Transcript Islamic Religion and Arab Culture

Islamic Religion and
Arab Culture
(Conflict and Reinforcement)
The Middle East
Muslim Distribution
Muslim World 2000
“Allah”
The one God
For believing Muslims this is the name of the one
God. For them there is no other.
“Allah” was originally the name of an astral god
worshipped by the pagan Arabs before Islam.
The “Kaaba” in Mecca is survival of this earlier
form of religion.
Islam is a most strictly monotheistic faith.
The Muslim View
- There is but one God. (Allah)
- Any other belief is pagan.
- Judaism and Christianity are the result of earlier
revelations by the one God.
- They are Religion 1.0 and Religion 2.0.
- Islam (Submission) is Religion 3.0
- Islam results from direct revelation to the
Prophet Muhammad.
On Discussing Religion
• Other peoples’ views on religion must be respected
whether or not one shares them.
• Religion is about faith, not reason.
• Debating the “truth” of religion is for theologians, not
soldiers or other government people.
• Never challenge a Muslim over the “value” of his
religion or yours.
• Nevertheless, an objective view of the subject is
necessary.
Origins of Islam
(The Hydraulic Theory)
• Rainfall in the Arabian Peninsula is both meager and
uneven.
• An irregular cycle of plentiful rainfall and severe drought
is unending.
• Plenty of rain means more food, means more people.
• Less rain means less food means starve or move.
• Time of the Islamic revelation and its establishment as a
community corresponds to a profound drought.
• Invasion of Syria, Iraq and Egypt followed.
Mean Rainfall
ME in
th
6
Century
World War in the 7th Century A.D.
- Sassanian Persia and Byzantine Rome were the
great powers.
- In the M.E. there were independent Jewish and
Christian Arab states.
- The two great powers fought a ten year war to
the death, to exhaustion. (kinetic exhaustion?)
- Islam expanded into a vacuum.
ME in
th
6
Century
Early Expansion
Islam and Arianism
• The Prophet Muhammad was exposed to many
forms of Judaism and Christianity in his travels.
• Early Christian “fathers” in the lands captured
by the Muslims thought Islam was just another
form of Christianity.
• “Arian” Christianity was widespread in
Arabia. It held that Jesus was a great prophet but
not God. This is like Islam.
A World Theocratic State
- The Umma.
- Islam is a “seamless garment.”
- Administered first from Damascus, then from
Baghdad.
- Splintered early into “de facto” separate regions
ruled by mercenary soldiers.
- Has not been united for a thousand years.
Many forms of Islam - 1
• Sunni – accepts the authority of Quran, and the
early example (Sunna) of Islamic community and
majority community leaders.
• Shia – Represents the interests of the
“underclass.” Probably developed as a result of
Arab discrimination against the conquered.
Identity “pinned” to the rights of the prophets
family.
Many Forms of Islam - 2
• Shia
– Twelvers. Prevalent in Iraq and south Lebanon.
– Seveners. Exist mainly in India and Pakistan.
– Fivers. Only in Yemen. Nearest Shia sect to Sunnis
in law. Follow ancient rationalist school of law.
Basic Facts of Sunni and Shia Islam
• No “ordained” clergy. Ulema are scholars and officials,
not priests.
• No Hierarchy.
• No sacraments. No baptism. Affirmation of Islam is
substitute. Marriage is a religiously certified contract.
Predominate forms of Islam are law
driven
• Man is insignificant. God is everything. Man’s
function is to obey God.
• Therefore, knowing the will of God as expressed
in religious law is all important.
• Determining accepted law and its application is
the principal function of Ulema (clerics)
The “Roots” of the law -1
(Usul Fiqh)
• Quran – The uncreated word of God. It was
not written by man (Muslim understanding). It
descended from heaven and has existed in this
form and words for all eternity.
• Hadith – Various authorized collection of
records of the practice of Muhammad and the
early Muslim community. The Shia and Sunni
have different collections.
The “Roots” of the law - 2
• Qiyas – analogy from case law.
• Ijma’ – Because Islam has no “chain of command,”
consensus of Scholars or any group of Muslims
effectively determines what law is accepted.
• Ijtihad – individual striving for understanding of God’s
will based on Quran, etc. The Shia believe this is still
possible but the Sunni have not for a thousand years.
Shia and Sunni beliefs on Ijtihad
• The Twelver Shia believe that Ijtihad is still
possible and that certain great scholars have this
ability. They are certified by the “Howza.” A
“university” of scholars. There are basically two,
one in Iran and the other in Iraq. The two are
intimately connected.
• The Sunni think this path to law is now blocked,
but recent pressure has caused them to at least
reconsider the subject.
Schools of Sunni Law
• Hanbali – In use only in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Relies
only on Quran and Hadith for making judgments of
law. Forms the background of Wahhabism, takfiri
jihadism and AlQa’ida.
• Hanafi – This was the official “school” of law of the
Ottoman Empire and for that reason is widely
accepted.
• Shafa’i – The oldest and most widely accepted school.
• Maliki – Prevalent in western north Africa.
Shia Law
• More organizationally structured than Sunni law and
based on the ijma’ (consensus) of the great mujtahids of
Shia Islam. They are also called ayatollahs.
• The consensus is formed in the Howza of a great center
of learning or in the following of a single man.
• Such a man is called a “marja at-taqliid” or “reference
point for emulation.”
• Such a man’s opinions have no authority after his
death.
Ijma’ and Group Consensus
• Because of the lack of hierarchy, group identity
within Islam and belief in what Islam is
altogether dependent on the group’s acceptance
of the leader or the group’s teaching.
• “Official” Islamic authorities do not accept this
bit it is effectively the truth.
“Levels” in Islam
• Like all great religions Islam exists at different
levels of sophistication.
• At the top, men like Al-Ghazali, great
philosophers ranking with Aristotle and Plato.
• At the bottom, a mass of folk religion and
superstition filled with demons, genies and
charms.
The Five Pillars
• Witness – “There is no God, but God and Muhammad
is the messenger of God.”
• Pilgrimage – To Mecca at least once in a lifetime during
“Dhu al-Hajj.”
• Prayer – Five times a day, preferably in formation.
• Alms – “Zakat” Tithing, preferably to the poor.
• Fasting- in Ramadan unless one is traveling or ill.
The Mahdi
• Both Shia and Sunni Islam believe in the existence of a
“Mahdi” or savior. This belief is probably based on
earlier Jewish and Christian beliefs.
• In the case of the Shia, the belief is that the Mahdi is
the same person as the “hidden” 12th Imam of the
Twelver Shia community. According to their belief this
descendant of Muhammad awaits the time of final
judgment when he will come with Jesus to judge all.
The Sunni Mahdi
The Sunni Mahdi is different. He
Is an extraordinary man who has come into
the world as a “renewer of religion (mujaddid
al-din). He may be of any profession,
soldier, scholar, etc. There have been many
claimants to the title.
The Sufis - 1
• “Orthodox” Islam is a matter of law and
obedience to God’s law.
• This is a view of man’s relationship to God
which is not enough for many.
• In response many Muslims have individually or
in groups believed that they could know God’s
love personally.
• They are called Sufis and their mysticism is
related to that of Jews and Christians.
The Sufis - 2
• In the early days of Islam these people were persecuted
terribly for what was seen to be blasphemy.
• Many were burned or crucified for their “sin.”
• After a few hundred years, a great scholar (alim)
appeared who reconciled mainstream Islam to the Sufis
by persuading them to accept the idea that they did not
actually see God, but, instead only his image. (AlGhazali) This saved them and they are widely accepted
today.
• There are many Sufi “orders,” the members of which
are often professional people.
Popular Religion
• The high culture of Islam is only part of the story.
• “Peoples’ Religion” is the rest of the story.
• Village religion is filled with belief in saints, love of
God as creator and tribal custom as modifying Islam.
• In Iraq, village religion mixes strongly with Sufi
empathic feeling and Sharia law to make a “brew” that
is inherently hostile to Al-Qa’ida’s constipated view of
Islam.
Culture
- Not a “soft”discipline”, not about cute folkways.
- The totality of group custom, tradition and
informal “law.”
- Often expressed informally by local and oral
passage.
- Often in conflict with “High Culture.”
ME Ethnicity
Alien Social Science Models
- Based on assumptions of causes of human
behavior imported from the West.
- Usually contain an economic determinist
(marxist) bias.
- Inadequate to explain personal behaviors of
religious zealots.
- Inadequate to explain soldiers anywhere.
Emic vs. Etic
• Emic knowledge is that which you “learn” from what
people tell you about themselves or others.
• Etic knowledge is what you decide is true about the
same people after you have evaluated all available data,
including the Emic knowledge.
• Never! Never! Accept what people tell you about
themselves at face value.
• People have many reasons for telling you things that are
not accurate.
Mean Rainfall
Culture of Poverty in the M.E.
- Low Mean Rainfall as previously explained.
- Up until now this has meant permanently
inadequate arable land available.
- Permeating belief in the “limited good.”
- Tendency toward belief that life is transactional
and that all deals are “zero sum.”
Effect of “Zero Sum” Idea
- Difficulty in negotiating with “win-win”
outcome as goal.
- West (U.S.) typically seeks negotiated outcomes
in which both sides win. (Dialectic)
- Easterners know we expect this and tell us what
we want to hear.
- In the East, negotiations, typically are about
graceful surrender of the weaker.
Scarcity Model Applicability
- Inside-Outside identity applies throughout the
region. “hua wahid min-na” (He is one of us)
- Tribal, family or other ethnic identity competes
with or complements religion.
- “Zero Sum Game” mentality is applied in
personal life, business, government.
- Many understand our way, but not ready to
accept it “inside.”
Segmentary Lineage Systems
- People imagine themselves to be related by
blood. (sometimes they are)
- Necessary to form self-defense alliances among
tribes, families, villages, etc.
- Begins in pastoral situation. Persists for a long
time in towns.
- Layers of: family, extended family, clan, tribe,
confederation. “Khums.”
Custom and Culture
- ‘Urf. The totality of tribal customary law as
conceived and accepted by a particular group.
Sometimes accepted by ‘Ulema, sometimes not.
- ‘Aada. Literally that which is accepted as daily
practice by a group,
- Taqliid. Tradition.
Compromise Not Easy
- System biased against it. One who compromises
feels like a “loser.”
- Instinct is to “outplay” interlocutor.
- Still possible even if as last resort.
- Requires consensus (ijma’) of group involved.
- Went wrong at CD 2.
- Evolution of compromise better than
spectacular.
Their Own Culture is Still Strong
- Colonialists and Others have tried hard to
“globalize” the M.E.
- So far, not a lot of success, maybe with time.
- Exposure to world media will make long term
changes in attitudes.
Big News
People in the Middle East do not want to
be“ like us.” They want a good life.
They want the “goodies,” but not the
“baggage” of our culture. Typically
They value unity, not individuality. They
value family and tribal loyalty. Not some
other set of values. It is not true that inside
every Iraqi there is an American who wants to
“get out.”
Finis
(The End)