PT 13

ALLAH

(GOD) • term with no plural or gender used by Muslims and Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews to reference God - similar to Jewish conceptions of God • central motif of Islam is Greatness of God Alone - all the world and affairs of humankind belong only to Allah. • In Islam, God is said to be beyond all comprehension and Muslims are not expected to visualize or create images of God. Rather Allah is described and referred to by certain names or attributes - the most common being "The Compassionate" and "The Merciful" • The purpose of existence is to worship Allah and follow Allah's will. • Allah is viewed as a personal god - there are no intermediaries, such as clergy, to contact God. Allah says in the Qur'an, "I am nearer to him than (one's) jugular vein." • Islam states that if Allah is truly great, Allah can be worshipped anywhere and by anyone in the simple forms prescribed by tradition - there is no need for lavish embellishments in the religious sphere such as elaborate rites, symbols or priesthoods

MECCA

- sacred city of Mecca in the Arabian peninsula • navel of the world - birthplace of Muhammad and site of his first revelation; where all Muslims direct their prayers - home of the Kabaa

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

1) FAITH - believe in no God but Allah; also, Muhammad is his prophet and messenger of Allah 2) PRAYER - pray 5 times each day: before sunrise, early afternoon, late afternoon, after sunset, night 3) FASTING - give up food and drink during daylight hours in the month of Ramadan 4) ALMSGIVING - give a share of personal wealth to help people in need and support the Muslim community 5) PILGRIMAGE -perform a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime

SUFISM

ISLAMIC MYSTICISM Parallel movement to the rise of Islam • In the early stages, thought the Caliphs were corrupt and unresponsive to the best intentions of Islam - considered themselves as the true proponents of the purest, original, and eternal form of Islam. • Considered unorthodox or heterodox by some • Sufism combined 2 streams of thought in Islam - ascetic and devotional • practiced a quiescent asceticism with experiential wisdom, meditation, and ecstasy • The mystical experience was often expressed in devotional terms - using the metaphor of love and the dawning of an inner illumination (both gifts of the divine)

THE SUNNAH, THE HADITHS, AND SHARI'AH (LAW) *HADITH & SHARI'AH

SUNNAH: "the Way of Muhammad" - verbally transmitted record of the teachings, deeds, habits, practices, sayings, and silent permissions/disapprovals of Muhammad - recorded in the Hadiths • Muhammad was the model of excellence for Muslims and how one molds life in accord with the will of God. *HADITH*: "report", "account", "narrative" • Traditions based on extra Qur'anic sayings and examples from the life of Muhammad and many reports about Muhammad's companions - seen as important tools for understanding the Qur'an - compiled long ago by family and companions • Individual hadith are classified by Muslim clerics/jurists as "authentic", "good" or "weak". but, there is no overall agreement; different groups may be classify a hadith differently Along with the Quran, the Sunna and the Hadiths are 2 primary sources for Islamic theology and law *SHARI'AH*: Islamic Law • • deals with many topics, including crime, politics, and economics, and personal matters (intercourse, hygiene, diet, prayer, everyday etiquette, fasting) • Derivation differs between sects of Islam

IMAM

The mosque, where Muslims come together for prayer meditation, religious instruction, political discussion, and general education - usually lead by an Imam (learned teacher)

QUR'AN *shirk

a religious text considered to be the exact words of God (Allah) and God's Will to humanity • a book of guidance, most concerned with ethical, moral, social and spiritual topics - viewed as the final revelation and literal word of God to humanity • Widely regarded as the finest literary work in Arabic • Muslims believe it's the most important miracle of Muhammad, who was illiterate, and proof of his prophethood • Considered divine in origin and the eternal message of God • Revealed in Arabic to Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel and written down • It summarizes or presents alternative accounts and interpretations of major narratives from Jewish and Christian scriptures; emphasizes the moral significance over its sequence. ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES • Pure, Absolute Monotheism (like Judaism) • Central message is oneness: the unity of the line of prophets, oneness of the final prophet and the book, oneness of the People of God, submission to this oneness, and the supreme oneness of God • Expressed in avoidance of *shirk*, sin of practicing idolatry; avoiding images and representational art which people may worship. Shirk includes worship of wealth and material objects • All Muslims must say once a day "There is no God but Allah" and "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" • Muslims must pray 5 times a day ESCHATOLOGY • The doctrine of the "Last Day, "the Day of Judgment, "the Day of Resurrection" • Man's existence is dependent on the will of God: when he wills, he causes man to die; and when he wills, he raises him to life again in resurrection • On the Day of Judgment all people must pass the As-Sirat Bridge; for sinners, as thin as a hair and as sharp as a sword - below are the fires of Hell. Those who performed acts of goodness in life are transported across the path in speeds, according to their deeds, leading them to Paradise • Qurʼan lists several sins that can condemn a person to hell (disbelief in God, dishonesty); but, God will forgive the sins of those who repent • Good deeds (charity, prayer, compassion for animals) will be rewarded with entry to heaven. Muslims view heaven as a place of pure joy and bliss

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD

• Born in Mecca • Tradition claims Muhammad was a descendant of Abraham through the lineage of Ishmael • at 40 in Muhammad began to have revelations from God, conveyed through Archangel Gabriel (Jibril) - these revelations were recorded in the Qur'an • For 10 years he implored fellow Meccans to listen, but he and his followers were met with persecution - they saw his message as a threat • he and his followers migrated to Medina - journey is known as the Hijra ("flight/emigration") • Muhammad returned and led an army to vanquish his former fellow-citizens; Muhammad showed mercy and majority of Meccans became his followers • his message was spread throughout Arabia, uniting the disparate tribes - became a religious leader, political ruler, and military commander

KABAA

• Mecca is home to the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, a temple housing idols of Arabian "pagan" deities. • Commanded by Allah, Abraham and his son Ishmael re-built the Kaaba (originally built by Adam) and invited people to perform pilgrimage there. • The Black Stone on the Kaaba is believed to have come down from the Heavens to show Adam and Eve where to build the first temple on Earth; was re-discovered by Abraham and then Muhammad • By Muhammad's time, the Kaaba was a sacred center for Arab polytheistic cults; held 360 idols of the Meccan gods. Muhammad "cleansed" the Kaaba by destroying the idols, and re-consecrating the building to Allah • Muhammad performed his only and last pilgrimage with a large number of followers, and instructed them on the rites of Hajj

ISLAMICISM

• Movement within Islam seeking restoration of Muhammad's original vision of an Islamic social and political order - advocate a return to a world wide Caliphate ruling that follows Islamic Law • Extreme Islamicists fight against Western political and economic domination, which they believe is exploitative, corrupt, and hedonistic - undercuts traditional values and their commitment to "justice and equality" • small percentage of radical Islamicists have used the idea of jihad as "holy war", to justify using violence • Western values and its history of political domination were seen as an attack on Islam's principles • majority of Muslims and Muslim leaders strongly condemn their acts and believe they go against the teachings of Islam ISIS/ISIL/IS • ISIS - Islamic State of Iraq and Syria; ISIL - Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; IS - Islamic State • jihadist extremist militant group; self-proclaimed Islamic state and caliphate, led by and mainly composed of Sunni Arabs from Iraq and Syria • claimed to be a worldwide caliphate, with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as its caliph, in 2014 • ISIS propaganda: the armies of Rome will meet the armies of Islam in Syria; Islam's final showdown with the anti-Messiah (Iranian and U.S.-led forces) will occur in Jerusalem after a period of renewed Islamic conquest. The Islamic State waits for the enemy army in Dabiq (Syria), whose defeat will initiate the countdown to the apocalypse. Dajjal, will kill many caliphate's fighters, until 5,000 remain, cornered in Jerusalem. Before Dajjal finishes them off, Isa (Jesus Christ), will return to Earth with the Mahdi (Messiah) and spear Dajjal, leading Muslims to victory."

CHAIN OF PROPHETS

• Muslims believe that Islam is the unaltered, original, complete and universal version of a primordial faith revealed many times through the chain of prophets: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus • previous messages and revelations have been misinterpreted, forgotten, or denied by Jews and Christians over time

ISLAM IN A HISTORICAL RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

• Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was the "seal of the Prophets", the last and final prophet of God, who received the complete and final revelation from God, recorded in the Qur'an • Same urgency in the Qur'an also found in teachings of Jesus in the NT - this final revelation is humanity's last chance - if man fails to heed Allah's teachings, he will be forever damned • God's message is universal; emphasis on the brotherhood/sisterhood of humanity • reject the divine status of Jesus, consider Jesus as Islam's 2nd greatest prophet • strict adherence to the "one and only God" (Allah); there are disagreements about the nature of God, purpose of humanity, relationship of God and humans, sin, forgiveness, salvation, the afterlife, etc.

HAJJ

• Pilgrimage to Mecca; stretches back to time of Abraham • Mandatory religious duty for Muslims; must be carried out at least once in their lifetime if physically and financially capable and can support their family during their absence. • Practices: Pilgrims perform ablutions, circumambulation, prayer, take vows (celibacy) and rituals and sacrifices related to Islamic theology and cosmology • Millions flock here; pilgrimage is a supreme act of submission and selfabnegation and has a spiritual merit that provides the Muslims with an opportunity of selfrenewal; serves as a reminder of the Day of Judgment when Muslims believe people will stand before God

ARCHANGEL GABRIEL

• Qur'an was revealed in Arabic to Muhammad by Angel Gabriel • During last 22 years of his life, Muhammad had revelations from God, conveyed through the Archangel Gabriel (Jibril) - which were recorded in the Qur'an - goes on Night Journey w/ Muhammad

SUNNI/SHIA DIVISION ABU BAKR/ALI CALIPH/UMMAH MAHDI/DAIJAL

• Sunnis make up the majority of Muslims • Sunni Islam is the normative Islam of most places (SE Asia, China, S Asia, Africa, and most of Arab world) • Shia Islam is the majority in Iran, S Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, and Yemen • the Sunni-Shia split - schism occurred when the prophet Muhammad died; led to fight over his succession as Caliph (leader) of the Islamic community (Ummah) • Sunnis believe Muhammad's rightful successor was Abu Bakr (his father-in-law and one of his first disciples) • Shi'as believe Ali (his cousin, son-in-law, closest living male relative) was divinely appointed as successor to Muhammad and as the first Imam • Abu-Bakr became 1st successor; Ali became the 4th; it is believed that followers of AbuBakr assassinated Ali's son, Hussein ibn Ali , disrupting that line of succession and exacerbating the division between the Sunni and Shia SUNNI ISLAM • Sunna = "well-trodden path" - comes from 'Sunnah' which means the sayings/actions of Prophet Muhammad • beliefs and practices are based on the Qur'an and a larger number of hadith's compared to Shias • Also follow the teachings of the Ulama [community of interpreters/councils which form a consensus (ijma) as to how the first two authorities are to be interpreted] • Analogical reason, consideration of public welfare and juristic discretion are used to arrive at conclusions to religious questions not explicitly treated in the Qur'an SHI'A ISLAM • believe Imams (divinely inspired leaders/teachers) were authorized interpreters speaking for Allah rather than the Ulama of the Sunnis • believe in 12 Imams who were descendants of Prophet Muhammad - all except the last were killed by Caliphs, who came to be seen as usurpers wanting to destroy the true spokesman in each generation • Some believe the last imam is still alive but hidden - known as the Mahdi, prophesied redeemer of Islam who will rule before the Day of Judgment and rid the world of evil, along with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Isa); together they will fight Dajjal ("false Messiah"/Antichrist) and unite mankind • believe in the power of the imams and saints, performing acts of worship and pilgrimages to their tombs - Sunni's reject this • Within 100 years of Muhammad's death, the Caliphs (deputies of the Prophet as temporal ruler) spread Islam through military conquest, political savvy, and voluntary conversion • The Caliphate became a central unifying force in Islam

ISRA AND MI'RAJ

• The Isra and Mi'raj are the 2 parts of a "Night Journey" Muhammad took in one night; a physical and spiritual journey • In the journey, Muhammad travels with Archangel Gabriel on Buraq (a divine horse) to "the farthest mosque" (in Jerusalem) where he leads other prophets in prayer • he ascended through 7 levels of heaven, past Prophets and Angels, and eventually spoke to God, who gave him instructions to take back to the faithful

ISLAM

• youngest major world religion; 2nd largest religion - 1.62 billion followers; 23% of population • fastest-growing major religion • it is the most homogenous religion in terms of beliefs and practices when compared to the other two great cross-cultural faiths: Buddhism and Christianity • monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the Qur'an, a religious text considered to be the verbatim word of God (Allah) and God's Will to humanity • relating to concepts of wholeness and peace "Islam" means submission" or surrender" - "voluntary submission to God - Allah • Muslim means "one who submits" or surrenders" • Muslims believe Islam is the unaltered, original, complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through the chain of prophets • messages and revelations have been partially misinterpreted, forgotten, or denied by Jews and Christians over time. Muslims are obliged, according to the Qur'an, to treat their older scriptures (OT and NT) with the utmost respect