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ISLAM
UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES CHAPTER 3
INTRODUCTION
• SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER? DO
YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING?
• THINK ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS IN YOUR GROUP AND BE
READY TO DISCUSS
ISLAM
• WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ISLAM?
• ARE YOUR THOUGHTS OR IDEAS JUSTIFIED? WHY OR WHY NOT?
ISLAM
• WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO OBSERVE ISLAM IN A POSITIVE LIGHT DUE
TO THE EVENTS OF 9/11, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LOST LOVED
ONES.
• TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW, WE HAVE TO
SEEK WHAT ISLAM SAYS ABOUT ITSELF
• WE CANNOT RELY ON OUR EMOTIONAL REACTIONS
RADICAL VERSUS MODERATE ISLAM
• RADICAL MUSLIMS: THOSE WHO SEEK TO BRING ABOUT A GLOBAL
ISLAMIC STATE, AND THEY WILL ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH WHATEVER
MEANS NECESSARY, INCLUDING VIOLENCE
• MODERATE MUSLIMS: THOSE WHO SEEK TO ENGAGE IN MUSLIM
PRACTICES AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES ACCORDING TO MUSLIM
TRADITION. THEY HOPE PEOPLE WILL CONVERT TO ISLAM BUT OFTEN
DO NOT SEEK A GLOBAL ISLAMIC STATE
RADICAL VS. MODERATE ISLAM
• BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE BOTH OF THEM.
• JOHN ESPOSITO AND DALIA MOGAHED CONDUCTED RESEARCH
ON WHAT AMERICANS THOUGHT CLASSIFIED AS RADICAL ISLAM.
• THEY CONCLUDED, "WE FIND THAT MUSLIM RADICALS HAVE MORE
IN COMMON WITH THEIR MODERATE BRETHREN THAN IS OFTEN
ASSUMED. IF THE WEST WANTS TO REACH THE EXTREMISTS, AND
EMPOWER THE MODERATE MUSLIM MAJORITY, IT MUST FIRST
RECOGNIZE WHO IT'S UP AGAINST."
RADICAL VS. MODERATE ISLAM
• BOTH RADICAL AND MODERATE MUSLIMS WILL ADMIRE THE WEST’S
TECHNOLOGY, DEMOCRACY, AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
• THE KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MODERATE AND RADICAL MUSLIMS:
RADICALS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BELIEVE THAT THE WEST
“THREATENS AND ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL THEIR WAY OF LIFE”
• SO HOW CAN WE TELL THE DIFFERENCE?
RADICAL VS. MODERATE ISLAM
• IN A RECENT GALLUP POLE, THEY ASKED MUSLIMS IN SEVERAL
COUNTRIES ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 5 (1 BEING “TOTALLY
UNJUSTIFIED” AND 5 BEING “TOTALLY JUSTIFIED”) ABOUT THE
ATTACKS OF (9/11)
• THOSE WHO ANSWERED A ”4” OR A “5” WERE RADICAL MUSLIMS.
• RADICAL MUSLIMS WOULD SEE THE ATTACKS ON 9/11 AS
COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED
THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• AS ISLAM GROWS IN A THE WORLD, PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING
ISLAM AS AN IDEOLOGY – A WORLDVIEW – THAT BY NATURE
DEMANDS POLITICAL CONTROL AT THE EXPENSE OF DEMOCRACY,
FREEDOM, AND CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT.
• ON THE OTHER SIDE: WE HAVE MUSLIM NEIGHBORS WHO WORK
HARD, GET ALONG WITH OTHERS, AND ARE LAW-ABIDING
CITIZENS.
• SO WHICH IS IT?
THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• IS ISLAM A VIOLENT RELIGION OUT TO SUBVERT THE WEST OR IS IT
A PEACEFUL RELIGION?
• M. ZUHDI JASSAR, A MUSLIM DOCTOR AND A US NAVY VETERAN
SAYS WE NEED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN TWO GROUPS:
MUSLIMS AND ISLAMISTS.
• MUSLIMS – THOSE WHO ARE CULTURALLY ISLAMIC, BORN INTO
MUSLIM FAMILIES OR CONVERTED TO ISLAM. THEY TAKE ISLAM
SERIOUSLY, BUT CAN GET ALONG WITH OTHER NON-MUSLIMS
AND LIVE IN PREDOMINANTLY NON-MUSLIMS SOCIETIES.
THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• ISLAMISTS OR ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS, ARE RADICALS WHO
LIVE BY THE LITERAL APPLICATION OF THE TEACHINGS OF
MUHAMMED AND THE FULL APPLICATION OF SHARIA LAW.
• SHARIA LAW – THE MORAL CODE OF ISLAM OUTLINED IN THE
QURAN AND OTHER TEACHINGS AND RULINGS MUSLIMS
CONSIDER AUTHORITATIVE
THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• SHARIA LAWS GOVERNS EVERYTHING FROM DIET AND SEXUAL
PRACTICES TO THE PUNISHMENT OF CRIME.
• SHARIA LAW ADVOCATES EVERYTHING FROM LEGITIMIZING
SLAVERY, ABUSE OF WIVES, HEAVY TAXATION ON JEWS AND
CHRISTIANS IN MUSLIM LANDS, AND CALLS FOR THE EXECUTION OF
THOSE WHO CONVERT TO ANOTHER RELIGION FROM ISLAM.
THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• ANOTHER TERM COMMON IN THE MUSLIM VOCABULARY: JIHAD.
• MUSLIMS AND ISLAMISTS HAVE A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF
JIHAD.
• JIHAD MEANS TO FIGHT AGAINST ALL NON-MUSLIMS, AND IT IS
CLEARLY COMMANDED OF ALL MUSLIMS IN THE QURAN.
• MUSLIMS – JIHAD IS A BATTLE TO DISCIPLINE THEMSELVES, OR
PERHAPS A CALL TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST THOSE WHO
ATTACK ISLAM.
THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• ISLAMIST – JIHAD IS THE CONQUEST OF NONBELIEVING NATIONS.
• IN MUSLIM THOUGHT, THE WORLD WAS ORIGINALLY ISLAMIC,
EVERYONE WAS BORN A MUSLIM, THOSE WHO ARE NOT NOW
MUSLIM ARE IN REBELLION.
• TO AN ISLAMIST, THE USE OF VIOLENCE IS JUSTIFIED AGAINST THIS
REBELLION.
THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• BUT THERE IS A THIRD GROUP: THE JIHADI. THESE ARE ISLAMISTS
WHO HAVE WEAPONIZED THEIR BELIEFS.
• THESE JIHADIS ARE COMMITED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WEST.
• WHILE WESTERN MUSLIMS (THOSE WHO LIVE IN AMERICA AND
EUROPE) WILL SAY THAT JIHAD IS ONLY FOR DEFENSIVE PURPOSES.
JIHADIS WILL ARGUE THAT A “DEFENSE” WOULD INCLUDE
ANYTHING THAT CONQUERS THE WORLD’S RESISTANCE TO ISLAM.
• ”PEACE” ONLY OCCURS WHEN ALL NON-BELIEVERS SUBMIT.
THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• PROBLEM WITH JIHAD: MANY MODERATE MUSLIMS ARE CAUGHT IN
A DILEMMA AS THEY CONSIDER WHAT TO DO. MANY MODERATE
MUSLIM DESCRIBE JIHAD AS PERSONAL DISCIPLINE OR IGNORE IT.
• A FORMER MUSLIM SAYS THAT MOST MUSLIMS DO NOT ADHERE
(FOLLOW) THE COMMANDS OF ISLAMIC SCRIPTURE.
• WHY DO THEY NOT SPEAK UP AGAINST THE RADICAL MUSLIMS?
• THEY DO NOT WANT TO DISHONOR THEIR FAMILIES OR
UNDERMINE THEIR RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
• SOME MUSLIMS WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST RADICAL
MUSLIMS ARE THREATENED WITH DEATH.
• FEAR IS ONE THING WE CANNOT GIVE INTO; LOVE IS THE ONLY
THING THAT CASTS OUT FEAR.
• 1 JOHN 4:18, “PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR.”
HISTORY OF ISLAM
• ISLAM – ”SUBMISSION”
• A MUSLIM IS ONE WHO “SUBMITS” TO ALLAH AND THE PRINCIPLES
OF ISLAM EMBODIED IN THE UMMAH.
• UMMAH – THE WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY OF MUSLIMS.
• THE UMMAH EXERTS ENORMOUS POWER AND A MUSLIM DOES
NOT WANT TO UPSET OR DISAGREE WITH THE UMMAH FOR FEAR
OF BEING ALIENATED AND LOST.
THE HISTORY OF ISLAM
• MAJOR WORLD RELIGION
• MAKES UP ONE FOURTH OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION.
• THE MAJORITY OF MUSLIMS ARE NOT ARABS (THOSE WHO LIVE IN
IRAN, IRAQ, JORDAN, SYRIA, SAUDI ARABIA)
• THE LARGEST POPULATION OF MUSLIMS RESIDE IN INDONESIA,
FOLLOWED BY PAKISTAN, INDIA AND BANGLADESH.
THE HISTORY OF ISLAM
• FOUNDER OF ISLAM: MUHAMMED.
• MUHAMMED WAS BORN AROUND 570 AD IN MECCA.
• MECCA WAS POLYTHEISTIC (BELIEF IN MANY GODS) CULTURE AND
ANIMISM (THE BELIEF THAT VARIOUS SPIRITS INHABIT PLANTS,
ANIMALS, AND OTHER OBJECTS IN THE WORLD).
• MUHAMMED WAS A MERCHANT, HE ENCOUNTERED MANY JEWS
AND CHRISTIANS ON HIS TRAVELS.
THE HISTORY OF ISLAM
• AROUND 40 YRS OLD, MUHAMMED WAS DISTURBED BY FREQUENT
VISIONS HE CLAIMED TO BE DEMONIC. ONE OF HIS WIVES
PERSUADED HIM THAT THESE VISIONS WERE FROM GOD.
• IN 610 AD, ACCORDING TO MUSLIM TRADITION, MUHAMMED
CLAIMED THAT THE ANGEL GABRIEL VISITED HIM AND
COMMISSIONS HIM AS A PROPHET OF GOD.
• MUHAMMED THEN SPENDS THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS
TRANSMITTING ORALLY WHAT MUSLIMS CONSIDER THE MOST PURE
UNDERSTANDING OF GOD, THE HOLY QURAN.
THE HISTORY OF ISLAM
• WHAT WAS THIS REVELATION?
• THERE IS ONE GOD WHO MADE ALL THINGS
• PEOPLE MUST ALL SUBMIT TO THIS ONE GOD
• THERE IS A DAY OF JUDGMENT COMING WHERE ALL PEOPLE
WILL BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS, BOTH GOOD
AND EVIL.
THE HISTORY OF ISLAM
• MUHAMMED BELIEVED THAT ISLAM IS THE FINAL, ALLENCOMPASSING RELIGION GOD WAS GIVING HUMANKIND.
• THE DICTATION OF THE QURAN LASTED FOR ANOTHER 23 YEARS
UNTIL MUHAMMED’S DEATH IN 632 A.D.
• MECCA HAD MANY TRIBAL DEITIES (GODS), OVER 360 OF THEM,
WHICH INCLUDED JESUS AND MARY.
• MUHAMMED PROCLAIMED THESE DEITIES ARE AN OFFENSE TO
GOD.
THE HISTORY OF ISLAM
• THIS WOULD CAUSE TENSION BETWEEN MUHAMMED AND THE MECCAN
LEADERS. IN 622 AD, MUHAMMED WOULD FLEE TO MEDINA, WHICH MUSLIMS
CALLED THE HEGIRA.
• THE HEGIRA, OR THE MIGRATION, BEGINS THE MUSLIM ERA AND THE ISLAMIC
CALENDAR.
• THERE WERE SEVERAL BATTLES BETWEEN MUHAMMED’S FOLLOWERS AND A
MECCAN FORCE.
• IN ONE PARTICULAR EVENT, MUHAMMED AND ABOUT 10,000 FOLLOWERS
CLEANSED THE KAABA OF ITS IDOLS
• KAABA – A LARGE BLACK-LIKE BOX BUILDING
THE HISTORY OF ISLAM
• AFTER CONQUERING MECCA, THEY CONTINUED TO CONQUER
OTHER AREAS IN THE WORLD (NORTH AFRICA, EUROPE, MIDDLE
EAST).
• MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHRISTIANS, WERE EITHER TAKEN INTO
SLAVERY OR KILLED.
• TEDDY ROOSEVELT WROTE, "WHEREVER THE MOHAMMEDANS
HAVE HAD A COMPLETE SWAY, WHEREVER THE CHRISTIANS HAVE
BEEN UNABLE TO RESIST THEM BY THE SWORD, CHRISTIANITY HAS
ULTIMATELY DISAPPEARED."
HISTORY OF ISLAM
• MUHAMMED DIES IN 632. THREE CALIPHS (SUCCESSORS TOOK HIS
PLACE).
• MUHAMMED’S COUSIN AND SON IN LAW, ALI IBN ABI TALIB,
WOULD TAKE POWER.
• IN 661, ALI WAS MURDERED.
• IT WAS OUT OF THIS EVENT THAT WOULD BE SOURCE OF MUCH
INNER CONFLICT WITHIN ISLAM.
HISTORY OF ISLAM
• SUNNI ISLAM – A BRANCH OF ISLAM THAT INSISTS THE SUCCESSOR
SHOULD BE ELECTED BY POPULAR VOTE. ABOUT 80% OF THE
WORLD’S MUSLIM POPULATION IS SUNNI MUSLIM.
• SHIITE OR SHIA ISLAM – BELIEVES THE SUCCESSOR OF ISLAM
SHOULD COME FROM THE BLOODLINE OF MUHAMMED, FAMILY
MEMBER OR DESCENDENT.
• SHIITES REMAIN A MAJORITY IN IRAN AND SECTIONS OF IRAQ
• THEY HAVE LEADERS CALLED IMAMS, WHO THEY BELIEVE GOD
HAS GIFTED TO GUIDE MUSLIMS.
HISTORY OF ISLAM
• SUNNIS AND SHIITES AGREE THAT THE QURAN IS IMPORTANT BUT
ACKNOWLEDGE DIFFERENT COLLECTIONS OF MUHAMMED’S
SAYINGS AND TEACHINGS.
• SUFI ISLAM – AROSE OUT OF PROTEST TO THE WORLDLINESS
OVERTAKING ISLAM
• MAJORITY OF MUSLIMS BELIEVE ALLAH ONLY REVEALS HIS WILL
NOT HIS PERSONAL NATURE
• SUFISM BELIEVES A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND ONENESS IN
ALLAH, WHICH BORDERS CLOSE TO PANTHEISM.
HISTORY OF ISLAM
• OTHER OFFSHOOTS OF ISLAM:
• BAHA’I WORLD OF FAITH – BOASTS THAT BAHA ALLAH IS
ANOTHER PROPHET AFTER MUHAMMED
• NATION OF ISLAM - RACIALLY MOTIVATED OFFSHOOT FOUNDED
BY ELIJAH MUHAMMED
• MAINSTREAM ISLAM REJECTS BOTH BAHA’I AND NATION OF
ISLAM
ISLAM AS A WORLDVIEW
• 3 PROBLEMS WHICH PREVENTS ISLAM FROM PEACEFULLY
COEXISTING WITH CHRISTIANS AND SECULARISTS:
• 1. UNIFORMITY. MUSLIM LEADERS DEMAND UNIFORMITY
• 2. SUPPRESSION OF DISAGREEMENT. DISCUSSING PROBLEMS IS
OFTEN SEEN AS WEAKNESS.
• 3. ELIMINATION OF CRITICAL THOUGHT. THINKING DIFFERENT
IS DANGEROUS IN ISLAM.
ISLAM AS A WORLDVIEW
• MANY MUSLIM SCHOLARS MAY DEBATE HOW WHETHER THERE IS
ROOM FOR DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF MUHAMMED’S
TEACHINGS.
• ISLAM IS BEST UNDERSTOOD AS A WORLDVIEW.
ASPECTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• COMMONALITIES BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY:
• BELIEF IN A SOVEREIGN GOD WHO IS MAXIMALLY POWERFUL.
• INTERACTS WITH HIS CREATION
• SPOKEN TO HUMANITY THROUGH PROPHETS
• HIS MESSAGE IN HIS A HOLY BOOK
• IN SPITE OF THESE COMMONALITIES, ISLAM STILL PROPOSES A
VERY DIFFERENT WORLDVIEW FROM CHRISTIANITY.
ASPECTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• THE NATURE OF GOD:
• ALLAH IS THE ARABIC WORD FOR GOD, NOT THE NAME OF
GOD
• HE IS ETERNAL AND SELF-EXISTENT.
• HE IS CREATOR
• HE IS SOVEREIGN OVER HUMANS AND HISTORY
• GOD IS UTTERLY TRANSCENDENT, MEANING HE DOES NOT
CONCERN HIMSELF WITH THE AFFAIRS OF HUMANS
ASPECTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• THE NATURE OF GOD:
• HE ONLY RELATES TO PEOPLE THROUGH PROPHETS AND
AUTHORITATIVE TEACHINGS
• HUMANS ARE NOT MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
• GOD DOES NOT SHARE HIS ATTRIBUTES
• REJECT THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY AND DENY THE DEITY OF
JESUS CHRIST
ASPECTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• THE NATURE OF GOD:
• THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY IS CONSIDERED SHIRK (THE SIN
OF POLYTHEISM)
• "THEY DO BLASPHEME WHO SAY 'GOD IS ONE OF THREE IN A
TRINITY,' FOR THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ONE GOD. IF THEY
DESIST NOT FROM THEIR WORD (OF BLASPHEMY), VERILY A
GRIEVOUS PENALTY WILL BEFALL THE BLASPHEMERS AMONG
THEM" (QURAN 5:73)
ASPECTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• THE BIBLE:
• MUSLIMS BELIEVE GOD COMMUNICATED TO HUMANS THROUGH
PROPHETS, 25 OF WHOM ARE MENTIONED IN THE QURAN.
• THESE PROPHETS INCLUDE BOTH FROM OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW
TESTAMENT.
• MUSLIMS BELIEVE THAT ISLAM WAS TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE, BUT THIS WAS
LOST DUE TO CORRUPTION OF SCRIPTURE
• THEY DO SAY THAT GOD GAVE MOSES, DAVID, JESUS, AND MUHAMMED
SPECIAL BOOKS
• BUT THE QURAN IS THE ONLY AUTHORITATIVE AND UNCORRUPTED
SCRIPTURE WITHOUT ERROR
ASPECTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• ACCORDING TO MUSLIMS, ISLAM IS THE FULFILLMENT OF
CHRISTIANITY.
• JESUS:
• ACKNOWLEDGE THE VIRGIN BIRTH AND HIS MIRACULOUS ACTS
• DENY HIS DEITY
• DENY HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS AS AN ATONEMENT FOR SIN
• DENY HIS RESURRECTION
ASPECTS OF ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• SALVATION AND JUDGMENT:
• NO ATONING DEATH FOR SIN
• DENIES THE FALL, SO NO ORIGINAL SIN.
• IF ONE REJECTS THE FALL, THEN IT IS ULTIMATELY REJECTING THE
BIBLICAL TEACHING OF HUMANITY CAPTIVE TO EVIL AND
DESTINED, WITHOUT A REDEEMER, TO BEHAVE CORRUPTLY IN ALL
THEIR ACTIONS.
ASPECTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
• EACH PERSONS GOOD DEEDS WILL BE WEIGHED IN A BALANCE TO
DETERMINE WHO GOES TO PARADISE AND WHO GOES TO HELL.
5 QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
• 1. WHAT SOURCES OF REVELATION DOES ISLAM DRAW?
• 2. WHAT DOES ISLAM SAY ABOUT HUMANITY?
• 3. WHAT DOES ISLAM SAY IS WRONG WITH US?
• 4. WHAT DOES ISLAM SAY ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD LIVE?
• 5. HOW ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND OTHER WORLDVIEWS BASED
ON ISLAM?
SOURCES OF ISLAM
• THE QURAN - “TO READ” OR ”TO RECITE”
• THE HADITH – THE TRADITIONS OF THE TEACHINGS, RULINGS, AND
ACTIONS OF MUHAMMED.
• THESE TRADITIONS INCLUDE THE SUNNAH, DESCRIPTIONS OF
MUHAMMED’S EXEMPLARY ACTIONS.
ISLAMIC VIEW OF HUMANITY
• THEY REJECT THAT HUMANITY IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD,
THEY BELIEVE HUMANS ARE “VICE REGENTS”
• HUMANS ARE MERELY SLAVES OF ALLAH, NOT SONS AND
DAUGHTERS.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH HUMANITY, ACCORDING TO
ISLAM
• EVERY HUMAN IS BORN AS A MUSLIM IN SUBMISSION TO ALLAH.
• BUT THEY ARE LED ASTRAY AS CHILDREN TO WORSHIP FALSE GODS
OR DENY GOD.
• THE PROPHETS OF ALLAH WERE SENT TO CORRECT THESE
ERRORS
• TO REFUSE TO BECOME A MUSLIM IS REBELLION AGAINST ALLAH
• THEREFORE JIHAD IS AN OBLIGATION FOR A MUSLIM TO FIGHT
REBELLION AGAINST GOD.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH HUMANITY, ACCORDING TO
ISLAM
• AS THE FAMOUS ARAB HISTORIAN IBN KHALDUN (1333–1406)
SAID, "IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, THE HOLY WAR IS A RELIGIOUS
DUTY, BECAUSE OF THE UNIVERSALISM OF THE MUSLIM MISSION
AND THE OBLIGATION TO CONVERT EVERYBODY TO ISLAM EITHER
BY PERSUASION OR BY FORCE.”
• FIGHTING AGAINST NON-MUSLIMS IS VIEWED NOT AS AN ACT
OF AGGRESSION BUT AS AN ACT OF RESTORATION—THE
OFFERING OF ALLAH'S MERCY TO THOSE WILLING TO END THEIR
REBELLIOUS WAYS.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH HUMANITY, ACCORDING TO
ISLAM
• TO A MUSLIM, ANY NATION THAT REFUSES TO ALLOW MUSLIMS TO LIVE AS
THE PLEASE, AND TO ADOPT, AND PROPAGATE (SPREAD) ISLAM MUST BE
FORCED INTO SUBMISSION FOR ITS OWN GOOD AND FOR THE GLORY OF
GOD.
• ISLAM IS A DAR AL-ISLAM (HOUSE OF PEACE)
• ANY NATION THAT REFUSES ISLAM ARE DAR AL-HARB (HOUSE OF WAR)
• DHIMMITUDE - PROVISION FOR CHRISTIANS AND JEWS (PEOPLE OF THE BOOK)
MAY LIVE IN PEACE WITHOUT CONVERTING TO ISLAM.
• DHIMMIS – CHRISTIANS AND JEWS ARE SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS
AND ARE HARASSED, PERSECUTED, AND SOMETIMES KILLED
• THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PAY A JIZYA (TAX UPON
UNBELIEVERS). SOME CAN’T EVEN DO THIS, BECAUSE THE TAXES ARE
SO HEAVY, THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LIVE AS SLAVES.
5 PILLARS OF ISLAM
• FIRST PILLAR – THE SHAHADA, THE CONFESSION OF FAITH: THERE IS NO GOD
BUT ALLAH AND MUHAMMED IS HIS PROPHET
• IF A PERSON RECITES THIS WITH A SINCERE HEART AND MIND, THEN THEY
ARE A MUSLIM.
• SECOND PILLAR – THE SALAT, PRAYER.
• MUSLIMS ARE EXPECTED TO PRAY 5 TIMES A DAY FACING MECCA
• ON FRIDAY, MUSLIM MEN WILL MEET IN THE MOSQUE TO PRAY. THE
MOSQUE IS CENTRAL TO ISLAMIC LIFE
• “THE MOSQUE ARE OUR BARRACKS, THE DOMES OUR HELMETS, THE
MINARETS OUR BAYONETS, AND THE FAITHFUL OUR SOLDIERS
5 PILLARS OF ISLAM
• THIRD PILLAR - THE ZAKAT. ALMSGIVING.
• MUSLIMS ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE 2.5% OF THEIR ANNUAL
CAPITAL TO THE POOR, EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH MUSLIM
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.
• FOURTH PILLAR – SAWM. FASTING DURING RAMADAN.
• IT INVOLVES FASTING FROM MANY THINGS, INCLUDING FOOD,
DRINK, ETC. THESE THINGS SHOULD BE REFRAINED FROM DURING
LIGHT HOURS, AT NIGHT IT IS OKAY TO ENJOY THESE THINGS.
• MAINLY USED TO HELP THEM DEVELOP SELF-CONTROL,
DISCOURAGE BAD HABITS, AND TO REFOCUS THE MINDS.
5 PILLARS OF ISLAM
• FIFTH PILLAR – HAJJ.
• ALL MUSLIMS ARE EXPECTED TO PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA AT LEAST
ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIMES IF THEIR HEALTH AND FINANCES PERMIT.
• ISLAMISTS WOULD ADD JIHAD AS A SIXTH PILLAR, BECAUSE JIHAD
IS THE MOST SELF-SACRIFICING ACTIONS ISLAMISTS CAN
UNDERTAKE.
5 PILLARS OF ISLAM
• WHILE THESE PILLARS ENCOMPASS THE MORAL OBLIGATIONS FOR
MUSLIMS, THERE ARE LAWS THAT MUSLIMS MUST ALSO FOLLOW.
• THE SUNNAH (LEGAL RULINGS AND EXAMPLES) WILL BE SOUGHT
TO SEE WHAT TO DO IN SITUATIONS.
• THE HADITH OFTEN PRESENTS CONFLICTING OR CONTRADICTORY
RULINGS WHICH CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR MUSLIMS.
THE PRINCIPLE OF ABROGATION
• THIS PRINCIPLE CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR MUSLIMS BECAUSE THIS
PRINCIPLE SAYS THAT LATER PASSAGES IN THE QURAN OVERRULE
EARLIER PASSAGES.
• EXAMPLE: VERSION OF ALLAH IN FIRST PART VS. SECOND PART.
KALAM COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
• MUSLIMS STILL FIND THEMSELVES ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS
THAT CHRISTIANS OFTEN DO: HOW DO I KNOW THAT GOD
EXISTS? WHY IS THERE SOMETHING RATHER THAN NOTHING? WAS
THE BEGINNING CAUSED OR UNCAUSED?
• THESE QUESTIONS MADE ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHERS TO DEVELOP
WHAT IS KNOWN AS KALAM COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
• KALAM – “DISCOURSE”
• COSMOLOGY – “THE STUDY OF ORDER, STRUCTURE, AND DESIGN
IN THE UNIVERSE.”
KALAM COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
• WHATEVER BEGINS TO EXIST HAS A CAUSE
• THE UNIVERSE BEGAN TO EXIST
• THEREFORE, THE UNIVERSE HAS A CAUSE
• NORMAN GEISLER SAYS, "THE KALAM … ARGUMENT IS A
HORIZONTAL (LINEAR) FORM OF THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT.
THE UNIVERSE IS NOT ETERNAL, SO IT MUST HAVE HAD A CAUSE.”