Islam Test #2

What are the main sources of Islamic law and jurisprudence?

"for sources of law" The main are probably: 1. Qur'an 2. The sunna of the Prophet (which is in equal position with the Qur'an) The others are: 3. Ijma -- the consensus of the community (the discussion by the scholars → the majority vote wins) 4. Qiyas -- analogical reasoning

Who are the Kharijites and what role do they play in the history of Islam?

-Kharijites believe in the absolute and transcendent authority of the literal Qur'an and sunna → any Muslim who steps outside that authority is no longer protected by Islamic law → EXTREME puritanical/traditionalist view → want to purify Islam -The Kharijites thought that Ali's interpretation of God's law was a means of violating it so they took up arms against Ali (but he shut the Kharijites rebellion down) → two years later he was assassinated by a Kharijite -The first violent, extremists in Islam → Kharijites raided towns and territories and subjected Muslims who didn't agree with them to persecution and execution

How did the Nation of Islam emerge and can you say something about its development.

-Not a division of Islam → Began in the early 1900s as a separatist, nationalist movement for African Americans → had nothing in common with Islam (although were "inspired" by Islam) -Black people wanted to declare their own state in order to separate themselves from white people → also wanted to find a separate identity from white people (they believed Christianity was a caucasian religion and wanted their own religion to identify with) -Fostered pride in African American heritage and culture -1913 - The Moorish Science Temple "Noble Drew Ali" proclaimed himself to be a prophet of Allah charged with the mission of bringing Islam to African Americans His goal was to free his people from racial prejudice and discrimination He used a mixture of the Qur'an, the Bible, and African nationalism

List 3 differences between Shi'ite and Sunni Islam

-Shi'ites believe Ali was the rightful caliph after the Prophet Muhammad's death and that he was endowed with the divine power which is inherited through his bloodline. Sunni's believe that caliphs should only have a political role and that they should be elected by the community. -Shi'ites are waiting for the messiah, the return of the last Imam. -Shi'ites rehearse the same 5 prayers as Sunni Muslims but they distribute them in a different way and only recognize 3 time periods of prayer in the day. -Shiites are governed by more hierarchical structures, following living religious leaders. But Sunnis typically follow scholarly texts penned by past religious leaders. -Shi'ites visit and worship the tombs and shrines of the past Imams and their family

What do we mean when we speak about scholars who interpret the Qur'an in rational or traditional ways?

-Traditionalists: believe that the the thinking of the founders had the most pure, accurate interpretation. Not permissible to understand the Qur'an in any other way but the original. There is little room for human interpretation. Imperfection of humanity renders it largely unreliable for the task of conveying the divine, it negates the divine nature of the Qur'an. o Truth is ancient & eternal o Authority is found outside of time o Only tradition and texts like the Qur'an possess authority -Rationalists: believe the divine cannot be understood at all, unless rendered through human; Reason is rendered as a prerequisite to approach the divine. Human reason/rationality allows us to find a higher truth o Truth is contemporary o Authority is found in the present o Contemporary institutions possess authority

What is a fatwa and what is its role in Islamic reasoning? Can you think of an area of life in the 21st century for which Muslims regularly ask a fatwa?

A fatwa is the legal opinion of a recognized Islamic religious scholar on a point of religious law that results from applying legal reasoning to a particular issue. It is an individual opinion and nobody needs to necessarily agree with or follow it. Its debated by other jurists and if all or part of the fatwa is accepted by a consensus then it might become a part of the religious rules.

What is the Qur'anic view on Adam and Eve and their departure from the Garden of Eden?

Adam and Eve defied God because they wanted to be more like God. Adam and Eve were the first humans created by God and that all humans have descended from them. Adam is also a prophet in Islam. The concept of "original sin" does not exist in Islam, because according to Islam, Adam and Eve repented and were forgiven by God.

What is the role of an Ayatollah?

An ayatollah is a religious leader of the Twelvers sect of Shi'ite Islam. Those who carry the title are selected by reaching an extremely high level of education... they are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, Qur'an reading, and philosophy. Ayatollahs have direct communication with the hidden Imam.

What is a dhikr? Why do Sufis practice this ritual?

Dhikr is a Sufi ritual.. It is short prayers that are repeatedly recited (silently in the mind or out loud) and usually are done with prayer beads. The dhikr is essentially a "remembering" of God by the frequent repetition of his names. It is a method the Ṣūfī use in their striving to achieve oneness with God.

What are the 4 schools of law in Islam? Can you think of some reasons they differ from each other?

Each school generally reflects the views of the jurists of the city or place it was founded in... -There are the Hanafiyya schools of law: o which uses high degree of reasoning, avoids extremes, and lays great emphasis on the ideas of the Muslim community -There are the Malikiyya schools of law: o which depends more on the Traditions associated with the Companions of the Holy Prophet -There are the Shafiyya schools of law: o which placed great importance on the Traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad -There are the Hanbaliyya schools of law: o which is the most conservative of the 4 schools & insist on the literal injunctions of the Holy Qur'an and the Hadith & are very strict in the observance of religious duties.

What does Ali-Karamali mean when she points out that many Muslims interpret the Qur'an for their own purposes in ways that are essentially wrong?

Extremists and radicals "interpret" certain verses incorrectly and use it to commit and justify wrongful acts that are however specifically condemned by Muslims. Reading the entire passage and knowledge of the historical context is crucial to understanding it and its true messages.

***Who created the first school of law in Islam and why?

Imam Abu Hanifa Exemplifies the Iraqi trend of Islamic jurisprudence (based on reason) An advocate of qiyas → derived new legal opinions on the basis of prior analogous legal positions & believed in human reasoning in solving legal problems

What was the foundational event for Shi'ite Islam?

In Karbala, when Imam al-Husayn (son of Ali) heroically fought Yazid (of the Mu'awiya clan) and his army and died. Hussein sacrificed his life for the survival of Shi'ite Islam. Only one of Husayn's son survived and became the first official Imam. The Battle of Karbala in 681 is one of the most significant events in Shi'a history, from which Shi'a Islam draws its strong theme of martyrdom. It is central to Shi'a identity even today and is commemorated every year on the "Day of Ashura." Millions of pilgrims visit the Imam Hussein mosque and shrine in Karbala and many Shi'a communities participate in symbolic acts of self- flagellation.

Why did the Muslims have fierce discussions about whether or not the Qur'an was created or uncreated?

Is the Qur'an bounded by time (created) or beyond the bounds(uncreated)? Must the Qur'an be interpreted with a modern eye? Because if the Qur'an was created, then there is the worry that now you are worshiping two different gods (which is against the islamic principle of the Tawhid - there is only one god).

Is there a religious hierarchy in Islam? How are major decisions concerning religious injunctions taken?

Islam has no formal religious hierarchy. However, different sects of Islam have their own individual religious leaders. For example, the Aga Khan is the religious leader for Ismailis, the Ayatollah is the leader of the Twelvers. Islamic law are religious guidelines developed and debated by Islamic scholars--not by the state. Imam = can be a religious scholar or also someone who leads the prayer in a mosque (but that technically doesn't require any religious training at all).

What type of levels of Qur'an interpretations do Muslims discern?

Its a spectrum ranging from traditionalism to rationalism.

***Despite these differences in Qur'an interpretation, what is the theological concept that unites all believers?

Monotheism (more like monorealism) --> Allah is the one and only God --> God supports and sustains all existence at every moment by His will and His thought. The Qur'an is God's literal word.

What is Sufism? How does it differ from normative Islam?

Sufism is a mystical practice of Islam. It is a WAY to God. They concentrate on the interior /inner dimension of Islam. The believe in shunning wealth as the Prophet did because wealth and luxuries are distractions from the outside world (they focus on the interior rather than the exterior). They use chanting, singing, poetry, and dancing to achieve a state of "ecstasy" (a state of intoxication from the nearness of God).

What is the type of language that the Qur'an is written in? Explain the relevance of the language.

The Qur'an is written in the Arabic language. They believe it is the literal word of God. Therefore, God speaks in Arabic. Muslims do not accept translations, new rewording, or new editions of the Qur'an. These unoriginal versions would never be able to convey the true meaning of the Qur'an → they are considered "interpretations" that help in understanding the meaning imparted by God They are no longer the words of God (who only spoke in Arabic). There are also many major linguistic issues that get lost in translation.

Explain the concept of the hidden imam.

The hidden imam is a belief of Shi'ite Islams that the last imam went into OCCULTATION and that the hidden imam will return one day as the messiah and bring about peace.

Why is knowledge of the tradition (sunna) important when interpreting the Qur'an?

The sunna is composed of the actions and sayings of the Prophet. Muhammad was the best exemplar for Muslims. It's important to understand how the Prophet implemented God's word and the manner in which he lived his life according to the words of the Qur'an. The sunna is a behavioral model of the Qur'an. A Muslim's actions should reflect this awareness of the creator and basic moral obligation.

How do biblical figures feature in the Qur'an? Can you mention two individuals who hold prominent positions in the Qur'an?

There are many biblical figures featured in the Qur'an. For example, Moses, Mary, and Jesus.

Mention two branches within Shi'ite Islam and explain how they differ.

There are three branches of Shi'ite Islam: The Twelvers, the Ismailis, and the Zaydis Zaydis believe in the occulation of the 5th imam, Ismailis believe in the occulation of the 7th imam, and the Twelvers believe in the occulation of the 12th imam. -Twelvers: is the majority of Shi'ites. They believe that the 12th (the Mahdi) is the end of the Prophets decent and that Mahdi (who disappeared) will one day return. Until Mahdi returns, their religious authority by default lays in the hands of the religious scholars like it does in Sunni Islam. -Zaydis: are the closest to the Sunni Muslims → They believe that Imams must be descended from the Prophet and Fatima but don't believe that they are divinely guided -Ismailis: don't believe the line of descent from Ali has died out.. They believe in the Aga Khan (the spiritual and cultural head who interprets Islamic law in terms that are relevant in modern society)

Mention three major themes found throughout the Qur'an.

tolerance, One God: tawhid, human beings as individuals, human society, women's rights, the Qur'anic worldview, prophets, nature, evil and Satan, and the Muslim community, forgiveness, peace