ISLAM Birth, Spread, Beliefs and Practices J. Bennett January 2011

1. ISLAM Birth, Spread, Beliefs and Practices J. Bennett January 2011

2. Mohammed in cave receiving revelation The founder of Islam • Mohammed was born in 570 A.D. in Mecca of Arabia • Mohammed and Khadija • Mohammed died in 632 AD.

3. - Mohammed: “The Seal of the Prophets” - Brought final “scriptural” revelation - The last prophet and apostle of God - He is not “divine” or the focal point of Islam (officially) - To say “Muslims are Mohammedans… would be an insult and offensive - Islam is seen by Muslims to be the middle way between Judaism and Christianity

4. Islam sees itself as the restorer of the “Children of Abraham” – monotheism. • It sees itself as overcoming the limitations of Judaism (incompleteness of justice) and Christianity (idealistic love) • To the Muslim, Islam is perfected Judaism and perfected Christianity

5. According to Muslim faith, every person is born a Muslim • Distortions in one’s history and environment have led the person astray - to become a Jew, Christian or unbeliever • To be truly human is to be a Muslim

6. Growth of Islam • After Mohammed died in 632 AD, a division arose over succession to the prophet. • Sunni/Shiah split: Sunnis now constitute 90% of all Muslims

7. Growth of Islam • Three Significant Events in the Spread of Islam: • The Battle of Tours (732)

8. Growth of Islam • Three Significant Events in the Spread of Islam (cont’d): • The Battle of Tours (732) • The Siege of Vienna of 1683

9. Growth of Islam • Three Significant Events in the Spread of Islam (cont’d): • The Battle of Tours (732) • The Siege of Vienna of 1683 • Pre-9/11 Independence

10. Growth of Islam • Pre-9/11 Independence (cont’d) • Although Islam has no “Pope” or centralized authority since the days of the Ottoman Empire and the Caliphate, Islam has a strong sense of unity… through “Ummah” or community.

11. Sunni and Shiah Islam • The two main branches of Islam: Sunnis and Shiahs. • Shiah Muslims - who mostly live in Iran and Iraq • Sunnis and Shiah differ on issues of succession • Characteristic in Shia Islam is honorable martyrdom • Shiahs in Iran also believe that the government of an Islamic nation should be a theocracy

12. Beliefs • God/Allah - There is no deity except Allah. • The angels of God – Four primary angels: Gabriel, Michael, Israfil, Azrail • The books of God – Torah, Psalms, Gospels of Jesus, Quran

13. Beliefs Prophets of God. Mohammed is the last and greatest prophet, commissioned to deliver God’s perfect message to humanity. Belief in an afterlife when all people will be judged for their deeds and sent to Paradise or Hell. (Predestination)

14. Practices • The 5 Pillars of Islam (Obligations of Duty) • The Shahadah (confession of faith): There is no deity except Allah and Mohammed is his messenger (apostle/prophet) • Salat: Prayer 5 times a day • Zakat: sharing of wealth or almsgiving • Ramadan: the month of fasting, reflection and self discipline • Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during one’s lifetime, if possible • (Jihad)

15. The Ummah or Islamic Community or State • The Ummah is to be a vibrant avenue for the realization of God’s will and example to the rest of the world • In Islamic social theory, anywhere in the world, the Ummah is formed from the three-fold consensus of its members: 1) consensus of the mind (all share the same view of reality); 2) consensus of the heart (all share the same values) and 3) consensus of arms (all exert themselves to actualize their values) • The Qur’an states that the Ummah is the preeminent of all communities given to humankind by God

16. Modern Islam • Contemporary Reasons for Confident Mindset in the Muslim World • Oil riches and growing dependence of West on oil from Muslim states • Islamic Revolution in Iran • Successful Jihad in Afghanistan • Disintegration of Communist world • Growing size of Muslim communities in the West • Success of radical terrorist attacks • Sense of being under siege by a Western-Christian-Jewish conspiracy

17. Spread of Islam in Modern Era 1. The Islamisation of Knowledge • Funding of Islamic Chairs and academics in western Universities • The establishment of Islamic “Think Tanks” to disseminate Islamic views • Some of these organizations have a moderate façade, but are supported by Islamic extremist movements • Western institutions have a tendency to co-operate with them for academic standing, political correctness and major amounts of funding

18. 2. Da’wah (Islamic Mission) • The active evangelization of peoples to the Islamic faith • Athletes and celebrities in the west • Audio and visual media • The ultimate goal of Da’wah organizations is the establishment of Islamic peoples and nations throughout the world

19. 3. Demographic Changes • The population explosion in Muslim countries as compared to the West, coupled with the increased number of Muslims immigrating to Western nations • The hope is that this will effect legal changes in favor of Muslim issues

20. 4. Islamisation of Muslim Majority States • By democratic and - sometimes by violent means • Organization of Islamic Conference

21. 5. “The Bloody Borders of Islam…” • Quote from Samuel Huntington in The Clash of Civilizations (1995) • Nigeria, Philippines, India, Ivory Coast and Kenya to name some • Demand Shari’ah Law for Muslim minority population • Promotes autonomously administered areas within a state

22. 6. Penetration in the West • This effort is subsidized by vast amounts of money from Muslim oil-rich states, businessmen and charities • School textbooks, especially those teaching history and Islam, are being rewritten • “Politically correct” views on Islam are fostered and any critique of Islam is attacked as Islamophobic.

23. Conclusion