Download Origins islam

Islam:
History, Values and Culture
Shawqi Kassis, Ph.D.
Words to Know
Arabian Peninsula
Mecca
Muslims
Muhammad
Abraham
Caliph
The Quran
Sunni
Shiite
1. Which of the following is a true statement:
A. All Arabs are Muslims
B. All Muslims are Arabs
C. Iran is an Arab country
D. None of the above
1. Which of the following is a true statement:
A. All Arabs are Muslims
B. All Muslims are Arabs
C. Iran is an Arab country
D. None of the above
2. During prayer a Muslim should face:
A. Mecca
B. Islamabad
C. Jerusalem
D. Washington, DC
2. During prayer a Muslim should face:
A. Mecca
B. Islamabad
C. Jerusalem
D. Washington, DC
Islam
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Founder: Muhammad Ibn (son of) Adballah
Born: 571 AD in Mecca, Arabia
Descendant of Abraham
Nicknames: Almustapha (the chosen), Alamin (the faithful)
Titles: The prophet, the messenger
Tribe: Quraiysh
Holy Book: The Quran
Abraham
Ismail
Adnan
Quraiysh
Qussaiy
Abdmanaf
Abdshams
Hashem
Adbelmuttalib
(Amneh+) Abdallah Abutalib Hamzeh Alabbas
Muhammad
Ummayah Dynasty
(661-750)
Abulahab Alhareth
Ali
Abbbassides Dynasty
(750-1258)
Historical Overview
The Levant
Mesopotamia
The fertile Crescent
EGYPT
•Medinah
•Mecca
Dynasties
of the
South
Middle East, 7th Century
• The Arabian Peninsula
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The source of Arabs and the Semitic race
Mostly desert, few urbanized areas
Urban centers, Mecca
Mainly tribal society
First mention of ‘Arabs’, 854 B.C.
Arabs of the North and Arabs of the South
Dynasties in the south
Religions
– Christianity, Judaism, polytheism
• The Sassanid or Persian Empire
 Ailing
• The Byzantine or Eastern Roman Empire
 Christianity is the state religion, 3rd century
 A foreign occupying power
 Sectarian conflicts with the locals
Byzantine
Empire
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Persian
Empire
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An Arabian
dynasty
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An Arabian
dynasty
Islam, 610-632
• 571
Muhammad born in Mecca.
• 610
First revelation in the Harraa cave (27 Ramadan).
• 622
“Hijra”or Escape. Muhammad and followers escape prosecution
and go to Almadinah (Yathrib).
 Year 1 in the Islamic calendar
 ‘Missionaries’ sent all over Arabia
– building peaceful coalition
• 629
Muhammad conquers Mecca peacefully (NO REVENGE)
 destroys idols in Alqaaba.
 single-handedly, brings peace to war-torn Arabia
• 632
Muhammad dies in Almadinah. Unmarked grave (his will)
Islam by the death of Mohammed 632
632-661: the Four Elected Successors (Caliphs)
Abu-Bakr - 632-634
• The first elected official. Wise leader, crisis manager
Omar Ibn Elkhattab - 634-644
• A first-rate statesman. Honest, modest and just.
• Conquered the Levant, Egypt, Iraq, Persia
 Damascus (9 / 635) and Jerusalem (5 / 638) surrender peacefully
– Omar’s pledge to the Jerusalemites
• A modern state: Treasury, communication, defense. Engraved currency.
Othman bin Affan - 644-656
• Collected and compiled the Quran
• Emergence of power struggle
Ali Bin Abitalib - 656-661
• Power struggle escalated to armed conflict
• Emergence of political parties
• End of democracy. Ummayah Dynasty in Damascus, Muawyia (661-680)
Islam at 644, the year Omar died
The Ummayah Dynasty, 661-750
• Empire center and capital move to Damascus
• Expansion: All N. Africa (Atlantic), W. Europe, much of C. Asia, the wall of China
 711: Conquer of Spain and Portugal. Tariq Bin Ziyad
• Expansion into W. Europe blocked in France by Charles Martial, 732
• Power Struggle continues, but the Caliphs brutally liquidate all rivals
 Karbalaa in S. Iraq (10 Nov, 680) and the emergence of the Shiha
• Addelmalek builds Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem (691)
• Massive translation of Greek and Indian writings
• Arabization of the empire
• Bloom of architecture, arts, agriculture, and science
732, 100 Yrs after Mohammed
The Abbassides Dynasty, 750-1258
• The center of the Empire moves to Iraq and Iran
• Baghdad, built 762 AD by Almansur (2nd Caliph).
• With over 2 M, Baghdad becomes the glamorous center of the world
 Science, art, architecture, learning, and wealth
 Lighted streets, public baths, public libraries and hospitals everywhere
• Other dynasties in Egypt, Spain, and parts of the Levant.
• Cairo, built 968 AD
Interactive Notebook Question (Left Side)
1’s answer: What was the title of the
leaders of the Muslim Empire after
Muhammad’s death?
2’s answer: Name two Muslim Empires after
Muhammad’s death.
Islam as Monotheistic Religion
Islam:
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”Surrender”, related to ‘salaam’, or peace.
Abraham, father of all prophets, is the first Muslim
Islam is also a code for social conduct
Quran plus the authentic statements of Muhammad (Hadith) = Shareeha
(constitution), as Interpreted by Islamic scholars
• Muhammad is the last prophet (33: 40).
• Gabriel highest ranking angel
The Quran:
• Islam’s holy book, an inspired scripture. God’s word inspired to his messenger,
• 114 Chapters (chapter = Surah), 4 to >200 verses/chapter (verse = Aiyah)
• Confirms most narratives and prophets of the Jewish and Christian faiths
 Special place for Virgin Mary, the only female (the Chapter of Mary)
• Allah is the word for God used by Christian and Muslim Arabs
 God = Allah (Arabic)
• One and only one God, no trinity
• Arabic as the language of the Quran
The 'Five Pillars' of Islam
The framework for Muslim life. Essential practices
1. The declaration of faith:
• "There is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God"
2. Prayer:
• Five obligatory prayers each day.
• A direct link between the worshiper and God.
• No hierarchical authority or priesthood
3. Zakat:
• Obligatory charitable giving.
• Wealth belong to God and it is held in trust by humans.
• Zakat, or, "purification" by setting aside a portion (2.5%) for the needy
4. Fasting:
• From sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan
5. Pilgrimage:
• A pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca, Arabia. Only those who can
Jihad and the Conduct of War
• Islam is not addicted to war, and jihad is not one of its "pillars”
• Jihad in Arabic does not mean "holy war”. It means "struggle” or “strive”.
• It is the difficult effort needed to put God's will into practice at every level
Jihad and the Conduct of War
• God does not allow harm of civilian, and requests the protection of women,
children and the elderly during war (4:96; 9: 91; 48: 16,17)
 “If any one slew a person--unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief
in the land--it would be as if he slew the whole people; and if anyone saved
a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” (5:32)
• You shall feed and protect prisoners of war, and you shall not expect a
reward (4: 25,36; 5:24)
Thus, the only permissible war in the Quran is one of self-defense, you
cannot kill unarmed (civilian), and you have to protect prisoners of war
• ‘Martyrdom’: Those killed during fighting or while doing civic duties
(martyrs) are promised a place in heaven (several passages, e.g., 2:154;
3:169-172)
• However, suicide is not allowed; it is forbidden and condemned (e.g., 6:151,
17:33, 25:68)
Relation with other Faiths
• Like the Torah, the Quran permits retaliation eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
But, like the Gospels, it says “it is meritorious to forgo revenge in a spirit of charity
(5: 45)
• Acknowledges Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses,
David, Solomon, Zacharia, Jesus, John the paptist, and others as the “the good
prophets of God”
• A special place for Jesus and Mary (e.g., 3:45,46; 4:156-158; 19:1-98)
• Accepts that Mary’s conception is from God’s soul.
• Rejects the divinity of Jesus (no trinity).
• Jesus was not killed (e.g., 4:155-159; 5:17-19)
Interactive Notebook Question
(Left Side)
1’s and 2’s take turns naming the Five
Pillars of Islam
Other Values
The hijab or head scarf
• Modest dress apply to women and men equally (Quran and Hadith).
• Women are required to cover their bodies so that their figure is not revealed.
• Women are not required to cover their faces.
• The forbidden or ‘taboo’ (muharramat) include pork, blood, improperly butchered
animals, gambling, and charging interest
• Alcohol drinking was gradually disallowed
Science and Civilization
Medicine and Pharmacy
• Institutionalized and regulated the practice of Medicine and Pharmacy
 The modern concept of clinics
 Board exams and license to practice. Regulatory boards (FDA's!!!)
 Classification of plants and Algae for their medical use, and outlined
possible side effects (PDR’s!!)
Hospitals:
• Tens, including specialized, in each of Baghdad, Qurtoba, and Damascus.
• Mobile hospitals for emergency.
• Departments and University Hospitals.
• Patients records and vital signs, urine tests, family history.
Surgery:
• Threads from animals intestine.
• Opium and Hashish for Anesthesia.
• Alcohol as disinfectant.
• Treatment of cataract, and removal of kidney and gallbladder stones
Autopsy !!!
• Students training (Anatomy)
• Cause of death
Known Physicians
• Abu-bakr Elrazzy; 9th Century
• Father of Physicians, great clinician and experimentalist
• Many books including “Smallpox and Measles”
• Ibn-Elhaytham: 10th Century
• Multidisciplinary scientist. Ophthalmologist
• Mechanism of sight. Function of the eye
• Over 100 books in Med. and Math.
• Ibn-Seena (Avisai): 10th Century
• The “Qannun”, the medical text book in Europe till 19th Cen.
• Described the medical use of over 2700 plants
• Light has a finite speed, which is much faster than the speed of sound
• Ibn-Rushd (Aviros): 13th Century
• Philosopher and Physician. Many books
• Ibn-Elnafees:
• Blood circulation and the role of lungs
• Abulkassim Alzahrawi (Abulcasis or Albucasis): 11th Century
• One of the greatest surgeons. A good dentist and GP.
• Removal of breast cancer.
• Hemophilia and its hereditary transmission (female to male)
Mathematics
• Arabic numeral and the decimal system of numbers.
• Arithmetic. Roots and powers
• Algorithm = Alkhawarismi
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The mathematical ZERO
Algebra (combining fractions).
The Use of (x, y, z) to solve complex arithmetic/geometric problems
Trigonometry (Albairuni and Albuzjani), differential and Integral.
 p = 3.141596535898732.
Chemistry and Physics
• Arabic terms and methods of preparation for Alkali, Alcohol, Tartarate
• Discovered and prepared in pure form 28 elements (Ibn Elhaytham)
• The processes of crystallization, fermentation, distillation, sublimation,
• Preparation of acids (H2SO4, HCl, HNO3) and bases (NaOH)
• Light travels in straight lines. Laws of refraction, reflection and illusion of light.
• Eluded to the Magnetic properties of some objects
Astronomy
• Astrology (myth)  Astronomy (science)
• Movement, path, and location of planets and stars
• The Asturlab
• Earth is spherical and rotates along its axis and around the sun.
• Calculated earth circumference (Albairuni)
• Calculated the time needed for one rotation around the sun (solar year), with
an error of 2’ 22” only (Albattani)
• Calculated the equinoxes
• Current names of most constellations, and many stars are from Arabic
Some known astronomists:
• Alkindy (9th Century)
• Albattani (9th Century)
• Ibn-elhaytham (11th Century)
• Thabit Ibn Qarra
• Almajreeti
Sunni and Shiha(Shiite) Split
Sunni
• 90% of Muslims
• Follow the Quran
Shiha (Shiite)
• Came to be as a sect after 680 A.D.
• Believe in the Quran, like Sunni
• However, they place Ali very high as a holy figure, and think ‘main stream’
Islam discriminated against him
• Today Shiah (Shiite) is mainly in Iran (90%), Iraq (55%) and Lebanon (~40%)
Interactive Notebook Question (left side)
What is similar between Christianity and Islam
splitting into sects?
The Koran is the sacred text for both. They believe Muhammad was the
prophet and that there will be a resurrection followed by a final judgment when
the world ends.
While there are superficial differences between the sects – differences in prayer
and carrying out rituals, for instance – the arena of conflict between the two has
long been political.
The split between the two main branches of Islam is nearly 1,400 years old,
and started with a fight over who should lead the faithful after the
prophet Muhammad's death in 632. One side believed that direct
descendants of the prophet should take up the mantle of the caliph –
the leader of the world's faithful. They were known as the Shiat-Ali, or
"partisans of Ali," after the prophet's cousin and son-in-law Ali, whom they
favored to become caliph. In time, they came simply to be known as Shiites.
The other side, the Sunnis, thought that any worthy man could lead the
faithful, regardless of lineage, and favored Abu Bakr, an early convert to Islam
who had married into Muhammad's family. "Sunni" is derived from the Arab word
for "followers" and is shorthand for "followers of the prophet."
The Shiites were the eventual losers in a violent struggle for mastery that
lasted decades, a fact now reflected in their minority status within global Islam.
Another difference between Sunnis and Shiites has to do with the Mahdi, “the
rightly-guided one” whose role is to bring a just global caliphate into being. As
historian Timothy Furnish has written, "The major difference is that for Shiites he
has already been here, and will return from hiding; for Sunnis he has yet to
emerge into history: a comeback v. a coming out, if you will."
Abraham
Muhammad
Mecca
Arabian Peninsula
Islam
The Quran
Caliph
Sunni/Shiite Split
Islam Today
• 1.3 Billion worldwide, three continents
 0.3 Billion Arabs
 Indonesia (200 M) > India (180 M) > Pakistan (160 M) > Bangladesh (120 M) >
China (80 M) > Egypt (70 M)
• There are about 20 M Christian Arabs
 Egypt > Syria > Lebanon > Palestine > Iraq
• About 7 M Muslims in the USA, 3-4 M are Arabs
 Roughly half of the Arab Americans are Christians
Though a majority in Iran and Iraq, Shiites make up just 15 percent of the
world's Muslims.
Arab Americans
• Casey Kasem and Don Bustany (Lebanon) creators of radio's American
Top 40
• Mustapha Elaqqad (Syria), Hollywood movie director
(director of the ‘Halloween’ series)
• Tom Shadyac (Lebanon), Hollywood movie director
• Salma Hayic (Lebanon), a Hollywood star
• Yasser Seirawan (Syria), US Chess Champion
• Jacques Nasser, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co
• Ray Irani CEO of Occidental Petroleum (Exxon Mobil) Co
• The Hyatt, Hagar, and Farah enterprises
• Christina McAuliffe, an astronaut who died aboard the space shuttle
Challenger
• Candy Lightner, founder of MADD
Suggested Reading
• “History of the Arabs”, Philip Hitti
• “The Arab People”, Albert Hourany
• “Islam, An Empire of Faith”, PBS Video, 2001
• “Islam: A Short History”, Karen Armstrong, 2000
• “Muhammad”, Karen Armstrong, 1998
• “Jihad: A Commitment to Universal Peace”, Marcel A. Boisard, American Trust
Publications, 1988
• “The Oxford History of Islam”, John L Esposito, ed. 1999
• “Islam: The Straight Path”, John L Esposito, ed. 1998
• “The Meaning of the Holy Quran”, Abdullah Yusif, Ali, 1997
• “Lives of the Prophets”, Leila Azzam, 1995
• “From Difference to Equas”, George Kindy, and Philip Saliba, eds., NYAS, 1994
• Science in Medieval Islam, Howard R Turner, 1997
• Arab American Encyclopedia, Anan Ameri, and Dawn Ramey, eds., 2000
The Ka'aba (literally "the cube" in Arabic) is an ancient stone
structure that was built and re-built by prophets as a house of
monotheistic worship. It is located inside the Grand Mosque in
Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Ka'aba is considered the center of the
Muslim world, and is a unifying focal point for Islamic worship.
Bibliography
Islam's Sunni-Shiite split. Dan Murphy | Staff writer of The Christian Science
Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0117/p25s01-wome.html