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Islam
Pre-Islamic Life
• Rural Life
– Bedouins – Nomadic tribes
• Fairly violent society
– Tribes & Clans
– Status is from the group
• Urban Life
– Mecca: Trade Center / Land of Haram
• Not as violent
– Status is from wealth
– No concern for poor/weak
Pre-Islamic Religion
• Polytheism
– Many gods & goddesses
– Creator god present in pantheon
• Not worshipped by many
• Animism
– Spirits in the world
• Inhabit rocks, trees, valleys, free-flowing, etc.
• Judaism & Christianity known
Muhammad – The Final Prophet
• Muhammad – born 570 ce
– Quraysh tribe / Hashim Clan
– Orphaned young
• Raised by uncle
• Marries Khadijah
– Excellent marriage
• Fatima
• Disturbed by Society
– Upset by poverty
– Moral system not adequate
– Goes to meditate / pray
Night of Power
• 610 – Angel Gabriel
visits M. while he
meditates
• Tells M. to “recite”
• Foundation of the
Qur’an
– suras
Fundamental Beliefs
• Monotheistic belief
– Only God is worthy of worship
• Polytheism gives other “beings” worship
• Last Judgment
– Deeds in life will be judged
• Theocentric purpose for life
– Bodily resurrection
• No body/soul dichotomy
• Five Pillars of Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam
• Recitation of the Muslim act of faith
– There is no God but God, and M. is his prophet
• Obligation of prayer
– 5 times a day – facing Mecca
• Charity
– 1/40th income
• Fasting during Ramadan
– Daylight hours
• Pilgrimage (Haj)
Hegria
• Muhammad escapes
Mecca
• Goes to Medina to
start an Islamic
society
• Islam – submission to
God
• Muslim – one who
submits
Battle of Badr - 623
• New Umma in Medina
• Battles with Mecca
show divine support
– Peace treaties with
• Conquered Mecca –
Jan. 11, 624
Rule Under Caliphs
Practices of Islam
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No pork, alcohol – halal
Male circumcision
Polygamy acceptable/ Monogamy ideal
Usury forbidden
Observation of feast days
Simplicity and asceticism
– Rapid growth and spread of religion
Main Sects of Islam
• Sunni and Shi’a
traditions
• Sufism = mystical
dimension of Islam
– Sheyks and disciples
– Retirement in poverty
– Piety and repentance
Sufi Dancing
Sufi Writers
• Rumi
– Persian poems
(rhyming couplets)
– Discourses on
mystical experiences
– Recitation and
movement (dervishes)
Modern Islam
• Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire
• World War I
• Modern Islamic states
– Variations in social expression