Peace Be Unto You . . .

Wa 'Alaikum Salam

And Also Unto You, Peace

IslamSubmission to the Will of Allah

Meanings Allah is God

Islam means submission

Muslim is one who submits

The Qur’an is the Sacred Text

Descendents Descendents of

Abraham

Ishmael was to be sacrificed

People of Allah

Beginning

Arabia. 7th CE in the city of

Mecca. There was an

important trade route. There were various

tribes in the area. Meccans were know

as traders. The Ka’bah is located

in the city. It is the symbol of

divine power. The keepers were

members of the Quraysh tribe.

One of Many Muhammad is

one of many prophets.

Moses, Isaiah, Elijah, Jesus, etc.

Muhammad The prophet who

spread Islam. Was born in 570 CE

in Mecca. His father died when

he was very young and his mother died soon after.

He went to live with his grandfather who died two years later.

He then lived with his uncle Abu Talib.

The Life of Muhammad He worked as a

caravan driver for a widow whom he later married.

Influenced by Judaism and Christianity.

Revelations While meditating in a cave on

Mt. Hira about 610 BCE the angel Gabriel appeared to him with a message from Allah.

Gabriel told him to receive the message from Allah.

He runs and tells his wife Khadijah who talks to her cousin who is a hanif, a monotheist.

It was determined that Muhammad had a genuine religious experience; he was not going crazy.

Once he understood this he continued with his recitations of Allah’s messages.

His first convert, outside of his household was Abu Bakr, a man of wealth and influence.

Muhammad’s influence In 620 Muhammad is contacted by

some people from Yathrib to be an arbiter and a leader.

Muhammad accepts on the condition that the inhabitants embrace Islam.

Some agreed to practice monotheism and Muhammad sent a teacher with them when they returned to the city.

Muhammad’s Escape Muhammad’s enemies

wanted the prophet dead and planned in secret to kill him.

However, he and a companion escaped and hid out in cave outside of Mecca.

Yathrib (renamed Medina) became the new home of the prophet.

The migration of 622 called the Hijrah is the beginning year of the Muslim calendar.

To Lead or Not to LeadThe Factions

Passing of the Torch

Muhammad 1st successor (caliph) - Abu Bakr 2nd successor - Umar (he was murdered) 3rd successor – Uthman (he was

murdered)

Two Main Groups

Sunnis Make up about 85 percent of the

Muslim community. Accepted Mu’awiyah as the 4th

leader. Traditional. The word sunni comes from the

word sunna which means “tradition”, “example.”

Accepted the legitimacy of orthodox caliphates (leaders).

Partly in response to the Shi’ites, the Sunnis developed a religious, political, legal, and cultural system consistent with their beliefs.

Shi’ites Make up about 15 percent of

the Muslim community. Accepted Ali Bakr as the

4th leader. Their successors are

called imams and Ali is the first imam.

Ali was assassinated. Mu’awiyah was 5th

leader. The word shi’ite comes

from the word shia which means faction.

The Geographic Breakdown

Sunnis Light green

Shi’ites Dark green

Sunnis Their system includes

The successor is chosen by the consensus of the community.

Caliphs are leaders who rule in the name of Allah.

Qur’an and hadiths express the will of Allah.

Sunnis The caliph is the head of the religious

community under which the government exists.

An imam is one who merely leads in the services in the Mosque.

Schools and scholars debate which help to interpret the hadiths and Qur’an and apply to everyday life.

Shi’ites Zaydis Ismalis

separated from the main group

known as the Twelvers or Imamis.

Have continued the successions of imams to the twelfth imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Hujja

SufisThe Mystics of Islam

Sufism It is Islamic mysticism. It is a devotional

movement where inner spiritual life is cultivated.

Sufism is thought to derive from the word suf which means wool.

Sufism highlights genuine Islam and therefore emotions are important.

Sufi Beliefs Mysticism is at the core of it; it

contends that the highest experience one can have is a direct encounter with God.

Two Mighty Sources The Qur’an is

the sacred text for Muslims

The Sunna contains traditions of the prophet

The Qur’an Muhammad did not write the

messages he received nor did he seek them but the messages came to him

The Qur’an: Its “valid” copy is in Arabic and all

other translation are not approved for recitation

It is beautifully written Its authenticity is not doubted It is a compilation

The Qur’an

It is made up of 114 suras (chapters) and each one has a name.

It contains teachings about life and regulations about many things.

It has affected Islamic art.

Some handwritten copies of the Qur’an are artwork themselves.

Passages from the Qur’an can be found on buildings.

The Sunna It is the guide of Muhammad’s

words and practice. These hadiths or traditions of

the prophet were guides to “the practice of Islam along with the Quran and comprise the literary form of the Sunna.”

The PracticeThe Qur’an along with the Sunna form the basis of the beliefs and practices of the faith community.

GovernanceWhat leads the community

Shari’a The Shari’a is the law that governs all life

in Muslim countries It is comprised of several elements

Quran (most important) The Sunna Ijma’ (consensus of the community Qiyas (analogy) Ra’y is sometimes consulted by the

Hanifite school. “Considered opinion of Muslims leaders acting for public good.” WR-Matthews

Islam Worldview

The Absolute

The World Humans The

Problems for Humans

The Solutions for Humans

Community and Ethics

Rituals and Symbols

Life After Death

Islam and Other Religions

Worldview The Absolute

Islam is a monotheistic religion

They affirm the absolute sovereignty of God

God communicates with humans through the Quran, prophets, prayers and the direction of peoples lives.

Some Muslims believe in predestination and others believe that Allah has given humans great freedom.

They denounce anything that may even appear to be idolatrous.

Angels are messengers of God.

Worldview The World

God created the world good but the world is not eternal.

The world was made for humans to enjoy.

Food, drink, marriage, sex, clothing, shelter, property, wealth all good.

Humans Humans

Adam and Eve were the first humans created by God.

Humans are above other creatures.

People are to live together and those who submit to God are brothers and sisters

Women in the Community

Islam improved the status of women and therefore does not tolerate abuse of women. Women are to be cared for, can inherit property but are dependent on men. There roles are not separated from men but are supportive of men.

Problems The Problems for Humans

Although Adam and Eve sinned the effects of sin did not extend to all humans.

“Sin is refusal to submit to the will of God revealed through his prophets, especially his final one, Muhammad.”

Solution The Solution for Humans

Salvation comes when a person acknowledges that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.

One needs to say the Shahada wholeheartedly with no reservations and live according to the Quran to be saved.

One performs the Five Pillars as obligations.

When one does one’s religious duties and “refrains from the prohibitions God will judge in their favor.

Community and Ethics Community and Ethics

A Muslim community is called ummah.

Muslim cities are built around the Mosque.

Everyone is connected to a family.

One gives alms to beggars and community treasury.

There are provisions for more than one wife.

One avoids certain prohibitions

gambling drinking alcohol lying stealing pork eating usury

One is non aggressive but vengeance is required for injustice.

Rituals Rituals and Symbols

Children are a blessing Male child is circumcised

Marriages are arranged It is contractual A man can divorce/remarry up to 3

times Funeral The Mosque is a place of prayer

although there are pulpits in some.

Art Islam has adhere strictly to the

belief of not creating idols. Much of their art work is centered on objects. They use a straight edge and a compass.

Dr. Ann Richey has done some research on Islamic art and presented at a faculty forum in 2001.

http://raider.muc.edu/%7Eritcheam/Islamicart/sld001.htm

http://www.addconsults.com/store/images/ruler.gif

http://www.iit.edu/~smart/sheajan1/Compass.gif

The Role of Women Female roles -

Females have different but complementary roles. Girls are prepared for traditional female roles, such as wife and mother.

In some Islamic countries women work as nurses, doctors and teachers.

Worldview Life After Death

When one dies one will eventually have to face judgment from Allah.

One’s deeds are examined and based on this examination one either enters paradise or hell.

Worldview Islam and Other Religions

Muslims believe that everyone should be a Muslim. Ignorance is the basis of unbelief.

The infidel just needs to know The Christian and Jew have incomplete knowledge.

Although Muslims acknowledge the miraculous birth and the miracles of Jesus he was in no way divine.

Muslims have been known to cooperate with other religions in areas of mutual concerns

Sources An interesting site: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/cib/2001-02/02cib07.ht

m#intolerance

Sources

Slide 1 – http://www.msa-natl.org/images/Islam.jpg Slide 2 –

http://www.my-muslim.com/greeting/v2/create.php?f=salaam/salaam3.jpg&template=

http://www.quraan.com/Muslim/026.asp#002_b26 Slide 4 http://havcamwiltrav.tripod.com/oldsite/allah.jpg Slide 5 –

http://www.pluralism.org/resources/slideshow/jacobs/islam~1b_med.jpg Slide 6 –

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1570000/images/_1573897_011002islam300c.jpg

Slide 7 – http://www.ackland.org/art/exhibitions/islam/images/96.4.1.jpg

Sources Slide 8 –

http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/imagebase/carousel?state=cycle&info=on&startno=5&name=hsa40&sortfield=F01&search=

Slide 9 – http://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-aksum-map-0-700ad.jpg Slide 11 – http://rashedsheikh.20m.com/images/mecca.jpg Slide 12 – http://www.noumenal.com/marc/dadd/caravan.jpg Slide 15 – http://hemsidor.torget.se/users/h/Helper/bilder/islam/Gabriel.jpg Slide 16 – http://www.hotelvallina.com/_borders/medina.gif Slide 17 – http://www.eidmubarak.com/graphics/hijrah/hijrah3_im.jpg Slide 19 –

http://www.lapraik.com/cordeaux/images/quranstandcotton.cover.jpghttp://www.thesaurus-islamicus.li/sunna-small3.gif Slide 20 – http://home.t-online.de/home/henkaipan/qur-001.jpg Slide 21 – http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/cib/2001-02/02CIB07-2.jpg

Sources Slide 26 –

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/765000/images/_769914_leader150.jpg

Slide 28 – http://www.irc.nl/manage/img/imam.jpg Slide 29 – http://www.adhamonline.com/images/news/sufi.jpg http://www.riflessioni.it/images/danza_sufi.gif Slide 32 – http://www.centrum-universel.com/maulana.jpg