Final Exam for Rel
Ka'bah
"Cube"; the square shrine at the center of the great mosque of Mecca
What are humans free form, and free for, acknowledging God's oneness and power?
Belief in the oneness frees humans from fearing any other power in the created world. Makes it possible to live life to the fullest as God intends. Not overawed by the greatness of another, not putting oneself above another.
Where are when was the first prophetic revelation to Muhammad?
Came in the year 610, when Muhammad was meditating in a cave at Mt. Hira. The revelation came periodically for the next 22 years of his life.
Baghdad was the
Capital of the Abbasid dynasty (a capital destroyed by the Mongolians in 1258)
Sharia Compliant Banking Practices : What is Usury?
Charging interest on loans - also considered a form of gain at the expense of others are forbidden - Compare Kashrut or dietary laws for halakhic Jews who want to eat Kosher food
Shi'ites vs. Sunni Muslims: over what issue did this split occur?
Divisions among Sunni and Shia, tribal, or ethnic divisions, and other sectarian differences can factor into struggles for political control of a country or region
Which of Abraham's sons is nearly sacrificed in the Muslim version of the story?
Ishmael
FREE WILL—NO ORIGINAL SIN
Like Jews, Muslims believe that all human beings have free will. There is no "original sin" that was passed down from Adam and Eve to all their progeny. Adam and Eve made a mistake, but there is no profound corruption of human capacities for knowing, loving, or willing because of their mistake. NO FORCED CONVERSIONS: as part of this respect for human free will, the Qur'an forbids forced conversions to Islam. While both Christians and Muslims have sometimes forced conversions to their religions, the teachings of neither religion support doing so.
Adam, Eve, and Satan
Like the biblical story, the Qur'an depicts Adam and Eve as the first human beings, made from clay and breath. Eve, however, was not made from Adam's rib; both were made from a single soul. They lived in Paradise. But when God asked the angels to bow down to Adam, who could name everything, one jinn—Satan (called Iblis)—did not do so. (The English word "genie" is based on the Arabic word "jinn," which is a special kind of spirit being that can be good or bad.) As a being made of fire rather than clay, Satan thought he was superior to the human race. So Satan fell from God's grace, but God granted Satan his request to try the worthiness of human beings until the Day of Judgment. Satan (not a serpent) tempted Adam and Eve to eat forbidden fruit in Paradise, and as a result God cast them both to the earth. Adam and Eve are equally blamed for this error. Adam is the first prophet.
Why is Aisha important?
Most well-known of Muhammad's later wives was Aisha, who was betrothed to Muhammad when very young and who later had disciples who memorized the stories about Muhammad (hadiths) that she transmitted. - was one of the primary transmitters of hadiths.
The first 2 Muslim dynasties were called the
Umayyad and the Abbasid
Tawhid
Unity and oneness of God- Unity of all creation
Whriling Dervishes
View an example of one famous expression of Sufism: the dancing "whirling dervishes" of the Mavlei Lodge, a Sufi Set founded by Rumi
Do Muslims worship Muhammad as Christians worship Jesus?
While Muhammad was not a miraculous healer like Jesus, Muhammad did receive the miracle of the Qur'an. Neither Jesus nor Muhammad are worshipped for Muslims.
Understand that after the first four caliphs, Muslims lived within
dynasties and empires, usually with religious leaders as consultants, not rulers; and today, many Muslims wrestle with how to relate the vision of umma with life in democratizing (and often religiously pluralistic) nation states—as Christians have wrestled with what it means to relate church and state (within a vision of the "Kingdom of God") and contemporary Israelis debate whether "Israel" is a Jewish or a secular state.
SIGNS
each feature of the created world is a "sign" of God's reality and guidance.
Jannah
means paradise
"Du'aa" or "dua"
means prayer
Allah means
name of God among Muslims
Sunna (and each hadith) forms a
secondary source of authority—below that of the Qur'an.
Druze
splintered off from the Isma'ilis when they deified the sixth caliph of the Fatimid Dynasty (whom Druze believe didn't die but will return one day). Most abundant in Lebanon, they have a highly esoteric doctrine; only the elite leaders (in which women predominate!) know the full Druze teachings. Preferring an inner relationship to God, Druze REJECT RELIGIOUS RITUAL because they think it encourages people to sin and ask for forgiveness ritually afterwards. They believe that everyone is a REINCARNATION of someone born during the time when conversion to Druze was open. Hence, one may be born into a Druze family, but not convert to the Druze faith. In Israel, the Druze serve in the Israeli Defense Force.
Khitan
male circumcision
Muhammad (also spelled Mohammad)
(570-632 CE), the founder of Islam, was an illiterate Arabia shepherd and caravan business manager who became a prophet of God when he revealed divine revelations from the angel Gabriel near the city of Mecca Muhammad's followers recorded the revelations in what became the holy book of Islam, the Qur'an (or Koran)
the greatest sin: shirk (meaning)
(IDOLATRY) the core nature of sin means worshipping as divine something other than God: think back to Paul Tillich's definition of faith as "ultimate concern," the root of all human wrongdoing is giving ultimate concern to something other than God- something finite and changing instead of our eternal source and guide
mihrab
(Islam) a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca
ABASSID
(a golden age of Islam; at this early medieval time, the Muslim world in the Middle East was far more sophisticated than Europe. Baghdad in what is now Iraq was the center of major developments in mathematics, science, and scholarship. The Crusades brought texts from the Middle East to Europe, sparking Europe's own scholastic development.)
Shia
- 10-13% of Muslims - Imams (leaders) are descendants of Muhammad - Depending on the Shia branch, 5, 7, or 12 imams follow in succession after Muhammad, each passing on a divine light. For "Twelvers," the last imam goes into HIDING and is called the Mahdi. The hidden imam will return to rule before Judgment Day. - Today's imams are in touch with the last great imam (#5, 7, or 12), who guides them in interpreting the Qur'an.
Sunni
- 87-90% of Muslims - Leaders chosen by consensus - Interpretations of Qur'an made through several established schools
Frequent Islamic Sayings
- BISMILLAH: "In the name of God" - Or BISMILLAH AL RAHMAN AL RAHIM: "In the Name of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful" - PEACE BE UPON HIM (PBUH): salallahu alayhi wasalaam (SAW is the Arabic abbreviation) - INSHA'ALLAH: If God wills - AS-SALAMU ALAYKUM: Peace be upon you
Can prophets be depicted?
- Even PROPHETS should not be depicted visually for Sunni Muslims. This is partly why some Danish political satire showing mocking images of Muhammad was so offensive to many Muslims (although the mockery was the other reason). - But for Shia Muslims, it can be more acceptable to use devotional images of the Prophet Muhammad and of his daughter Fatima (who can have a status rather like that of the Virgin Mary for Catholics). Among Shia Muslims one can see depictions of the "Holy Family": Muhammad, his daughter Fatima, his cousin and son-in-law Ali, and Fatima and Ali's sons Husayn and Hasan. - For all Muslims, however, it is acceptable to depict WORDS FROM THE QUR'AN—God's own Words—in beautiful calligraphic form—even in the shape of birds or other animals.
Why are Sufi's controversial to some Muslims?
- Master-disciple relationship looks idolatrous to some Sunni Muslims - as if the master is taking the place of God. - The Shrine to deceased shaykhs or shaykhas invite pilgrimages that seem idolatrous to some Muslims. - Sometimes those who claim to experience union with God sound BLASPHEMOUS, as if there is NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD AND THEMSEVLES - Sufis often use musical instruments, and while many Muslims accept music, some Muslims don't permit music for fear it is too sensual, drawing one away from God. - Sufi groups are banned in some areas. Sufism has a rich tradition of literature and spiritual practices. - Refusing to take back such a blasphemous statement, he accepted death as to be one with God
Hajj
- They do not cut nails or hair (after doing so right before the days of ihram); they avoid sex, perfumes, and hunting; women may not wear a veil over their face (only a scarf over their hair). - Pilgrims purify on the outside (by taking a shower); they purify on the inside by repenting of sins. Some main activities include: - Circling the Ka'bah Seven Times - Stoning the Devil - Imitating Hagar's Search for Water - Standing at Mt. Arafat - Eid Al-Adha Sacrifice - Visiting Medina
Sufi Ritual Practices: What are some examples?
- Whriling dervishes - Reciting the 99 names of God - Combining a spirituality of work and prayer (Mauride Sufi Brotherhood in Africa) - Swordswallowing - More rarely: Smashing ego by not keeping some of the universal Muslim practies
Some prayer exceptions
- Women who are menstruating are exempt from salat, and may not touch the Qur'an. States of ritual impurity are recognized in Islam, as they are in Judaism. But a woman may make up these prayers later. - Similarly, someone who is ill is exempt from salat, and may make them up later. - Those who are disabled and cannot do the prostrations are to do those dimensions of the prayer as they can, to the best of their ability.
Muslims debate about
- the exact kind of Sharia law they seek to practice - whether they seek a state run by Sharia principles, or just individual and local efforts to live by Sharia - whether they envision Sharia applying mostly to ritual, ethical, and family matters, or applying also to wider areas of social legislation
Similarities between Jesus and Muhammad
-Jesus and Muhammad share unusual birth stories (see Ludwig for those about Muhammad) -Jesus and Muhammad were both prophets -Both were persecuted by those who felt threatened by their message -While Muhammad was not a miraculous healer like Jesus, Muhammad did receive the miracle of the Qur'an -NEITHER JESUS NOR MUHAMMAD ARE WORSHIPPED for Muslims
Muslim views of human nature and sin. Compare to Jews and Christian Views
-Like Jews and Christians, Muslims affirm that all beings and forms in the universe are GIFTS OF GOD and DEPENDENT on God. All creatures and features of the universe are finite, contingent; only God's reality is eternal -Jews and Christians agree that God is ever-active and ever-present, the six-day creation story does not conclude with a story about God "resting" on the 7th day. (So there is also no 7th day of Sabbath rest for Muslims. When is not to say Muslims do not have leisure on weekends) -Unlike Jews and Christians, Muslims don't describe human beings as made in God's image, that is language that sounds like it could qualify the absolute uniqueness of God "But like Jews and Christians Muslims DO depict human beings as having a special role of Stewardship over the rest of the creation we are God's deputies or "caliphs" on Earth -Like Jews, Muslims believe humans have freewill have freewill no "original sin" NO FORCED conversions Christians and Muslims have sometimes forced conversions -Like Jews and Christians, Muslims recognize that we are vulnerable to failing to surrender to God our free will means that we among God's creatures must remain conscious and alert if we are to surrender to God's life- giving paths- go with flow of our creatures nature as Muslims -Muslims like Jews and Christians understand heaven in a variety of ways some as a "place" and others as a dimension or state of existence. (SEPARATE??)
Four highlights of Muslim views of creation
-Mortal, finite beings are dependent upon an infinite God -God does not rest after six days of creating, but takes the throne -"Signs" in creation point to God -Natural law: all of creation is muslim
Basic Facts about the Qur'an
-Qur'an is the name for Muslim scriptures it means "recitation" -Qur'an is a collection of revelations given to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel over a 22 year period in the 7th century (600's BCE) -Qur'an is divided into 114 chapters, called Surahs -The Surahs are divided into verses, called ayat or ayah) -The Qur'an is God's word only in Arabic, the language God chose to reveal this scripture any translation of the Qur'an is this called an "interpretation" -The Qur'an differs from the BIBLE in that Qur'an came to ONE person in ONE lifetime; the Bible, by contrast, is the product of many human beings over many centuries
What are the five categories of acts in Islamic law?
1. Required acts (like the five pillars of practice) 2. Forbidden Acts 3. Permitted Acts - these are encouraged but not required 4. Discouraged acts - But doing these are not forbidden 5. Neutral Acts- neither permitted nor discouraged
Five Pillars of Practice
1. Shahada (Confession) 2. Salat (5 Daily Prayers) 3. Sawm (Fasting During the month of Ramadan) 4. Zakat (Annual charity donations for those in need) 5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)
What are the four steps in Sharia reasoning?
1. Turn to the QUR'AN: if the Qur'an, the divinely revealed word of God, offers clear guidance on a question, that guidance is the basis for an answer to the question. 2. If the Qur'an doesn't offer a clear answer, turn to the SUNNA as expressed in the HADITHS. Did Muhammad say or do anything which might shed light on the question? As a prophet and an exemplary role model, Muhammad's own words and actions are a secondary source of wisdom and guidance. 3. Turn to ANALOGICAL REASONING next: if neither the Qur'an nor the Sunna offer direct guidance on a question, see if you can reason by analogy from some of their teachings. For example, when new technology appears that wasn't available in the 7th century, one can ask whether the Qur'an or Sunna describes values which might lead Muslims to conclude that technology can enhance their faith and practice today. When loud speakers first appeared, for instance, Muslims noticed that Muhammad had asked Bilial, a freed Ethiopian slave, to be the first muezzin (the first to offer the call to prayer) because of the beauty and strength of his voice. On this basis, Muslims could reason analogically that there is a legal basis for using loudspeakers, since they amplify the sound of the call to prayer. 4. If all else fails, turn to the CONSENSUS OF THE COMMUNITY. By seeking to follow the Qur'an and to imitate Muhammad, faithful Muslims themselves offer the best lived answers to questions that might confront the community anew.
Muslims are expected to believe in each of the following
1. UNITY OF GOD: There is only One God 2. ANGELS are messengers of God 3. PROPHETS receive revelation from God through the angels 4. SCRIPTURES brought as revelation through the prophets 5. JUDGMENT DAY: all human beings will be resurrected on the Last Day, and judged according to their deeds --> heaven or hell 6. DIVINE DECREE, or DIVINE PREDESTINATION: God alone decides the ultimate fate of each human being
Six Pillars of Faith
1. Unity of God. There is only one God. 2. Angels are messengers of God. 3. Prophets receive revelation from God through the angels. 4. Scriptures brought as revelation from God through the prophets 5. Judgment Day- All human beings will be resurrected on the last day, and judged according to their deeds -> heaven or hell 6. Divine Decree or Divine Predestination, God alone decides the ultimate fate of each human being (How we are accountable for everything in our hands)
What is year 1 in the Muslim calendar and why?
622 Ce. The years are calculated according to a lunar (not solar) calendar, so in the Muslim calendar, the year 2017 (until September) is also known as 1438 H (or AH = "after negira" or in Latin, "anno hegirae" = "The Year of the Hijra") The Year of Muhammad's Hija or immigration from Mecca to Medina
How many names are there for God in the Qur'an?
99
minaret
A distinctive feature of mosque architecture, a tower from which the faithful are called to worship.
hijab
A head covering worn in public by some Muslim women. To cover the hair
Iman
A person with faith, or iman, is a person who actively surrenders to guidance by God
Who was the first human being to submit to God, according to Islam?
Abraham
Prophets
Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Job, and Jesus - All prophets are regarded as perfect people
Who are the first two human beings for Muslims?
Adam and Eve
Remember that for Shia Muslims
Ali is the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad (who married Muhammad's only surviving child, Fatima). Ali was the fourth caliph for Sunni—the fourth leader after Muhammad—but Shias (or Shi'ites) believe that he was the properly designated successor to Muhammad (though not a prophet himself—Muhammad was the last prophet, the "seal" of all the prophets).
Judgment Day: Reward or Punishment (Paradise and Hell; Hell is not necessarily punishment
All human beings will be resurrected on the last day and judged according to their deeds-heaven or hell Rewarded or punished - One common Muslim answer is to "affirm both-- without asking why" - Affirm Judgment Day (What we do matters) AND divine decree (all is in God's hands) But of course, Some Muslims do engage in more complex theological reflection to try to articulate how their two pillars interact
intercession at Shia Shrines
Although Sunni Muslims who are Sufi may have shrines of holy Muslims as well, other Sunni Muslims resemble many Protestant Christians in their worry that shrines of holy people encourage idolatry. Shia Muslims are more like Catholics here; they are generally comfortable petitioning Muslim saints, male and female, for assistance. Like Catholics, Muslims report miraculous healings after visiting a shrine or praying to a saint.
Why was a new prophet needed in the time of Muhammad?
Among the descendants of Abraham and Ishmael in Mecca that the pure worship of the one God was preserved and, when it was forgotten, from their midst God raised up a new Prophet and a new community of Muslims.
What were some of the tribal-related social problems in Pre-Islamic Arabia?
An important part of the story of Islam is a concept of what the world was like in the Arabian peninsula at the time Muhammad began receiving revelations. The word that captures what the pre-Islamic Arabian world was like is Al- Jahillyah > Polytheism > Revenge cycles among tribes > Female infanticide (Something Islam would forbid) > Valorizing heroism in the battle and in revenge, more than morality or compassion
Themes in selection from Surah 2
Anyone who believes in God will have their reward.
Most Muslims live in
Asia. Country with the most is Indonesia. 90% of them are Muslims.
What does the bismillah say about God's character?
Begins all but one Sura of the Quran, emphasizes this with a double force: "In the home of Allah, the most merciful, the most compassionate" Thus Muslims know that God's ultimate design for creation is one of love and mercy.
What happened to the 12th imam?
Believe that it went into hiding (currently the largest Shi'ite group) and will return as the Mandi
Unity of Arabia beyond blood kinship and across tribal lines
Blood kinship for the first time was subordinated to a community based on faith that offered equal rights and justice for all.
Two modern Islamic revival movement: Muslim brotherhood, theocracy in Shi'ite Iran
Brotherhood: another movement that has formed political parties in some countries. Combines an Islamist vision with an engagement with the modern world. Since the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, Iran has been a Shi'ite theocracy (with Parliamentary elections that field candidates approved by religious leaders)
Know the general locations of the Safavid
City of Ardabil
Muslim's views of God, creation, and humankind
Creation > Mortal, finite beings are dependent upon an infinite God - God does not rest after six days of creating but takes the throne - "Signs" in creation point to God - Natural law : all of creations is Muslim
quibla
Direction of Mecca
Zaydis (Fivers)
Disagreed with the Twelvers about the identity of the 5th imam (whom Zaydis thought to be Zaya; a great-grandson of Ali) Zaydis were dominant before the Twelvers' safavid dynasty began in the 16th century and today from 35-40% of remenite Muslims. - Isma'ilites were the largest Shia group during the Fatimid Empire in the 10th-12th centuries, and today live in many countries led by Aga Khan, who lives in Paris often emphasize esosteric interpretal.
Battles with Mecca
Eight years later and after a series of battles with Meccas, Muslims gained control of Mecca. Before Muhammad's death, he cleansed the Ka'Bah of its polytheistic deities and rededicated it to the one God. After Muhammad's death, united across tribal divisions by Islam, Arab Muslims developed an empire which eventually extended as far as Spain and China
sawm
Fasting during Ramadan - Fasting during Ramadan occurs from dawn to dusk. One story says that once you can tell the difference between a white thread and a black thread lying next to one another, you should start the fast; once you can no longer tell the difference between them, it is safe to eat again. - The fast is from food, drink, sex, and cigarettes.
EID AL-FITR
Festival of Breaking the Fast at the end of Ramadan
How many "rightly guided" caliphs were there?
First four successors of Muhammad are called "rightly guided caliphs" Caliphs are deputies of Muhammad
Difference between Shari'a (outer path) and Tariqa (inner path)
Following a Tariqa (inner path) alongside Shari'ah (outer path of Muslim law)
What day of the week Muslims father for congregational prayer?
Friday at noon is when Muslims gather for prayer and for a khutbah (sermon)
Jihad Difference between inner (greater) and outer (lesser) forms of it?
GREATER JIHAD = a personal struggle to conform your own life to God's ways, often in some particular area of your life. Some Muslims interpret the greater jihad to refer also to collective social action—e.g., a feminist jihad, a jihad to tackle poverty, etc. LESSER JIHAD = a military struggle to defend Muslims and the Islamic faith when they are under attack. In this respect, lesser jihad can also be called a "holy war." But as with "just war" theories for Jews and Christians, lesser jihad is traditionally understood to be a response to attack from outside—not about initiating military conflict. And traditionally, too, military action is to be undertaken by a properly authorized state leader, not by rogue groups (though it should be borne in mind that many new countries are formed by revolutionary groups—including the United States).
Why is art with abstract designs and geometric patterns used?
God cannot be depicted like Judaism. Abstract patterns art can evoke an awareness of God's transcendence and of God's unity and the unity of all creation. - God is not a creature, and so cannot be depicted; to try to depict God visually not only improperly anthropomorphizes God, but is potentially idolatrous. Someone might confuse the artistic image of God with what God actually looks like, or worship the artistic object itself.
God's transcendence and immanence
God for Muslims is both transcendent (utterly above all created things) and immanent (utterly near—closer to a person than her jugular vein is, according to Surah 50.16 in the Qur'an!).
oneness of God (tauhid) implies unity and dignity of creation and the unity of knowledge
God is one. This sounds deceptively simply, to Muslims the whole experience of God is concentrated in these words
Kaliph (or caliph): What a human being is
God's deputies on Eath
Ka'bah (What and where is it? How is the Ka'Bah connected to Abraham and Ishmael?)
God's house in Mecca which had been destroyed by the flood. - Abraham submitted to God and rebuilt the house, purifying it and making it a refuge and a place of pilgrimage
Halal vs. Haram
Halal laws, govern the proper butchery of animals whose meat may be eaten. But Halal which means "lawful," also refers to anything that is permitted. Hariam, by contrast, is what any unlawful practice is called
Iman = Faith -> Submission to God (not Iman)
Iman is the Pillars of Faith
Hijab and how debates about it differ in various centuries, e.g., in France to Iran to Turkey
In Iran, some Muslim women reject the imposition of Hijab requirements by the state (a requirement that vegan when a Shi'ite theocracy took control of the state after a revolution in 1979 that overthrew the Shah of Iran, a leader who was viewed as corrupt and in the pocket of Western leaders. - Meanwhile, in France, the government limits where Muslim, Jewish, or Christian symbols may be publicly displayed. A number of European countries debate whether or not Burka or any form of hijab is acceptable in public schools and other government settings in particular. In a country like France, the aim is to foster a French national identity over any religious identity (a legacy of the Anti-Catholicism of the French revolution)
Why was the Nation of Islam (NOI, one currently small branch of African American Islam) considered heretical?
In earlier forms, it promoted the idea that whites were created by the devil. The NOI-based in its earlier forms, it promoted the idea that whites were created by the devil. The NOI-based in Chicago-has in recent years moved closer to mainstream Islam. - Malcom X was a member of NOI but broke with it after going on Hajj, where he saw people of all races on pilgrimage.
General location of Mughal
Indus Basin in the West
Prophets as perfect human beings (but never divine)
Instead Prophets are role models
Imam: What is it? How many imams do most Shi'ites believe there were?
Islamic scholar and leader, especially in ritual prayer, for Shi'ites, the proper successors to the Prophets. There are 12
Ulama
Islamic scholars trained in religious law. Sharia is articulated and determined by lawyers and judges (both men and women, historically). These compare to canon lawyers and judges for Catholics, and rabbis and members of a beit din (rabbinical court) for Orthodox Jews.
Imam
Islamic worship leader (prayer leader; this in addition to the special meaning the term has regarding the 5, 7, or 12 imams in the Shia traditions.
What is the difference between an Islamist and a "Secular Muslim?"
Islamists: An Islamist is a Muslim who supports the idea of some sort of Islamic state, under some form of Sharia law. Islamist groups vary greatly with regard to the kind of state and Sharia they would like to see. Many seek some form of democracy. A few use violence to try to destabilize a society that is not governed as they would like. Many Islamist groups form political parties. "Islamist" can also refer to a scholar of Islam. Just to confuse things a bit! Secular Muslims: secular Muslims do not want an Islamist state, but emphasize a separation of mosque and state. They view religion as a private matter—or as something whose social implications should be generated through charitable or social change seeking groups, but not through an Islamist state whose interpretation of Islam may not speak for all Muslims.
The Qur'an (Koran) is the name for Muslim scriptures.
It means "recitation."
Muslim beliefs about Jesus (was he the Messiah? Crucified? Born of the Virgin Mary?)
Jesus is a prophet of Muslims (equal to Muhammad). He performed miracles, was not crucified, and was born of the Virgin Mary. - Jesus is NOT the Son of God, God incarnate in human form, a savior from sin (there is no need for a sacrifice for sin in Islam) , and crucified or risen.
Jews and Christians
Jews: - Partnering between God and Israel via Torah Christians: - Partnering with God through a "new covenant" in Christ
Why did pre-Islamic tribes make an annual pilgrimage to Mecca?
June 622 a representative party of 75 people from Medina made the pilgrimage to Mecca. They met secretly with Muhammad and pledged to fight on behalf of God and God's messenger Muhammad. - Mecca was a pilgrimage site, with the Ka'bah hosting the shrines of 360 deities. Pilgrimages were the economic engine of Mecca and Meccans feared that a conversion to Islam and to monotheism would mean the economic collapse of the city, since there would no longer be shrines to all the gods that would draw pilgrims. When Mecca did convert to Islam, Muhammad destroyed the shrines to the 360 deities but also rededicated the Ka'bah and the pilgrimages there to Allah-one and only God.
The "light of Muhammad" and the hidden imam
Just as Muhammad was kept sinless and perfect, so also the imams possessing the "light of Muhammad" are kept by God from error in interpreting Gods revelation. All true interpretation, therefore, comes from the imam, not from the consensus of other scholars. Hidden imam, 12 imams. - Muhammad disappeared and went into a state of hiding.
Why is Fatima important?
Khadija and Muhammad's daughter, Fatima is the only child of Muhammad's to survive into adulthood and marry. - Polygamy was common (in biblical days as well), Muhammad had no other wives until after Khadija died. Then he married a number and took some as concubines, including some widowed by war, in a culture in which women rarely had the means to survive on their own, it could be an act of generosity to marry widows and to take in those without the means to marry as concubines.
SECULAR MUSLIMS
Many Muslims in Egypt do not identify with either of these groups. Many Muslims—including those who identify as "secular Muslims"—may be personally devout but don't think the state should impose a state-sponsored sharia law on everyone. Whose interpretation of sharia would apply? Christians and Jews have similar debates. In Israel, should Orthodox Jewish family law apply to all Jews (as it does now)? Should Israel be a Jewish state with second-class status (or little political power) for non-Jews? Should the US develop Christian-based laws—or become an outright theocracy? What is the place for religious minorities (or the non-religious) in any society whose laws are shaped by religious values? Today, in countries where Muslims predominate AND popular revolutions are overthrowing dictators, the answers to such questions about religion and state are being lived into afresh—often with great social upheaval. Here are some other Islamist groups you might research on your own: Hezbollah (a Shi'ite Islamist organization in Lebanon) Hamas (an Islamist Palestinian party) Taliban ISIS Boko Haram
Sheikh or Shaykh (or for women, Sheikah)
Master-disciple relationship (Master is called)
Mecca and Medina : why is each city important for Muslims
Mecca: Abraham's birthplace Muhammad (570-632 CE), the founder of Islam, was an illiterate Arabian Shepherd and Caravan business manager who became a prophet of God when he received divine revelations from the angel Gabriel near the city of Mecca. Muhammad's followers recorded the revelations in what became the holy book of Islam, the Qur'an (or Korah) persecuted by Meccan nobility who feared the growing social power of Islam, Muhammad fled in 622 to the city of Yathrib (renamed Medina) Medina: The city of the Prophet which invited Muhammad to rule as its stateman. The Muslim calendar is dated from the year 622, the year of Muhammad's Hijra or immigration from Mecca to Medina
The "seal" of the prophets = last prophet
Muhammad is called "seal of the prophets" because while he is not the only prophet, for Muslims he is the final prophet. The Qur'anic revelations were seen as so complete, pure, and comprehensible that no other revelations were needed
Story of Muhammad's childhood and conception
Muhammad was given over to a nurse from a bedouin clan so that he might be filled with the culture of the desert. He was reunited with his mother Amina when he was about five but she died soon after. Abdauah (his father) died either during Amina's pregnancy or shortly thereafter. - After his mom died, he lived with his grandparents until they died and then lived with his uncle. - During his conception, his father was said to have a white light between his eyes that disappeared when Muhammad was born.
Umma (or Ummah)
Muslim community, as the basis for a communal identity that transcends tribal divisions
Three Images of Life as a Religious-Political-Economic Whole
Muslim: Umma Historical Muslim empires withreligious rulers as consultants(Ummayad, Abassid, Safavid,Mughal, Ottoman, etc.) Shari'a Islamist movements Jewish: Israel Israel as a biblical nation - andsince 1947 a nation again halakhah current debate in today'snation of Israel about Israelas a Jewish or asecular state Christian: Kingdom of God (or Christendom) Historical Christian empireswith political rulers appointedby God (Byzantine Empire)and/or close ties betweenreligious and political leaders(Roman Empire, Holy Roman Empire) Catholic canon law Christian "family value" laws Inquisition (state punishes heretics)
What is a mihrab?
Niche in the wall, indicates the QIBLA, or direction of Mecca
Do Muslims permit images for God? Why or why not?
No, God is not like anything else is part of the created realm, and God is beyond all this to liken God to anything created raises the danger of compromising God's oneness. Therefore, the Muslim tradition strictly prohibit the use of picture or images of God. Even words and verbal images that compare God with anything else are to be avoided, "God is Creator!"
General location of Ottoman Empires
Northwestern Anatolia in the town of Sogut - Note: The Ottoman Empire was widespread, but it had a base in turkey
Is divorce a sin?
Not a sin, but the most detestable of permitted things. Muslims believe it is better to divorce and perhaps remarry than to be unhappy in marriage.
Muhammad as role model for Muslims
Not to be worshipped but he is exemplary. Must be listened to closely and imitated.
Quranic Themes in Surahs 1, 81, 92
One idea in Surah 1 was Allah being a Muslim's one and only God. Saying positive things of Allah such as being compassionate and merciful. The idea of Surah 81 was to describe many events in the world and how the world came about or who is the creator of the world. The idea of Surah 92 is if you worship the God of Allah you will follow the Way of Ease / Have a good life. If you are indifferent to Allah and you don't worship him you will facilitate the path of hardship or Hell.
Muhammad's Night Flight to Jerusalem
One night, praying and sleeping near the Ka'bah, Muhammad fell asleep and was awakened by the angel Gabriel, who presented him with a winged white horse (or mule/donkey) named al-Buraq. Al-Buraq carried Muhammad to Jerusalem, in the company of Gabriel. At the site of the old Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, Muhammad met and prayed with former prophets, including Abraham and Moses. Then Muhammad was lifted by Gabriel through the seven heavens (the apostle Paul reported a similar experience) . During his journey upwards, he met various past prophets. The furthest point he traveled is called "The Lotus of the Utmost Boundary;" the Lotus covered the entrance to God's own abode (the Garden). A ladder is used to describe Muhammad's journey up to the heavens—rather like Jacob in Genesis, who had a dream/vision of angels ascending and descending from heaven on a ladder. - At this high point of his journey, Muhammad was given the revelations about praying five times a day and about reciting the Shahadah (the creed, "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is God's Prophet"). At first, God instructed Muhammad to ask the people to pray 50 times a day. But Moses encouraged Muhammad to go back and bargain that number down, so the people wouldn't be burdened. Muhammad was sent back again and again until he'd bargained the number down to five prayers a day. Some Muslims believe this event happened literally; others believe it was a vision.
Why is Khadija important
Orphaned young and raised by his uncle, Muhammad found work in the caravan business of this woman. Impressed by Muhammad and his integrity, Khadija proposed to Muhammad when she was 40 and he was 25. Khadija was the first to believe the revelations. After his first revelation, Muhammad was said to have been so frightened and worried that he was crazy or possessed by a jinn that he ran home and put his head in her lap. Both she and a Christian relative confirmed the truth of the revelations and of Muhammad's prophethood.
Jews and Christians are
People of the Book
Guidance on the straight path
People of the book are portrayed as on the right path whenever they submit to God and do not deny any of God's Signs. There is one path, and God has revealed it to Prophets throughout the generations. - "Surely the believers and the Jews, Nazareans [Christians - followers of Jesus of Nazareth] and the Sabians whoever believes in God and the Last Day, and whosoever does right, shall have his reward with the Lord and will neither have fear nor regret" (Surah 2:62)
What kind of religion existed in Pre-Islamic Arabia?
Polytheism and Judaism Mix of Christianity
One revelation to Muhammad revealed that Muslims should change the direction they faced in prayer from ____ to _____
Previously they had faced Jerusalem in prayer, but now God revealed that they should face the Ka'Bah in Mecca. (2: 142 - 150)
Qur'an (Koran)
Qur'an is the holy scripture, is predominantly God's message to humans and thus, contains very little narration about Muhammad and the events that led to the founding of Islam - The Qur'anic revelations challenged the values of Al-Jahiliyyah, by emphasizing instead Additional - The beauty of the poetry of the Qur'an attracted many to the way of Islam - Monotheism > The UMMA, or Muslim Community, as the basis for a communal identity that transcends tribal divisions > Women and men are equally capable of a spiritual relationship with God, which is the basis of all other values in life - Moral integrity and compassion are valued, not prowess in war or acts of revenge
Two Sufi Poets Rabia (Female) and Rumi (Male)
Rabia: Orphaned and enslaved, then released when her spiritual powers recognized. She lived in the desert and then a small retreat house, where people sought out her study and to seek her spiritual advice. Rumi: Lived in Present-Day Afghanistan
Muslim Brotherhood
Salafists are in conflict with the Muslim Brotherhood, another movement that has also formed political parties in some countries (though it is banned elsewhere—like in Saudi Arabia). In Egypt, it is significantly larger (or better organized) than the Salafist movement. The Muslim Brotherhood combines an Islamist vision with an engagement with the modern world. The Muslim Brotherhood values science and education, while the Salafists tend to find them suspect. Unlike Salafists, the Muslim Brotherhood thinks that Muhammad set a model for the development of Islam in stages—including a military jihad, if need be. Although in recent years the Muslim Brotherhood has renounced violent tactics in Egypt, some question that today—given very recent events. In Egypt, after a revolution (part of the "Arab Spring") that threw out Hosni Mubarak (a dictator for three decades) in 2011, the Muslim Brotherhood won a presidential election. This was stunning, since for decades the party had been banned and its leaders imprisoned. However, on July 3 2013, President Morsi was removed from office in a military coup supported by many Egyptians who thought he was becoming too autocratic and imposing the Muslim Brotherhood's vision of Islam on others (Egypt did not yet have an agreed upon constitution—the Muslim Brotherhood lost support in its attempt to consolidate power and exclude other Egyptian groups from participating in the constitution's formation, leading to an odd alliance of sorts between Salafists and liberal Egyptians—be they secular, Muslim, or Christian). The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood party debated whether to give democracy another chance and to work with non-party members to develop a government more inclusive than the one Morsi encouraged; or to turn to violent jiahd; or to find some alternative. Morsi was also implicated in the deaths of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012. Morsi was also implicated in the deaths of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012, among other human rights violations (and has been sentenced to death, although the final ruling has not been made). The Muslim Brotherhood was banned in September 2013, in a court ruling that was affirmed on November 6, 2013, but the Muslim Brotherhood continues to regard the coup against Morsi as illegal, and to seek a path to promote its own vision of a society lived in accordance with sharia.
Paths to transformation: Shari'ah (and for some: Suffism's "Inner" way too) Compare to Jewish Halakhah
Shari'ah- raw/code of behavior in Islam; molds and shapes life into larger design intended by God
Which branch of Islam allows temporary marriage contracts?
Shilites. This created a limited time of marriage that would be specified in a contract. I believe that this idea of temporary marriage may show that marriage is not held at a high importance of Islam as it would for other religions such as Judaism.
God's creation is a book of signs that can help us to Iman; the Qur'an helps us see this
Signs; each feature of the created world is a "sign" of God's reality and guidance. - This is a common theme in the Qur'an. The Bible also depicts trees and other life forms praising God, through the Qur'an may be more explicit about stating that the created world signifies the reality of God.
Alawites : Birthed within Shi'ite Islam, but Sunnis and Shi'ites don't see them as Muslim
Splintered off from the Isma'ilis when they deified the sixth caliph of the Fatimid Dynasty. (An important minority in Syria 12% of the population where the current president of the country (currently in a civil war!) is himself Alawite (Bashar al-Assad). Alawites focus on the TEACHINGS OF THE 10TH IMAM. -They regard ALI (Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law) as a DIVINE manifestation—along with Muhammad, Jesus, and other prophets (and figures like Plato). They celebrate CHRISTMAS. They don't practice the Five Pillars of Islam, but see them as symbols. To protect themselves from persecution, they've kept their beliefs secretive.
Wahhabi reform movement (18th c. on): what do Wahhabis criticize?
Spread rapidly and became a highly disciplined group of Muslims practicing a purified Islam. They stuck up an alliance with the house of Sa'ud in Arabia and managed to gain control of the holy city of Mecca in 1806. They have tended to avoid music and song in connection with religious activities.
Meaning of "Islam"
Submission or surrender to God
Sufism (Islamic mysticism): What's the origin of the word Sufi? What did Sufi's seek?
Sufism is a devotional movement with the aim of cultivating a more intense consciousness of God. - Not a separate branch of Islam, but a collection of mystical practices and "brotherhoods" (open also to women) that exist within Sunni or Shia Islamic communities Common Features MASTER-DISCIPLE RELATIONSHIP(the master is called a shaykh or sheikh if a man, a shaykha if a woman) Following a TARIQA (INNER PATH) alongside Shari'ah (outer path of Muslim law) Aiming for a progressively deeper CONSCIOUSNESS OF UNION WITH GOD
In what century and where did Islam begin?
Takes us to the Arabian peninsula (Mecca) in the 7th century (600s) CE, and the story of a person named Muhammad
SALAFISTS
The Salafist movement aims to imitate Muslims' first generations after Muhammad—called the "predecessors" (Salaf). Christians value the "apostolic era" and some church movements seek to "restore" that era in one form or another; likewise, some Muslim movements seek to go back to the values and practices of the Companions of Muhammad, the era of the Salaf. But the contemporary Salafist movement interprets the early Muslim community in a particular way. On one hand, they encourage practices they associate with pure Islam: men wearing beards; polygamy; stoning adulterers; killing Muslims who denounce their faith; opposing movies and Sufi music. On the other hand, like some Christian fundamentalists, they affirm only a literal meaning of the scripture—even though reading deeper meaning into the scriptures has been a common practice since the earliest days for Muslims (as for Christians). Unlike most Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims, they take literally Qur'anic verses that speak of God having a face and hands—making God physical in some sense. So although Salafists view later developments in Islam as innovations (bid'ah) that deviate from the pure early form of Islam, their picture of early Muslim history (much less of the value of Islam developing in new circumstances) is not shared with all Muslims. Nor do other Muslims share Salafist interpretations of Sharia (or want to have Salafist versions of Sharia imposed on them). While Salafists have tended to emphasize personal piety and to be apolitical, there is a Salafist political party—AL-NOUR— that won some seats in recent Egyptian elections. But in late October 2013, a committee to create a new Egyptian constitution declared that all parties "founded on a religious basis" would be banned. The Salafist Nour leader has denounced this as part of a return to dictatorship in Egypt
Shahadah (memorize Muslim confession of faith in English- one sentence)
The brief Shahadah is one of the most important vocal sounds chanted out in sonorous, Arabic syllables: "an la ilaha illa Allah, ashhadi, anna Muhammad ar-rasula Allah: that is, "I testify that there is no God, but God, I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God. -is the confession of core conviction by Muslims. It is not a confession of sin, but more like a basic creed of Muslim belief.
Umma
The community of all Muslims. Worldwide community. A major innovation against the background of seventh-century Arabia, where traditionally kinship rather than faith had determined membership in a community.
Meaning of Sunnah and Hadith
The example (Sunnah) of the prophet himself, as reported in the Hadith provided the primary sources for interpreting the law of the Quran in the centuries following Muhammad, these hadiths were assembled and evaluated and scholars were hard at work formulating the Islamic Law striving (ijtihad) to work out applications to all areas of life Hadith: a saying or tradition of the Prophet Muhammad transmitted through a trustworthy chain of reporters, the collection of hadiths - A hadith includes not only the report of something Muhammad said or did, but also the ASNAD or "chain of transmission."
Al - Jahiliyyah = The Age of Ignorance (before Islam appeared)
The features of Al - Jahiliyyah presupposed a social structure that was tribal and further divided between nomads (like the Beduoin) and city dwellers in more settled areas (like Mecca) Al - Jahiliyyah was known for the following > Polytheism > Revenge cycles among tribes > Female infanticide (something Islam would forbid) > Valorizing heroism in battle and in revenge, more than morality or compassion
Why is Sufism Controversial?
The master-disciple relationship looks IDOLATROUS to some Sunni Muslims—as if the master is taking the place of God. The SHRINES to deceased shaykhs or shaykhas invite pilgrimages that seem idolatrous to some Muslims. Sometimes those who claim to experience union with God sound BLASPHEMOUS, as if there is NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD AND THEMSELVES. Sufis often use musical instruments, and while many Muslims accept music, some Muslims don't permit music for fear it is too sensual, drawing one away from God. For these reasons, Sufi groups are banned in some Sunni areas. But Sufism has a rich tradition of literature and spiritual practices.
How is the story of the Virgin Mary in Surah 19 like and unlike the stories of the Virgin Mary in the New Testament?
The story of Mary starts with Mary leaving her family. An angel by the name of Gabriel was sent to give Mary a child. He says that the child will be a sign of humanity and mercy. When she conceived him she traveled somewhere far away. The pains of labor made her wish that she had died before so she wouldn't have to endure the pain. - Both are important and birthed Jesus; and I wrote that she seems to be more "vocal" in the Qu'ran
Why do Muslim festivals like Ramadan fall in different seasons from year to year?
The time of the Solar Year in which Ramadan falls will vary over time from summer to winter. Ramadan is a lunar month, and unlike Jews Muslims do not periodically throw a 13th month into the calendar to keep it more in sync with the solar calendar
Why are Jews and Christians called people of the book?
Their faith is faulty, they are nonetheless acceptable to God
Sunna(h) and Hadith (define and define relationship)
There are two sources of Sharia Law: The Quran and the Sunna (as recorded in the Hadiths) If the Qur'an doesn't offer a clear answer, turn to the Sunna, as expressed in the Hadiths
What teachings in revelation angered many Meccans? (???)
There was only one God, avoid lust/promiscuity, living virtuously, and treating others kindly
Shi'ite Ritual of Ashura (10th of Muharram) recalls what tragedy?
Traditional anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, son of Ali. Spend the first 9 days of Muharram remembering the tragic events at Karbalah in an atmosphere of mourning - Ashura refers to the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram. It is a day for mourning the tragedy of the murder in 680 CE of Muhammad's grandson, Hussain (who is also the caliph Ali's son) in Karbala, in what is now Iraq. (There are variant spellings: Husayn, Hussein). He was killed in a battle with Sunni Muslims. This event sealed the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
True or False: When Jesus is born he talks.
True. He does this to justify Mary for having him. He tells everyone that she had him because it was God's request. god sent an angel to announce, but also to help Mary give birth.
Who should succeed as the leader of the umma (Muslim community) after Muhammad's death?
Two ways of answering this question led to the formation of two branches of Islam: Sunni and Shia. - SUNNIS believe that Muhammad didn't name a successor, and that Muslim leaders should be chosen by a process of CONSENSUS. - SHIAS believe that Muhammad named his cousin and son-in-law ALI as his successor, and more generally that religious leaders should come from MUHAMMAD'S FAMILY. There are many descendants of Muhammad today, and Shia religious leaders are selected from among those descendants.
FORGETFULNESS: the cause of SIN
While we aren't crippled by original sin for Muslims, we are inclined to forgetfulness about God's reality and our own status as caliphs. We are negligent about remembering God and our own higher spiritual capacities. Like Jews and Christians, Muslims recognize that we are vulnerable to failing to surrender to God. Our free will means that we among God's creatures must remain conscious and alert if we are to surrender to God's life-giving paths—go with the flow of our created nature as muslims.
Diversity in Sufi Ritual Practice
Whirling Dervishes Reciting the 99 names of God Combining a spirituality of work and prayer (Mouride Sufi Brotherhood in Africa) Swordswallowing! More rarely: smashing ego by not keeping some of the universal Muslim practices
Fatwa
a legal opinion on a topic, issued by an Islamic scholar (not binding); compare to Jewish responsa
Fatwa
a non-binding legal opinion, usually issued by someone trained in religious law. While a fatwa may be issued by a school of scholars, any fatwa is an interpretive judgment; it doesn't itself have the rule of law, though it's offered in the hopes of shaping future laws or Muslim behavior. - Fatwas are most often in the news in the West when they promote violence against someone who seems to be blaspheming Islam (e.g., against the novelist Salman Rushdie). But fatwas come in many forms and cover many topics—opposing violence against women; opposing nuclear weapons and terrorism; addressing various details regarding daily salat (prayers) and other matters of worship; discerning whether one can use a bank which charges interest (technically forbidden in Islam), or even use hair transplants.
Muezzin
a person who delivers the calls to prayer
hadith
an individual report of something Muhammad said or did
jinn
an intelligent spirit of lower rank than the angels, able to appear in human and animal forms and to possess humans
KAFIR
an unbeliever, one who denies the reality of God, despite clear signs.
Twelvers
believe that the 12th imam after Muhammad went into hiding (currently the largest Shi'ite group) and will return as the Mahdi. Twelver Shi'ites rule Iran.
adhan
call to prayer
shirk
core sin is idolatry or worshipping as divine something other than God
Haram
forbidden foods: pork and alcohol
Forced conversions are
forbidden in the Qur'an; free choice only
Alevi
forming at least 10% of Turkey's population, Alevi also combine some Christian beliefs with Muslim ones. According to the refworld "World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples," "Their profession of faith includes Ali along with God and the Prophet Muhammad. Alevis differ outwardly from Sunni Muslims in the following ways: they do not fast in Ramadan but do during the Ten Days of Muharram (the Shiite commemoration of Imam Husayn's martyrdom); they do not prostrate themselves during prayer; they do not have mosques; and do not have obligatory formal almsgiving, although they have a strong principle of mutual assistance" (http://www.refworld.org/docid/49749c9950.html). Like Sufis, they see a literal and a hidden meaning in the Qur'an.
niqab
full cloak and lower face veil
Sharia is a
humanizing force and guide for life
Hell is often seen as a temporary place except perhaps for
hypocrites
One DIFFERENCE from Jewish and Christian accounts of creation
in the Qur'an, after creating the world in six days (or eons), Allah DOES NOT REST, but immediately takes the throne and rules. While Jews and Christians agree that God is ever-active and ever-present, the six-day creation story does not conclude with a story about God 'resting' on the 7th day. (So there is also no seventh day of Sabbath rest for Muslims—which is not to say Muslims do not have leisure or weekends!)
Zakat
involves donating annually 2.5% of your WEALTH (not your income) to a Muslim charity that serves the poor.
The Night of Power
is the holiest night of the year, falling during Ramadan. It is the night that Muhammad received his first revelations, so it marks the gift of the Qur'an, carried by the angel Gabriel. On this night, angels draw near to receive prayers and perhaps to grant visions or revelations. Muslims young and old report mysterious happenings on the Night of Power.
Mosque or Masjid
is the name of a building in which Muslims gather for prayer - stands above the foundation of the Jewish temple, which Christians also consider a holy place
Muslim Arab empires expanded
rapidly within the first 100 years after Muhammad
jihad
struggle or surviving - In the news, "jihad" often refers to terrorist attacks or militant actions by Islamist groups who seek to create some form of an Islamic state.
Two basic sources of Sharia
the Quran and the Sunna (as recorded in Hadiths)
id (or eid) = feast; id al-fitr = feast of fast - breaking after Ramadan is over
the fast is from food, drink, sex, and cigarretes
Shia salat is somewhat different from that of Sunni Muslims. Some of the prayers are combined, so that Shia pray
three times day
To become Muslim how many times does one recite the Shahadah?
three times, has to be in the presence of another Muslim
The mandala (circle) shape is important worldwide, across many religious traditions; it depicts the
whole of the cosmos in its interrelationships and in wholeness.
Equality of all persons before God; no priests or clergy in between
you and God
