ISLAM “SUBMISSION TO GOD” OBJECTIVE
Action: Identify how key features of Islam and its followers affect military operations.
Conditions: Given a small group learning environment, concrete experiences, discussion, lectures, student handout
Standard: Identify how key features of Islam and its followers affect military operations by participating in all class activities and discussions. ADMINISTRATIVE
Safety Requirements: None
Risk Assessment: Low
Environmental Considerations: None
Evaluations: Class participation AGENDA
What we know and what we want to know doctrine v. culture v. myth
Answers about Islam values, beliefs, behaviors, norms, worldview and perspectives
The West and Islam the compatibility of values and beliefs and effects on interactions List three things you know about Islam.
List three things you need or want to know about Islam. VBBN OF ISLAM
Use your list to categorize your items using the Values, Beliefs, Behaviors, and Norms (VBBN) model.
In groups, discuss your selections and determine the three from each list that you are going to publish to the rest of the class. Prepare to explain why your choices are the most important to consider. THE CULTURAL ICEBERG
Behaviors, Norms Observable
Unobservable Values, Beliefs VALUES
• Modesty Tawhid Ideology – Oneness of God • Steadfastness Certitude - Reliance on God • Prosperity Ummah – Islamic • Cooperation Community, Unity • Hard Work Family, local community, tribe, etc. • Self Defense Communal Etiquette • Responsibility Life and Afterlife • Courage Justice • Sincerity Compassion • Knowledge and Wisdom Forgiveness • Humility Moderation BELIEFS
• Qur’an – the word of • Accountability for God Deeds • Allah – one God • Judgment Day • Prophet Mohammad – • Prophet Jesus – seal of the prophets Messiah • Abrahamic Origins • The Books • Revelation • Other Prophets • No Original Sin, all • Angels and Djinn born Muslim • Sunni and Shi’a • Fate BEHAVIOR AND NORMS
Sunna – Prophet Mohammad’s actions and words as the model of behavior 5 Pillars: Shahadah - Testimony Salat - Prayer Zakat - Charity Sawm - Fasting Hajj – Pilgrimage
Ijtihad (Reasoning) Shari’ah (Islamic jurisprudence) Jihad (Inner and outer struggle) Haram (Forbidden) Islamic everyday phrases, greetings (including gender-based norms) Islamic group rituals, holidays (Eid, Ashoura, etc.) PRE-ISLAM AND REVELATION
Mecca (6th Century) social, economic, religious center various religious beliefs & polytheism Abraham’s monotheistic message lost 360 different idols and gods in the Ka’aba
1st Revelation in 610 CE cave meditation and prayer Angel Gabriel says “Iqraa” (recite) continues for 23 years Mt. Hira Cave THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH)
Born 570 CE In Mecca (present day Saudi Arabia) orphaned by the age of six descendent of Ishmael trusted businessman and trader
Marries Khadija very successful caravan merchant two sons (both died in infancy) and four daughters first convert to Islam, regarded as the "Mother of the Believers"
Receives revelation from God through Angel Gabriel
Muhammad makes final pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca preaches sermon at Mount Arafat attempts to unify Arabs and end blood-feuds
Muhammad dies in 632 CE THE MESSAGE
God sees, knows and controls all No separation between sacred and profane Human equality - men and women equal Social justice Compassion for the needy Strong family is necessary for social order Community solidarity ORIGINS OF ISLAM
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism All believe in the same God of Abraham
Abraham
Jews and Christian descendants of “Isaac” Sarah (Wife of Abraham) Jews Christians
Muslims descendants of “Ishmael” Hagar (Sarah’s Egyptian Handmaid) Arabs Muslims CORE ISLAMIC BELIEFS
One God - Oneness of Allah Qur’an Holy Book – Means “Recitation”, It is the infallible word of God Five Pillars: Testimony of faith (Shahada), Prayer (Salat), Charity (Zakat), Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), Fasting during month of Ramadan (Sawm) Other Beliefs: Faith (Iman), Oneness of God (Tawhid), Prophets and Messengers, Angels, Judgment Day, the Books (Qur’an, Bible, Torah), Fate and Predestination Abrahamic Religion - Shares roots with Judaism and Christianity OTHER ISLAMIC BELIEFS
• Iman (Faith)
• One God (Tawhid)
• Prophets & Messengers
• The Books • Qur’an, Bible, Torah, • Hadiths – Teachings of Muhammad • Sunnah – Actions, Sayings, and way of life Muhammad
• Judgment Day • Similar to Christianity
• Angels & Djinn
• Fate & Predestination • Fatalism • “God Willing” (Insha’ Allah) HARAM – F ORBIDDEN BY ISLAMIC LAW
Eating pork Adultery Homosexuality Female marriage to non-Muslim Charging interest Gambling Drinking alcohol Abortion MESSENGERS AND PROPHETS
Islam recognizes 124,000 messengers & prophets
Five main Prophets Abraham (Covenant) Moses (Torah- Books of Moses, Old Testament) David (Psalms) Jesus (Gospel, New Testament) Muhammad (Qur’an) Jesus, or “Isa” in Islam
Only a Prophet, Not the Son of God
He is not dead was not crucified, but will return
Jesus in the Qur’an
Immaculate Conception, Did many Miracles The Qur’an – Means “Recitation”
• God’s infallible word
• 114 chapters arranged by length - Longest to shortest - 4/5 the size of gospels - Early written Qur’an difficult
• Treated with respect
• Honorable to memorize - Recitation is a highly regarded art form - Recitation competitions are major events Ancient Arabic 15 characters for 28 Consonants
“Islam is the second largest religion in the world”
- would be written as -
“slm s th scnd lrgst rlgn n th wrld”. SHARIA LAW
• Sharia Law is the body of Islamic law.
Term means “Way” or “Path”
• Legal framework within which the public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on Islam. • Derived from the religious precepts of Islam, particularly the Koran and the Hadith. THE FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH
• Shahada: Profession of Faith • Salat: Prayer • Sawm: Fasting • Zakat: Charity • Hajj: Pilgrimage SHAHADA - T ESTIMONY
“I bear witness that there is no God but God and Muhammad is His Prophet.”
Converting to Islam Profess Shahada in front of two Muslim witnesses
Whispered into right ear of newborns
Last words of the dying
Incorporated into prayers
Adorns the Flags of many Islamic Countries SALAT - P RAYER
Five times a day in Arabic cleanse first prayer rug (Sajada)
The call to prayer
Friday prayer- Juma’
Praying at Al Azhar Mosque SAWAM - F ASTING
Fasting during the daylight hours of the Islamic month of Ramadan no food, drink, sex, smoking Exemptions for the sick and elderly; pregnant women
Do not eat or drink in front of fasting Muslims (bad manners)
Spiritual purification
Empathy for the poor ‘EID AL-FITR – F ESTIVAL OF FAST BREAKING
First three days after end of Ramadan
Joyous occasion Exchange of gifts Zakat al-Fitr Special holiday attire Special prayers ZAKAT – C HARITY OR TITHE
Means “Purification” or “Growth” Help the poor and needy 2.5% of remaining income, varies HAJJ - P ILGRIMAGE
Last month of the Islamic calendar (Dhu al-Hijjah) Over 2 million each year for 5 day event in Mecca Honorific title “Hajji” or “Hajja” after completion “Sea of White” (garments) Non-Muslims prohibited
Haram mosque (Grand mosque) Ka’aba Mecca, Saudi Arabia ‘EID AL-ADHA – F ESTIVAL OF SACRIFICE
Three days at the end of Hajj–
Commemoration of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Animal slaughtered and meat distributed among family, friends, and the poor Significance: Show commitment, obedience and self sacrifice to God JIHAD “The greatest Jihad is to battle your own soul, to fight th • Not the “6 Pillar” the evil within yourself.” • Still a Muslim duty – Prophet Muhammad • Jihad - Struggle (PBUH) • Greater Jihad • Struggle with ones own internal conscience • Lesser Jihad – Both violent and von-violent • Defense of home, country, and family against ones enemies - Often misinterpreted and misused to justify terrorism and violence by extremists. RADICAL INTERPRETATION OF ISLAM
Islamic fundamentalists favor "a literal and originalist interpretation" of Islam. Seek to eliminate (what they perceive to be) "corrupting" non -Islamic influences from every part of their lives. Sometimes this means “Western” values. Puritanical revivalist movements, often a reaction to colonialism or corrupt dictatorships. Many times used as a cover for Political motives.
- Some movements violent, many are not -
Movement Example: Sunni Wahhabi Movement “Wahhabism”, named after an eighteenth-century preacher and scholar, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703–1792). SUNNI ISLAM
• Sunni means "well- trodden path" or "tradition" • 85% of all Muslims • Most Muslim Countries • Ruler of Islam must be tribe of the Prophet (Quraysh); later, any • Origins: circa 632 CE; theology qualified ruler developed especially in 10th cent. • True Successor: Abu Bakr, • Infallible Imams father of the Prophet's favoured • ijma' (consensus) of wife, 'A'ishah (elected by people the Muslim of Medina) community SHI’A ISLAM
• Origins: circa 632-650 CE; • Shi’a means “Party” killing of Ali's son Husayn in or “Partisans” of Ali 680 CE • True Successor: 'Ali ibn Abi • 10% of all Muslims Talib, husband of the • 120 million Prophet's daughter Fatimah (designated by the Prophet) • Primarily in Iran, Iraq, and Yemen • Ruler of Islam must be a descendant of the prophet • Infallible Imams WORLD MAP OF MUSLIM DISTRIBUTION WHEN SUNNI AND SHI’A COLLIDE ISLAM TODAY
• Worldwide population • 1.6 billion Muslims (2010 estimate) • 2nd largest religion • 1 in 4 is Muslim (approx. 25%) • Indonesia has the largest Muslim population (234 million)
• United States population • estimates vary widely • 3.3 million (Pew Research Center 2013) • Muslim leaders estimate 6 to 8 million
• Majority of today’s Muslims are not Arab
• Revival of cultural identity and political independence Commentary or Questions?