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Getting Started. Islam is the name for the religion practiced by Muslims. The word Islam means "peace." (See The Muslim's Belief.) Although Muslims live in various countries, from China to Trinidad and Zimbabwe, most of the people in the Middle East are Muslims.
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Getting Started • Islam is the name for the religion practiced by Muslims. The word Islam means "peace." (See The Muslim's Belief.) • Although Muslims live in various countries, from China to Trinidad and Zimbabwe, most of the people in the Middle East are Muslims. • However, not all Arabs are Muslims; some practice Judaism, Christianity, and Druze. • Islam was founded in Arabia. Muhammed was the founder of Islam.
Difference between Islam and Muslim culture • Muslims in various countries have their own cultural traditions, which determine such things as the forms of dress. • In some cultures men might cover their heads with a turban; in others, the head might be covered with a smaller hat called a kufi. • All male Muslims must have a beard; all women must cover themselves.
Information Islam demands five things from the believer: • No God but the one Allah • Praying five times each day • Give to charity • Fast • Hajj - pilgrimage * For Muslims, Islam is a way of life.
The Qur'an: Revealed Only “Holy Book” or “Scriptures” of Islam Qur'an= “recitation” Muslims believe it to be revelations of Allah/God through angel Gabriel to prophet Muhammad First revelation during Ramadan 610 CE Surah 96: Lailat al-Qadr “night of power” Revelations continued 23 years Until Muhammad's death, 632 CE
The Qur'an: Written Muhammad memorized individual revelations He "recited" them to his followers. They wrote them down, during his lifetime Qur'an not compiled until640s CE Under third Caliph, Uthman ibn Arran All other versions destroyed
Content Qur'an contains: Moral guidelines Laws of God Rules of Islamic Faith In form of: moral directives legal prescriptions exhortations admonitions condemnations warnings good tidings words of consolation
Language & Genre Written in Arabic Any translations are considered "interpretations" Only one genre:Prophecy Speaker is God, through angel Gabriel
Contents & Arrangement 114 Surahs With 3-285 Ayas each Arranged by order of the revelation Same heading: "In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful“ except Surah 9 Divided into 30 Juz(blocks) Muslims read whole Qur'an during Ramadan
Themes in the Qur'an Earlier Surahs(1, 6-7, 10-21, 23, 25-32, 34-46, 50-56, 67-114) Social justice, conversion, final judgment, monotheism Later Surahs(2-5, 8-9, 22, 24, 33, 47-49, 57-66, 98, 110, [55, 76, 99?]) Relationships within Muslim Community Relationships with Jews and Christians
Islamic Afterlife • Soul exists and transcends physical existence. • Day of Judgment (Reckoning, Separation, Awakening) • Hell or Paradise • Physical resurrection • Warriors gain immediate entrance to Paradise. Enemies of Islam immediately descend to Hell
Rubaiyat • Written by Omar Khayyam • Language – Persian • A ruba'i is a two-line stanza with two parts per line • A rubáiyát (from the Arabic for "four"), means "quatrains". • May have been a sufi (inner mystical Islam) or a mystic • Translated and made to rhyme = transmogrification
1001 Arabian Nights • Frame Narrative – One story that contains many other stories • Includes Sinbad and Ali Baba • Told by Scheherazade to keep from being killed by the Sultan
Work Period • Read and paraphrase your Surah on a sheet paper. • List the figurative language you see and their names. (Look up any allusions you don’t know.) • Answer these questions on the paper: • What is the moral/theme of the Surah? • How is this religious literature similar to other types of religious literature we have read? • Turn to page in the brown book and read the selections from the Rubaiyat on pg. 594. • Find your favorite, write it on your paper and explain why you like it.