Islam

Origins of Islam• Abraham had son with

Hagar—Ishmael• Sarah was jealous-Hagar

& Ishmael sent into the desert

• Hagar searches for water between two rocks seven times

• Angel tells her not to fear—well appears at Ishmael’s feet

• Mecca built there

• Before Abraham dies he visits Ishmael

• God tells him to build a holy shrine

• Ka’bah—large cube structure

• Inside is a small black stone believed to be given to Abraham from an angel

• Was white—black from kisses

Muhammad’s Early Years• Born 570 in Mecca

• Parents died early, raised by other family

• Job as a camel driver-contact w/ other cultures

• Worked for widow-Khadijah and marries her—became rich

Muhammad’s Revelation• Around age 40, starts

spending time alone-cave near Mecca

• Angel Gabriel appears to him—he thought he was going insane

• He slowly accepts role as a prophet in the line of Moses and Jesus

• He declares that there is one God and rejects idols

Mecca to Medina• Muhammad gains followers,

also enemies• Wife and uncle die—bad

times, attempts to kill M.• M. journeys to Heaven with

Gabriel, meets Moses, Jesus and Allah

• M. tells Muslims to settle in Medina, escapes there himself—journey known as the Hijrah and start of Islamic calendar (622)

Muslims take Mecca

• M. able to unite some tribes (Muslims and Jews prayed together) in Medina

• M. tells to pray to Mecca not Jerusalem—groups split and violence breaks out

• Raids on caravans, full battles begin

• Muslims win and take Mecca• M. circles Ka’bah 7 times and

smashes idols

Last Years of Muhammad

• By age 60, Islam was all over Arabian Peninsula• His last trip to Mecca-says only Muslim may pray there

and asks for Islamic unity• Gets ill and dies at 61, no son—who is successor?

Sunni and Shiite• Sunni Characteristics

• 90% of Muslims• Considered more

mainstream• Believe in leadership

of caliphs• Believe total Muslim

community will be judged on judgment day

• Shiite Characteristics• 10% of Muslims• Considered more

extreme in beliefs• Only descendents of

Ali (a caliph related to Muhammad) should lead

• Judgment through imams

The Five Pillars of Islam

• 1st Pillar—Shahada– Brief prayer proclaiming Allah is the one and

only god– Many Muslims belief it should be in Arabic

because that is how Muhammad received it

2nd Pillar--Salat• Pray five times a day:

dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening

• Muslim countries a call to pray is announced from Mosque tower—minaret

• Women pray behind men or in separate area, imam leads pray in mosques

• Involves several bowing positions

3rd Pillar--Zakat

• Giving of a percentage of income to the poor and needy (often 2.5%)

• Belief this is a requirement to Heaven

4th Pillar--Sawm• Fasting during month of

Ramadan• No food or drink from sunrise

to sunset• Religious purification and

devotion• Children and elder do not

have to follow• Read the entire Koran

(chapter a day)• Festival of Eid-Al-Fitr—

celebrates end of Ramadan, feast, parties, guests, gifts, off of work

5th Pillar--Hajj• Pilgrimage to

Mecca—required if possible

• Men wear same simple clothes

• Week and a half• Circle Ka’bah,

touch stone, run the hills 7 times, quiet prayer, stones at pillars, animal sacrifices

The Mosque

• Most important prayers on Fridays

• Most are small, larger/central mosques called jami’

• Dome with minaret• Rugs on floors, no

artwork except calligraphy

• Part of one wall- mihrab-where imam stands, also direction of Mecca

Rites of Passage• Aqiqa—naming of

child, 7 days after birth

• Marriage-unites both families, Koran says man can have up to 4 wives

• Death—release from suffering of life, quick and simple burial, no coffin or gravestone, face Mecca