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Transcript
4. Representative Muslim Institutions & Their Dynamics Frederick M. Denny, Islam and the Muslim Community (Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland Press, 1987), 77–106. Learning the Qur’an Muslims strive to master Arabic • Once memorized, it must be kept in memory through continuous practice Quasi-musical (chanting) At least initially, essentially a mimicking process Schools for learning the Qur’an are called pesantren (medrese in Turkish) 5/23/2017 For worship For meditation For reading and reciting the Qur’an Many residential pesantren Taught by a kiai (“master”) Focus on the text of the Qur’an, read and recited Contests for students to show their mastery of the recitation Turkish children on a break during “vacation Qur’an school” Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies 2 Qur’anic Piety Recitation is tilawa, from the word “to follow” Includes obeying the Divine message A true Muslim is one grounded in the Qur’an To Muslims, the Qur’an is active & powerful Like a living reality Power to inspire 5/23/2017 The Qur’an provides the central source of meaning, values, and spiritual power for Muslims everywhere, throughout changing times Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies 3 Muslim Veneration of Saints Muslims recognize the importance of sacred persons The Qur’an never speaks of the holiness of persons—God alone is holy. 5/23/2017 Venerate Seek guidance, boons, and intercession with God The Arabic term walî, usually translated “saint,” means “friend” (as in “friend of God”) A Hajji (someone who has made the Hajj) can be a kind of living saintly presence Pilgrims visiting the tomb of the Mevlana, Sufi mystic and Saint, Jalal al-Din Rumi Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies 4 Sayyid Ahmad al-Badawi Greatest Egyptian Muslim Saint Muslims must be careful not to deify saints Remembered through a mawlid (birthday festival) Brought the Sufi Order to Egypt Lived when Sufi brotherhoods, tariqas, were being established throughout the Umma Little if any Qur’anic basis for intercession of saints People still seek such intercession in many ways, and do not consider it idolatrous View it as asking friendly help of a holy person Saint veneration has been outlawed in some parts of the Muslim world Al-Badawi Mosque in Tanta i Nedre, Egypt, built over the grave of 12th century Sufi saint, Sayyid Ahmad al-Badawi (Photo © Richard J. Natvig) 5/23/2017 Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies 5 The “Nine Saints” of Java The graveyard at Ngampel The Sunan is buried within the fenced enclosure (right rear of photo). According to legend, Java was Islamized by nine holy men who brought the teaching of the Qur’an to that island in the 15th-16th centuries. They are known collectively as the walî songo or “nine saints.” Sunan Ampel is one of these walî Entrance to the tomb of Sunan Ampel, Surabaya, JAVA 5/23/2017 Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies 6 Shi’ite Saint Veneration Shi’a Muslims celebrate holy personages Unlike Sunni Islam, Shi’a tradition accords a central place to visiting the burial places of its sacred heroes If they cannot make the Hajj to Mecca, Shi’ite Muslims will make a substitute pilgrimage to the tomb of a Muslim “saint” or walî The tomb of the Mevlana, Sufi mystic and Walî, Jalal al-Din Rumi 5/23/2017 Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies 7 Key Rituals of Muslim Life No formal rite of initiation To join the Umma, one need only utter the Shahada with a sincere heart in the presence of another Muslim Once a Muslim, all the duties and privileges of membership in the Umma are immediately in force An adult male convert must be circumcised, if he is not already Most converts take an Islamic name (e.g., Cassius Clay took the name Muhammad Ali) Ablution fountain inside the Ulu Cami Mosque 5/23/2017 Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies 8 Rites of Passage Birth Rites & Early Education Devout parents utter Basmala before marital relations (“In the Name of God the Merciful the Compassionate”) First act after a child is born is to whisper the Call to Prayer into the newborn ear Qur’anic training begins ASAP Puberty Rites 5/23/2017 Vary from region to region For young women, taking the hijab (head covering) For young men, circumcision (usu. associated with 1st public recitation of the Qur’an) Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies 9 Marriage One of greatest transitions in life Expected (“only half a man” before marrying) Simple marriage ceremony Courtship is chaperoned: Laws of mahram prohibit any female associating with a non-mahram male unless one of her blood relatives is present Polygamy is permitted, although no longer common 5/23/2017 Signing of contract Festivities The Qur’an permits a man to have up to four wives concurrently, provided all are treated equally Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies 10 Death & Funerary Rites 5/23/2017 Final transition in human life The dying person looks toward Mecca and recites the beginning of the Shahada: “There is no god but God.” After death, the deceased’s body receives final ablution Funeral Salat Reciting Qur’an is best way to show respect and grief Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies 11