Islam Test

Islam

A faith based on ethical monotheism which follows the teachings of the Qur'an revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the one true God known as Allah Means "submission" in Arabic and signifies the commitment of its adherents to live in total submission to God Only human Islam is an Islam of choice, all other living and inanimate things are Muslims to God by nature or instinct Emerged in the 7th century CE, Arabia was bordered to the west by the Christian Byzantine Empire and to the east by the Zoroastrian Sasanian Persian Empire

Sunni

Emphasize the importance of the Sunnah Believe the true line of succession to Muhammad went through the elected Caliphs

Muslim

A person who professes Islam is called a Muslim, meaning "one who submits to God" Most Muslims are born into Muslim families, but one can become a Muslim by repeating before two Muslim witnesses the shahadah (affirms the oneness of God) An older term, rarely used today, is "Mohammedan," which misleadingly-and to Muslims offensively-suggests that Muslims worship the Prophet Muhammad himself

The Shahadah

A profession of faith "I bear witness that there is no god except God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God" By resting the Shahadah in front of two muslim witnesses a person legally becomes a Muslim

The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs: Uthman 644-656

Expanded the Caliphate into North Africa and as far east as Iran The process of producing an official text of the Quran was completed under him

Women's Roles and Rights

Family is the nucleus of the society and is of outmost significance in Islam Women have the central role in the family and upbringing of the children Qur'an makes it clear that men and women have the same religious duties and obligations Islam significantly changed and improved the social status of women recognized their individual/independent being Women's rights are the most controversial issue debated within the Muslim community in the modern time The issue is that the original improvements are no longer sufficient, context has changed

Muhammad

Central figure and founder of Islam, considered the last messenger and prophet sent by God to guide humanity to the correct path Muslims regard Muhammad as the Prophet of the end of time

Muslims in the Modern Times (2)

Answers were multifaceted and diverse reflecting the social and political causes behind the decline One common answer: decline in our faith and lack of adherence to Islamic way of life Solutions were multiple too, but one dominant one was REFORMING AND REVIVING ISLAM

Numbers

Approximately 1.6 billion muslims around the world

Jihad

Arabic for "struggle" 1) A struggle to live as a good Muslim 2) A struggle to build a good Islamic society 3) A holy war to defend Islam

Famous Philosophers and Scientists: Ibn Rushd (Averroes), Cordoba/Spain (1126-1198)

Argued that philosophy was the way of the intellectual elite, while religion was the way of the masses A philosopher who was criticized for trying to blend Aristotle's and Plato's views with Islamic views - was ignored by Muslims

Three Principles of Belief: Nubuwwah

"Prophecy" It is the concept that God has appointed perfect prophets and messengers to teach humanity religion and the true path

Fitrah

Concept that all humans are born with an innate belief in God and his oneness

Famous Philosophers and Scientists: Al-Ghazali, Tus, Iran (d. 1111)

Theologian, Jurist, Philosopher, Mystic Defended mainstream Sunni Islam against the innovations of the theologians and the heresies of the philosophers Determined that true knowledge could not be attained through the senses or rational sciences, but only through divine light that God casts into the heart of the person of faith Struggled to fuse Greek and Qur'anic traditions

Kahin

Oracle A distinction is made in the Qur'an between Muhammad being a prophet and not a Kahin, who are associated with polytheism

Shi'i

Give special authority after Muhammad to Ali, his cousin and son-in-law, and Ali's descendants (the Imams) Devotion to the family of the Prophet is a central characteristic of Shi'ism

Ishmael

Son of Abraham His descendants thought to be the Arabs

Islamic Dynasties: Umayyads (661-750)

Led by the Umayyad family who rose to prominence under Uthman

Shirk

The sin of practicing polytheism

Famous Philosophers and Scientists: Al-Razi, (Rhazes) Ray/Iran (d. 926)

Chemist and Philosopher Rejected creation out of nothing; instead argued that universe evolved from primal matter Floating gas atoms in an absolute void when God imposed order on the primeval chaos; it will eventually return to chaos

Jinns

Invisible beings/spirits created from smokeless fire who have free will

The Spread of Islam

Islam = missionary religion Jews and Christians living in Muslim lands were promised full freedom to practice their faith in return for paying a poll tax that guaranteed them physical and economic protection and exemption from military service - communities came to be known as dhimmis ("protected people") First-century Islam spread through conquest and military occupation The influence of mystics, teachers, and traders has reached farther and endured longer than the power of caliphs and conquerors Through preaching, Islam spread to China, Asia, Africa

Moses

Messenger of God to his own people as well as the Egyptians

The Quran

Primarily concerned with moral issues in actual situations; it is not a legal manual

Noah

Prophet and Apostle of God, one of the earliest of prophets sent by God to mankind

Suras

Qu'ran is divided by suras, verses and liturgical divisions for purposes of recitation Not a narrative text like the Hebrew Bible and many Scriptures

The Book

Quran 114 Surah = chapters 6000 ayah = verses Believed to be an immutable heavenly book containing the eternal Word of God

Last Pilgrimage: Mi'raj

Second part of the Night Journey A miraculous ascent to heaven where he met some of the prophets who had gone before him and was granted an audience with God

Shi'ism

Section of Islam that believes Ali and his descendants were divinely mandated to lead the Muslim community after the Prophet Division within Shi'ism (Isma'ilis vs. Twelvers)

Islamic Law

Shari'ah = Islamic Law A system of law and ethics Islamic law divides all legal acts into either ibadat or mu'amilat Schools of law established in 2nd and 3rd century of the Islamic calendar

Islamic Law: Sources

The Quran The Sunnah

Tafsir

The entire field of Quran interpretation as well as the actual operation of examining the plain text

Five Pillars of Islamic Practice: Shahadah

The first declaration affirms the oneness of God The second declaration signifies acceptance of the truth of Muhammad's claim to prophethood

Ja'fari School

The one major Shi'i school of Law Derived from the name of Ja'far as-Sadiq, the 6th Shi'a Imam Founder of Jafari fiqh, descendant of Muhammad and a prominent Muslim jurist He is revered as an Imam by the adherents of Shi'a Islam and as a renowned Islamic scholar and personality by Sunni Muslims The Shi'a Muslims consider him to be the sixth Imam or leader and spiritual successor to Muhammad The internal dispute over who was to succeed Ja'far as Imam led to schism within Shi'a Islam

The Migration: Ansar

"The helpers", term for the inhabitants of Medina who took Muhammad and his followers into their homes when they left Mecca

Eid al-Adha

1/2 major Eids Festival of the Sacrifice Second and more holy worldwide Muslim festival celebrated each year signifying the end of Hajj pilgrimage Honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son (Ishmael) in an act of submission to God before the intervention of the angel Jibril (Gabriel)

Eid al-Fitr

1/2 major Eids Holiday that marks the end of Ramadan; three-day celebration during which people exchange gifts and well-wishing visits Single day during which Muslims are not permitted to fast, celebrations continue for several days Falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal Before the first breakfast after the long fast, the head of every family must give special alms for breaking the fast, called zakat al-fitr on behalf of every member of the household

Surah Al-Tawhid

112th Surah of the Qur'an also known as Surat al-lkhlas A short declaration of God's oneness "Say He is God, the One God, the Absolute Sustainer He begets not, nor was He begotten And there is none like unto Him"

Hadith

2nd source of authority after the Quran Meaning "narrative"; hadith literature is often called "tradition" It is the most direct expression of Muhammad's opinions or judgments regarding the community's conduct; a collection of sayings of Muhammad Some Hadiths are credible, some are not (writing down what your sister's friend's brother told you that Muhammad said) The body of texts reporting Muhammad's words and example, taken by Muslims as a foundation for conduct and doctrine; a hadith is an individual unit of the literature 6 cannonical hadith collections - Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari and Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj al-Nisaburi are the earliest and most important collectors; they collected hundreds of thousands of hadiths

The Sunnah

2nd source of authority after the Quran Verbally transmitted record of the teachings, acts, deeds, and sayings of the prophet Muhammad The "life-example" of Muhammad's words and deeds, mainly based on the hadith literature; the primary source of guidance for Muslims In situations where he expressed neither approval nor objection, his silence is taken to signify consent; the sunnah of consent became a normative source in the development of Islamic law Transmitted orally and in writing

Last Pilgrimage

632: Muhammad participated in his last and only Hajj to Mecca His every act during his Hajj became a precedent for all Muslims in the future Died 3 months later

Prophets vs. Messengers

A prophet (nabi) is one who conveys a message from God to a specific people at a specific time Muhammad was the last prophet of God A Messenger (rasul) is also a prophet sent by God to a specific community, but the message he delivers is a universally binding sacred law (Shari'ah) Every messenger is a prophet, but not all prophets are messengers

Five Pillars of Islamic Practice

Acts of worship are obligatory for all Muslims, whether in the outer or public obligatory dimension and in the inner or private voluntary dimension Shahadah Salat Zakat Sawm Hajj JIHAD IS NOT A PILLAR OF ISLAM

Sunni vs. Shia

After Muhammad's death, the majority of Muslims (Sunni) believed that Muhammad had no successor Minority of Muslims (Shi'a) believed that Muhammad appointed his cousin and son-in-law Ali to succeed him

Three Principles of Belief: Ma'ad

After death human beings will leave this world and enter another, eternal world After death humans will be resurrected to be judged for their actions and rewarded or punished depending on each persons conduct during life The day of judgement is the day when God decides who will go to Hell or Heaven (Paradise)

Deity

Allah is Arabic for "The God" Muslims believe Allah to be the same God worshipped by Christians, Jews, and other monotheists

Important Battles: Khandaq 627-628

Also known as the Battle of the Trench 27 day long siege of Medina by Arab and Jewish Tribes The defenders of Medina led by Muhammad dug a trench around the city protecting it Decisive Muslim victory which led to their later conquest of Mecca Several Jewish tribes (Banu Nadir, Banu Ghatafan, and Banu Qurayza) joined forces with the Meccans - this was a violation of the Constitution of Medina The Khandaq translates to "trench" which was built around the city of Medina. The Meccans attempted to cross this trench for two weeks but finally gave up Muhammad called for the fate of Banu Qurayza (the supposed neutral tribe) to be decided (massacred) = Islam influential in the region and made the Meccans lose much of their prestige The punishment of the tribe is the men are executed and the women and children are made into slaves

Prophet

An individual who has claimed to have been contacted by a divine being, God, to serve as an intermediary with humanity

Allah

Arabic for "the God" Muslims believe Allah to be the same God worshipped by Christians, Jews and other monotheists The Arabs before Islam recognized Allah as the supreme creator god, but he was not the only recipient of worship 99 names of God in Islam (they refer to his attributes)

Important Battles: Uhud 625

Battle between the Meccans and the Muslim forces from Medina Resulted in a Meccan victory Caused the loss of the Muslims, since the Meccans were able to initiate a surprise attack on the Muslims The Muslim army acted too early on assumed victory, and was defeated by a Meccan cavalry. Muhammad's uncle, Hamza, was killed and Muhammad was injured At the last minute, the Muslim forces rallied and forced the Meccans off Though they did not win, the Muslims were not defeated; represented a punishment for those who let greed for material items get the better of them

Muhammad's Life

Born 570 CE to Abdullah and Aaminah in the city of Mecca, a member of the Quraysh tribe Nickname: Al-Amin (the trusted one) because of the confidence he inspired in people He was an orphan Married Khadijah, a wealthy older widow, and mother of his four daughters: - She was the first to believe in the truth of Muhammad's encounter with Gabriel - He worked as a merchant for her The revelation in 610 the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared before Muhammad and revealed a verse of the Qur'an Hijrah: The migration in 622 to Medina to escape persecution from the polytheistic tribes of Mecca; marked the beginning of community life (Ummah) under Islam A series of battles were fought between the Meccans and the Muslims from Medina Conquest of Mecca 630: Muhammad took Mecca without bloodshed and converted the Meccans to Islam Death: 632 CE

Pre-Islamic Arabia

Called the age of jahiliyah ("foolishness" or "ignorance"); term designates a lack of moral consciousness Before Islam, Arabs did not believe in an after-life, believed in ghosts of slain men Arab society was focused on earthly accomplishments and pleasures, valuing manly prowess and tribal solidarity, and praising the man who made a good name for his tribe to boast of while drowning his existential sorrows in wine, women, and sentimental verse Shared the general Semitic idea of a sacred place (haram) where no living thing could be harmed Had radical class distinctions, social inequality, practice of slavery

Religious Developments in Medina

Change of qibah: Changing the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to facing the Ka'ba in Mecca in 623 Institutionalization of Ramadan: The month long fast of Ramadan was made a yearly institution Institutionalization of Hajj: The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca that takes place in the last month of the year, and that all Muslims are expected to make at least once during their lifetime

Jahiliyyah

Concept of being ignorant of divine guidance Refers to the state of the Arabic people before the revelation of the Qur'an to the prophet Muhammad

Three Principles of Belief: Tawhid

Concept of the indivisible oneness of God as the creator and sustainer of the universe Important in Islam as it recognizes the absolute monotheism of God

Return to Mecca 630

Conquest of Mecca 630: Muhammad returns to Mecca and takes control of the city with no Bloodshed Leads to the conversion of the Meccans to Islam Muhammad gives general Amnesty "I will do with you what Joseph did with his brothers, Go; you are free. There is no blame in you today; God forgives you" (12:92)

The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs: Ali 655-661

Cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, regarded as the fourth and final rightly guided Caliph by the Sunnis and as the first Imam after Muhammad by the Shias Married Fatima, daughter of Muhammad

Sufi: Sama

Devotees listen to the hypnotic chanting of mystical poetry, accompanied by musical instruments Whirling Derwishes - dance is a sophisticated art, symbolizing the perfect motion of the stars

Medinan vs. Meccan Suras

Different from the Meccan ones due to the changed circumstances of that period when Muhammad had become head of the first Muslim community (umma) Medinan Suras passages feature legal and social matters, are more prosaic, and are intended for specific application to the regulation of the umma's life Old themes of warnings, judgements, punishments rewards and God's signs in nature and history are still encountered but are less prominent in Medinan Suras

Famous Philosophers and Scientists: Ibn Khaldun, Tunisia (1332-1406)

Empirical Philosopher, Sociologist He developed an influential theory on the rise and fall of states

Authoritative Texts

Essential text is the Quran ("The Recitation"), believed to have been revealed by God to Muhammad between the years 610 and 632 CE Second in importance is the Hadith ("Narrative"), which are the sayings of Muhammad

The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr 632-634

First Muslim Caliph following the death of Muhammad

Last Pilgrimage: Isra

First part of the Night Journey undertaken by Muhammad in 621 Muhammad travels to the "farthest mosque" where he leads other prophets in prayer - travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem in the course of a single night

Four Sunni Schools of Law: The Hanafiyya School

Founded by Imam Abu Hanifa (699-767 A.D.) of Kufa He left no writings that can be ascribed to him with certainty Less reliance on traditions unless their authority is beyond doubt Greater reliance on Qiyas Founder of theories and principles of Muslim Jurisprudence

Four Sunni Schools of Law: The Hanbaliyya School

Founded by Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (d. 855 A.D.) of Baghdad Sole focus on the Quran and Hadiths as only sources of law The Hanbaliyya was the most conservative of the four schools. Its rigidity and intolerance eventually caused its decline over the years. In the eighteenth century, however, this school was revived with the rise of Wahhabism and the growing influence of the House of Sa'ud. Today, Hanbaliyya school is followed only in Saudi Arabia

Four Sunni Schools of Law: The Malikiyya School

Founded by Imam Malik bin Anas (d. 795 A.D.) of Medina Importance of tradition and public interest The adherents of this school are predominantly in North African countries

Four Sunni Schools of Law: The Shafiyya School

Founded by Imam al-Shafi (d. 820 A.D.) who was a disciple of Imam Malik Definition of sources of law and their hierarchy This school is strong in Lower Egypt, Syria, India and Indonesia.

Imam

General - the person who leads prayers in a mosque Shi'ism - the title given to an individual divinely mandated to lead the Muslim community because he is descended from Muhammad

The Scope of Islamic Law

God is the ultimate lawgiver - Shariah is sacred law, the law of God Shariah originally signified the way to a source of water; metaphorically it came to mean the way to the good in this world and the next - leads the faithful to paradise Actions are classified into 5 categories - they govern all human actions: 1) Lawful (halal) - obligatory 2) Commendable (mustahabb) - recommended 3) Neutral (mubah) - permitted 4) Reprehensible (makruh) - disliked 5) Unlawful (haram) - forbidden The intention and correctness behind an action determines the consequences for the person who commits it

Pre-Colonial Period

Gradual decline of Islamic civilization for various reasons, started after the Mongols Invasions in the 13th century Last 3 great Muslim Empires: - the Mughal dynasty in India; 16-19 centuries - the Safavids (15-18 centuries); Iran; the Qajar Dynasty (18-20 centuries) - the Ottomans (Turkish Empire) 15-20th centuries; ruling over present day Turkey, the entire Arab Middle East, Africa, and parts of Eastern Europe

The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs: Umar 634-644

Greatly expanded the Caliphate

Hijab

Head covering used by Muslim women to show modesty and devotion to God No specific form or type of hijab is endorsed in the Quran - demands that women avoid wearing jewelry and dress modestly Defended by Muslim women as a freely chosen affirmation of their Islamic identity

Abraham

Hebrew patriarch who leads his people away from idol worship and towards the knowledge of God

Premodern Reform Movements: Wahhabi Movement

Ibn Taymiyah's ideas served as basis for this movement; advocated that Muslims should wage war against Muslim rulers Islamic movement popularized in 18th century in Najd region of Arabian Peninsula Led by Muhammad Ibn abd al-Wahhab Al-Wahhab attacked local populations that he regarded as lax religious practices Believed Islam had fallen into a degraded state, demanded return to pure Islam of Muhammad and early caliphs Rallied against polytheistic belief, stressed absolute oneness of Allah, and were against Sufi sects; followers referred to as Muwahhidin or Unitarians Allied with Najdian House of Saud and went on militant religious campaigns but were suppressed by Muhammad Ali's troops The movement results in a successful attack on Mecca and Medina, which underscored the weakness of the Ottomans as they were unable to suppress the revolt on their own Violent against those who did not share the same beliefs, purging Muslim society; extremist groups influenced by this ideology

Faith and Action: Iman vs. Kufr

Iman: Faith, trust, and a personal sense of safety and well-being in God's providential care, mercy, and justice; a deeper level of Islam - total surrender of the human will and destiny to the will of God Kufr: Rejection of faith; knowing the truth but willfully denying or obscuring it by acts of rebellion against the law of God

Shi'ism: Ashura

In 680, Muhammad's grandson Hossein who was considered a threat by the Umayyad imperial dynasty was killed in an unequal battle at Karbala in Iraq The anniversary of his martyrdom is a focal point for the Shi'i community's hopes and frustrations, messianic expectations and view of history (standing up for justice) Commemorated each year during Ashura as a day of suffering, atonement and martyrdom

The Daughters of Allah

In an attempt to appease the Meccans, buy some time and bring relief to his followers from hostility, Muhammad one night had a revelation that Al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat were three female deities, known as daughters of Allah By this revelation Muhammad acknowledged these deities as worthy of worship and whose intercession in heaven was to be sought Acknowledging these deities had the desired effect; monotheism was met with much resistance and hostility Later, the angel Gabriel chastised Muhammad for uttering these verses and informed him that Satan, not Allah, had put these words in Muhammad's mouth and they were idols - verses are infamously known as the Satanic Verses

Faith and Action: Islam vs. Faith

Islam is a religious, social, and legal institution Faith (Iman) is an inner conviction whose sincerity God alone can judge, a commitment to a way of life in the worship of God an in moral relations with other persons Above Islam and faith stands ihsan - doing good or creating beauty Ihsan is a concrete manifestation of both Islam and faith; on the level of personal relationship of the man or woman of faith with God, Ihsan constitutes the highest form of worship

Distribution

Islam originated in Arabia, with the largest Muslim populations today in Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh Muslims are the second largest religious community (behind Christianity) in many Western countries

Noteworthy Doctrines

Islam's prophetic tradition begins with the first created human being (Adam) and ends with the Prophet Muhammad Muslims believe that the first place of worship dedicated to the one true God is Ka'ba in Mecca, built by Abraham and his son Ishmael

Islamic Mysticism: Sufism

Islamic mysticism focusing on the spiritual journey to God Historical tensions between orthodox Islam and Sufism (legal dimension and spiritual dimension) Mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God Mixes mainstream religious observances, such as prescribed daily prayers, with a range of supplementary spiritual practices, such as the ritual chanting of God's attributes (zhikr) or the veneration of saints Sufi - followers of Sufism Suf - leader of Sufism

Quran's Concept of God

It is a sin to associate any other being with God or to ascribe divinity to any but God alone God's essence is unknowable, inconceivable, and above all categories of time, space, form, and number Materiality and temporality cannot be attributed to God; nor can masculinity or feminity, despite masculine references to God in Islamic literature God is known through attributes in the Quran known as the "most beautiful names" sometimes translated as "wonderful names"

Science and Philosophy: Fiqh

Jurisprudence, or the theoretical principles underpinning the specific regulations contained in the Shari'ah A scholar who specializes in this exacting science is called a faqih ("jurist") Islamic jurisprudence is based on four sources - the quran, the sunnah, the personal reasoning of scholars (ijtihad) and the general consensus of the community (ijma) Ijtihad - an open-ended process of personal reasoning of the jurists to deduce laws from the Quran and hadith Ijma - the community's acceptance of applied shariah Qiyas - the process of deductive analogy in which the teachings of the Hadith are compared and contrasted with those of the Qur'an, in order to apply a known injunction to a new circumstance and create a new injunction

Rightly Guided Caliphs

Khalifah (Caliph): One who represents God, a successor to Muhammad (vice-regent) For sunnis, the first four successors of Muhammad are called "The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs": - Abu Bakr - Umar - Uthman - Ali

Ja'fari School (2)

Left no written works, but a rich oral tradition was preserved and eventually codified in the tenth and eleventh centuries as the foundation of the legal system that governs Imami or Twelver Shi'ism Twelver Shi'ism possesses the Shi'i legal school closest to Sunni orthodoxy Taqlid - following the ijithad of a particular jurist; for the sunni it meant following the schools of thought

Lesser Jihad vs. Greater Jihad

Lesser jihad is what Islamist extremists use to justify their violence through a very twisted radical interpretation. Lesser jihad is where the idea of holy war in Islam comes from. It states that violence may be necessary in order to defend Islam. And that is the crucial part: it is meant to be defensive, not aggressive. So Osama Bin Laden would never view his attacks as acts of aggression, but merely as a defensive response, in his rationale. It's important also to note the rest of the Bin Laden family did not support his actions Greater Jihad is all about personal effort. A war with oneself, in a way. This is viewed as a much more important and nobler goal, for if each person practices the greater jihad and strives toward personal cultivation of being a better person, society as a whole will prosper. Any Muslim would tell you that this greater jihad is always more important than the lesser jihad, hence the names.

Ja'fari School: Isma'ilis

Like other Shi'ite traditions, Isma'iliyyah accepts the spiritual authority of the Imam However, unlike the mainstream Twelver Shi'as, the Isma'ilis regard Muhammad's son Isma'il as the seventh Imam and continue the line of Imams through Isma'il and Muhammad's descendants For this reason Isma'iliyyah are known as Sevener Shi'ites (The Twelver Shi'ites regard Isma'il's younger brother, al Must'alias, as the seventh Imam and the line of Imams to continue from him) The seventh Imam, Muhammad, did not die but went into hiding, and will appear as the Mahdi, inaugurating an era in which the old traditions, including Islam, will become obsolete The Isma'ilis believe that Islamic law (the Shari'ah) should be repealed. They reject the Qur'an and all forms of prayers in the main Sunni Islamic tradition. They interpret Islamic teachings spiritually, which frees them from adhering to these laws and obligations such as prayer, fasting, and hajj

Islam and Modernity

Many individuals and groups tried to reform the rest of the Muslim community First major Western challenges to Muslim power were the crusades - determined to liberate Jerusalem from Muslim domination, the armies of the first crusade capture the Holy City in 1099 after massacring Jewish and Muslim citizens

Marriage and Family

Marriage under Islam is essentially a contractual relationship Quran emphasizes the true contract is between the husband and the wife based on mutual consent Quran is explicit in condemning adultery Polygamy (limited to Maximum of 4 with restrict conditions) is allowed, but not recommended and discouraged in the Quran Divorce is allowed but only as a last resort after every effort is made to save the family

Qur'an

Means "The Recitation", and refers to individual passages as well as to their collection in the book Believed to have been revealed by God to Muhammad between the years 610-632 CE It is broken up into 114 chapters called Surahs Aims to create an ummah

The End of Ijtihad

Muhammad declared that "the best generation is my generation, then the one that follows it, and the one that follows after that" This judgment expresses the widely held view that after the normative period of Muhammad and the Four Caliphs, Muslim society grew increasingly corrupt and irreligious Undeclared consensus by the tenth century that the gate of itjihad had closed - no new legal systems would be tolerated Only the experts in religious law (muftis) of each city or country were empowered to issue legal opinions, called fatwas, in accordance with the principles of their respective legal schools

Muhammad as a Prophet

Muhammad's 12 years of preaching went to waste because the Meccans refused to abandon their polytheistic ways Meccans feared the implications of the new faith because of the impact on social customs and religious status of the Ka'ba, which brought economic resources due to pilgrimage He taught moral and social message to give alms, care for the orphans, feed the hungry, assist the oppressed and destitute, and offer hospitality to the destitute; warned of impending doom on the day of judgment Muhammad and followers vilified and in 615 went to the Christian country of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) where they were well received In 619, both his uncle and wife died within two months; loss of father figure and wife After these losses, brought about the "night journey" where he travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem in the course of a single night, and the mi'raj

Qur'an (2)

Muslims have handed down the Quran through the ages by both oral and written means The oral Quran has always been considered to be the primary mode of transmission, reflecting its original revelation to Muhammad through the archangel Gabriel Most Muslims do not believe that the Quran was revealed in any manner that would suggest it was a response to historical circumstances in a casual sense Divine Will is inscrutable and far above all that humans can say or understand about it

Important Battles: Badr 624

Muslims who fled to Medina left their goods and property behind in Mecca. Meccan-born Muslims began raiding Meccan caravans returning from Syria First large-scale important battle between Muhammad and the Quraysh forces from Mecca 624, Muhammad received a revelation that Muslims could resort to armed combat Muhammad's victory is attributed to divine intervention; Muslims win, about 300 against 1000 This was considered a miraculous victory for the muslims since they were greatly outnumbered. This victory signified God was on the believers side; also the objective was to show Quraysh that the Muslims are a force to contend with

Muslims in the Modern Times

Napoleon Invasion of Egypt (1798) marks the beginning of the Modern Period of Islamic History Encounter with Colonial Europe; C 1920 almost entire Muslim nations were under colonial rule with a few exceptions: - weakened and defeated; period of confusion and disbelief; soul-searching - why? what went wrong with us?

Five Pillars of Islamic Practice: Salat

Obligatory daily prayers; distinguished from voluntary devotional acts such as meditations and personal supplicatory prayers (direct contact with God) 5 daily prayers; performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and after dark Must always be preceded by ritual washings (Wudu, "making pure or radiant") Five times a day the melodious voice of a mu'adhdhin chants the call to prayer, inviting the faithful to prayer Prayers are fixed formulas consisting largely of passages from the Quran, especially the opening surah, the Fatihah - Muslim version of the Lord's Prayer

The First Revelation

Once a year, during the month of Ramadan, Muhammad spent days in seclusion in a cave in Mount Hira outside Mecca During one of these retreats in 610, he received the call to prophethood and first revelation of the Qur'an The revelation: An angel (Gabriel) appeared before Muhammad in Mount Hira and commanded him three times to Recite "[or read]" The angel revealed the first five verses of chapter 96 of the Qur'an to Muhammad "Recite in the name of your Lord who created, created the human being from a blood clot. Recite, for your Lord is most magnanimous - who taught by the pen, taught the human being that which he did not know" (96:1-5) The angel Gabriel returned often to Muhammad saying "O Muhammad, I am Gabriel, and you are the Messenger of God" Muhammad was confirmed as a prophet by the learned Christian Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who was Khadijah's cousin Muhammad was chosen by God to deliver a sacred law to his people just as Moses had to the Jews

The Migration: Medina

Originally called Yathrib, it became known as "the city of the Prophet" or Medina ("the city") In 622, an invitation offered by the city of Yathrib, to form the first Muslim community In Medina, Muhammad established the first Islamic commonwealth: a truly theocratic state, headed by a prophet whose rule was believed to follow the dictates of divine scripture (Covenant of Medina) Medina was an oasis city with an agricultural economy. It had a varied social structure with Jews and two feuding Arab tribes (the Aws and Khazraj) who kept the state in civil strife

Famous Philosophers and Scientists: Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Bukhara/Iran (980-1037)

Physician, Philosopher, and Astronomer He affirmed the prophethood of Muhammad, the revelation of the Quran and the immortality of the soul He rejected the Quranic traditions of the resurrection of the body, the reward of paradise, and the punishment of hell

Five Pillars of Islamic Practice: Hajj

Pilgrimage to Mecca Ritual elements understood as reenactments of the experiences of Abraham

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Place where Prophet Muhammad was born and received his first revelations Home to the Ka'ba, the first place of monotheistic worship Muslims believe that the Ka'ba was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, and when they pray they face in the Ka'ba's direction Structure is now surrounded by the Great Mosque of Mecca and is the focal point of the annual hajj (pilgrimage), when more than two million Muslims visit the site over a period of about ten days, with non-Muslims not being permitted to enter The haram, or sacred place where no living thing could be harmed, for Mecca and most of Arabia was the Ka'ba: an ancient square building containing many images of gods and goddesses, and a black stone that is thought to be a meteorite Dominated mainly by the Quraysh tribe Desert hermits who practiced holiness and healing, and a group of Meccan Arabs known as hanifs ("pious ones")

Muslims in the Modern Times (3)

Political approach: Resistance, protest, uprising, fighting against local autocratic rulers, Westernizers, Secularists Cultural Criticism, anti-West discourse denouncing Westoxication Turning Islam into an Ideology; positive impact - provides people with a sense of identity, negative impact - abusive tool for achieving purely political aims

Jesus

Presented in the Qur'an as a miracle who affirms Gods creative and live-giving power Presented as a messenger of God and great prophet, although the Qur'an specifically denies his divinity and him being the divine son of God

Sufism: Ascetics

Rabi'a (d. 801) - female mystic; believed in having an all-consuming love of God, both passionate and spiritual as opposed to fearing God Al Hallaj (d. 922) - "I am the Truth"; ultimate unification with God when in His presence = God takes the form of a human person Ibn Arabi, Spain and Syria (d. 1240); believed that human beings need God but God needs humans to be known - the "unity of being", all things lead to God ultimately Rumi famous 13th century Sufi Persian poet (d. 1273), Mystic (used to be theologian and jurist); close relationship with Shams of Tabriz, experienced spiritual transformation due to Shams disappearing - his work depicts the longing of the human soul for God

Five Pillars of Islamic Practice: Zakat (Alms Giving)

Reflects the close relationship between the worship of God and service to the poor and needy All adult Muslims with wealth were expected to "give alms" through payment of an obligatory tax called the zakat Offering alms is to purify the donor, purging greed and attachment to material possessions Zakat obligation was 2.5% of the value of all accumulated wealth (livestock, savings, agricultural produce) Zakat revenues were kept in a central treasury and disbursed for public educational and civic projects Muslims are expected to practice voluntary almsgiving (sadaqah) - loan is given to God, which will be repaid in manifold measure on the Day of Resurrection

Science and Philosophy

Religious sciences also included theology, philosophy, literature and science The quest for knowledge; contact with Hellenized Christian and Jews in Syria House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikmah) in Baghdad, Iraq, 9th Century CE, massive translations of Aristotle and Plato

Muslims in the Modern Times: Approaches to Reform and Revival in Islam

Return to the way of the SALAF (Prophet and his 4 successors): purity and strength in faith and unity of the Umma Reviving Rationalism that led Islamic Civilization in its golden age when it experienced its peak in science and culture, etc

Faith and Action

Righteousness has 7 components, which also include committing good deeds Righteousness includes patience and steadfastness in times of misfortune or hardship and war, and integrity in one's dealings with others All men and women are equal before God, only surpassing each other in righteousness

Sufi: Devotional Practices

Sufis perform the five daily prayers, but their most characteristic practice is a ritual called the dhikr (remembrance) Repetition of the name of God, Allah, or the Shahadah, often accompanied by special bodily movements and elaborate breathing techniques in certain Sufi orders

Hadith vs. Sunnah

Sunnah is more vast, encompassing whatever Muhammad said or did; the Hadith includes just what he said or was reported to say Sunnah just refers to actions he was reported to have done and hadith just what he was reported to have said, but from my understanding; the Hadith are included in the category of what is Sunnah

The Migration: Muhajirun

The Arabic term (ex: immigrants) for the followers of Muhammad who left with him for Medina

War, Terrorism and Violence

The Middle East has been home to violence and war for the past several decades Many extremist groups misuse Islam as an excuse and rallying point to commit acts of terror for their political aims This has led to a rise in Islamophobia in Western countries especially since the 9/11 terror attacks

Famous Philosophers and Scientists: Al-Farabi, Turkistan/Iran (d. 950)

The Second Teacher after Aristotle Philosopher and Musical Theorist God is pure intellect and highest good from whom emanates the first intellect that generates the heavenly spheres and a second intellect... it continues so...

Ja'fari School: Twelvers

The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, in the Twelver or Ithna Ashariya branch of Shia Islam According to the theology of Twelvers, the successor of Muhammad is an infallible human individual who not only rules over the community with justice, but also is able to keep and interpret the Divine Law and its esoteric meaning The Prophet and Imams' words and deeds are a guide and model for the community to follow; as a result, they must be free from error and sin, and must be chosen by divine decree, or nass, through the Prophet It is believed in Shi'a Islam that Aql, a divine wisdom, was the source of the souls of the Prophets and Imams and gave them esoteric knowledge, called Hikmah, and that their sufferings were a means of divine grace to their devotees Although the Imam was not the recipient of a divine revelation, but has close relationship with God, through which God guides him, and the imam in turn guides the people. The Imamat, or belief in the divine guide is a fundamental belief in Shi'i Islam and is based on the concept that God would not leave humanity without access to divine guidance According to Twelvers, there is always an Imam of the Age, who is the divinely appointed authority on all matters of faith and law in the Muslim community. Ali was the first Imam of this line, and in the Twelvers' view, the rightful successor to the Prophet of Islam, followed by male descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah Zahra Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam, with the exception of Husayn ibn Ali, who was the brother of Hasan ibn Ali The twelfth and final Imam is Muhammad al-Mahdi, who is believed by the Twelvers to be currently alive, and in hiding

Science and Philosophy: Alim (pl. Ulama)

The body of mullahs (Muslim scholars trained in Islam and Islamic law) who are the interpreters of Islam's sciences and doctrines and laws and the chief guarantors of continuity in the spiritual and intellectual history of the Islamic community

The Migration: Hijrah

The migration of Muhammad and the Muslims from Mecca to Medina in 622 in order to avoid persecution and establish a true community (Ummah) of Muslims Marked the starting-point for the dating system used throughout the Muslim world. Abbreviation AH is used for the "year of the hiraj," using the lunar year

Islamic Dynasties: Abbasids (750-1258)

Third caliphate, descended and named after Muhammad's youngest uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib

Islamic Law: Mu'amilat

Transactions Regulates relationships between human beings (human to human) Refers to commercial and civil acts involving interaction and exchange among people under Islamic law

Founder and Principal Leaders

Two major branches of Islam: Sunni and Shi'a Muslims believe Muhammad is the last prophet, but the Shi'a gives special authority after Muhammad to his son-in-law 'Ali and 'Ali's descendants (the Imams)

Umma/Ummah

Umma - The foundations laid by Muhammad of a community based on Islamic principles Ummah - A "community" or society united by faith

Five Pillars of Islamic Practice: Sawm (Ramadan fasting)

Universal form of worship, a month of self reflection, repentance, spiritual cultivation Ramadan was the month in which the Quran was revealed to Muhammad Month-long fast extending from daybreak till sundown; fast is broken at sunset and another light meal is eaten at the end of the night The sick, travellers, children, and women who are pregnant, nursing, or menstruating are exempt from the fast altogether or until they can make up the missed days Becomes a true act of worship when a person shares God's bounty with those who don't have food

Famous Philosophers and Scientists: Al-Kindi, Iraq (d. 870)

Used philosophical and rational methods to defend fundamental teachings such as the Unity and Oneness of God

Sufi: Orders

Usually founded either by a famous shaykh (master) or by a disciple in the shaykh's name Women have played an important role in the Sufi tradition as both positive role models and teachers for both men and women

Compiling the Quran

When Muhammad died, many people had committed the Quran to memory Physical records were fragments written on stones, bones, palm leaves, and animal parchment, which were held in a variety of private collections Quran has been shaped by Muslim history; verses of each surah were arranged by Muhammad at Angel Gabriel's discretion Of the 114 surahs, 1113 are preceded by the invocation; the exception is the ninth surah, which commentators generally believe to be a continuation of the eighth

Content of the Quran

Worldview, ethics, history, spirituality and devotion: Three main doctrines of belief, iman (Talwhid, Nubuwwah, Ma'ad) and the five pillars of practice, 'amal Amal - one looks at each action that he/she does, or about to do, and make sure that it will be pleasing to Allah Muhammad's illiteracy as one of the proofs of the Quran's divine origin Popular uses of the Quran: Recitation in prayer and devotion, protective device against evil spirits and influences, recitation in a new-born child's ears as a blessing, recitation to seal a marriage In recitation of the Quran there is real presence as God's words and their power penetrate the consciousness of the listeners

Islamic Law: Ibadat

Worship Regulates the relationship between God and humans characterized by devotion, obedience and submission to God Expressed through ritual acts of worship such as prayer or fasting