Download Gabriella Machiavelli Muhammed S. Khan Sidrah

Exploring the Sources of Islam
Gabriella Machiavelli
Muhammed S. Khan
Sidrah Qadeer
A Closer Look At the Quran
 Quran is the literal Word of God – it forms the basis of Islamic
Teachings
 He received revelations through the angel Gabriel. Iqra “read”
was the first word revealed of the Quran to Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) in 610 CE
 The style of the Quran is expressed in two points: presentation
& content
 The verses of the Quran are divided into two main categories:
the first thirteen years of prophethood were spent in Mecca.
The second began with Hijrah, or migration to Medinah.
Major Themes of the Quran
Three Major Themes:
1) The absolute authority of
Allah
2) The accountability of humans
for their deeds
3) The impermanence of this life
 Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) could not write, so
he asked his literate followers
to be his secretaries
The Teachings of the Prophet (PBUH)
 The second most important source of Islam
 Sunnah – the actions, customs, or way of the Prophet
(PBUH)
 The Prophet’s (PBUH) recorded sayings and teachings are
known as the hadith, whereas, the Quran is the literal Word
of God
 The Qur’an has a distinct religious tone; the hadiths are more
like statements or pronouncements
How Are Hadiths Different from the
Qur’an?
Qur’an:
“O You who believe, shall I lead you to a bargain that
will save you from a painful doom? It is that you
believe in Allah and His Messenger and then strive in
His cause with your wealth and your persons. That is
best for you if only you knew.” (61:10-11)
Hadiths:
The older a person gets the more his desire for two
things increases: wealth and longevity. (Bukhari)
Learning is a duty on every Muslim, male and female.
(Bukhari)
Who Recorded the Hadiths?
 A large majority of hadith were passed on orally from parentto-child over several generations
 In the late 7th century, official compilation of the hadith in
written form began
 Isnad – a chain going back to the original person who heard
the hadith from the Prophet (PBUH)
 Common designations of hadith – Sahih, Hasan, Dhaif,
Saqim, Ahad, Mutawatir
The Companions of the Prophet (PBUH)
 Sahaba (companions) – anyone who heard, saw, or spent time
with the Prophet (PBUH)
 Some of the best-known sahaba include:
Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq
Umar ibn al Khattab
Usman ibn Affan
Ali ibn Abi Talib
Hamza
Bilal ibn Rab’ah
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
Umm Salamah
Umm Ammarah
A’ishah
Sumayyah bint Khubbat
Barakah
Scholars of Faith
Muslim scholars (the ‘Ulema) organize and interpret the data given
in the Qur’an and the hadiths.
New additions to Islamic Law - ONLY when dealing with
unexpected issues within the Muslim community, such as in-vetro
fertilization, cryogenic freezing, and organ transplantation.
Science of Fiqh (deducing legal positions): sources consulted: Qur’an,
Hadiths, Consensus of the Sahaba on an issue (‘Ijma), and one’s
independent reasoning (Qiyas).
Ijtehad is the process of coming up with definitive rulings that rely
on a lot of independent thought.
Recent legal rulings are called fatwas.
 To become a scholar:
 One must study at an accepted Islamic university or with a
graduate who is given permission to teach higher studies
(shaykh).
 After about 5 years of study, one gets a certificate called
‘Ijazah, similar to a Masters degree in Islamic studies.
 Madh-hab (schools of Islamic thought)
The madh-habs that have survived to this day:
 The Hanafi (Sunni)
 The Shafi (Sunni)
 The Maliki (Sunni)
 The Hanbali (Sunni)
 The Ja’fari (Shi’a)
 All are valid paths to being a good Muslim!
The Least You Should Know About Islam…
 Muslims consider the
Quran to be the literal
Word of God dictated to
the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH)
 Muslim scholars are
considered to be the
authorities on Islam but are
not considered holy in the
same way a priests or rabbi
is.
 The sayings of the Prophet  Women can become scholars
in Islam as well
are considered secondary in
status to the Quran