Islam

1. Islam

2. Islam • Islam→ submission, surrender or commitment to Allah • Muslim → one who submits / surrenders to the will of Allah

3. Some Interesting Facts • There are over 1.2 billion Muslims world wide • 2nd most populous religion • fastest growing religion in the world • Youngest of the world religions

4. The Life of MohammedEarly Arabic Culture: • Arab → nomad • Arabia • 1 million square miles • mostly desert – very hostile environment • Occupied by Bedouin tribes • Bedouin Tribes • Nomadic desert traders • Lacked unified government & organization → hostile, warrior people noted for quaralling, gambling, drinking, brawling & sexual promescuity • Polytheistic & Animistic → concept of supreme god (Allah)

6. Origins: The Life of Muhammad Mohammed: • Father died before his birth → orphaned at 6 years of age • Raised by his uncle • Worked as a shepherd, later as a camel driver on caravan trade routes between Syria and Arabia • Met many Jews and Christians • Married at age 25 to wealthy older women who was a shrewd business woman → was his mentor • Custom of visiting a mountain cave to meditate • Began to question religious beliefs and practices → dissatisfied with practices (idol worship, sexual practices, brawling, etc…)

7. At 25 (610 CE) he was visited by angel Gabriel → commanded him to recite a series of revelations → basis of Qur’an • Initially Mohammed failed to respond → Gabriel choked him 3 times • Began to teach against idolatry & the lack of morality in Makkah (Mecca) • Fellow Makkans hostile to Mohammed → he was protected by his uncle Abu Talib • Khadijah & Abu Talib died in 619 – “Year of Sorrow” • Without protection of his uncle Muhammad must fee to Madinha (hijrah)

8. Early Arabic Culture: Arabia • 1 million square miles • mostly desert – very hostile environment • Occupied by Bedouin tribes

9. Bedouin Tribes • Nomadic desert traders • Lacked unified government & organization → hostile, warrior people noted for quarrelling, gambling, drinking, brawling & sexual promiscuity • Polytheistic & Animistic → concept of supreme god (Allah)

11. Muhammed: • Father died before his birth → orphaned at 6 years of age • Raised by his uncle • Worked as a shepherd, later as a camel driver on caravan trade routes between Syria and Arabia • Met many Jews and Christians • Married at age 25 to wealthy older women who was a shrewd business woman → was his mentor • Reputation for being honest, wise, and possessed an ability to solve problem – a peace maker in his society. • Custom of visiting a mountain cave to meditate • Began to question religious beliefs and practices • He was dissatisfied with his people’s practices (idol worship, sexual practices, brawling, etc…)

12. The Revelation • At 25 (610 CE) he was visited by angel Gabriel → commanded him to recite a series of revelations → basis of Qur’an • Initially Muhammed failed to respond → Gabriel choked him 3 times • Fellow Makkans hostile to Muhammed → fled to Madinha (hijrah) • Before leaving Muhammad experiences the Nigh Journey & Ascension to heaven • Night Journey → Muhammad & Gabriel travel on winged horse to Jerusalem • Ascension → Mi’raj → seven levels of heaven – on each level he meets the ancient Jewish and Christian prophets • Muhammed could not write → recite Qur’an word for word for over 23 years until his death in 632 C.E.

13. Reaction to Muhammad • Muhammad threatened the leadership and tribal structure of the Bedouin people • Muhammad was forced to defend his beliefs with the sword • Four key battles: • Badr – Muhammad’s army defends Madinah and defeats Meccan army of 1000 • Uhud – Makkans return with 3000 and score victory over Muhammad’s forces, but fail to take Madinah • Battle of the Trench – Makkans attack Madinah with 10,000 but Muhammad successfully defends Madinah by building a trench around the city • Conquest of Makkah – 630 CE Muhammad leads 10,000 into Makkah and smashes the idols in the Ka’bah & pardons the people for their deeds

14. Idolatry • Idolatry – the worshipping of objects as gods; assigning sacred significance to that which is made by man • When Muhammed smashed the ancient idols of the Bedouin tribes, he established that Islam would be a religion based on one God without images or icons or idols • Muhammed dies in 632 CE • He requests that his burial site remain unknown so that the faithful will not make pilgrimages to his grave as this might lead to a form of idolization • Worship only God is fundamental to Islam, as it is to Judaism and Christianity

15. Mohammed:Resolving the conflict of the Black Stone

17. Jihad: The 6th Pillar • Jihad = striving • Some interpret as “holy war” – this is not entirely accurate • Muslims are called to stive or struggle to follow God’s commands • Also, Muslim’s are permitted to defend their faith against attack, but one’s actions should only be defensive • Muhammad said “let their be no compulsion in religion” – no one should force his/her beliefs on others – • True conversion - when one accepts the beleifs and follows them because they desire to be righteous • The modern violent expression of Jihad is rejected by most Muslims

18. Islam: Sacred Writings

19. Qur’an • Holiest book in Islam and main source of Islamic law → Shari’ah • Qur’an → “recitation” • The revelations that Muhammad received from Gabriel are considered to be the literal word of God → criticism of the Qur’an is not permitted. • Muslims must strive to understand the revelation • Because the Qur’an was believed to be revealed in its unaltered form in Arabic, translations of the Qur’an are not considered true • The Qur’an was taught orally by Muhammad to his Companions – these were not written down until his after his death

20. Hadith / Sunnah • These are the second major source of Islamic law • Three types: • Sayings directly associated with Muhammad • Action or practice of Muhammad • Muhammad’s silent approval of someone’s action • Clarifies Muslim religious practices

21. Significance: • The emergence of Islam with a written code of God’s will created a spiritual, social, and legal revolution • unified a divided people into a nation organized around a set of relatively progressive beliefs • These beliefs were also interracial → anyone could be a Muslim • This allowed for rapid expansion of Islamic empire → within 100 years Islam had expanded to become one of the largest empires in the world → northern India to Spain and Morocco! • The height of its civilization, between the seventh and eleventh centuries, was a progressive, humanistic, and legalistic force for reform and justice.

22. Early Expansion of Islam

23. Expansion Of Islam

24. Groups Within Islam • The first major schism (split/rift) in Islam occurred at the time of Muhammad’s death. • No clear leader identified by Muhammad to continue the teachings • First claim to “caliph” or successor was Abu Bakr – close friend and companion of Muhammad – strong leader • Second claim – Ali – Muhammad’s cousin & son-in-law – strong leader but young • The choice of leader split the community: two sects emerge

25. Sunni • Came into existence at time of Muhammad’s death • Believe in building consensus within community • Tend to be more liberal • Focus on just and equitable society • 85% of world’s Muslims are Sunni

26. Shi’ah • Party of Ali • Believe that prior to Muhammad’s death, the Prophet chose his son-in-law as his successor • Believe in infallible leaders called Imams • Instigated a revolution in Iran to establish a theocracy – state lead by religious leaders and organized around religious law • Small but vocal tend to be more fundamental

27. Sufi • Mystical philosophy of Islam • Develop spiritually to discover the reality of God • Emphasis on prayer, meditation, sincerity and excellence • "a science through which one can know how to travel into the presence of the Divine, purify one’s inner self from filth, and beautify it with a variety of praiseworthy traits." Sufi teacher Ahmad ibn Ajiba