Islam = “surrender” or “submission” to God Muslim = “one who surrenders [to God]” Life is submission to God, even birth and death. All actions

ISLAM

Islam

Islam = “surrender” or “submission” to God

Muslim = “one who surrenders [to God]” Life is submission to God, even birth and

death. All actions are worship All people are born Muslim

Surrender to God, carry out his commands Commands touch nearly every aspect of life

Extends to politics Islam is entwined with Muslim empire

Islam = theology, culture, law, practice

Pre-Islam Arabia

Relative isolation Bedouins = nomadic tribes travelling from

oasis to oasis Kinship groups (tribes, clans) Personal honor connected to honor of clan No central government

Religion One supreme god, many minor gods

Muhammad

Born into wealthy tribe Married at 25 to Khadija Deeply troubled as youth

Didn’t like tribal conflict and Bedouin religion Solitary meditation in mountainside caves

40 years old – early revelations Gabriel – angel of revelation

Collected in Qur’an

Medina and Mecca

M was commanded to “arise and warn people” Undermined dominant tribe in Mecca Opposition tried to assassinate M

M’s wife and uncle die Flight to Medina Growing community of Islam Raids against Meccan caravans First holy war (jihad)

Jihad

Jihad = “struggle” Stay on path of Allah Fight injustice and oppression Create a just society

Military conflict Not meant to be aggressor No justification of forced conversion

Sacred Texts

Qur’an Eternal words of Allah

Divine revelation to M Hadith

Narratives of life and deeds of M Not compiled until 9th or 10th century Different collections for Sunnis, Shi’as

Central Teachings

1. Monotheism Absolute unity and uniqueness of Allah

Cannot represent image Has no “associates” Polytheists: deny sovereignty of Allah

2. Meaning and purpose of human existence

Fully centered on Allah Humans are Allah’s representatives (khalifa) No notion of original sin

Central Teachings

3. Social reform Serve Allah in relationships with others Model yourself on Allah

Compassionate Protective of weak Just Opposed to evil

De-emphasized importance of kinship

Central Teachings

4. Day of Judgment Dead resurrected

All life will stand before Allah’s judgment Unbelievers, selfish eternal damnation in hell Believers eternal paradise

Body and soul are perishable Will be resurrected for afterlife

Allah’s creation is good, but < paradise Life is “testing ground” for eternity

Five Pillars of Islam

Shahada: profession of faith There is no god but Allah, and M is his apostle “Allahu akbar” – “Greater is Allah” Declared publicly among believers, many

times a day


Salat: ritual prayer At least 5 times a day Very specific:

Face toward Mecca Focus attention on Allah Full prostration Intimate conversation with Allah

Mosque = masjid (“place of prostration”) Friday = day of public prayer

Salat

We have seen thee turning thy face aboutin the heaven; now We will surely turn theeto a direction that will satisfy thee.Turn thy face toward the Holy Mosque [in Mecca];wherever you are, turn your faces toward it. (2:144)


Ramadan: fasting Celebrates M receiving revelations Daily fast

No food, drink, tobacco, sexual activity Sympathy for poor Breaking of the fast – 3 day festival


Zakat: almsgiving Giving worldly wealth to those in need Gratitude = imitation of Allah 2.5% of total income


Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca Pilgrims wear special gown, don’t shave or cut

hair Arrive, bathe, enter Grand Mosque Ka’bah – black stone in center of sanctuary

Walk around Ka’bah

Documents

Islam = “surrender” or “submission” to God Muslim = “one who surrenders [to God]” Life is submission to God, even birth and death. All actions