IslamIslam

Islam todayIslam today

1.6 billion Muslims1.6 billion Muslims– Around 85% SunniAround 85% Sunni– 2.1 billion Christians2.1 billion Christians– 900 million Hindus900 million Hindus– 375 million Buddhists375 million Buddhists– 14 million Jews14 million Jews

Fastest growing religionFastest growing religion MulticulturalMulticultural Largest Islamic population: IndonesiaLargest Islamic population: Indonesia

– Followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, IndiaFollowed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, India– Less than 15% of Muslims are ArabLess than 15% of Muslims are Arab

OriginsOrigins

Context: Arabia: polytheistic, tribalContext: Arabia: polytheistic, tribal Muhammad (570-632 CE)Muhammad (570-632 CE)

– Qu’ran records revelations to MuhammadQu’ran records revelations to Muhammad– 610: vision of angel Gabriel610: vision of angel Gabriel– Other stories of his sayings and actions Other stories of his sayings and actions

(Sunnah) recorded as Hadith(Sunnah) recorded as Hadith– Night of AscensionNight of Ascension– Unified Arabs and started missions out of Unified Arabs and started missions out of

Medina and Mecca (622-632)Medina and Mecca (622-632) Sees itself building on, correcting Sees itself building on, correcting

Judaism and ChristianityJudaism and Christianity

Five PillarsFive Pillars

Belief and witnessBelief and witness Daily prayer (5x)Daily prayer (5x) Tithe (Zakat)Tithe (Zakat)

– Must give 2.5% of wealth to needyMust give 2.5% of wealth to needy– Shi’a give 20% of disposable income Shi’a give 20% of disposable income

(half to clergy, half to needy)(half to clergy, half to needy) FastingFasting Pilgrimage (Hajj)Pilgrimage (Hajj)

JihadJihad

““Striving”Striving” ““Sixth pillar”Sixth pillar” TypesTypes

– Greater: spiritual struggleGreater: spiritual struggle In self, for justiceIn self, for justice Many regard as the dominant typeMany regard as the dominant type

– Lesser: physical struggleLesser: physical struggle

Islam in AmericaIslam in America

About 2% of population (6 million)About 2% of population (6 million)– Fastest growingFastest growing

4 waves of immigration (Eck 248)4 waves of immigration (Eck 248)– Post-1965 largestPost-1965 largest– 80% of mosques founded since 197680% of mosques founded since 1976

Challenges/opportunitiesChallenges/opportunities– Separation of church and state v. shariaSeparation of church and state v. sharia– Multicultural makeup of mosquesMulticultural makeup of mosques– Youth and culture (Eck 280ff)Youth and culture (Eck 280ff)