The Basics of Islam Youngest Muhammad ––profitprofit Largest who received the best and final Middle East, Africa, Asia revelation One life to live Only one God –– Allah. Believers submit to the will of Allah Same God worshipped by Muslims (those Jews and who submit to God) Christians. follow Islam Islam began with the Arabian Desert 7 century A.D. Already influenced by other religions. Which ones? people. Christianity Many cities and rulers who were close in proximity were Christians. Influence weakened by: Beliefs about the nature of Christ and the relationship between God and Jesus. Arab Christians treated badly; many wanted a new Arab religion. Judaism’s influence Arabian people were familiar with Judaism. When Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, entered Medina in 622 BC many of the residents were Jewish. Zoroastrianism’s influence Muhammad and some disciples may have been in contact with Persian Zoroastrians. Influences of Other Religions Cont.d’ Major religious force grew, and reacted against, was the native religion of the Arab people. What is know about them is found in the Muslim Scripture, Qur’an. Discuss on page 330, Pre - Islamic religion Practiced animism Mecca became important because of animism. What was found? Meteor stone Enclosure built around it called the Ka’ba Qur’an (Muslim Scripture) is critical of the early native religions (moon, demons, fairies worshiped). Pre-Islamic religions practiced animism: places Gods and spirits found Mecca became a holy place due to the Ka’ba. Constant struggle among clans for control of Mecca. Ka’ba Ka’ba filled with images, relics and paintings, possibly even Jesus and Mary Islamic legend says what? Black stone fell from heaven during the time of Adam and Eve and Abraham and his son Ishmael built the Ka’ba Each year, a period of several months were set aside as a time of truce between fighting tribes so pilgrims could travel to Mecca to worship. It is an object of pride and profit to Meccan's. Mohammed as a child (in blue) at a marketplace in Mecca. An Iranian woman artist Orampis (who is a Muslim and lives in Tehran) created this iconic painting of a young Muhammad and is selling it online. Though this would seem to violate Islamic and Iranian law, some suggest that this particular painting is not forbidden because it depicts a young Muhammad before he was visited by the Angel Gabriel, which means that at this stage in his life he is not yet the Prophet. Life of Muhammad • Born 570 C.E. In the Hashim Clan, tribe of Quraish. – They controlled the Ka’ba in Mecca • Dad died before born, mother before 6. • Lived with uncle, chief of Quraish tribe. • Difficult life, no formal education, illiterate. Middle years Worked and traveled with caravans, met many people of different religions. These religions had many similarities such as what? Concerned for his people who worshipped many gods and idols. Met his wealthy wife Khadija. Six kids, only Fatima survived. Middle Years Cont.d’ After being married to a wealthy women, Muhammad had time to meditate. He considered theological questions . Gabrial (angel) visited him, stated command: page 332 Muhammad continued to receive these revelations; they became written down in the Qur’an 1928 German advertisement for bouillon extract shows Gabriel guiding Mohammed up to Allah. Revelations Only one God = Allah He believed he was last of Gods prophets. Other prophets had incomplete revelations. Muhammad had complete and final revelation. Did not deny the validity of other religions, but sees Islam as the completions of what the others began He preached in Mecca but received little support. Why? Followers Wife; Ali, cousin; Zayd, slave boy, abu- Bakr, friend; young and poorer classes. Opposition: older, richer clan leaders in Mecca. Uncle would protect him but some followers had to leave to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) Muhammad remained in Mecca and faced persecution Meccans boycotted Muhammad 619 Uncle and wife die. Another Shriners' painting showing Mohammed (in the red robe on the right) being comforted by his uncle as he hides from Meccans during his flight to Medina. Chronology of Events Mohammed preaching to early converts . 620 C.E. Six men traveled from Yathrib (Medina), a city with problems (clans) to Mecca to talk with Muhammad. They believed he would be impartial and settle disputes. He was chosen to become the ruler of the city but was unable to leave Mecca until 622. The journey to Yathrib was called the Hijrah . There, the Muslims were a clan along with the other clans. His religion wasn’t widely accepted. Mohammed arriving at the walls of Medina. Chronology Cont.d’ He was granted political authority under the Median Charter. However, religious freedom still existed. There was a Christian community and three Jewish tribes. Previously Muhammad only dealt with polytheists of Mecca, now he must deal with Jewish monotheists. Division develops between the Muhammad and the Jews. Muhammad first commands Muslims to pray toward Jerusalem but changed it to Mecca. (Holy cities) Muhammad remarries. Conflict arises between the Medians and the Meccan’s; and the Muslims and Jewish tribes. Jews supported the Meccan’s against Muhammad. Jews were given the choice of conversion or exile (poison lamb) Chronology Cont.d’ Meccans attack Medina; failed to take the city. Muhammad attempts pilgrimage to Mecca but stopped. This drawing is titled "Muhammad Riding into Medina," but it's more likely that it depicts his triumphant return into Mecca. 629 Peace treaty made. Muhammad makes first pilgrimage, and with so many Muslims no one stops them. 630 Muhammad conquered Mecca. Destroys the Ka’ba. Muhammad becomes the sole leader of the Arabian people. Muhammad dies. No successor, Abu-Bakr chosen. Death of Mahomet; photograph of a page in the book The History of the Arabs, Including the Life of Mohammed , by William Mavor (published in New York in 1804). (Hat tip: little old lady.) Qur’an (Scripture of Islam) Very influential. No (1st and last words other book read or you hear…) committed to Said to hold the memory as much exact worlds of as it is. Allah to Muhammad Anyone who from first revelation memorizes it to Muhammad’s completely called a death. hafiz. Zayd wrote It is believed to be Muhammad’s God’s last word to memorized humanity. messages. Qur’an Cont.d’ Third caliph and Zayd Arranged according to the developed the length of the surahs in descending order. authorized version of (Longest surha is 287 the Qur’an pages, shortest 3 pages) 114 chapters called surahs . Surahs contain 6,000 verses called ayas . No topical or chronological arrangement. The Nature of God Qur’an is: 1. Descriptive : the message is simply describing what the word of God happened. tells you how God 2. Prescriptive: the things expects people to live that we should do for all time. eternal destiny of Ex): Love each other, humankind worship God, etc Islam is strict monotheism, Muslims do not believe that any part of the believe only Judaism is also. Qur’an is descriptive. Children begin to memorize The Qur’an is the Qur’an at a very young interpreted as a age. prescriptive message. There are two ways one can When passages refer to interpret the Christian bible. “slaying idolaters,” this is interpreted prescriptively. Quran Cont.d’ Allah can be described with 99 different names: The Guardian. The Creator. Just and merciful. Father is not one of them To have a paternal relationship with Allah would be blasphemy. Allah is so sovereign and mighty that a humanistic relationship with sinners would disgrace him as God. Quran Cont.d’ Allah has the characteristics of: power sovereignty majesty He also is characterized by justice and mercy. He will repay the evil with justice and the righteous with mercy. Quran Cont.d’ Heavenly figures Evil = non believers, do assist Allah: and are lead by Iblis angles and jinn's. (he is like Satan) Muslim tradition, Jinn's are ½ way Iblis was between angles responsible for The and humans fall of Adam. Some are guardian angels, some are demons Good jinn's = Muslims The Nature of Allah Concepts of 3 people: Allah: Allah is the Creator God, he is the Lord of the worlds, the master of the worlds; there is only one God, he is Allah. Believers: Those who are Muslims are the only one’s on the right path; they have earned God’s favor because of their faith. Unbelievers: Allah has predestined all humans to either heaven or hell. Those who are predestined for heaven will be beneficent and happy; those who are predestined for hell (who are not Muslim) are to live in fear. Predestination Humans are the creation of Allah and must be obedient to him Whether one does good or evil or enjoys success or suffers failure is entirely in the hands of the God who rules the world and who has planned each event in advance. When the idea is carried to this extreme, people do not possess freedom of choice, therefore they are not responsible for their acts. God is all and people are put his puppets. Eschatology The judgment of humanity by Allah at the conclusion of time is one of the basic beliefs of Islam. The Qur'an says that when a person dies, the body returns to the earth and the soul goes into a state of sleep until resurrections day. Eschatology Continued… On this day the angel of Allah will sound his trumpet, the earth will split, and the bodies will rejoin their souls . The resurrected are then judged by Allah. Those who have been faithful and virtuous will be rewarded; those who have been evil will be punished .