Transcript Islam2
Islamic Timeline • 570 M. born in Mecca • 610 M. receives 1st vision, begins preaching • 622 M. leaves Mecca for Medina, becomes leader of the city through diplomacy • 630 M. conquers Mecca, returns to Medina Islamic Timeline • 632 M. dies, from past poisoning? Abu Bakr elected first Caliph (Deputy, Successor), orders suras collected • Caliphate = Islamic Church-State Empire • 634-644 Umar, 2nd Caliph conquers Iraq, some of Iran, N. Africa, Egypt, Israel… • 644-656 Uthman, 3rd Caliph, compiles Qur’an, destroys other versions Islamic Timeline • 656 Uthman assassinated, Ali becomes 4th Caliph (656-661) • Ali doesn’t find and punish Uthman’s assassins, Aisha, others, including Muawiyah rebell • 661 Ali assassinated, cementing the Sunni/Shia rift. The Bible vs. The Qur’an • Composed over 1000+ years • Many cultural and historical settings, many authors • Began as oral tradition, edited by scholars • Composed over two decades • Composed in two cities by one author • Transcript of ecstatic visions of uneducated man, compiled by one man The Bible vs. The Qur’an • Many genres • Two genres: preaching and poetry • Chronological and topical order • Suras arranged longest to shortest • Logical progression of ideas or themes • Suras often jump from topic to topic The Bible vs. The Qur’an • Mostly 3rd person • Historically accurate, used by archeologists • Mostly 1st person pl. (“We” = Allah) • Historical inaccuracies and anachronisms The Afterlife Like Christian picture but more literal, physical Paradise features • Streams and pools of water • Lush gardens, birds • Riches, luxury • Doe-eyed virgin slave-girls (houris) Paradise The Afterlife Hell • Firey torment • Boiling water • Eat heads of demons or snakes • Like Christian medieval view The Five Pillars of Islam 1. The Shahadah: "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet." 2. Salat: Prayer towards Mecca 5x a day 3. Zakat (annual charitable tax on net worth) 4. Sawm: Fasting during Ramadan (Month in Muslim calendar)--no eating or drinking 5. Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once)