Islam

Understanding Islam

Understanding Islam

Islam IdentificationsMuslim: person who follows Islam

Ka’aba: Islam’s holiest shrine – located in Mecca – Arabic for cube

Qu’ran: secret text, holy book of Islam

Mecca: birth place of Islam, holiest city, Saudi Arabia

Mosque: Muslim house of worship

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Islam IdentificationsAllah: Arabic for God same as J and C

Medina: first Islamic community, 2nd Holy city, Muhammad gains political and religious power

Hejira: 622 – Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina; marks first expansion of Islam

Jerusalem: 3rd Holiest city to Islam – Dome of the Rock

Islam Identifications2. What does Islam mean?

Islam means to “submission.” In this case, to God

3. Identify and explain the Five Pillars of Islam.

1. Declaration of Faith

2. Prayer: 5 times per day: must face Mecca

3. Charity: must help the poor and the old

4. Fasting: during the month of Ramadan: sun-up to sun-down:

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj): must visit Mecca once in their life

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The Rise and Spread of Islam

ArabiaThese Arab people were pagans, meaning they worshipped many gods.

The center of Arabic pagan worship was in a town called Mecca.

Pilgrims would travel to Mecca to worship the Kaaba

The Kaaba: sacred shine that housed images of all the Arab gods. Also contained a black stone-probably a meteorite, which the Arabs thought was sent from heaven

The ancient Ka’aba in Mecca

Muhammad: Founder of Islam

Muhammad was born in Mecca about 570.

His parents died when he was very young, but he was sent to live with his uncle, who was a Bedouin tribesman, even before they died.

Muhammad became a merchant.

When he was 25, he met a wealthy widow named Khadija, and married her.

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Muhammad: Founder of Islam

Muhammad was always a very religious person.

When he was around 40 years old, the Angel Gabriel spoke to him, saying that God had chosen him as his Prophet.

Muhammad’s duty was to proclaim that God, or Allah, was the one and only God.

The QuranMuhammad memorized, word for word, everything the Angel Gabriel spoke to him. It was eventually written down by scribes.

These writings are known as the Quran.

Quran means “recitation.”

it is the holy book for Muslims, containing guidance in all matters

The HejiraMuhammad began to speak about this new religion to the Arab tribespeople around Mecca.

Some began to follow him. Others did not like his message, and plotted to kill both him and his followers.

In 622, Muhammad and his followers fled from Mecca to Yathrib, a town to the north. This journey was known as the hejira.

Yathrib was later renamed Medina, which means “City of the Prophet.”

The New ReligionIn 630, Muhammad returned to Mecca with a large army, and defeated his enemies.

Muhammad smashed all of the pagan statues around the Kaaba.

Islam became the new religion, and Mecca was its birthplace.

Islam literally means “submission,” in this case, to God.

The New ReligionMuhammad = founder of Islam

Muslim = one who is a follower of Islam

Five Pillars of Islam

Declaration of Faith (Shahada)

“There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet.”

Prayers (Salah) 5 X/day: face Mecca

Charity (Sawm): give to the old & poor

Fasting (Zakat): during Ramadan

Pilgrimage (Hajj): must complete a pilgrimage to Mecca

Duty of all Muslims:

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RAMADANMuslims observe the month of Ramadan, which is either 29 or 30 days, by fasting from sun-up to sundown.

This means no food OR water until dark!

Muslims mark the end of Ramadan with a holiday called Eid ul-Fitr, during which they end their fast.

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Islam, Judaism, & Christianity

Muhammad recognized Jews and Christians as “People of the Book.”

Hebrew Bible and Christian New Testament were sacred

Believed that they had been “corrupted” over time, however

Similarities with Christianity and Judaism

Universality of Humankind

Along with Judaism and Christianity, Islam emphasizes the dignity and equality of humankind:

“No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab…Nor does a white man have any superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay.”

Similarities with Christianity and Judaism

Belief in an Afterlife

Along with Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that we will be held accountable for our actions in the next life:

“We shall set up scales of justice for the day of Judgment, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least.”

Islamic Law

All of the teachings and sayings of Muhammad which did not come directly from God are recorded in the Hadith

Together with the Quran, these two texts form the basis of Islamic law, known as Shariah

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Two Key Beliefs of Islam

1. There is only one God, Allah

2. Muhammad is His final Prophet

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Concept of Jihad

The term jihad appears in the Quran 41 times

Its main meaning refers to an inner struggle by the individual Muslim to fulfill his/her religious duties, and live their lives according to God’s plan

Another meaning of jihad is an outward, physical, violent struggle against the enemies of Islam

This second meaning is misunderstood by both Muslims and Christians

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Concept of Jihad

According the the Quran:

”You may fight “in the cause of God” against those who attack you, but do not aggress. God does not love the aggressors.” 2:190

This directive has often been misinterpreted as sanctioning “Holy War.”

Halal

Halal

Any meat which is slaughtered for consumption must be done so in the correct way, invoking the name of God.

The eating of pork is strictly forbidden by Muslims.

The Quran also outlaws alcohol.

Early Islam

Islam

Shiite

661 A.D.

Sunni

12Sunni and Shi’ite Populations

Today

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Comparison of Statistics and Basics

 Islam Judaism Christianity

adherents called Muslims Jews Christians

current adherents 1.3 billion 14 million 2 billion

current size rank 2nd largest 12th largest largest

major concentration

Middle East, Southeast Asia

Israel, Europe, USA

Europe, North and South America, rapid

growth in Africa

sacred text Qur'an (Koran) BibleBible (Jewish Bible +

New Testament)

other written authority

HadithTalmud, Midrash,

Responsa

church fathers, church councils, papal decrees

(Catholic only)

religious law Sharia Halakhah Canon Law

clergy imams rabbispriests, ministers, pastors, bishops

house of worship mosque synagoguechurch, chapel,

cathedral

main day of worship

Friday Saturday Sunday

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Comparison of Origins and History

 Islam Judaism Christianity

date founded 622 CE unknown c. 33 CE

place founded Saudi Arabia Palestine (def) Palestine

founder MuhammadMoses or Abraham

Jesus

original language(s)

Arabic Hebrew Aramaic, Greek

early expansion

within 12 years, entire Arabian

peninsula; within 100 years, Muslim world stretched from the Atlantic to China

little expansion; mostly confined

to Palestine

within 60 years, churches in major cities

in Palestine, Turkey, Greece and Rome (map); entire Roman Empire

by end of 4th cent.

major splits Shia/Sunni, c. 650

CE Reform/Orthodox,

1800s CE

Catholic/Orthodox, 1054 CE; Catholic/Protestant,

1500s CE

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Comparison of Religious Beliefs

 Islam Judaism Christianity

type of theism strict monotheism strict monotheism Trinitarian monotheism

ultimate reality one God one God one God

names of God Allah (Arabic for God) Yahweh, Elohim Yahweh, the Holy Trinity

other spiritual beings angels, demons, jinn angels and demons angels and demons

revered humans prophets, imams

(especially in Shia) prophets saints, church fathers

identity of Jesus true prophet of God, whose

message has been corrupted

not prophet Son of God, God incarnate,

savior of the world

resurrection of Jesus Not part of beliefs Not part of beliefs affirmed

divine revelationthrough Muhammad, recorded in Qur'an

through Prophets, recorded in Bible

through Prophets and Jesus (as God Himself), recorded in

Bible

means of salvation correct belief, good deeds,

Five Pillars belief in God, good

deeds

correct belief, faith, good deeds, sacraments (some

Protestants emphasize faith alone)

good afterlife eternal paradise: heaven views vary: heaven eternal heaven

view of fellow Abrahamic religions

Jews and Christians are respected as "People of the Book," but they have wrong

beliefs and only partial revelation.

Islam and Christianity are false

interpretations and extensions of Judaism.

Judaism is a true religion, but with incomplete revelation.