Orientalism

The Satanic Bible

Published in 1969. It synthesizes materialism, egoism, carnality, reason, atheism, social darwinism, and other 'rational' ideas.

Muhammad the Prohpet

- Born into a society that was corrupt and in need of social change - His time had a lot of polytheism - He did not set out to start a new religion, but rather to be a reformer.

Sunni

-A leader is selected as a successor of the prophet, but he is just a leader and is not a prophet as Muhammad was. -The early success of Islam was a sign of God's approval, their expansion was God's favour, meaning they are right. -The Mahdi has never come yet; the people are still waiting for him.

Shiah

-Ali became known as a leader second only Muhammad -His sons were the second and third caliphs, but Husayn was killed before he could take this position. His death is viewed today as a martyr death.

Shiah-Sunni Divide

-At its roots, the divide is based on conflict over who should be the successor to Muhammad. -This problem can not be easily solved; this conflict has been present for over 1500 years. Their cultures and beliefs are too different now. -The Iranian revolution was the beginning event in the violet Sunni/Shiah wars. -In many countries, what may have begun as a political rivalry, has evolved into a deep religious conflict.

Ali

-Fourth caliph, -Was challenged by many people, including Aisha, Muhammad's wife -Some people left Ali and became the Karajites (they were eventually mostly stomped out by Ali)

The Prototype Problem

-Generally, for a Western audience, Christianity is seen as the prototype, which makes it difficult for Westerners to 'understand' Eastern religions. -People assume there must be some sort of 'goal' or 'salvation' to attain. Moksha or nirvana takes this role a lot, even though this might no necessarily how the people themselves view it.

Umayyad Dynasty (661-750)

-Islamic law developed primarily through religious scholars who interpreted the Koran -Islam focuses more on right practice, rather than the right belief. -Shari'a law sets out the will of God in specific cases and circumstances, which covers all aspects of life. -The human effort to understand and apply the Sari'a is called Fiqh. Muslim scholars draw on the Koran, the sunnah, qiyas (analogical reasoning), and ijma (consensus). -The Shari'a is usually regarded as a very flexible system that was/is interpreted for the greatest benefit of the individual and the community. -There are two main divisions of Isalmic law: ibadat (duties owed to God) and muamalat (duties owed to others).

Romanticized Versions of the East

-Lost of Eastern religions seen as peaceful, spiritual, holy, or serene. -The Easterners are seen as the 'keepers' of divine and/or hidden knowledge.

Division and Muhammad's Death

-Muhammad's death was traumatic for the ummah, nobody knew who should succeed him -The ummah gathered together and discussed who should be his successor

Rightly Guided Caliphs

-Starts with Abu Bakr and ends with Ali

Shia

-The people who viewed Husayn's death as a martyr's death. -View leaders as having divine power and being sinless and 'guided by the grace of God.' -They view the expansion as an illegitimate use of power by Sunni rulers and the right path needs to be 'returned' to. -Shias believe that the Mahdi has already come and they are waiting for his return. He came in the forms of succession of imams, and the twelve imam disappeared, and they are waiting for his return.

Abu Bakr

-Was named caliph. Was Muhammad's friend. Some believed someone from Muhammad's bloodline should be caliph -Some Arab's did not recognize him and unsuccessfully tried to split

Mu'awiya

A nephew of Uthman who challenged Ali. (MORE)

Surah

A single chapter in the Koran

Battle of Camel (656 AD)

Aisha and people who didn't like Ali stirred up armed forces against him, but Ali won this battle.

Prohpets

Are sent by God to guide people to the right path. Notable prophets include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, who was the last prophet. He reiterated God's message in a final, complete, and perfect manner.

Muhammad - Death and Birth

Birth: 570 Death: 632

The Muslim Brotherhood

Established by Hassan al Banna in 1928. He believed the West subverted Islamic values and society. He advocated a militant approach and charismatic preaching. Qutb was cray and spread the brotherhood and was eventually executed. It remained underground until the 80s. It is very prominent in Egyptian politics, with members on the National Assembly. Mohammed Morsi, a member, was elected as pres in 2012.

5P - Sawm

Fasting, during the month of Ramadan. It marks the month in which the Koran descended and the Battle of Badr took place. They are forbidden from eating, drinking, smoking, or sexual activities. Unintentional eating or drinking is forgivable, but there is a punishment for intentionally eating. The point of fasting is to enhance once's awareness of one's dependancy on God and to help relate to other people who are hungry and suffering.

Nation of Islam

Founded in Detroit in 1933 by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad. Does not focus on the Koran or the Sunnah as the primary source of authority. Had a race hierarchy. Fard taught that heaven and hell were actually conditions on Earth, and the later was the fate of whites who rejected Islam. Elijah Muhammad then established control.

LaVey

Founder of the most well-known Satanic group.

Hexakosioihxekontahexaphobia

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

Meaning of the Words Islam and Muslim

Islam is an Arabic word based on the verb salima, which means both "to be safe/enjoy peace" and "to submit or surrender. A Muslim is one who submits themselves to God's will so as to enjoy peace and salvation.

"The Sixth Pillar"

Jihad. The western preconception of Islam is The Religion of the Sword. -Can refer to the Jihad of oneself, as trying to become better for yourself and for God. -Most commonly is seen as a struggle against the enemies of Islam, and the spreading of Islam to the world. -Greater Jihad: Jihad of the self (also called inside Jihad) -Lesser Jihad: Protecting Islam from outsiders (also called outside Jihad)

Cult of Kali

Kali - choatic Hindu goddess. They are portrayed as savage, into human sacrifice, cannibalism, etc. There are also some romantic/superstitious portrayals. Lots of examples of Western saviourism movements.

5P - Zakat

Legal almsgiving, calculated on the basis of one's wealth. This causes conflict and argument

Left-Hand Path

Linked to self-serving magic (or malevolent magic). Satanists can be theistic satanists and non-theistic satanists.

Edward Said

Orientalism refers to Eurocentric assumptions and misrepresentations of Eastern cultures. These cultures are seen as dangerous, unscientific, undeveloped, savage, static, etc. They may also be seen as 'exotic' or 'spiritual,' very romanticized.

Hadith

Refers to a corpus of traditions. Traditionally, the transmission of the Hadith states that Muhammad's companions passed on their memories of Muhammad's teachings and behaviors through memorizing these hadiths, writing them down, and following them. Each hadith is made of the Isnad, the proof, and the Matn, the main text.

Depiction of al-Jahiliya

The Muslim perspective is to turn this time into a barbaric time to show how much Islam saved it. This is not entirely true.

5P - Shahada

The bearing witness to God's unity and Muhammad's messengerhood. There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prohpet. It emphasizes God's oneness. The Shahada is a matter of orthodoxy (straight/correct belief)

Maximalist

The conviction that religion out to permeate all aspect of social, indeed on human experience.

Kabba

The cube. Mecca's ancient sanctuary that was said to contain representations of 360 deities during al-Jahiliya

5P -Salat

The formal prayer-worship service observed five times daily. Must face Mecca.

Fiqh

The human effort to understand and apply the shari'a law using the Koran, the Sunnah, qiyas (analogical reasoning), and ijma (consensus)

Tawhid

The notion of Tawhid is the belief in God's unity. To gain salvation in Islam, a follower must adhere to Tawhid, avoid sinning, and perform good deeds.

5P - Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca during the pilgrimage month. It is expected that every adult who is able to take the pilgrimage will take the pilgrimage at least once in their life. The Hajj requires ritual purification.

Minimalist

The position taken by Kant at the culmination of the Enlightenment, which restricts religion to an important set of concerns, protects its privileges, and but restricts its activity and influence to this specialized sphere.

Al-Jahiliya

The pre-Islamic Arabian era of barbaric ignorance, marked by polytheistic practices.

Koran

Traditionally, the Koran is seen as entirely the product of God as revealed to Muhammad piece by piece. Scholars are uncertain that Muhammad wrote all of the Koran and some say some parts of it were written before Muhammad was born.

Modern Period of Muslim History

Ushered in by Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1798.