INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM

RELIGIOUS STUDIES UNIT 2

DEFINITIONS

Islam: submission

Allah: God

Qur’an: the recitation

Tawhid: oneness

Muslim: follower of Islam

Shari’ah: path

ALLAH

TRUTH SELF-SUBSISTING BY WHOM ALL SUBSIST

SUSTAINERETERNAL

MOST HIGH

GLORIOUS

FORGIVING EVER LIVING

PEACE

PROVIDERLORD AND CHERISHER

OF THE WORLDS

ALLAH’S DIVINE

ATTRIBUTES

THE QUR’AN

OVERVIEW

Exact word of God

Dictated to Muhammad

True meaning is in Arabic

Closest thing to Allah on earth

Intended to be communicated orally

Tells Muslims everything about God, life and religion

ORIGINSGod created humans as stewards

Adam was first human prophet

God gave Adam instructions to look after the world

Generations distorted these words

Moses given Torah

David given Psalms

“He taught Adam all the names of things”

“We gave Moses the scripture so that you might be guided”

“David killed Goliath”

ORIGINS

Jesus given Gospel

These were distorted, e.g. people believed Jesus was God’s son

God chose Muhammad as final prophet

God gave him the Qur’an through revelations

Muhammad was illiterate, so had to recite the word

This was not distorted

“They distort the meaning of revealed words”“God is the Messiah, son of Mary”

“Our Messenger comes…to make things clear for you”

“It is up to us to make it clear”

COMPILATION: MUHAMMAD’S LIFE

Muhammad received revelations over 21 years

He recited them to his followers

His followers wrote them on scraps of stuff, e.g. pottery

Muhammad confirmed them

Muhammad sorted them into 114 Suras

He organised them by theme/time of revelation

He died

COMPILATION: AFTER MUHAMMAD’S DEATH

Muhammad’s wife Hafsa kept the suras

They were compiled in Madinah

Different versions were made

20 years later, an official version of the Qur’an was created

Suras ordered from longest to shortest, beginning with the call to prayer

RELIABILITYAll revealed to one person

Not influenced by different motives

Based on testimony of 1 person

Revealed over 21 years

Less space for corruption

No time for testing of longevity

Compiled within 21 years

Not forgotten or corrupted

Still time for corruption

One translation

congruency, one interpretation

Inaccessible to speakers of other languages

RECITATION

Feel closer to Allah; perfect recital of perfect words

Copy Muhammad: perfect model, respected, follow his example

WHY?

TREATMENT

Highest place

No conversations around it

No eating around it

Keep wrapped up

Not at meal times

Wash hands before handling

Raise off floor

Reflects how they value God’s word

SHARI’AH LAW

FOUNDATIONS

Muhammad established Islam

He set up a community called Medina

He was its religious and political leader

RELIGION + POLITICS

SHARI’AH

Means ‘way’ or ‘path’

Collective term for guidelines, attitudes, approaches and practices

Based on Qur’an, Hadith and Imam rulings

Depends on people and place - different people will include different things as shari’ah law

Not a written book

of lawsDon’t eat pork

Give to charity

e.g. some people don’t include the full covering of women to be Shari’ah

Imams interpret Qur’an and hadith

Ulama choose which interpretations to follow

Qadi (judge) applies them to laws in his area

IDEOLOGY

REALITYMost countries don’t use Shari’ah as justice system

Saudi Arabia and Iran enforce it

Most Shari’ah laws apply in all countries, e.g. don’t murder

PROBLEMSDifferent interpretations

Some things aren’t made clear in the Qur’an

HALAL AND HARAMAllowed Forbidden

FARD: compulsory

HALAL: allowedMAKRUH: disliked

HARAM: forbidden

MUSTAHABB: recommended

EXAMPLE: BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS

Who receives it?

Someone who needs it out of necessity

Who gives blood?

Anyone who won’t be harmed in the process of donating

Who decides?

Experienced doctor - don’t have to be Muslim

“If one is forced by necessity…then there is no

sin on him”

“there should be no causing harm or reciprocating harm”

Saheeh hadith says Muhammad hired a pagan guide

RISALAHThe belief in the prophets

1. Islam began with Adam

2. Adam is first prophet

3. God sent new messengers as people turned away

4. Jesus was conceived by God’s power

5. Muhammad is final prophet

6. Muhammad was given the Qur’an differently

7. All prophets should be respected

8. Each prophet brought the same religion

9. Prophets communicate for God

10.Prophets become sinless when called by God

11.God used angels to communicate with prophets

People must believe in these

things as part of

Risalah

AKHIRAH

AKHIRAH

Death is not the end

Life is a test

The afterlife depends on this present life, e.g. if you are good you will be treated well, if you are bad you will have to suffer

The final day

THE DAY OF JUDGEMENTWhen you die, your body doesn’t go straight to heaven/hell

It waits for a while until the end of the world, when it is then judged

On the final day, the soul and body are raised from the grave and reunited

We are given a book of our life which has been kept by angels

Heaven and hell are physical, not spiritual

An angel of death asks you questions about your life

You are punished/rewarded immediatelyThe soul sleeps until the Final Day, when

everyone is resurrected

Only God knows when this day

will be2 views

This waiting period is called

barzakh

PREDICTIONS

A false Messiah will come

The sun will rise from the west

Smoke will cover the land

Jesus will descend Literal or

metaphorical?

Muslims believe this will happen to indicate it is the final day…

JANNAH

Idyllic Streams Rivers

Perfection

Fire Pain Heat

Boiling water

JAHANNAM

HOW DOES IT AFFECT THEIR LIVES?

Islam is more than a religion, it’s a way of life

Akhirah is a real concept to them

Constantly aware of judgement

Follow Shari’ah law closely

Follow 5 Pillars of Islam closely

TAWHID

TAWHID

Means ‘unification’

The term for the belief in God’s oneness

i.e. There is only one God who Muslims should worship

SIGNIFICANCE

Don’t associate other beings with God

Forms central part of the Shahadah

Believe everything is made by one God

Don’t always agree with capitalism (money, money, money!!)

Treat all things with respect

this is what all people must say before becoming a

Muslim

MUHAMMAD

MUHAMMAD’S EARLY LIFE

Born in 570 in Mecca to poor widow

Mother dies aged 6, so he goes to live with his uncle, Abu Talib

As they travel around with his caravan trade, Muhammad earns a reputation for being trustworthy and fair

He marries Khadijah

MUHAMMAD’S SPIRITUAL LIFE

He begins going off on spiritual retreats, where he prays and meditates

He experiences his first revelation in 610

Muhammad doesn’t receive any more revelations for several months so doubts himself

Receives another revelation so begins preaching in Mecca

MUHAMMAD AND EARLY ISLAM

Muhammad is persecuted by the Quraysh

Muhammad experiences the Night Journey

Muhammad and his followers migrate to Yathrib - hijrah

He builds the first mosque and ummah

Establishes alliances with other tribes

MUHAMMAD AND THE THE QURAYSH

They fight the Battle of Badr against the Meccans and win

They are betrayed by a Jewish tribe at the Battle of the Trench

Muhammad decides to perform the Hajj

Meccans don’t let them enter the city

They agree a peace treaty to let them in the following year

The Quraysh breaks the treaty

Muhammad enters Mecca with army but peacefully forgives them

MUHAMMAD’S FINAL YEARS

Muhammad performs the Hajj in 620

He gives his Farewell Sermon outside Mecca

He returns home and becomes ill

He dies in the presence of Aisha

SUNNAH AND HADITH

Sunnah: the way Muhammad lived his life, e.g what he did, what he said, what he approved of, decisions he made

Hadith: the recordings of Muhammad’s life

It is through hadith that we discover sunnah

“The messenger of God is an excellent

model”

HADITH

Isnad: chain of narrators

Matn: actual narrative

HISTORY OF HADITH

Hadith were gathered into collections from 70 to 230 years after Muhammad’s death

There are many different collections

al-Bukhari’s collection is considered the most reliable

he finished narrowing down 30,000 hadith to 2000 in 842

SCIENCE OF HADITH

They have to be rigorously evaluated

They have to meet certain criteria

They are cross-referenced

CLASSIFYING HADITH

English Arabic Description

authentic sahihmost reliable, usually verified by other sources and has a

reliable chain of narrators used in Islamic law

good hasana sahih hadith with a minor problem, or a daif hadith which

is supported by other sources used in Islamic law

weak daif not particularly reliable, as other hadith contradict it or an unreliable chain of narrators

fabricated mawdu considered made-up, because unsourced chain of narrators or untrustworthy narrator(s)

denounced munkar unreliable narrator(s) or unclear chain of narration

CRITERIA:NARRATORS

Good character

Honest and reliable

Never lied

Met who they said they did

Trustworthy memory

• Date and place of birth • Family connections • Teachers and pupils • Religious behaviour • Moral behaviour • Literary output • Travels • Date and place of death

the narrator (writer) of a hadith must be:

Things to check..

HADITH QUDSI

Sub-category of hadith

Muhammad putting the words of God into his own words

Evaluated in the same way as normal hadith

They believe the Quran is

the ACTUAL word of God, not Muhammad’s own

words

OPINIONS

Sunni and Shia Muslims have different collections of hadith they believe to be reliable

Extremist groups use generally unreliable hadith or misapply accepted hadith to support their actions, e.g. they believe that people who commit suicide will receive 72 virgins in heaven

THE FIVE PILLARS

SHAHADAH

“To testify or bear witness”

Proclaiming the oneness of God and that Muhammad is his prophet

Unites Muslims and sums up their belief

Began with the Sabians, who declared this as their confession of faith

SALAT“Bowing in worship and prayer”

Praying ritually to God at five specific times a day

The Qur’an originally said that Muslims must pray 2-3 times a day, however this was changed to 5 on the Night of Power

Qur’an doesn’t specify when

Muslims look at Sunnah instead

“so perform the regular prayers in the period from the time the sun is past

its zenith till the darkness of the night, and recite the Qur’an at dawn”

“that is like the five times of prayer, by which God effaces sin”

“if anyone forgets a prescribed prayer or sleeps without

performing it, expiation is made by observing it when he remembers it”

A muezzin calls the adaan, the call to prayer

Muslims go through ritual washing to cleanse themselves for prayer - wudu

They carry their own prayer mat to their place of prayer

They find the Quibla using a clock, compass or app

They pray ritually - rakah

Juma prayers are held in place of Zuhr prayers on a Friday, where Muslims have a sabbath and congregate in the mosque to pray

Fajr Zuhr As’r Maghrib Isha

Contact with God: thanking, praising and connecting with God

Reminder of submission: the bowing of a Muslim when they pray is a physical act of devotion and inferiority

Brotherhood of Islam: All Muslims pray at the same equivalent times and in the same way, to the same God and in the same direction; they are united

Discipline: salat requires self-sacrifice and self-control, whilst the rituals are meticulous and help to develop spirituality and diligence

Reward of forgiveness: Muslims pray to God for forgiveness, and believe that he will wash them clean

“God effaces sin”

IMPORTANCE

You live in the western world where Islam is a minority religion

You are homeless or very poor

You are ill/in hospital

You are elderly and infirm

You are travelling

You do shift work

You are a parent who needs to look after your children

It can be difficult to pray if…

ZAKAT“That which purifies”; it makes people cleaner in God’s sight

The compulsory act of giving money to charity

Supposed to lift people out of poverty

More like tax, as it is an obligation

However, it is only necessary if affordable

Money is spent on things in the Islamic community

The Qur’an does not make it clear how much, but they are urged to be generous

A hadith outlines the 2.5% rate

People take into account crops, cattle and profit for zakah

Allah said the money

should go to “parents, close relatives, orphans,

the needy and travellers”

Shows how Allah is more important than possessions and benefits others

Was important to Muhammad, who came from poverty

Allah gave them what they have, so they should reflect this generosity by giving to others

“The truly good are those who…give away some of their wealth”

Allah will reward them: “whatever you give in charity…will earn multiple rewards”

WHY??

Sadaqah is voluntary charity, and is rewarded. This is an additional good deed and can show repentance/

thankfulness

Some countries are stricter than others

In Muslim-majority countries giving is regulated by the state

In most countries Muslims are expected to organise it themselves

Many mosques have zakat collections; there are organisations which distribute zakat; some community centres distribute locally

Significant during festivals, as poverty is obvious and everyone should be able to join festivities

Eid al-Fitr is the celebration at the end of the Ramadan fast

Giving is important here, as Muslims are supposed to have more sympathy and understanding of the poor

SAWM“To abstain”

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan

Qur’an says fast during Ramadan, however sunnah shows us that Muhammad fasted the whole month - this is what many Muslims follow

No eating, drinking, smoking or sex in the daylight hours

Muslims avoid thinking evil thoughts

Focus on God, think about unfortunate, teaches obedience and self-discipline

People who are ill or travelling should “make up for the lost days by fasting on other days later”

People over the age of puberty are expected to fast - generally adults

This began as a pagan ritual

“any one of you who sees in

that month should fast”

“regard the month of Ramadan

as of 30 days”

Lasts from dawn until dusk

All bodily pleasures should be given up

Special meals, usually with family, are held in the early morning and evening

Say extra prayers

Should recite the Qur’an over the month

Attend the mosque on the 27th day for extra prayers, as this was when the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad

The prophet fasted for days continuously, however this is not forbidden by him

What it involves…

1. To show gratitude to God for the Qu’ran: “to glorify him for having guided you”

2. Sign of devotion

3. Muslims will be rewarded for giving something up for God

4. On the last day, there is a certain gate for people who have fasted

5. Obedience to the Qur’an

6. Focus on God

7. Identify with the poor

8. Learn self-control

9. Appreciate life

10.Strengthen the Ummah

Muslims believe they can fast at any time to show devotion to God. Ramandan is the compulsory fast

HAJJ“To intend a journey”

To make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your lifetime

Ill/poor are exempt

Time it is performed changes depending on Muslim calendar

Now easier to perform with cheaper travel, etc.

Muslims wear white to symbolise equality

Muslims enter state of holiness 6 miles from Mecca

Refrain from sex, shaving, perfume and weapons

“Allah

has prescribed

hajj on you, so

perform it”

Capable Muslim is a

mustati

- Quotas limit pilgrims - Must apply for special visa - Improved facilities, e.g. hotels - Not everyone can touch Kaaba - Different lanes for people who want to walk, jog/are disabled - Trays under 3 pillars to catch stones

TODAYCriticism as some heads of state reserve space around Kaaba

Unity of Muslims in ummah

Devotion/submission to Allah

Time of reflection and change

Belief in risalah

Muhammad orders it in hadith

Muhammad himself performed it once

Muhammad said they will return free of sins

1 of the 5 pillars

Power of God to unite people

Maintain religious identity

SIGNIFICANCE

"O people! Allah has

prescribed Hajj upon you, so perform

it."

• Tawaf: circle Kaaba 7 times to follow Muhammad and show focus on God

• Rakat: make 2 ritual prayers around the Kaaba

• Make 7 laps of the passageway connecting Safa and Marwa, as Hagar searched for water here

• Collect water from the Zamzam well, as here Hagar discovered water for Ishmael

• Walk 6 miles to Mina for midday prayers

• Walk 5 miles to Arafat

• Stand in vigil, praying, confessing sins and listening to sermon, as here Muhammad received his final sermon and Adam and Eve ended up after the Fall

• Stoning of Pillars for 3 days to represent the stoning of the devil and fighting him within yourself; also following Muhammad

• Offer a sacrifice of meat to God, eat some then give the rest to the poor

• Walk to Mecca

• Perform the final prayers and circle the Kaaba, following Muhammad

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Days 4-6

Day 7

KEY FIGURESAaron: Moses’ older brother, his companion and spokesperson

Abraham: one of the first prophets and father to Ishmael and Isaac

Isaac: Abraham’s promised son

Israel: the other name for Jacob, Abraham’s son but also the people of Israel

Levites: a tribe within the Israelites (Jews)

ABRAHAMFirst proper prophet of Islam

He and his wife Sarah were very old

They had been promised a child by God, but hadn’t had one yet

Abraham had Ishmael through Hagar, his servant

He then had Isaac with Sarah

Hagar was jealous of the attention Isaac received

Abraham sent her and Ishmael away

God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, to prove his loyalty

God provided Abraham with a ram

God rewards Abraham with children as “countless as the stars”

MOSESMoses is up at Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments

The Israelites demand gods “who will go before us”

Aaron makes an idol

God tells Moses to go down to the corrupt people

God wants to destroy them, but Moses persuades him not to

When Moses saw the idolatry, he was angry and broke the tablets

He burned the golden calf into a powder, scattered it onto water and made the people drink it

Moses asked the people who were for the Lord to come to him

He asked them to kill their brothers, friends and neighbours; over 3000 people died

God forgives their sins

God sends a plague as punishment

MOSES AND MUHAMMAD

Both go to the mountains to hear from God

Both emigrate from their homeland

Both kill Jews

Both are against tribal culture/polytheism

Both challenge corruption

Similarities

MOSES AND MUHAMMAD

Moses is more extreme with his punishments

Moses negotiates with God

Moses was told to write down God’s commandments

Muhammad’s killings weren’t directly authorised by God

Differences

MOSQUES

Every mosque is different

Some are traditional and grand, whilst others are converted houses

It depends on whether it is in a Muslim-majority country or largely Muslim community

Must Should Can

• Qibla • Room for washing • Prayer hall

• Minaret tower • Raised stand for

imam • Prayer carpet

• Dome • Ornate patterns and

calligraphy • Moon and crescent

symbol

Reflects importance of prayer caller, which Muhammad instructed

High up, so everyone can hear and see it

Most countries don’t have the call to prayer any more

Atmospherically carries the sound of prayers

Symbolises highness of God

Circular base suggests unity and tawhid

Minaret Tower

Dome

Not a symbol of superiority

Functional, so that the Imam can be seen and heard

The style depends on the Mosque

Everyone needs to be able to pray at the same time, so there needs to be lots of space

Organised spaces for individuals

Minbar

Room for washing

Prayer carpet

Every mosque marks the quibla

Only called a mihrab if it is built into the walls of the mosque

Made out of tiles and mosaics

They don’t have any pictures or icons, but they want to decorate their place of worship

Often patterns or quranic verses

Mihrab

Decorative calligraphy

Place of prayer

Runs a madrassah school, which is like a Sunday school

Here children learn Arabic, reciting the Qur’an and the basics of Islam

It may also run courses for adults and new Muslims

Offer tours and exhibitions around the Mosque

Social engagements

Links with local schools

Hold weddings, divorces, funerals and conversions

‘Muslim Marriage Events’, like speed-dating for arranged-marriages

ROLE

Some mosques can only

legally perform shari’ah marriages, and not the

whole ceremony

Supposed to be a public symbol of Islam

Attendees are supposed to set a good example whilst the building must be welcoming, educational, supportive of the local community and open places where anyone can learn about Islam

• No unity or community • Isolated • Feel disrespected • Migrate • Struggle to get to know

other Muslims • Struggle to grow in faith • Reduce

multiculturalism of an area

• Resentment and crime

What would happen if there was no mosque?

Can do Cannot do

Online chat and message board Education archive Online books Email fatwa Online courses Sermon Remembrance of events

Marriage, divorce and funerals Tours Numinous feeling Place of prayer Fellowship Exhibitions Welcoming communities

What an online mosque…

Simple courtyard outside Muhammad’s house

Courtyard used for all purposes

People washed before prayer at home

Simple steps for Muhammad to stand on

Call to prayer from roof

Ornate, large with many rooms

A minbar for the Imam

Specific rooms for washing

Different rooms for different purposes

Tall minaret towers for all to hear and see

THEN NOW

FESTIVALS

Muslims give a special Zakat to enable everyone to participate

Muslims say special salaat prayers

It is forbidden to fast

Origins

Both festivals

After Muhammad migrated to Medinah, he found the people there celebrating two festivals

He said that Allah had commanded them to celebrate two days of festivity

This is how the two Eid festivals came about

EID AL-FITR

Marks the end of Ramadan

Thanking Allah for self-control

Also called Fastbreaking Eid and Sweet Festival

It is celebrated for three days

Muslims greet one another with ‘blessed Eid’

They wake up early, put on their best clothes and before eating anything they go to have the Eid prayers

These are in a wide open space

Every financially able person must give $7.00 to charity

Many Muslims are given time off as part of the ceremony, whilst in Muslim-majority countries it is a national holiday

EID AL-ADHAMarks the end of Hajj

Also called the Greater Eid or Festival of Sacrifice

Commemorates when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, Ishmael

Falls on the tenth day of the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar

Muslims put on their best clothes then say the special Eid prayers

Muslims traditionally slaughter an animal, and divide the meat between family, friends and the poor

Nowadays people will purchase an animal slaughtered in a halal way

They exchange presents

JIHAD

It means ‘struggle’ or ‘striving’

A person who is taking part in this struggle is called a mujahid (plural: mujahideen)

Effectively all Muslims are mujahideen, because they are all striving to do God’s will

Nowadays, the word has negative connotations of terrorism and holy war, but it actually means anything that is a struggle for Muslims

There are two types of jihad :

!Greater jihad The striving of an individual to grow closer to God, through following the Five Pillars of Islam, etc.

Lesser Jihad The striving of Muslims to make society a better place and make the Islamic community free from evil, through holy wars, justice, etc.

GREATER JIHADThe struggle to…

“You who believe, be mindful of God seek ways to come closer to Him and strive for his cause”

Live a good Muslim life

Perform the Five Pillars and follow the Qur’an

Removing evil from oneself

Striving to be pure and resisting temptation

LESSER JIHAD

Remove evil from society

Struggle of the Islamic community instead of individuals

Only fighting in self-defence and when the war complies with Islamic rules

The struggle to…

“Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you”

“fight…in the Cause of Allah, and for those weak, ill-treated and oppressed among

men, women and children”

The idea of there being two jihads is disputed

Most Muslims regard the above hadith as mawdu (fabricated)

Most believe there is no such thing as greater and lesser jihads

For our AS course, we need to consider them true though!

'You have arrived with an excellent arrival, you have come from the Lesser Jihad to the Greater Jihad - the

striving of a servant (of Allah) against his desires.'

Abu-Bakr, the first leader of the Muslims after Muhammad, summarised Muhammad’s teachings about war:

What Abu Bakr said What he meant

“Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path”

Do not deceive; be honest and focused

“You must not mutilate dead bodies” Respect the bodies of the dead

“Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man”

Do not kill children, women or the elderly

“Bring no harm to the trees” Respect nature

“Slay not the enemy’s flock, save for your food”

Respect animals; don’t kill them unless you need to for food

“people who have devoted their lives to monastic services…leave them alone” Respect monks and pious people