Muslim Civilization: Chapter 10.1

What have you heard about Islam and Muslims?

Submission to Allah Islam: Submission to the will of Allah

A Muslim: One who submits to the will of Allah

G Arabic for Allah

Teachings of Islam:Judeo-Christian Foundations

• Islam is a Judeo-Christian religion

• Monotheistic- belief in one god

• Islam does not require rabbis or priests- there is no one between a Muslim and Allah

• Muslims believe that God sent other prophets including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, but Muhammad was the last and greatest prophet

Abraham

An Abrahamic ReligionHagar Abraham Sarah

Ishmael

12 Arabian Tribes

Isaac

EsauJacob

12 Tribes of Israel

Islam Today

• Home to Arab tribes in 500 A.D.

• Nomadic herders called bedouins

• Tribes fought over watering holes and pastureland

• Bedouin tribes traded with nearby Arab tribes

The Rise of Islam

Muhammad Becomes a Prophet• Born in Mecca in 570 A.D.

• Mecca was a thriving market place where many came to pray at the Kaaba.

• The pilgrims to Mecca worshiped pagan gods and goddesses (polytheism).

• As a young man, Muhammad was a sheppard among the bedouins and then led caravans, becoming a wealthy merchant.

• At 25, he married a wealthy widow (Khadija) who ran a caravan business.

Muhammad Becomes God’s Messenger• Muhammad was unhappy with the moral ills of society.

• He often went to a cave in Mecca to meditate.

• When he was 40, he heard the voice of the angel Gabriel in the cave. Gabriel called on him to be messenger of God.

• At first, Muhammad was reluctant, but Khadijah convinced him to follow the call.

The Hijra: A Turning Point• At first, few people listened to Muhammad’s teachings.

• Under threat of murder, Muhammad decided to flee: The Hijra.

• In 622 A.D., Muhammad fled from Mecca to Yathrib, renamed Medina (“city of the prophet”).

• 622 A.D. became the first year of the Muslim calendar.

The Hijra Continued….• The Hijra (Muhammad’s

flight to Medina) was an important historical turning point

• In Medina, Muslims converts welcomed the prophet and created a community of Muslims or umma

• Loyalty to the umma was based on Islam, not old family rivalries

• Meccan leaders became hostile towards Muhammad, especially after Muslims attacked key caravan routes

Meccan Leaders Wage War • After battling

with the Meccans, Muhammad returned to Mecca in 630 A.D.

• He smashed idols in the Kaaba and rededicated the ancient temple to Allah, making it a holy Islamic center for all time.

• Until his death, Muhammad worked to unite Arabs and Muslims.

• Muhammad died in 632 A.D., but Islam continued to spread.

The Quran~ The Muslim Sacred Text• The Quran contains the sacred word of Allah

• Teaches about God’s will and provides a guide to life

• Emphasizes honesty, generosity, and social justice

• Sets harsh penalties for crimes like stealing and murder

• According to the Quran, each individual will stand before God on the final judgment day to face eternal punishment in hell or eternal bliss in paradise

• Muslims believe that the Quran should be read in Arabic to fully appreciate the text’s poetic beauty and meaning

The Quran Continued…

An ancient Quran from North Africa

A contemporary version of the Quran

Quran In-Class WorksheetTHE CESSATION (A bringing to an end, or coming to an end) In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the Merciful: 81:8           

In this passage, Allah defends Muhammad (his messenger). He tells Muslims that they should listen to Muhammad’s teachings as they represent the word of God.      When the sun ceases to shine; when the stars fall down and the mountains are blown away; when camels big with young are left untended and the wild beasts are brought together; when the seas are set alight and the men’s souls are reunited; when the infant girl, buried alive, is asked for what crime she was slain; when the records of men’s deeds are laid open and the heaven is stripped bare; when Hell burns fiercely and Paradise is brought near: then each soul shall know what it has done. I swear by the turning planets and by the stars that rise and set; by the fall of night and the first breath of morning: this is the word of a gracious and mighty messenger, held in honour by the Lord of the Throne, obeyed in heaven, faithful to his trust.No, your compatriot is not mad. He saw him on the clear horizon. He does not grudge the secrets of the unseen; nor is this the utterance of an accursed devil.    Whither then are you going? This is an admonition to all men: to those among you that have the will to be upright. Yet you cannot will, except by the will of Allah, Lord of the Creation.  

Quran In-Class Short Answers1. In paragraph 1, which important tenet of Islam is described? (Hint, look at slide number 13 from your Power Point notes).      2. Explain the following excerpt from paragraph 1: “when Hell burns fiercely and Paradise is brought near: then each soul shall know what it has done.”       

Quran In-Class Short Answers 3. How does paragraph 2 describe Allah? Is he a vindictive, benevolent, or a combination of both?      4. According to the last two paragraphs, can men control their destinies? Should they try to dictate their futures, or should they just submit to the will of Allah?

The Five Pillars of Islam• All observant Muslims perform five basic duties,

known as the “Five Pillars of Islam”

• Each pillar is based on Muhammad’s example in the Quran

Pillar 1: Declaration of Faith (The Shahada)• The first pillar is the

Shahada

• The Shahada states that “There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God.”

• Even though God sent other prophets such as Abraham, Moses and Jesus, Muhammad was the last and greatest prophet.

Pillar 2: Daily Prayer (The Salat )• Mandatory prayers performed 5 times a day:

DawnNoonLate AfternoonSunsetBefore Going to Bed • Wash before praying (ablution)

• Pray facing Mecca and use a prayer rug

• In some countries, Muslims stop everything and pray, oftentimes in the street

Pillar 2: Daily Prayer (The Salat)• In many Muslim nations, muezzin’s call out from

minaret’s 5 times a day and people everywhere stop and pray.

• Muslims also pray in the mosque (or Muslim house or worship) on Fridays. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--_GmNo-gYc

Pillar 3: Alms for the Poor (the Zakat)• Muslims believe that it

is important to care for others by giving charity to the poor

• All good things belong to God

• In some Muslim countries, money is collected in the form of a tax called zakat (~ 2.5 % of one’s income).

• Zakat means “purification” and “growth”

Pillar 4: Fasting During Ramadan (The Sawm)• Muslims fast from sunrise

to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan- the month in which Muhammad received his revelation from the angel Gabriel.

• During this time, Muslims do not eat, drink, or have sex.

A group of Muslim drummers celebrate during Eid ul-Fitr.

• The sick, very young, or pregnant are not required to fast.

• Before sunrise and after sunset, families eat large meals together. At the end of Ramadan (usually 40 days long) families celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, a holiday that includes feasts, music and presents.

Fifth Pillar: The Hajj • The fifth pillar of Islam is

to make the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca to pray at the Kaaba

• Each year, more than two million Muslims go to Mecca for the Hajj • Those who complete the

Hajj can add Hajji to their name. For example, “Ali” would become “Hajji Ali”

• All pilgrims wear simple attire to symbolize abandonment of the material world before God

“People of the Book”• Christians, Jews, and

Muslims are all considered “People of the Book,” since they all worship the same God through different scripture.

• Muslims believe that the Quran is God’s final revelation, while Hebrew and Christian scriptures are only earlier revelations.

• Muslims see Christians and Jews as spiritually superior to polytheistic “idol worshipping” religions.

Islam: A Way of Life (Sharia Law)• Islam is a religion and a

way of life

• Sharia- the Islamic System of Law. A body of law that gives examples of behaviors from Muhammad’s life, and Muslim traditions. • Regulates moral conduct, family life, business practices, government, and other aspects of life

• There is no separation of Church and State

• Sharia law unites Muslims

Impact of Islam on Women• Islam extended rights and protection

to women by affirming spiritual equality for all Muslims

• Before Islam, the position of women in Arab society varied

• The Quran notes that “Whoever does right, whether male or female, and is a believer, all such will enter the Garden.”

• Although spiritually equal under Islam, men and women still had different roles and rights

• Today, rights for Muslim women vary through the Islamic world

Impact of Islam on Women Continued…• In some Muslim countries

like Egypt, Kuwait, and Jordan commonly give women more rights and freedoms. In these nations, women are not required to wear a head scarf, or “hijab”

• In other Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Iran, women are often required to wear a hijab and to also cover their faces and eyes when out in public