Orange indicated glossary word Islam I. Name A. The term Islam means submission (derived from the root s-l-m, meaning primarily peace and secondarily surrender) B. The term Muhammadanism 1. Is inaccurate, since Muslims claim Islam was founded by God not Muhammad 2. Is offensive, since it focuses on man not God (analogous to calling Christianity Paulism ) II. Origin (see timeline section) A. Date: circa 600 CE B. Location: Middle East (present-day Saudi Arabia) C. Roots 1. Islam originated within the context of a primal religion (derives terms [e.g., Allah] and objects [e.g., Ka ba]) 2. Islam can be viewed as an offshoot of the Judeo-Christian tradition a) 2100 BCE Judaism (see Judaism timeline section) b) 30 CE Christianity branches off from Judaism (See Christianity timeline section) c) 600 CE Islam branches off from Judaism/Christianity III. Adherents (see statistics section) A. Name: Muslims 1. Meaning: those who have submitted to God 2. The worldwide community of Muslims is known as the Umma B. Number: 1 billion (the fastest growing major religion) C. Location: Worldwide (Indonesia [the largest national Islamic population], Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Soviet Union, China, Iran, Turkey, Middle East, North Africa, etc.) IV. Key Figure: Muhammad (Founder: God) A. Date: 570-632 CE B. Name 1. Muhammad means highly praised 2. Muhammad s title: The Seal of the Prophets (as he was the culmination no valid prophets were to follow) C. Life 1. Family: Father and mother died early so adopted by uncle at age 8 2. Wife: At 25 joined caravan business and later married the wealthy widow Khadija 3. Context a) Prevailing religion of area: animistic polytheism (nature populated by demons [jinn]) b) Muhammad s response: For approximately 15 years he frequented a cave on Mount Hira on the outskirts of Mecca (1) Meccans worshipped Allah and other jinn (2) Muhammad belonged to a group of people called hanifs who worshipped Allah exclusively (in long-lasting vigils he became convinced of Allah s superiority and reality) 4. Ministry a) Commission: In 610 CE Muhammad received his commission in the Night of Power (1) An angel appeared to him while in the cave and commanded him three times to Proclaim (2) Arising from his trance he ran home and told Khadija he had either become a prophet or a madman (she became his first convert) b) Reaction from society: Hostile
Islam-2 (1) Reason His monotheism threatened the revenue from the current polytheism (many came on pilgrimages to Mecca s 360 shrines) Its moral teachings required their lifestyle be altered Its social content insisting all be considered equal in a society of class distinctions (2) The Meccans therefore ridiculed, then threatened, and finally persecuted the early Muslims (so at first [in first three years] only 40 followers but by 620 several hundred families recognized him as God s prophet) c) Migration (known as Hijra) of 622 (1) Background Leading citizens of a neighboring city, Yathrib, (280 miles north of Mecca) came to request he resolve some internal rivalries (Muhammad s teachings were respected in Yathrib due to pilgrims and visitors to Mecca) After the delegation promised to worship Allah only and observe the Muslim precepts Muhammad accepted the request (i) After 70 families left for Yathrib, he and companion Abu Bakr also left for Yathrib (ii) Muhammad and Abu Bakr were almost caught by the Meccan leaders Yathrib became known as Medina al-nabi (City of the prophet) later simply Medina ( the city ) (2) In Medina, Muhammad assumed a different role: from prophet to administrator (he proved to be a remarkable statesman) (3) Mecca vs. Medina (d) In the second year of the Hijra, the Medinese were victorious over a larger Meccan army In the next year the Meccans retaliated (even wounding Muhammad) Two years later the Meccan unsuccessfully laid siege to Medina Muhammad, no longer the fugitive, went to Mecca as a conqueror (where he rededicated the Ka ba [cubicle sacred temple said to have been built by Abraham] to Allah) (e) After the mass conversion of Mecca he returned to Medina (4) Muhammad died 2 years later in 632 CE (10 A.H. [After the Hijra]) with almost all of Arabia under his control D. Nature 1. Solely a man 2. A prophet (The Prophet): Muhammad claimed to be only a prophet and a preacher of God s word E. Successors (political and military not religious) (632-661 CE: The Period of the Rightly Guided Caliphs ) 1. 632-634: Abu Bakr (chosen to be Caliph or deputy of the Prophet 2. 634-644: Umar (led conquests of Iraq, Iran, North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, and Syria; killed by a servant) 3. 644-656: Uthman (developed standardized text of Koran; killed by dissidents) 4. 656-661: Ali ibn Abi Talib (cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad; became leader of faction [Shi a literally meaning: party ]) a) Ali and followers (called Shi ites) claimed Muhammad designated Ali as his rightful successor
Islam-3 b) The majority of Muslims (later called Sunnis ) rejected Ali s claim as rightful successor V. Sacred Texts (the Qur an and Sunna together prescribe the Shari a or the Way of Islam [the law]) A. Qur an 1. Alternate spelling: Koran 2. Term: In Arabic al-qur an (sometimes koran ) means recitation 3. It is the Word of God a) Islam: Qur an book (Muhammad [the person] secondary) b) Christianity: Jesus Christ person (Bible [a book] secondary) 4. Muhammad considered the Qur an the only major miracle God worked through him (he referred to it as God s standing miracle ) 5. Size: 4/5 size of New Testament 6. Language: Arabic 7. Structure: 114 Chapters (called surahs) arranged according to length (longest to shortest) 8. How interpreted: Literally 9. How revealed a) The revelation: Came to Muhammad over a period of 23 years through voices that initially sounded like bells but gradually became a single voice identified as Gabriel b) Muhammad: Had no control over when the revelation would take place (often overcame him independently of his will) which changed his appearance and voice (the inspiration: mechanical dictation) c) How recorded: Muhammad would exclaim words while in the trance-like state which would be memorized and recorded by his followers on anything available 10. Compared to other revelations: The Qur an supersedes all other revelations which have been corrupted (which explains why the Qur an and the Old and New Testaments often conflict when recording the same event) 11. Power: Its power is not only in its meanings but also in its language (including its sound) (hence Muslims prefer to teach others Arabic as opposed to translating the Qur an into other languages) B. Sunna 1. Described: A collection of hadiths (verbal reports) of the custom (words, acts, habits, etc.) of Muhammad a) Date: Several collections formed by 3 rd Islamic century b) Authority: Second only to the Qur an 2. Two parts a) First part: Traces the chain of transmitters to an eyewitness of Muhammad s word or action b) Second part: What Muhammad said or did 3. Example of use: How to pray is discussed in hadiths, not the Qur an 4. Some hadiths are common to both Sunni and Shi ite collections (others are present in only one tradition) VI. Core Beliefs A. Worldview 1. Time: Linear 2. Reality a) God (1) Number: One (tawhid: The divine unity, Islam s central doctrine. ) Contra Judaism that confined monotheism solely to the Jews Contra Christianity that compromised monotheism by deifying Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (i) The Incarnation and Trinity: blur the human and Divine distinction (ii) Jesus
Islam-4 (2) Nature Was a prophet and born of a virgin (Adam and Jesus being the only two souls created by God directly) Was not God Did not complete his work (it was left to Muhammad to do this) Omnipotence God s power inspires awe and fear Compassionate and merciful (i) Cited 192 times in Qur an (cf. First surah: in the Name of Allah the Merciful, the Compassionate ) (ii) Whereas only seven references to his vengeance and wrath (the traditional view of the Muslim God by those in the West) Omnipresent/Omniscient ( closer than the vein of your neck ) b) Universe: Good (as created by God) (cf. Judaism and Christianity) c) Humanity (foremost of God s creation) (1) Nature unalterably good (no original fall closest concept: ghaflah forgetting one s divine origin) (2) Obligations Gratitude for life received (the Arabic term infidel has a meaning closer to lacking thankfulness than a disbeliever) Submission/surrender ( Islam means surrender) (i) One is a slave to Allah (as opposed to a slave to something else like greed, anxiety, etc.) (ii) Islam entails complete commitment Recognizing a false ultimate, called shirk, is the one unforgivable sin (3) Will be judged at The Day of Judgment (the Reckoning): To either heavens or hells (7 of each) depending upon one s free actions B. Doctrine: The Iman (Articles of faith: God, Angels, Scripture, Prophets, Last Days) 1. God: Allah is the only true god 2. Angels a) Angels are sinless messengers created of light b) There are four archangels of which Gabriel was the medium of inspiration c) Jinn are creatures between humans and angels who can be either good or evil d) The devil (Al Shaytan or Iblis) is a fallen angel who is served by demonic jinn e) Each person has two recording angels (one who records good deeds, the other evil) 3. Scripture a) There are four inspired books (1) Torah (Pentateuch) to Moses (2) Zabin (Psalms) to David (3) Injil (Gospel) to Jesus (4) Qur an to Muhammad b) The first three have been corrupted by Jews and Christians (superceded and corrected by the Qur an) 4. Prophets a) Allah has spoken through numerous prophets (number: 28 are named in the Qur an) b) The six major prophets (of which Muhammad is the last and greatest): Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad c) All, with the exception of Jesus, were sinful
Islam-5 VII. 5. Last Days: A literal resurrection and judgment awaits all (the obedient to one of seven heavens, the rest to one of seven hells) 6. Doctrine of fate (some list a sixth article of faith: fatalism): That God decrees all (including all good and evil deeds) proceed from Allah s will Core Practices: Din (practice; as opposed to Iman [faith]) A. Background 1. Islam is best characterized as an orthoprax (correct practice) religion as opposed to orthodox (correct belief) religion (the Qur an, according to Muhammad Iqbal, is a book which emphasizes deed rather than idea ) 2. Contrary to other religions, Islam directly addresses how life should be lived (actions are classified as forbidden, indifferent, obligatory ) B. Obligations (what one should do): The Five Pillars 1. The confession of faith (Shahadah) There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet a) Must be uttered genuinely at least once during lifetime of a Muslim b) Most pronounce it often 2. Prayer (Salat) a) When: Five times a day (when one arises, when the sun is at its height, when the sun is at mid-decline, at sunset, and before retiring for the day) b) Why: On a night during the month of Ramadan Muhammad was transported through seven heavens to God who instructed him that Muslims are to pray 50 times a day. In the sixth heaven he came to Moses who knew the people and that they weren t capable of 50 times he told Muhammad to go back, it was lowered successively to 40, 30, 20, 10, and then to 5. Moses didn t think the people could handle even 5 but Muhammad refused to go back (claimed that he asked until he was ashamed) c) Who (1) Muezzin (calls the faithful to prayer from a minaret/radio) (2) Imam (prayer leader) d) Where: Preferably in mosques (when able) (the Friday noon prayer particularly emphasized) e) How: Facing toward Mecca (1) Originally Muslims prayed toward Jerusalem (until revealed toward Mecca) (2) The Qur an addresses little beyond the direction Muhammad s teachings and practices provide the rest (washing to purify body [and soul symbolically], kneeling and touching one s head to the ground [symbolizing fetal position (ready to be reborn) and signifying human insignificance when in Divine presence]) f) What (content): Composed of praise, thanksgiving, and supplication ( God is most great; Whatever you think of as great, God is greater ) 3. Almsgiving (Zakat): 2½% is given to the poor a) Given to whom: Those in need, slaves buying freedom, debtors who can t meet obligations, strangers and travelers, and those who collect and distribute the alms b) Unlike a tithe in that not given for maintenance of the religious institution 4. Fasting (Sawm) during the daylight hours of Ramadan (see Holy days section) a) The holy month of Ramadan (1) In this month Muhammad received the initial revelation (2) In this month Muhammad made his migration from Mecca to Medina b) Able-bodied Muslims (not ill or in war or unavoidable journeys) are to fast from food, drink, and smoke from dawn to dusk c) Since the Muslim calendar is lunar, Ramadan moves from season to season (so fasting becomes more difficult in summer) d) Purpose (1) To make one think
Islam-6 VIII. (2) Teaches self-discipline (3) Teaches dependence upon God (one s frailty) (4) Teaches compassion (one can experience the hunger of those who hunger) 5. Pilgrimage (Hajj): At least once in a lifetime a Muslim is (if financially and physically able) to journey to Mecca a) Main purpose: To heighten the Muslim s devotion to God b) Additional purposes (1) Reminder of human equality (all [regardless of class, race, status, etc.] wear two simple sheet-like garments) (2) Improve understanding/relations of different people (since pilgrims come from all cultures they share and learn about others) C. Prohibitions (what Muslims should not do): Gambling, stealing, lying, eating pork, sexual promiscuity, drinking intoxicants D. Other practices 1. Polygamy: Though permissible, for practical purposes it is prohibited (only permissible if one can deal justly and equitably with each) 2. Jihad a) Literal meaning: Exertion b) Common meaning: Holy war (1) Martyrs guaranteed heaven (2) War is to be conducted decently Women, children, old, crops, sacred objects, etc. are spared The wounded are not mutilated, the dead are not disfigured (3) Conditions for righteous war: Defensive or to right a wrong ( Defend yourself against your enemies, but do not attack them first: God hates the aggressor (Qur an, 2:190) (4) Muslims admit Islam has spread by the sword but usually by example and persuasion ( Let there be no compulsion in religion (Qur an, 2:257) c) Additional meaning: Muhammad (in a hadith) claimed the internal battle against evil outranked any outward one Forms (see statistics section) A. Historical distinction 1. Sunnis ( Traditionalists [from sunnah meaning tradition]) a) Number: 87% of all Muslims b) Location: Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia 2. Shi ites ( partisans of Ali [Muhammad s son-in-law] who claim Ali should have directly succeeded Muhammad) a) Number: 13% of all Muslims b) Location: Iran and Iraq B. Additional distinction 1. Exoteric, non-mystical Muslims (remained consistent with the explicit teachings of the Qur an (the majority) 2. Esoteric, mystical Muslims: Sufi (the minority) a) Name (1) Meaning: wool (as early Muslims wore wool clothing to protest the worldly silks of sultans and califs they sought internal, spiritual purification) (2) Sufis emphasized the internal ( Love the pitcher less and the water more ) b) Actions: Sufis desire to experience God directly in the present (before death) (1) Sufis are led by spiritual masters (shaikhs) (2) Sufis are grouped into orders (tariqahs)
Islam-7 IX. Members of Sufi orders are faqir (literal meaning: poor one who is poor in spirit) Members have normal occupations and gather to sing, pray, dance, and listen to teachings of their Master (to aid in directly experiencing God; one can learn about fire by hearing about it, seeing it, or being burned by it Sufis want to be burned by God) c) Types of Sufism: There is more than one type of sufism (distinguished by beliefs/practices) (e.g., love, ecstasy, intuitive; sober, antinomian, intoxicated) d) Goal: fana (extinction) (1) The extinction or extermination of the self in God (2) There is no God but God is reinterpreted as There is nothing but God e) How viewed by many non-sufis: Blasphemous (1) Reason Sufis claim authority and knowledge directly from God Sufis cross the Creator/created distinction (shirk) (2) Result: Many Sufis meet and practice in private Related Religions A. Primal religion of religion: Religious context of Islam B. Judaism and Christianity: Islam an offshoot C. Sikhism: A synthesis of Hinduism and Islam (see Sikhism outline) D. Baha'i: An offshoot of Islam X. Structure A. Goal: To submit to Allah B. Problem: Not submitting to Allah (sinning) C. Solution: Submit to Allah (through 5 Pillars)