Download Document

Islamic Traditions
Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D.
REL 117
Introduction to World Religions
Berea College
Spring 2005
1
WHO IS A MUSLIM?
•
•
•
1.
2.
Muslim = from Arabic Islam,
“submission”
A Muslim is “one who submits”
to one who submits” to Allah
(God) through the revelation
(Quran) given to humanity
through His Prophet, Muhammad
(570-632 CE)
A Muslim is anyone who can say
and believe the Shahada, or
“Profession of Faith”:
There is no God but Allah
Muhammad is Allah’s Prophet
2
ANCIENT ROOTS OF ISLAM
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Muhammad (570-632 CE):
Born in Arabian city of Mecca; raised
by relatives after parents’ death
Absorbs diverse religious influences
(Christian, Jewish, local Arab
polytheism) in cosmopolitan
commercial city
Experiences revelations from Allah
(name of one Arab deity) beginning
with “Night of Power” (610), later
transcribed in Quran
As revelations continue, begins to
preach monotheism, moral purity, and
simplicity of lifestyle
Persecution leads to escape (Hijra)
from Mecca to Medina (622)
Gaining support, returns to Mecca as
conqueror (630)
Dies after making pilgrimage (Hajj) 3
to sacred sites in Mecca
THE “FIVE PILLARS”
OF ISLAM
•
•
Shahada: profession of faith
in Allah as sole deity and
Muhammad as final
messenger (culmination of
Hebrew and New Testament
prophecy)
Shalat: ritual prayer five
times daily (morning, noon,
afternoon, sunset, dusk) while
prostrated in direction of
Mecca – customarily solitary,
but communal on Fridays at
noon in masjid (mosque)
•
•
•
Zakat: charity – a “loan to
God” representing 2.5% of
one’s income, donated by
those 16 years and older who
can afford it
Ramadan: abstinence from
food, drink, sex, stimulants
during daylight hours of ninth
lunar month in
commemoration of the
Prophet’s “Night of Power”
Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca to
be made by every Muslim at
least once in a lifetime
4
THE GROWTH OF ISLAMIC
INSTITUTIONS
•
•
•
•
After the Prophet’s death, caliphs
(deputies) govern the ummah (Islamic
community) in his place, combining
judiciary, military, political, and
religious functions
Power struggle leads to death of fourth
caliph, Ali (600-661), Muhammad’s
cousin, and Husain (626-680),
Muhammad’s grandson
Sunni (“traditional”) Muslims revere
first four caliphs, emphasize Islamic
unity, and see Shari’a (jurisprudence)
as link between Prophet and ummah
Shi’a (“factional”) Muslims honor Ali
and Husain as martyrs, tend toward
sectarianism, and see imams (religious
leaders) as link between Prophet and
ummah
5
6
ISLAMIC MYSTICISM
•
•
•
•
•
•
Soon after Prophet’s death, some
Muslims become critical of what they
see as worldliness and corruption of
caliphs
Preaching simple living and constant
prayer, and distinguished by their
blue wool (sūf) clothing, Sufis
become famous for their use of
meditation and mystical union with
Allah
Primary value of Sufism: tawakkul
(absolute trust in Allah)
Tawakkul in turn arises from tawhid
(absolute unity/uniqueness of Allah)
Tawakkul is expressed through faqr
(“poverty,” both material and
spiritual)
Faqr in turn leads to fanā
(“annihilation” of self in the presence
of almighty Allah)
7
ISLAM SINCE THE
MIDDLE AGES
•
•
•
•
•
Since 1600s, gradual domination and
exploitation of Muslim world by nonMuslims has generated fear,
resentment, and violent resistance
Wahhabi (after Muhammad ibn `Abd
al-Wahhab, 1703-1792) movement
revives strict faithfulness to Islamic
traditions, especially Quran, in attempt
to “purify” Islam – still very influential
in Saudi Arabia
Pan-Islamism, a movement begun by
Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Afghani (18381897), teaches Islamic unity against
Western colonialism, selective embrace
of science and technology, and
individual reason in Quran
interpretation
50% of Muslims today live in India and
Indonesia
Less than 20% of Muslims are Arabs 8
TRADITIONAL MUSLIM
GOALS & GUIDES FOR LIFE
•
Muslims affirm that:
•
Muslims rely on:
1.
2.
Life is linear and finite
One omnipotent and loving God
(Allah) created all life, gave
humans free will and revealed
himself in Quran
Human refusal to submit to Allah
leads to lawlessness and
suffering
Submission (Islam) is the proper
response to Allah and offers
redemption
1.
Quran – Allah’s revelation to the
Prophet, initially memorized and
later transcribed; only Arabic
original is authoritative
Hadith – “traditions” related to
sayings of Prophet not found in
Quran, which record his sunna
“custom”
Shari’a (“broad path”) – Islamic
jurisprudence; result of Arab
encounter with non-Arab
customary laws and cultures
3.
4.
•
Two greatest values:
1.
Tawhid (unity) of Allah; through
Islam, humanity is unified
Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah
through prayer and action
2.
2.
3.
•
Muslims interpret using:
1.
2.
3.
ijmā (communal consensus)
qiyās (analogy)
ra’y (speculation)
9
10