Transcript Islam

“Muhammad” in
Arabic
“Allah” in
Arabic
Islam
Muhammad, the Prophet

570 AD - born in Arab
peninsula




Family of merchants from
Mecca (town)
Religious practice was all
over the place (pagan,
christian, etc)
Ka’aba – formerly
dedicated by Abraham to
Yahweh; temple later
served pagan gods
Place of annual
pilgrimage, for Arabs
Muhammad, the Prophet


Muhammad was a reflective
man, would spend time alone
in Cave Hira
610 AD – Muhammad received
revelation from Archangel
Gabriel



Ramadan
Revelation of Qu’ran to
Muhammad
Message: people had lost true
way to worship God (Allah);
revelations were the way he
wanted to be worshipped
Cave Hira – location of
revelations
Muhammad, the Prophet

Revelations occurred for 6
months




Family, followers adopted
new ways
Muhammad spent next ten
years teaching new ideas
620 AD – M. ejected from
Mecca; went to Medina &
spent next 8 years in war
vs. Mecca
632 AD – died, ascended
to Heaven
Coverage of Islam, 632 AD
Spread of Islam, 632-750 AD





By 642, Muslim Arabs had
conquered from Egypt to
Persia
By 656, from Tripoli to
Pakistan
In 661, 4th Caliph, Ali, died
– split in Sunni, Shia
By 711, Arabs invaded
Spain, India
In 732, defeat of Arabs at
Tours
Beliefs: Five Pillars of Islam

Shahada



Salat


Muslims performing the Salat
2.5% tithe to charity
Sawm


Mandatory prayer 5 times a day,
towards Mecca (connect to God)
Zakat


Declaration of Faith
“There is no God but Allah &
Muhammad is his Prophet”
Fasting during Ramadan (purify)
Hajj

Once in life = pilgrimage to Mecca
The hajj
Inherent Appeal of Islam


Simplicity of belief: follow 5 pillars = salvation
Equality for believers



High moral teachings


All promised salvation
All equal, whether earliest member or latest
conquest
Strict moral code; very little gray
Respect for “People of the Book”



Christians, Jews not forced to convert
BUT special tax on Christians & Jews who didn’t
convert (dhimmi); wear special clothing,
acknowledge Muslim superiority, severe legal
restrictions (2nd class citizens)
Forced conversion of pagans (non Abrahamic
people) – convert or die
Sources of Islamic Teaching

Qu’ran (revelations of God made to
Muhammad)




Hadith (traditions relating to life,
deeds of Muhammad)



Taught by oral repetition
Learn in Arabic (truest translation of
revelations)
“Perfection” of monotheistic teachings
about God
Important tools for determining how
Muslims should live (WWMD?)
First written down in 7th C.
Sharia (Islamic law)


Regulations of public, private life
Traditional way of living
Islam Today

Second largest religion
in the world



1.3 billion Muslims (20%
world’s population)
Fastest growing
religion in the world
43 countries with
Muslim majority
populations (SE Asia;
S. Asia; Middle East; N.
Africa; Eastern Europe)
Where do Muslims come from?