ISLAM: Submission to the Will of God

1. ISLAM: Submission to the Will of God

2. The Judeo-Christian Foundations of Islam

3. Origins of the Faith • Mohammed 570-632 • Visions: 610 • Corrections to other faiths • Social Justice for the Poor • Uma • Hijrah: 622 • Battle with enemies

4. IslamAn Abrahamic Religion • Muslims are strict monotheists. • They believe in the Judeo- Christian God, which they callAllah. • Muslims believe that the Torah and the Bible, like the Qur’an, is the word of God. Peoples of the Book

5. Abraham’s Genealogy HAGAR ABRAHAM SARAH Ishmael Isaac 12 Arabian Tribes Jacob Esau 12 Tribes of Israel

6. The Prophetic Tradition Adam Noah Abraham Moses Jesus Muhammad

7. The Qur'an: God's Last Revelation

8. The Origins of the Qur’an • Muhammad received his first revelation from the angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610. • 622 Hijrah  Muhammed flees Mecca for Medina.* The beginning of the Muslim calendar (1 A.H.) • Muhammad’s revelations were compiled into the Qur’an after his death.

9. The Qur’an • Muslims believe it contains the word of God. • 114 suras (chapters). • In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful. • Written in Arabic.

10. The Five Pillars of Islam

11. 1. The Shahada • The testimony. • The declaration of faith: There is no god worthy of worship except God, andMuhammad is HisMessenger [or Prophet]. 1

12. 2. The Salat • The mandatory prayers performed 5 times a day:* dawn* noon* late afternoon * sunset * before going to bed • Wash before praying. • Face Mecca and use a prayer rug. 2

13. 2. The Salat • The call to prayer by themuezzin in the minaret. • Pray in the mosque on Friday. 2

14. 3. The Zakat • Almsgiving (charitable donations). • Muslims believe that all things belong to God. • Zakat means both “purification” and “growth.” • About 2.5% of your income. 3

15. 4. The Sawm • Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. • Considered a method of self- purification. • No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. 4

16. Eid Mubarak End of the Ramadan holiday.

17. 5. The Hajj • The pilgrimage to Mecca. • Must be done at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime. • 2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year. 5

18. Why is Mecca the Holy City? • The Ka'ba is a mosque (built by Abraham according to Muslim tradition) built around a black stone. The Prophet Muhammad designated Mecca as the holy city of Islam and the direction in which all Muslims should offer their prayers. The Ka'ba is believed to be the first place that was created on earth {2} and the place at which heavenly bliss and power touches the earth directly. {3} Mecca is located in the Hijaz region of western Saudi Arabia.

19. 5. The Hajj • Those who complete the pilgrimage can add the titlehajji to their name. 5

20. 5 Pillars of Islam Summarized • 1) No other God but Allah • 2) Pray 5 times/day • 3) Fasting • 4) Giving to the poor • 5) Pilgrimage to Mecca

21. The Mosque • The Muslim place of worship.

22. The Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem Mount Moriah Rockwhere Muhammad ascended into heaven.

23. After Muhammad Dies • Islam splits into two groups: • Sunni (followers of Muhammad’s customs) • Shiites or Shi’a (supporters)

24. The differences between the Sunni and Shiite Islamic sects are rooted in disagreements over the succession to the Prophet Muhammad, who died in 632 AD, and over the nature of leadership in the Muslim community. The historic debate centered on whether to award leadership to a qualified, pious individual who would follow the customs of the Prophet or to transmit leadership exclusively through the Prophet’s bloodline. The question was settled initially when community leaders elected a companion of the Prophet’s named Abu Bakr to become the first Caliph (Arabic for “successor”). Although most Muslims accepted this decision, some supported the candidacy of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, husband of the Prophet’s daughter Fatima. Ali had played a prominent role during the Prophet’s lifetime, but he lacked seniority within the Arabian tribal system and was bypassed.

25. Movement can be identified in differences with the Shi'a Dominating continuously since 661CE Sunni Islam claims to be continuation of revelations passed to Muhammad Believe Caliphs did not have to be from the Prophet’s family Believe Prophet did not designate a successor and his sunna were based on mandated elections, which they wanted to abide to Believe that any good Muslim can be a leader Leaders come from agreements of consensus and do not recognize special sacred wisdom in their leaders Believe that ‘Ali is not a “divine light” from the Prophet Importance of Sunna (meaning “customs” included in Hadiths) Shari’a: Islamic law was established Sunni

26. Sunni

27. Believe in Muhammad’s teachings and religious guidance of his family, which is referred to Ahl al-Bayt Bloodline continues through daughter, Fatima, and Son-in-law/cousin, ‘Ali Believe descendants are Imams fathered by ‘Ali First three rulings of Sunni Caliphs is seen as an occurrence in history and not something that is connected to faith Muhammad directed ‘Ali as successor on many occasions; he is the rightful leader of Muslim faith ‘Ali is seen as a divinely appointed imam ‘Ali has power to add to Hadith and continue newly found beliefs of Islam Shi'a believe in holy books after the Quran, including the Mushaf Fatima (Book of Fatima), Al-Jamia, and Al-Jafr (The Parchment) Branches in Shi'a: Twelvers: Twelve rightful Imams and Alawites: believe ‘Ali is the incarnation of God Shi'a

28. Shi'a

29. Differences came about immediately after Muhammad’s death Differences in Shi'a and Sunni beliefs have led to separation and difference in praying Differences have led to violence today, which have led many to die especially in the Middle East Division is not unique to Islam but has also been a reality in both the Jewish and Christian faiths Summary

30. Other Islamic Religious Practices • Up to four wives allowed at once. • No alcohol or pork. • No gambling. • Sharia body of Islamic law to regulate daily living. • Three holiest cities in Islam:* Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.

31. Essential Question: Why was Islam able to spread so quickly and convert so many to the new religion?

32. The Spread of Islam: The Empires • Umayyad Caliphate—661-750 • Conquered Arabian Peninsula and parts of the Middle East • Discouraged conversion at first—Afraid of delusion • Eventually built Mosques and Schools (Madrassa) and became the center of learning • Wealthy people wanted to convert and it spread to lower classes

33. The Umayyad Caliphate The expansion of the caliphate under the Umayyads.   Expansion under Muhammad, 622–632   Expansion during the Rashidun Caliphate, 632–661   Expansion during the Umayyad Caliphate, 661–750

34. Umayyad Caliphate

35. The Abbasid Caliphate: 750-1258 • Islamic not Arab Empire—made it more attractive to be Muslim • Required government officials to be Muslim • Conversion expanded • Major advances in learning: University, Algebra, Classical Philosophy, Medicine • Literature: Arabian Nights, Inspiration for many European Works

36. The Spread of Islam • Easy to learn and practice. • No priesthood. • Teaches equality. • Non-Muslims, who were “Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes. • Easily “portable” nomads & trade routes. • Jihad—Sacred Struggle.

37. Muslims in the WorldToday

38. Countries with the Largest Muslim Population * Arabs make up only 20% of the total Muslim population of the world.