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Islam “Submission To God”. Objective. Action: Identify how key features of Islam and its followers affect military operations. Conditions: Given a small group learning environment, concrete experiences, discussion, lectures, student handout
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Islam “Submission To God”
Objective • Action: Identify how key features of Islam and its followers affect military operations. • Conditions: Given a small group learning environment, concrete experiences, discussion, lectures, student handout • Standard: Identify how key features of Islam and its followers affect military operations by participating in all class activities and discussions.
Administrative • Safety Requirements: None • Risk Assessment: Low • Environmental Considerations: None • Evaluations: Class participation
Agenda • What we know and what we want to know • doctrine v. culture v. myth • Answers about Islam • values, beliefs, behaviors, norms, worldview and perspectives • The West and Islam • the compatibility of values and beliefs and effects on interactions
List three things you know about Islam. • List three things you need or want to know about Islam.
VBBN of Islam • Use your list to categorize your items using the Values, Beliefs, Behaviors, and Norms (VBBN) model. • In groups, discuss your selections and determine the three from each list that you are going to publish to the rest of the class. Prepare to explain why your choices are the most important to consider.
The Cultural Iceberg • Behaviors, Norms • Observable • Unobservable • Values, Beliefs
Values • Modesty • Steadfastness • Prosperity • Cooperation • Hard Work • Self Defense • Responsibility • Courage • Sincerity • Knowledge and Wisdom • Humility • Tawhid Ideology – Oneness of God • Certitude - Reliance on God • Ummah – Islamic Community, Unity • Family, local community, tribe, etc. • Communal Etiquette • Life and Afterlife • Justice • Compassion • Forgiveness • Moderation
Beliefs • Accountability for Deeds • Judgment Day • Prophet Jesus – Messiah • The Books • Other Prophets • Angels and Djinn • Sunni and Shi’a • Qur’an – the word of God • Allah – one God • Prophet Mohammad – seal of the prophets • Abrahamic Origins • Revelation • No Original Sin, all born Muslim • Fate
Behavior And Norms • Sunna – Prophet Mohammad’s actions and words as the model of behavior • 5 Pillars: Shahadah- Testimony Salat- Prayer Zakat - Charity Sawm- Fasting Hajj – Pilgrimage • Ijtihad(Reasoning) • Shari’ah (Islamic jurisprudence) • Jihad (Inner and outer struggle) • Haram (Forbidden) • Islamic everyday phrases, greetings (including gender-based norms) • Islamic group rituals, holidays (Eid, Ashoura, etc.)
Pre-Islam and Revelation • Mecca (6th Century) • social, economic, religious center • various religious beliefs & polytheism • Abraham’s monotheistic message lost • 360 different idols and gods in the Ka’aba • 1stRevelation in 610 CE • cave meditation and prayer • Angel Gabrielsays “Iqraa” (recite) • continues for 23 years Mt. Hira Cave
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) • Born 570 CE In Mecca (present day Saudi Arabia) • orphaned by the age of six • descendent of Ishmael • trusted businessman and trader • Marries Khadija • very successful caravan merchant • two sons (both died in infancy) and four daughters • first convert to Islam, regarded as the "Mother of the Believers" • Receives revelation from God through Angel Gabriel • Muhammad makes final pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca • preaches sermon at Mount Arafat • attempts to unify Arabs and end blood-feuds • Muhammad dies in 632 CE
The Message • God sees, knows and controls all • No separation between sacred and profane • Human equality - men and women equal • Social justice • Compassion for the needy • Strong family is necessary for social order • Community solidarity
Origins of Islam • Islam, Christianity, and Judaism • All believe in the same God of Abraham • Abraham • Jews and Christian descendants of “Isaac” • Sarah (Wife of Abraham) • Jews • Christians • Muslims descendants of “Ishmael” • Hagar (Sarah’s Egyptian Handmaid) • Arabs • Muslims
Core Islamic Beliefs • One God - Oneness of Allah • Qur’an Holy Book – Means “Recitation”, It is the infallible word of God • Five Pillars: Testimony of faith (Shahada), Prayer (Salat), Charity (Zakat), Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), Fasting during month of Ramadan (Sawm) • Other Beliefs: Faith (Iman), Oneness of God (Tawhid), Prophets and Messengers, Angels, Judgment Day, the Books (Qur’an, Bible, Torah), Fate and Predestination • Abrahamic Religion - Shares roots with Judaism and Christianity
Other Islamic Beliefs • Iman(Faith) • One God (Tawhid) • Prophets & Messengers • The Books • Qur’an, Bible, Torah, • Hadiths – Teachings of Muhammad • Sunnah – Actions, Sayings, and way of life Muhammad • Judgment Day • Similar to Christianity • Angels & Djinn • Fate & Predestination • Fatalism • “God Willing” (Insha’ Allah)
Haram – Forbidden by Islamic Law • Eating pork • Adultery • Homosexuality • Female marriage to non-Muslim • Charging interest • Gambling • Drinking alcohol • Abortion
Messengers and Prophets • Islam recognizes 124,000 messengers & prophets • Five main Prophets • Abraham (Covenant) • Moses (Torah- Books of Moses, Old Testament) • David (Psalms) • Jesus (Gospel, New Testament) • Muhammad (Qur’an)
Jesus, or “Isa” in Islam • Only a Prophet, Not the Son of God • He is not dead was not crucified, but will return • Jesus in the Qur’an • Immaculate Conception, Did many Miracles
The Qur’an – Means “Recitation” • God’s infallible word • 114 chapters arranged by length - Longest to shortest - 4/5 the size of gospels - Early written Qur’an difficult • Treated with respect • Honorable to memorize - Recitation is a highly regarded art form - Recitation competitions are major events
Ancient Arabic 15 characters for 28 Consonants • “Islam is the second largest religion in the world” - would be written as - • “slm s thscndlrgstrlgn n thwrld”.
Sharia Law • Sharia Law is the body of Islamic law. Term means “Way” or “Path” • Legal framework within which the public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on Islam. • Derived from the religious precepts of Islam, particularly the Koran and the Hadith.
The Five Pillars of Faith • Shahada: Profession of Faith • Salat: Prayer • Sawm: Fasting • Zakat: Charity • Hajj: Pilgrimage
Shahada - Testimony “I bear witness that there is no God but God and Muhammad is His Prophet.” • Converting to Islam • Profess Shahada in front of two Muslim witnesses • Whispered into right ear of newborns • Last words of the dying • Incorporated into prayers • Adorns the Flags of many Islamic Countries
Salat - Prayer • Five times a day • in Arabic • cleanse first • prayer rug (Sajada) • The call to prayer • Friday prayer- Juma’ Praying at Al Azhar Mosque
Sawam - Fasting • Fasting during the daylight hours of the Islamic month of Ramadan • no food, drink, sex, smoking • Exemptions for the sick and elderly; pregnant women • Do not eat or drink in front of fasting Muslims (bad manners) • Spiritual purification • Empathy for the poor
‘Eid Al-Fitr – Festival of Fast Breaking • First three days after end of Ramadan • Joyous occasion • Exchange of gifts • Zakat al-Fitr • Special holiday attire • Special prayers
Zakat – Charity or Tithe • Means “Purification” or “Growth” • Help the poor and needy • 2.5% of remaining income, varies
Hajj - Pilgrimage • Last month of the Islamic calendar (Dhu al-Hijjah) • Over 2 million each year for 5 day event in Mecca • Honorific title “Hajji” or “Hajja” after completion • “Sea of White” (garments) • Non-Muslims prohibited Haram mosque (Grand mosque) Mecca, Saudi Arabia Ka’aba
‘Eid Al-Adha – Festival of Sacrifice • Three days at the end of Hajj– • Commemoration of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son • Animal slaughtered and meat distributed among family, friends, and the poor • Significance: Show commitment, obedience and self sacrifice to God
Jihad “The greatest Jihad is to battle your own soul, to fight the evil within yourself.” – Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) • Not the “6th Pillar” • Still a Muslim duty • Jihad - Struggle • Greater Jihad • Struggle with ones own internal conscience • Lesser Jihad – Both violent and von-violent • Defense of home, country, and family against ones enemies - Often misinterpreted and misused to justify terrorism and violence by extremists.
Radical Interpretation of Islam • Islamic fundamentalists favor "a literal and originalistinterpretation" of Islam. • Seek to eliminate (what they perceive to be) "corrupting" non-Islamic influences from every part of their lives. Sometimes this means “Western” values. • Puritanical revivalist movements, often a reaction to colonialism or corrupt dictatorships. • Many times used as a cover for Political motives. - Some movements violent, many are not - Movement Example: Sunni Wahhabi Movement “Wahhabism”, named after an eighteenth-century preacher and scholar, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703–1792).
Sunni Islam • Sunni means "well-trodden path" or "tradition" • 85% of all Muslims • Most Muslim Countries • Ruler of Islam must be tribe of the Prophet (Quraysh); later, any qualified ruler • Infallible Imams • ijma' (consensus) of the Muslim community • Origins: circa 632 CE; theology developed especially in 10th cent. • True Successor: Abu Bakr, father of the Prophet's favoured wife, 'A'ishah (elected by people of Medina)
Shi’a Islam • Origins: circa 632-650 CE; killing of Ali's son Husayn in • 680 CE • True Successor: 'Ali ibnAbiTalib, husband of the Prophet's daughter Fatimah (designated by the Prophet) • Shi’a means “Party” or “Partisans” of Ali • 10% of all Muslims • 120 million • Primarily in Iran, Iraq, and Yemen • Ruler of Islam must be a descendant of the prophet • Infallible Imams
Islam Today • Worldwide population • 1.6 billion Muslims (2010 estimate) • 2nd largest religion • 1 in 4 is Muslim (approx. 25%) • Indonesia has the largest Muslim population (234 million) • United States population • estimates vary widely • 3.3 million (Pew Research Center 2013) • Muslim leaders estimate 6 to 8 million • Majority of today’s Muslims are not Arab • Revival of cultural identity and political independence