translated ancient Greek works on philosophy, science, and mathematics. • Muslims also made advances in the fields of medicine, mathematics, and architecture • They gave us beautiful poetry, such as The Rubaiyat, and A Thousand and One Nights 18

Islam’s First Golden Age Muhammad al Razi • Muslim doctor who stressed eating a balanced diet. • Encouraged high professional standards for doctors, including education and qualifying exams. • Wrote 50 books on medicine 15

Abbasid Decline Mosque of Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil

Home Stretch 16. Life long learners/education important - translated Greek and Sanskrit works on philosophy and science House of Wisdom – Baghdad – Al Mamun – preserved ancient learning – diffused to Europe 17. Medicine: Diagnosis/treatment/qualifying examinations Muhammad al-Razi and IbnSina – all influenced the West Math – algebra Science Architecture - minarets 18. Letters of credit – receipts – bills of lading

Comparison of Statistics and Basics

Comparison of Origins and History

Comparison of Religious Beliefs

Understanding Islam