Download An Overview of Islam as Seen By Some Muslims Today

AN OVERVIEW OF ISLAM AS
SEEN BY SOME MUSLIMS TODAY
2.1, Chapter 1, An Introductory Presentation of
Islam
Shahāda
or shahadatayn
(“two shahadas”, i.e. two parts of the Shahada)
First Shahāda:
Lā ilāha illa Allāh
There is no god but God
NB ilah = god with small g, anything we might worship
Allah = only ever used for the One God Who created the universe
Jews, Christians and others affirm this (though many Muslims
would question wither they do so fully or correctly)
Second shahāda:
Muhammad Rasūl Allāh
God.
Muhammad is the Messenger of
Messengers and Prophets of God
God has sent many messengers and prophets before Muhammad
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Parial list:
Adam
Nuh (Noah)
Hud (Arabian prophet)
Salih (Arabian prophet)
Ibrahim (Abraham)
Lut (Lot)
Ishaq (Isaac)
Isma‘il (Ishmael)
Yusuf (Joseph)
Musa (Moses) Scripture: Tawra
Harun (Aaron)
Daud (David) Scripture: Zubur (Psalms)
Ilyas (Elias, Elijah)
Suleiman (Solomon)
Yunus (Jonah)
Yahya (John the Baptist)
‘Isa (Jesus). Scripture: Injil (Gospel)
All messengers and prophets preached the same
message: worship and obey Allah alone
 They were sent to particular nations or
communities
 The details of the laws and rules they proclaimed
varied somewhat with circumstances
 Some received scriptures
 Their messages were changed by their later
followers:
e.g., Jesus considered divine by (later) Christians.
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Muhammad is the last messenger/prophet
sent by God
- called “the seal of the Prophets” in the Qur’an
- his message is the most complete
- it corrects errors introduced into earlier traditions
- it is meant for all places and times
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Muhammad’s career: basic outline
Birth – c 570
 First revelation – c 610
 Meccan period of his mission 610-622.
Preaches, non-violent.
 Hijra to Medina – 622 First year of Islamic
calendar
 Medinan period of his mission, 622-632.
Establishes a polity. Warfare necessary
 Death – 632
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Qur’ān and Sunna
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The basic sources for the message of God to
Muhammad and thus for our knowledge of God’s
will.
Qur’an = the actual words of God, revealed
gradually to Muhammad over the twenty-three
years of his career, recorded and preserved by
God from any modification.
Sunna of the Prophet = the authoritative
example of the Prophet, his words and deeds
recorded and later collected as we have them
now. Not direct revelation but protected by God
from error.
Sharī‘a
The Divine Law or the Will of God for humans all
situations of life
1. Its source is God
2. It applies, in principle, to all areas of life.
3. It can be known by human beings
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Fiqh (understanding)
1. The human knowledge/interpretation of the
(details) of the Shari‘a
2. Also translated “jurisprudence”
3. Based on the Qur’an and the Sunna
4. And on scholars’ interpretations of these
(authoritative but not protected from error)
Fiqh refers to both this process of interpretation
and the body of law resulting from it.
The Main beliefs of Islam
Allah
 His angels
 His scriptures
 His messengers
 The Last Day (final judgment)
 His determination of good and ill
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The Pillars of Islam
(The most important commands)
Shahada
 Salah (salat) - prayer five times a day, often
written)
 Ramadan, fasting during the month of Ramadan.
 Zakah (zakat) - alms or tax for the poor and
certain other groups)
 Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca durng the month of
Dhu al-Hijja.
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Sunni and Shi‘i
(The main “sectarian” or “denominational” difference among
Muslims)
Rooted historically in the question of who should lead the
Muslim community (umma) after Muhammad’s death.
1. Sunnis believe that Muhammad designated no successor
(khalifa) and that the successor was and should have been
chosen by representatives of the umma.
2. Shi‘is (collectively called the Shi‘a) believe that ‘Ali ibn Abi
Talib, Muhammad’s closest male relative, was designated by
Muhammad should have been his successor but was unjustly
denied this role (at least at first).
3. Sunnis constitute about 85 to 90 percent of the whole Muslim
umma today and the Shi‘a about 10 to 15 percent.
4. In terms of importance, the Sunni-Shi‘i division in Islam may
be compared to the Protestant-Catholic-Eastern Orthodox
division among Christians. The details are not comparable,
however. One may not compare the Sunni-Shi‘a division to the
difference between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews (these
may be compared to modern divisions to be discussed in the
last part of the book).
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