Islam

A Brief Introduction

Some Initial Ideas

slm or salaam Peace or Wholeness Submission

Participial Form – Muslim – one who submits

Figures

1.2 million Muslims 56 countries Fastest growing

religion in the world

Only 20% of Muslims are Arab Most Arabs are

Muslim; most Muslims are not Arab

Largest Muslim population is in Indonesia

Muhammad

Born c.570 CE near Makkah

Father Abdullah Mother Amina Grandfather Abd-al-

Muttalib Uncle Abu-Talib

Major Life Events

Met Khadijah at 25

610 first of his revelations

619 Abu-Talib dies; marries Sawdah

Lailat ul-Miraj

Night of Ascents

Conversations with important figures in biblical history

Muslim rules for prayer revealed

More Life Events

Fled from Makkah to Yathrib in 622

Yathrib becomes Madinat or City of the Prophet

Madinat and Makkah at war for a number of years

Muhammad eventually rules both cities before his death in 632.

Caliphate

caliph = successor

Four Rightly Guided Caliphs Abu Bakr (632-634) Umar ibn al-Khattab (634-

644) Uthman ibn Affan (644-

656) Ali (656-661)

Questions of Succession

Ali Married to Fatima

(only surviving child of Muhammad and Khadijah)

Cousin of Muhammad Partisans who favored

him called Shiah

Once Ali was caliph Challenged by Aisha

(widow of Muhammad and daughter of Abu Bakr)

Mu’awiyah (Umayyad and governor of Syria)

Kharajites Umayyad Dynasty

661-750

Sunni and Shia(h)

85% Sunni Four Rightly Guided Political and Military

leadership key – not religious

15% Shiah Power grab by Sunni Direct descendents of

prophet’s family Not a prophet but still

inspired

Shiah

Zaydi or Fivers Zayd ibn Alia Yemen 893-1963

Isma’ili or Seveners Jafar al-Sadiq Agha Khan

Twelvers Muhammad al-Muntazar mujtahids

Current Agha Khan

Sufi

Tariqah – spiritual or interior path

Started as a reform movement

Feasting, poverty, celibacy, rhythmic chanting, breathing exercises, whirling dervish

Five Pillars of Islam

Basic Duties and Obligations of all Muslims

Explain the relationship between the believer and Allah

Number One: Shahadah There is no god but

Allah and Muhammad is his messenger

Public declaration before two witnesses

Number Two: Salah

Five times daily Fajr, zuhr, asr,

maghrib, isha

Wudu or ritual cleansing

No shoes Proper Dress Rakah Salat al-jama’ah

Number Three: Zakah

Purity

Charity

At the end of the year, if you have 85 grams of gold after expenses, you give at a rate of 2.5%

Number Four: Sawm or Fasting

During the month of Ramadan

No food, water, smoking or sex during daylight hours

Menstruating, pregnant, nursing women are exempt as are the sick, elderly, and young children

Those in military service or on a long journey are also exempt

Donate cost of meals if you cannot do the fast

Number Five: Hajj or Pilgrimage

Dhu al-Hijah Haram Ihram Tawaf Ka’aba Once in your lifetime

Scripture

Qur’an means ‘recitation’ It was revealed to Muhammad over 23 yrs (610-622) by the angel Gabriel

Oral and fluid in his lifetime

The “Satanic Verses” were once heard, but later declared not right

More on the Qur’an

Zayd ibn Thabit Abu Bakr Uthman

114 surahs Verses are ayah/ayat

Tajwid – proper pronunciation

Tilawah – reading with all of your heart, soul, mind, strength

Hadith

Talk or speech Story or matn List of names or isnad

Hadith qudsi Divine revelations

Hadith sharif About Muhammad’s life

Provide the Sunnah or the foundation used to develop Shariah (Islamic legal system

Shariah

Four Sources Qur’an Hadith Qiyas (analytical

reasoning) Use analogies

Ijma (Consensus) Ulama or religious

scholars

Two Main Divisions Ibadat

Fundamental duties or obligations

Muamalat Contract, International,

Family Law. Social Duties.

Wahhabi

Muhammad ibn Abd-Wahab (1703-1791)

Muwahiddun Brotherhood of

Ikhwan Neo-Wahabbism

Ikhwan Salifiyya Taliban

Key Dates 1811 1818 1821-1833 1884 1889 1902 1932