Download Islam File - Northwest ISD Moodle

APWH:
INTRODUCTION TO
ISLAM
I. Global Context:
• By the 6th century C.E. the Byzantine
government was the only centralized
authority in what remained of the
Roman Empire.
• Its only rival was the Sasanid Empire
of Persia (224-651 C.E.), who guarded
the Silk Road.
• Social and economic transformation
was underway in the Middle East.
•The outcome would not be a return to a
fragmented less urbanized pattern of life
(Unlike Western Europe)
•Sassanid and Byzantine Empires set the
stage for a new and powerful religiouspolitical movement called Islam.
A note about modern Islam
42 modern
nations are
completely
Islamic. There
are 1 billion
Muslims in the
world. Only 20%
of the world’s
Muslims are
Arabs
Pre-Islamic Arabia
Medina
Mecca
Bedouins
-Arabia was fragmented into dozens, of tribal,
nomadic clans, called Bedouins.
-Each clan had its own deity (usually associated with
the goddess of heaven or the moon) which nomadic
people could worship anywhere.
The city of
Mecca was the
main religious
and trading
center for the
Bedouin tribes
of Arabia.
Before Islam, the Bedouins
believed that their many gods were
housed in the Kaaba, a black stone
shrine in the heart of Mecca.
- The leader of a
clan was called the
shaykh. He was
elected by a council
of elders and usually
had large herds of
animals, and several
wives. His will was
enforced by a class
of warriors.
- The struggle for
subsistence in the
harsh Arabian desert
created strong
loyalties
- To be cut off from the
clan was fatal.
- War often broke out
over minor conflicts.
- Arabia was a world of
constant fighting.
II. Muhammad
-Muhammad was born in
Mecca in 570C.E.. He was
orphaned at age 6, and was
raised by his uncle, who owned
a caravan trading business.
- Working for his uncle brought
Muhammad in contact with
Jews and Christians living in
Palestine (Damascus &
Jerusalem).
This is during
the Ummyad
dynasty
• Muhammad became very
acquainted with Judaism
and Christianity, and his
religion shows
similarities with both
beliefs.
• On one of his many
trading trips to Palestine,
Muhammad met and
married Khadija, a
wealthy merchant widow.
- Muhammad became a wealthy merchant
- Bored and spent lots of free time in the mountains
outside Mecca.
- In 610 C.E., while
meditating in the
Mountains,
Muhammad began to
receive revelations
from the angel
- these revelations
Gabriel
continue for 20 years.
Islamic revelations attacked idolatry and the
traditional beliefs of the Bedouins; these revelations
were rejected and mocked in Mecca
- In 622 C.E., Muhammad fled Mecca and traveled
to Medina to establishes his new government.
This event is called the “hijra,” and it marks the
beginning of the Muslim calendar.
• In 629 C.E., after
converting the
people of Medina
to Islam,
Muhammad led
them in the
conquest of Mecca.
The Spread of Islam:
• While in Medina,
Muhammad was able to
create the umma
(Community of the
faithful.)
• Muhammad knew that his
religion would not be safe
until he created an empire
to protect it.
• By 632 C.E., he had
conquered most of Arabia.
Muhammad dies
suddenly in 632 C.E.,
without appointing a
successor. This leads
to arguments over
who should be
Caliph of Islam
• Caliph (Deputy) refers to the Islamic rulers after
the death of Muhammad. A Caliph had both
religious & civil authority
• The first four caliphs continue the expansion of the
Islamic kingdom
The Sunni vs Shi’ite split:
Sunnis believe the
true Caliph should be
chosen by those close
to Muhammad; but he
did not have to be a
relative.
Most (85%) Muslims
are Sunni.
Shi’ite (word means
“division”) believe
Muhammad appointed Ali,
his son-in-law, before he
died. They maintain that
the true Caliph must be a
direct descendant of
Muhammad.
III. The Islamic Faith:
• Islam’s sacred text is the
Qu’ran. Written in the
Arabic language it means
“recitation” because the
faithful recite it daily.
• Any version of the Qu’ran
that is not in Arabic is
considered a transliteration
(not a translation).
Basic Islamic Beliefs:
-The foundation of Islam is submission to God’s
will. The word Islam means submission.
The term Muslim
means, one
who submits.
• The Qu’ran teaches that Muhammad was
God’s last prophet (following others such as
Moses and Jesus.)
• Jews, and Christians, like Muslims are
considered “People of the Book.” (God’s
people)
• Thus Muslims do not consider Islam as a new
religion, but a correction of Judaism &
Christianity, which had been corrupted.
• Man is a creation by Allah (God); he is
free to reject God, but will be an outsider
of God’s community.
• Judgment Day of the World; everyone
will receive either eternal paradise or
eternal torment.
• The Priesthood of the faithful; personal
faith in and fellowship with God is
obtained without intermediaries (clergy).
The Qu’ran requires all believers to follow
certain practices, called the “five pillars of
Islam”.
1. Shahada; A profession of faith that
there is only one God and Mohammed is
his Prophet.
2. Salat; the activity of praying five times
daily, towards Mecca.
3. Zakata; Almsgiving, Muslims are
required to give 4% of their income to the
poor.
4. Hajj; a pilgrimage to Mecca once during
your life, if you are able. A simple white
garment is worn, symbolizing the equality
of believers.
5. Siyam; Fasting in the daylight hours
during Ramadan, the month of the first
revelation.
Forbidden Practices:
•
•
•
•
•
Drinking alcohol.
Gambling.
Eating unclean meat (pork, shellfish, etc.)
Enslaving “people of the book.”
The use of violence to spread Islam. (Violence can
be used against non-Muslims to protect Islam.)
• The Islamic holy lands must never be violated by
non-Muslims. Any violations gives just cause for
Jihad.