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Understanding Muslims
LESSON 3: Understanding Muslims
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Understanding Muslims
Mosul, 400 km from Bagdad, is
where Nineveh used to be.
On the Jonah hill was the Joenoes
mosque, which attracted many
pilgrims. The mosque was built
over an Assyrian temple, that later
was turned into a fire temple for
Ahura Mazda werd, later a
monastery and later a church. In
one of the rooms one could find
the grave of Nabi Joenoes,
decorated with whale bones. The
mosque was bombed in July 2014
by IS Muslim extremists.
Jonah in Islam
Joenoes mosque in Mosul, before and after
destruction by Muslim extremists in July 2014
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References to Jonah in the Qur'an
Sura 4:163;
Sura 10: 98-100 - Sura 10 bears his name
Sura 21:87-9 - “Fishman”
Sura 37:138-148;
Sura 68: 48- 50 -”man in the whale”
If you want to pass for an exam or something, then read the prayer of
Jonah, when he was in the whale.
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Jonah (Yunus) in the Qur’an
Discuss:
1. What do you find significant when
you compare the Biblical narrative of
Jonah with that found in the Qur’an and
the Islamic traditions?
2. How do you explain the similarities
and differences?
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1. The beginning of Islam
Abraham
Isaac
Ishmael
Jews
Arabs
Jesus
Muhammad
Christians
Muslims
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a
Muslim (submitting to Allah). And he was not one of the polytheists. (Sura 3:67)
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2. The person Muhammad
570 AD Born in Mecca of the Hashemite branch of the Quraish Tribe
Father died before his birth
576 His mother died. Cared for by his grandfather for two years, then by his uncle - Abu Talib
582 Began helping with trading caravans to Syria
593 Led trading caravans of a wealthy widow, Khadija, to Syria
595 Married Khadija. Began contacts with Hanifs.
610 First recitation (surah 96:1-3) in a cave on Mt. Hira
612 Resumption of recitations (the Meccan suras)
Years of
616 Persecution by the Quraish at its height
persecution
621 Abu Talib and Khadija die
622 Flight from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina)
623 Establishment of Islamic state; start Islamic calendar
Years of war
630 Subjugation of Mecca
632 Died and buried in Medina
According to the Qur’an: an excellent example to follow
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3. The expansion of Islam
A.D. 632 Death of Mohammed
Tours
Talas
Tunis
Baghdad
Alexandria
Medina
Mecca
INDIAN
OCEAN
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3. The expansion of Islam
A.D. 656 Death of Uthman (3rd Caliph)
Tours
Talas
Tunis
Baghdad
Alexandria
Medina
Mecca
INDIAN
OCEAN
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3. The expansion of Islam
A.D. 750 End of the Umayyad Dynasty
Tours
Talas
Tunis
Baghdad
Alexandria
Medina
Mecca
INDIAN
OCEAN
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3. The expansion of Islam
Extent of the Muslim World in 1500 A.D.
Tours
Talas
Tunis
Baghdad
Alexandria
Medina
Mecca
INDIAN
OCEAN
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3. The expansion of Islam
the Ottoman Empire
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3. The expansion of Islam
the distribution of Muslims
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3. The expansion of Islam
the distribution of Muslims
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3. The expansion of Islam
Understanding Muslims
Muslims in Europe
Total Muslims in Europe:
Russia
13% 20,000,000
France
8,3% 5,000,000
Germany
6%
45,700,000
4,9% 4,000,000
Albania 70% 2,400,000
Serbia-Mont 19%
2,020,000
Ukraine
4% 2,000,000
U.K.
2,7%1,600,000
Bosnia
40% 1,600,000
Spain
2,5%
Italy
1,8% 1,000,000
Bulgaria
1,000,000
12% 986,0000
Netherlands 5,7%
Macedonia 30%
Greece
4,1
Belgium
3.5
Sweden
4
Austria
4.2
944,000
613,000
450.000
364.000
360,000
350,000
Switzerland
Cyprus
Denmark
Norway
Romania
Croatia
Slovenia
Portugal
Norway
Slovakia
Finland
Hungary
Czech Rep
4.4%
26
3.0
1.6
0.3
1.0
2.4
0.4
1.0
1.5
0.4
2
0.2
330,000
200,000
170,000
144,000
68,000
50,000
48,000
35,000
46,000
30,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
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4. What Muslims Believe
The three fundamental Islamic beliefs
Tawhid (the oneness of God)
Risalah (prophethood)
Akhirah (life after death)
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4. What Muslims Believe
Tawhid (the oneness of God)
The most important Islamic belief. Everything in
existence originates from the one and only
Creator, who is the Sustainer and sole Source of
Guidance. This belief governs all aspects of life.
Recognition of this truth brings a unified view of
life which rejects any division into religious and
secular.
Muslims stress the unity of God. The emphasis is on the majesty, transcendence and
sovereignty of God.
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What Muslims Believe
Risalah (prophethood)
1. God has not left man without guidance for
the conduct of his life. Since the creation of the
first man, God has revealed His guidance to
mankind through his prophets. Prophets who
received books from God are called messengers.
2. All the prophets and messengers came with
the same message: they urged the people of
their time to obey and worship God alone and
none other.
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What Muslims Believe
Risalah (prophethood)
3. Whenever the teachings of a prophet were
distorted by people, God sent another prophet to
bring them back to the Straight Path.
4. The chain of prophethood started began with
Adam and ended with Muhammad, who is
considered the final messenger of God to
mankind.
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What Muslims Believe
Risalah (Prophethood)
The revealed books from God are:
• The Torah (Tawrah)
• The Psalms (Zabur)
• The Gospel (Injil)
• The Qur’an, which is considered the final book of
Guidance.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Adam
Idris (Enoch)
Nuh (Noah)
Hud
Salih
Ibrahim (Abraham)
Isma'il (Ismael)
Ishaq (Isaac)
Lut (Lot)
Ya'qub (Jacob)
Yusuf (Joseph)
Shu'aib
Ayyub (Job)
The Prophets of Allah
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Musa (Moses)
Harun (Aaron)
Dhu'l-kifl (Ezekiel)
Dawud (David)
Sulaiman (Solomon)
Ilias (Elijah)
Al-Yasa (Elisha)
Yunus (Jonah)
Zakariyya (Zechariah)
Yahya (John)
Isa (Jesus)
Muhammad
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What Muslims Believe
Akhirah (life after death)
 Everyone accountable to God on Day
of Judgment;
 People judged on how they lived, by
their actions;
 Who obeys and worships God will be
receive a place in Paradise;
 A person who does not, will be sent to
Hell, a place of punishment & suffering
 Angels record all actions of mankind;
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The Five Pillars of Islam
(The Basic duties of a Muslim)
Hajj
Prayer
Sawm
Salat
Creed
Zakat
Shahada
The 5 Pillars of Islam
Fasting
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The Five Pillars of Islam
(The Basic duties of a Muslim)
1. Confessing the faith (shahadah)
“There is no God except Allah.
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”
This declaration contains the two basic
concepts of Tawhid (oneness of God) and
Risalah (prophethood) and is the basis of all
actions in Islam.
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The Five Pillars of Islam
(The Basic duties of a Muslim)
2. Compulsory Prayer (salah)
• Performed 5 times a day, either in congregation
or individually
•
•
•
•
•
Between dawn and sunrise
Between midday and mid afternoon
Between mid afternoon and sunset
Just after sunset
Between nightfall and dawn
• Preceded by ceremonial ablutions
• Requires proscribed postures and genuflections
• Consists of memorised prayer – recitation of the
first surah – the Fatiha
• Each prayer takes a few minutes to complete
“It is a system of spiritual, moral and physical training that makes a Muslim truly
obedient to his Creator.” Islam: a brief guide, MET
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The Five Pillars of Islam
(The Basic duties of a Muslim)
3. Zakah (welfare contribution)
 Compulsory payment from one’s savings
 2,5% of the value of cash, jewellery and
precious metals, separate rate applies to animals,
crops and mineral wealth.
 Can only be spent on helping the poor and
needy, the disabled, the oppressed, debtors and
other welfare purposes
 Considered an act of worship, to express that
our wealth and property belong to God and that
we are trustees.
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The Five Pillars of Islam
(The Basic duties of a Muslim)
4. Fasting (sawm)
 Obligatory fast during the month of Ramadan,
the ninth month in the Islamic calender.
 Refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and from
sex with marital partner from dawn to sunset every
day.
“Sawm is an annual training programme which increases a Muslim’s
determination to fulfil his obligations to the Creator and Sustainer.”
(Islam: a brief guide, MET)
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The Five Pillars of Islam
(The Basic duties of a Muslim)
5. Pilgrimage (hajj)
 A journey to the Ka’aba in Mecca, in the
12th month of Islamic calendar;
Annual event;
Obligatory at least once in a lifetime for
those who can afford it;
Symbolizes the unity of mankind as
Muslims from every race and nationality
assemble in equality and humility to
worship God;
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Sources of authority in Islam
Understanding Muslims
Qur’an
from the arabic verb
qaraa = read/recite
Sacred book of Muslims,
considered the final book of
Guidance from God.
Sent down to Muhammad
by the Angel Gabriel
114 suras, received over a
period of 23 years.
After Muhammad’s death
in 632 the fragments were
gathered into a text.
Heavenly copy
of the Qur an
Source: Life Challenge Africa
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Sources of authority in Islam
The Sunnah
 example of Muhammad
 contained in the books of Ahadith (sing.
Hadith): collections of his sayings and actions
and the actions approved by him.
 Six prominent and most authentic
collections: Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu
Dawud, Nasa’I and Ibn Majah.
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Sources of authority in Islam
The Sunnah
The different topics included in the Hadith of al-Bukhari
revelation – belief - menstrual periods -rubbing hands and feet with dust -times
of the prayers -call to prayers -characteristics of prayer - friday prayer - the two
festivals -invoking Allah for rain -prostration during recital of Qur’an -actions
while praying - funerals - pilgrimage retiring to a mosque for remembrance of
Allah- sales and trade -agriculture – gifts –witnesses –peacemaking conditions wills and testament- jihad -beginning of creation - prophets -military expeditions
led by Muhammad -virtues of the Qur’an –wedlock – marriage - divorce --supporting the family -food, meals -- sacrifice on occasion of birth –drinks –
patients –medicine – dress - good manners and form --divine will -oaths and
vows--laws of inheritance –limits and punishments set by Allah--punishment of
disbelievers at war with Allah --dealing with apostates ---mortgaging -interpretation of dreams -afflictions and the end of the world etc.
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Sources of authority in Islam
Law schools in Sunni Islam
Each school give different weight in legal opinions to prescriptions in the Quran,
the Sunnah, the consensus of legal scholars, analogy (to similar situations at the
time of Muhammad), and reason or opinion.
The Hanifi School
• Allows room for reasoning
•Followers: Balkans, Turkey,
Central Asia, India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh
The Maliki School
• uses just the Hijazi Hadith
•Followers: mainly in North
Africa, Sahel
The Shafi’i School
• allow much wider number of
Hadith
• Followers: Yemen, Egypt, Syria,
S.E. Asia, E. Africa
The Hanbali School
• very conservative and intolerant
• Followers: Saudi Arabia
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Different groups within Islam
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Different groups within Islam
Shi’a Muslims
• Consider Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law,
and his descendants, as the lawful
heirs of the political as well as
religious leadership of Muslims.
• Reject consensus
• Added to the six beliefs – believe in an
infallible Imam (an incarnation of the
Godhead) who has super-human
knowledge.
• Shia Muslims can be found in Iran and
Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, Lebanon.
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Different groups within Islam
Ahmadiyya movement
Founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmed
Qadiami (of the Punjab) who died in
1908 AD.
Beliefs:
• Muhammad is not the final
prophet.
• Jesus died and is buried in
Srinagar, Kashmir.
• Mirza Ghulam is the Mahdi
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Different groups within Islam
The Baha’i
Began in Iran in the mid 1800s as an
outgrowth of Shi’a Islam. Believes in
oneness of God, religion and mankind,
gender equality, harmony of religion
and
science
and
independent
investigation of truth. Does not
consider Muhammad as the last and
greatest prophet, but as one in a
series of prophets. The Qur’an is not
the last revelation. Others, including
the Scriptures of Baha’i followed.
About 7 million adherents worldwide.
Persecuted in some Islamic countries
e.g. Iran.
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Different groups within Islam
The Salafi Movement
Term refers to the “virtuous
ancesters”the
first
three
generations of Muslims after
Muhammad’s death. Founded by
Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhad
(died in 1791) and sometimes called
Wahhabism. It is a puritanical,
literalist tradition. Rejects anything
not rooted in the original sources of
Islam. It is influential in Europe, due
to influence and money from Saudi
Arabia.
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Different groups within Islam
Sufism
 seek a direct personal experience of the Divine
in mysticism.
started in the first century after the death of
Muhammad. Adherents are found worldwide
The word ‘sufi’ originates from ‘suf’, the Arabic
word for wool, referring to the simple clothes of
wool the early Muslim ascetics wore. It can also
refer to ‘safa’ (purity), which explains why
Sufism emphasizes purity of heart and soul.
The basis of religion is loving God – God has to
be loved for himself not for rewards or fear of
punishment.
intoxication assisted by chanting the Qur’an,
music, drums, recitation of poetry – God
addressed as the Eternal Beloved.
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Different groups within Islam
Alevis
•Between 15 and 20 million, mainly in Turkey;
•Many similarities between Alevis and the
Bektashis of the Balkans;
•Alevis are followers of Ali (son-in-law of
Muhammad);
•High respect for mystical poems and musical
ballads;
•Worship involves singing an dancing;
•Have a 12-day fast during the first month of the
Muslim calendar;
•Visit and pray at the tombs of saints;
•Alevi women worship together with men;
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Different groups within Islam
Folk or Popular Islam
Islam Muslims practice in everyday life:
ritual ceremonies at birth, puberty, marriage,
funerals etc.
amulets, talismans, magic, astrology, evil spirit
repellents, etc.
divination, omens
love magic and fertility rites
divination, dreams, oracles/prophecies
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The Islamic Year
Islamic Culture and Customs
Muharram
Safar
12 lunar months
Rabi al Awwal
28 or 29 days.
Jumada al Ula
Year eleven days shorter than
solar year.
Rabi al Thani
Jumada al Akhirah
Rajab
Sha’ban
Ramadan
Shawal
Dhu al Qa’dah
Dhu Hijjah
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Islamic Culture and Customs
Festivals
Idul Fitr: first day after Ramadan. Special food
is prepared. Visit friends and relatives. Special
activities for children
Idul Adha: 10 till 13th of the twelfth month.
Animals are sacrificed, commemorating
Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son.
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Islamic Culture and Customs
Marriage
 Usually arranged by parents, with consent of
son and daughter
 Performed in a simple ceremony in the
presence of relatives, friends and neighbors.
Diet
 Forbidden to eat pork and animals
not slaughtered in the name of God
 Forbidden to drink alcohol
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Christians and Muslims
To Discuss:
1. Are there things Christians can learn
from Muslim? If so, what?
2. Mention several similarities and
differences between Muslims and
Christians.
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Some areas of Commonality
Between Muslims and Christians
1. The Qur'an affirms the God of the Bible
surah 29:45 and surah 22:40
2. The revelation of God’s will in a book
3. Accountability to God
4. The importance of prayer
5. Submission to the will of God:
sura 3: 18, 19 and James 4:7 and “As God wills”
(inshallah); sura 18:23,24 and James 4:12-15.
6. Importance of brotherhood
7. Frankness in witnessing
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The Main Problems
Understanding Muslims
that Muslims have with Christians
A. Our faith
The Trinity – they sometimes think
that we worship three Gods
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ –
He is only a prophet
The death of the Lord Jesus on the
cross (and therefore, by implication,
the resurrection)
The integrity of the Bible – Muslims
think that it has been changed and
corrupted
B. Our history
The Crusades: a
Christian ‘jihad’.
The Colonial Period:
exploitation of people –
lies, deception
Support of Israel.
Cultural & economic
colonialism.
C. Our morals
Degeneration of Western societies: gay rights, legalized
prostitution, drug abuse, domestic violence, high divorce rate.
Spreading its immorality in movies and in tourism.
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The Main Problems
that Muslims have with Christians
To discuss:
1. What is your first reaction to
how Muslims look upon Christians
and Christianity?
2. How can we respond to
these matters?
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Understanding Muslims
Homework:
Write down two questions that
you would like to ask the Muslims
you will be meeting in the mosque
during the next lesson.
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