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Islam

Islam. Introduction ‘There is no God but God’. Diversity?. Introduction. Over 1 billion adherents ( estimates vary, but around 1.3) D iversity influenced by: Language Country Ethnicity Sectarian identity Contrast with non-Muslim neighbors But similar, especially in: Rituals

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Islam

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  1. Islam Introduction ‘There is no God but God’

  2. Diversity?

  3. Introduction • Over 1 billion adherents (estimates vary, but around 1.3) • Diversity influenced by: • Language • Country • Ethnicity • Sectarian identity • Contrast with non-Muslim neighbors • But similar, especially in: • Rituals • Almost universal use of Arabic in prayer • Koran as the literal word of God

  4. Introduction • Curious case of, for example, U.S. and Canada • Tendency to bring together diverse elements • Confusion between culture and religion • Among Islam’s contributions have been: • The number zero • The algebraic system • Elliptical orbits in astronomy • Preservation and reintroduction of Hellenistic philosophy (e.g. Aristotole) and literature

  5. Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? • Abrahamic Religion • Ishmael not Isaac

  6. Islam: History

  7. History: pre-islamic religion • The Times of Ignorance • Tribal Religion • Little thought of afterlife – not well defined • Fate • “They say, ‘There is nothing but our present life; we die, and we live, and nothing but Time destroys us.’ Of that they have no knowledge; they merely conjecture. And when Our signs are recited to them, clear signs, their only argument is that they say, ‘Bring us our fathers, if you speak truly.’ (Sura 45.24-25)

  8. Pre-islamic religion • Mecca • The Ka’ba • Religious center for tribal deities • Later to be Islam’s most holy place of worship and pilgrimage • Allah as the high God • The place and role of Qurayshat Mecca

  9. Muhammad • Vehicle for God’s message (later compiled as Koran) • Focus for Islam is God’s revelations to Muhammad, not Muhammad himself • Muhammad’s miracle is reception of Qu’ran (although later miracles are attributed to him) • Considered perfect example for humanity • Sunnah (way Muhammad lived- to be exemplified) • Muhammad will later work from generalizations in the Koran and apply them to specific situations

  10. Muhammad • b. around 570 A.D. • Youth • Signs: the monk Bahira • Marriage to Khadija • Turning point: Mystical experience at cave • Encounter with the angel Gabriel: “one terrible in power, very strong; he stood poised, being on the higher horizon, then drew near and suspended hung, two bows’-length away, or nearer, then revealed to his servant that he revealed. (Sura 53.5-10)

  11. Mohammad • First followers • Khadija (wife) • Ali (cousin and son-in-law; married to Fatimah) • Growth of the umma • Flight from Mecca to Yathrib, an oasis inhabited by Jewish tribes (later called Medina) • Tribal warfare, especially with Mecca • Victory over Mecca

  12. Rise of Islam • Upon Muhammad’s death • Lifetime successor is to be appointed • Dissension • Sunni-Shi’ite split • Support for Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s companion • Sunnis (currently majority- around 80%). First caliph (=successor to the Prophet) • Support for Ali, cousin of Muhammad, husband of favorite daughter, Fatima • Shi’ites

  13. Rightly Guided caliphs: First four successors • Abu Bakr (632-634 A.D.) – prophet’s companion and father-in-law (Aisha) • Election • in part, on fear of Quraysh to blend religious authority of Prophet with secular authority of Caliph (as might happen if Ali was chosen) • Precedent set- a caliph is a leader but not a prophet • By group of elders (Ali absent) • Assumes popular consensus (consensus of umma) • Abu Bakr • Takes title: KhalifatRasul Allah – ‘the Successor to the Messenger of God’ • reinforces loyalty to umma • unlike traditional tribal understanding of oath • Enforces tithe tax

  14. Rightly guided Caliphs (cont.) • Umar (634-644 A.D.) – prophet’s companion • ‘Commander of the Faithful’ (title underlines leadership over entire Muslim community) • Defeats Byzantine army in southern Syria; then Sassain forces • Damascus, Jerusalem, Egypt and Libya fall to Umar’s army • Uthman (644-656 A.D.) – prophet’s companion –assassinated • Umayyad clan; Quraysh (election preserving the Quraysh elite) • Problems • Takes title of Kahlifat Allah = ‘Successor to God” instead of deputy of Messenger now representative of God on earth • Nepotistic – replaces amirs with his immediate family • Collection and canonization of Qur’an

  15. Rightly guided caliphs (cont.) • Ali (656-661 A.D.) – prophet’s cousin, son-in-law – assassinated • Refused title of Caliph (not least because of its tainted use by Uthman) • ‘Commander of the Faithful’ • First civil war led against Ali by Aisha (daughter of Abu Bakr). Defeat of Aisha at Battle of the Camel • Battle against Mu’wayia (appointed governor over Syria by cousin Uthman) • Arbitration • Ali assassinated by Kharijites

  16. Shi’ites • Believe Ali, Prophet’s cousin, to have been the rightful original successor of the Prophet

  17. Shi’ites: Karbala • Martyrdom of Ali’s son, Husayn, at Karbalah • It is here we have a decisive break between the Shi’ites and the Sunnis • Gives impetus to Shi’ite movement • Gathering of pilgrims • Penitents

  18. Shi’ites: imams • Imams, not caliphs • Imam = religious leader; legitimate successors of Muhammad • Esoteric knowledge passed down • Without sin (as Muhammad was kept sinless) • Political leaders as well as divine guidance • Shari’ah interpreted by Imam (not scholarly consensus) for each successive generation

  19. Shi’ites: Imams • ‘Twelvers’ • Majority of Shi’ites • Total of 12 Imams • 12th Imam continues to guide religious scholars while in a hidden state and will publicly return on the Day of Resurrection. • Others hold to different numbers of imams • Idea is (re)interpreted by the Ayatollah Khomeini

  20. Expansion of Islam • 661-750 Umayyad Dynasty • Mu’awiyya – Sunni, Umayyad • Disputes Ali’s appointment • Succeeds Ali • Establishes Umayyad Caliphate appointing son, Yazid • Rapid expansion

  21. Sunnis • By far the majority of Muslims (around 80-85%) • Follow elected caliphs • Role of caliphs • Administrate Shari’ah • Shari’ah = sacred law of Islam • Teachings and practices • Based primarily on Koran and Sunnah of Muhammad • Leads worship • Role of ummah(Muslim community) • selects caliph • Koran, Hatdith and Sunnah are continuously interpreted by consensus of opinion and wisdom of jurists.

  22. Dome of the rock (691 A.D.) From http://www.fotosearch.com/DGV078/200213679-001

  23. Expansion (cont.) • 750 – Emergence of Abbasid dynasty • New cultural phase; the ‘golden age’ of Islam • Influence of: • Greek learning/philosophy • Sufi mysticism; contemplative practices • Interpretations of the shari’a

  24. Expansion (cont.) • Abassid Dynasty (cont.) • Capital moved to Baghdad • Ended, more or less, with Mongol invasion in 1258 • Though Mongol’s were eventually converted to Islam • Concurrent with Abassid Dynasty • Spain - Umayyad • Egypt – Shi’ites

  25. Medieval Islam • IbnRushd/Averroes(1126-98) • Integrated Greek philosophy w/Islamic tradition • 1258 Mongol Incursion • Sacking of Baghdad • 1492 Islam driven out of Spain • Establishment of: • Safavid Empire- Iran (1502-1736) • Mughal Empire – India (1526-1858) • Ottoman Turkish Empire (Asia, N. Africa. E. Europe) (1299-1922)

  26. Modern period • Wahhabi Reforms • Khilafat movement (1818-1924) • Turkey and the end of the Ottoman Empire (1299-1923) • Muslim Brotherhood • Palestine and Israel • Radical Muslims • More on struggles with the West in final lecture on Islam

  27. Current Muslim Distribution

  28. Key Terms and Persons • Islam- submission, surrender to God • Muhammad – the final Prophet to whom God gave His final revelation • Shahadah – Muslim profession of faith that there is no God but God • Zakat – giving alms to the poor. One of the five pillars of Islam • Hajj- pilgrimage to Mecca- one of five pillars of Islam • Salat = formal/ritual prayer • Imam- prayer leader for Sunnis; for Shi’ites has divine authority, successor to the Prophet • Qur’an (Koran)- Sacred, final revelation or word of God, eternal, revealed to the Prophet. • Ummah– Muslim community

  29. Key terms • Shari’a- Islamic law • Jihad(striving/struggle) • Greater • Lesser • Itjihad – individual thought in legal reasoning • Tawhid- God’s oneness or unity. Also when one acts to affirm the divine unity • Shirk – associating anything with God or putting something alongside God in importance. Greatest sin. • Sufi – a mystic within Islam; typically belonging to one of the various tariqua or orders • Kalam – rational theology

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