Download 12: Islam - White Rocket Books

Islam

“Muslim” = “a person who submits to God’s will.”
 (or “Moslem”)
 “Islam” = “the act of submission to God.”
 This became the name of the religion.
 “Allah” = God, in Arabic
 The Great Mosque at Mecca
 Islam
 No bishops or priests.
 Humans are free to choose whether and how to submit to God’s will.
 All Muslims are equal except in their obedience to God’s will.
 It is a faith and a way of life.
 Muhammad
 Born about 570 AD.
 Had been an orphan of Mecca.
 Raised by relatives.
 Met Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians.
 Objected to paganism of Mecca.
 610 AD: Is visited by the angel Gabriel.
 Revelation of the Quran.
 He is “God’s long-awaited messenger to the Arabs.”
 Later: a prophet for all humanity.
 Basic Beliefs
 God’s will for all humanity was last revealed to Muhammad.
 God is all-powerful and all-knowing.
 Angels are the most powerful servants of God.
 Believed he was the last prophet in the same line as Abraham, etc.
 Expected Jews to recognize him as God’s messenger.
 Attracted the hostility of Mecca’s leaders.
 Disruptive to families.
 Threatening to the established order.
 Sept. 622: Muhammad and followers go to Medina.
 “The Hijra”
 Year one of Islamic calendar.
 United his followers as a community.
 “Umma”
 Barred from hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca.
 630: Returned and conquered Mecca.
 Both a religious and political leader- Prophet and lawgiver.
 Islam as both a faith and a sociopolitical system.
 Died in June 632.
 Seen by Muslims as exemplar of Muslim virtues- Piety, patience, humor, kindness, generosity, and sobriety.
 The Quran
 God is revealed by words He inspired in the prophets.
 Includes the Jewish Torah, Christian Gospels, and the Quran.
 The Quran is “God’s perfect revelation.”
 It “corrects corruptions” in the other books.
 The Quran
 Contains laws, stories from the past, and devotional pieces for guidance and recitation.
 114 chapters of rhymed prose
 Some parts focus on injunctions and prohibitions
 Other parts focus on God’s power and Judgment Day
 Respected Jews and Christians as “People of the Book”
 Messengers
 Muslims also recognize others as prophets:
 Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jonah, Job, Jesus
 Agree Jesus was born of Virgin Mary and will return
 Deny he was crucified or was the son of God
 Judgment Day
 The living will join those already dead, before the heavenly throne, to be judged for their acts
 Paradise as a shaded garden
 Fountains, food and water, plentiful virgins
 Peace and harmony; presence of God
 Hell is filled with torment
 The Five Pillars of Islam
 1. Witness
 “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is His prophet.”
 2. Worship
 Ritual prayer five times a day, facing Mecca.
 Wash hands, arms, feet, and faces first.
 Men encouraged to worship as a group.
 Women worship at home.
 Friday noon worship at mosques
 3. Fasting
 Fast during the month of Ramadan
 Daybreak to sunset
 Refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sex.
 Extra time praying.
 4. Tithing (or sharing)
 Give a specified share of income or property
 to help the needy.
 Wealthy give additional gifts to the poor, sick, young, etc.
 5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)
 Journey to Mecca
 at least once in a Muslim’s life, if able
 During the twelfth month of the year.
 Various rites including circling the Ka’ba.
 These acts bring Muslims together.
 Jihad
 “The sixth pillar of Islam”?
 “Jihad” = “Struggle in the way of God”
 Controversial even within Islam:
 Holy war against all other religions?
 Or just defending Islam against attacks (even verbal)?
 Branches
 Shi’ite Muslims
 Followed Muhammad’s descendants
 Majority in Iran and Iraq
 Traditional
 Sunni Muslims
 Followed the strongest leader, not Muhammad’s relatives
 Majority of Muslims everywhere else
 Prohibitions
 No intoxicating liquors, mind-altering drugs, gambling, or usury
 No eating of flesh of pigs
 Men may not wear silk clothes or gold jewelry
 Harsh penalties for murder, theft, and other crimes
 Prohibition against idols
 Sexual relations should not occur outside of marriage.
 Most marriages are arranged by parents.
 Varying rules about separation of the sexes,
 and the appropriate covering of women.
 Different rules in different countries
 Dress modestly; avoid nudity
 Social reasons for covering women…