Islam Unit 4
Discuss 4-5 ways that Muslims and Arabs have contributed to science. What are specific examples? Why do you think this information is not very well-known? Be sure to name the scientists
Ibn Sina- Free hospitals and treatments using herbs Al-Razi- Separated mentally ill patients to study diseases better Jaber ibn Haiyan- Chemist, discovered things such as sulfide of mercury, oxides Al-Khawarizmi- Wrote the first book on Algebra, comes from al-jabr The information is not well known because of white supremacy, orientalism, pride, and hegemony
Prayer on plantation painting?
Incorrect view of plantations, glorified view of it, too peaceful, they were not given that right to pray on plantation, she was not black
Someone asks you what "Islam" says about women. How do you respond? In your answer, refer to some of the points that Abu-Lughod raises, note some Qur'anic verses we've read about women, and other discussions we've had about women and Islam in class.
It depends. Some fiqh or quranic verses are incredibly progressive. Quran says women and men are different, but equal Laws surrounding divorce are protective of women, making sure the husband supports her, especially if she is pregnant Muslim women also see the hijab as liberating and a celebration of their faith and a way to be pious and closer to God
Ghadir Khum
Muhammad pulled over while heading back to Medina and named Ali as his successor, Shia belief
Ummah
Muslim community, global muslim community
Discuss the history of the creation of the mujahideen. How are they related to the Taliban?
Operation cyclone, members of the Taliban took these skills and used them as the Taliban
Dhikir
Remembrance of God, often dance in Sufism
How and when did Islam first arrive in the United States? How did it evolve with time?
Slavery, they found small ways to practice like with prayer and avoiding pork, it did not survive intergenerationally, it came back around with Nation of Islam and the "new holy quran"
Discuss the various branches and sub-branches of Islam that show the religion's internal diversity. What are some key differences among these groups? If there's an essential teaching or teachings of Islam, what are they?
Sufism- mystical Islam, annihilation of self Wahhabism- variation within Sunni Islam, started in early 1700s, very literal interpretations, main piece in Saudi Arabia now Bahai faith- Persecuted in Iran, started as a sect but now is a different religion, did not believe Muhammad was any more important of a prophet than anyone else Ismailis- Offshoot of shiaism, believes line of Imams stopped earlier than Shias Ahmadiyya- persecuted in Pakistan, former sect, more liberal than Sunnis, believe their founder was a prophet Nation of Islam- More of a focus on black empowerment
Eid al-Fitr
Takes place at the end of Ramadan, and translates as "the festival of the breaking of the fast"
Discuss the historical and political origins of the Nation of Islam. When, why, and how did it emerge? How has it evolved?
Timothy Drew starts the first mosque in Newark, 1913, Moorish temple founded in Chicago in 1925 "Holy Koran" written in 1927, mixed christianity, islam, and freemasonry Claimed African Americans belonged to an asiatic race, moorish nation Denounced "negro", claling black people "so-called negroes" Eventually NOI is founded, Elijah Muhammad is the leader Encourages people to open businesses, focused on economics greatly Advocated for the separate state for black people Yakub Malcom X joins, rises to almost leader, silenced, leaves, becomes Sunni FBI and NOI are said to be involved in his assassination Programs did help black people Nation is smaller and more Islamic today, less focused on separate state for black people and what not
Why do Muslims uniquely not like the US, as opposed to Canada or other western countries?
US intervention, international affairs
What are 2-3 questions she raises that challenge popular claims about Muslim women?
What is freedom? Whose job is it to save people? Who is qualified to pass judgment? Why are you really bringing up women?
What is the overall argument that Abu-Lughod makes in "Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving"? How does she support this argument?
Women have been used to justify military intervention for years. Regardless of whether or not they should be saved is not the problem, the problem is the hypocrisy from those who are claiming to "save" them. She looks at the hijab and Afghanistan intervention, and also cites the Englishman who accuses Egypt of being wrong while actively silencing women's suffrage in England.
Rabia al-Adawiyya
Founder of sufism, in 801 she turned her back on the world and focused on God
Husayn
Grandson of Muhammad and a son of Ali, third Imam of Shia Islam
Why does Malcom X change his views?
Hajj, saw races getting along, became sunni
Eid al-Adha
Honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as an act of obedience to God's command, 10th day
Fanaa
Annihilation of the things that keep you from God, ego/self
What is the most diverse group of Muslims in the US?
Black muslims
Operation Cyclone
CIA operation that made the Mujahideen (osama bin laden in it) to fight off the USSR
Karbala
City in Central Iraq, holy site for Shia Muslims, celebrates martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali and Abbas ibn Ali, Mourners beat themselves because of the guilt of the shias that did not go help Husayn before he was decapitated
Sufism
Divine version of Islam, not a branch but part of Shia and Sunni, believes in humility where you put god before yourself, dhikr and remembrance important, lots of music and dancing, annihilation of bad parts of yourself and even yourself, personal relationship with God is emphasized
Why did Malcom X leave NOI?
Elijah Muhammad affairs, embezzlement of funds, silenced for 90 days after JFK "chickens come home to roost" comment