Islam

2006 Aisha Y. Musa

The world Muslim population is estimated to be 1.31.6 billion.

Source:http://www.factbook.net/muslim_pop.php, accessed 03/12/2006

Issues of terminology

Wahabis Salafis Fundamentalits Neo-traditionalists

Reformers Liberals Progressives

Basic Definitions
islam

(n.) submission/surrender [to God] muslim (a.p.) one who sumits/surrenders Islam the religion that has developed over the past 1500 years in various manifestation such as Sunni, Shia, etc. Muslim one who follows one of the various manifestations of Islam

Differences of opinion as to exactly what it means to submit/surrender result in sectarian variations in Islam.

Beliefs Shared by all Muslims

Monotheism: There is no god but God God sent His final revelation--the Quran--to Muhammad. Muhammad was Gods messenger and the seal of the Prophets. (Quran 33:40)

The concept of God in Islam

The God worshipped by Muslims is the same God worshipped by Christians and Jews. The Arabic word for God is Allah, literally, the God.

As in Christianity and Judaism, God is seen as the Almighty Creator of the universe.

[Quran 2.133] Or were you present when death came to Jacob, when he said unto his sons: What will you worship after me? They said: We shall worship your god, the god of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac, One God, and to Him we have surrendered.

[Quran 6.102] That is God, your Lord, there is no god but He; the Creator of all things, therefore serve Him, and He has charge of all things.

The Quran
The Arabic word Quran means recitation, or reading. While Muslims recognize the Bible and Torah, the Quran is seen as Gods final revelation Last in a series of revelation The Arabic Quran contains Gods own direct words dictated by Gabriel to Muhammad

Series of Revelation According to the Quran

[Quran 87:19] The Books of Abraham and Moses. [Quran 5:44] We have sent down the Torah, containing guidance and light. Ruling in accordance with it were the Jewish prophets, as well as the rabbis and legal scholars, as dictated to them in Gods Book, and as witnessed by them. [Quran 5:46] In their footsteps, we sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming what was in their hands of the Torah. We gave him the Gospel, containing guidance and light, and confirming what was in their hands of the Torah, and as guidance and admonition for the cautious. [Quran 5:48] Then we sent down the Book to you in truth, confirming what is in their hands of the Book, and as a standard of comparison for it.

Hadith

Stories about the Prophet Muhammand

What

he said What he did What he silently approved

Passed on orally for generations Collected during the 3rd-4th AH/9th-10th centuries CE

Arabia before Islam

Trade with the Byzantine Empire brought the Arabs into contact with Christianity. Some Jewish tribes also lived in the area, particularly in Yathrib. Most Arabs were polytheists, worshipping various local tribal gods. Mecca was an urban, commercial trading center and the location of the Kaaba. Pagan Arabs made pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca. The powerful Quraysh tribe controlled the Kaaba.

Muhammad: Birth and Early Childhood

Born circa 570 CE in Mecca Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe His father, Abdullah, died before his birth. His mother, Amina, died when he was six years old. Raised by his uncle, Abu Talib, chief of the Quraysh.

Muhammad: before the revelation

Worked as a merchant, traveling with caravans Known for his honesty and business acumen Hired by a wealthy widow, Khadijah Married Khadijah when he was 25, and she was 40

Muhammad receives revelation

Troubled by the idolatry of his people, Muhammad often went alone into the hills surrounding Mecca to meditate. During one of these meditations in 610 CE, when Muhammad was 40, he was overcome by a vision and a voice commanding him: Read! (Quran 96:1) This is considered the first word of the Quran. Revelation continued gradually over the next 23 years.

Muhammad in Mecca

For three years, he preached only to his family and close friends. After three years, he began to preach publicly, denouncing the idolatry of his people and calling for submission to the One True God. He preached publicly in Mecca for the next nine years. Few people accepted his message. He and those who followed him endured severe persecution.

The Hijra

Because of his reputation of honesty and justness, the feuding tribes of Yathrib invited Muhammad to come there to act as a judge in their disputes. Muhammad accepted, and in 621 CE he fled from Mecca narrowly avoiding assassination. Muhammads Meccan followers gradually migrated to Yathrib as well. Muhammads migration (hijra) from Mecca to Yathrib in 622 CE/1 AH marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Muhammad in Medina

Muhammad established a successful community in Yathrib, and the city came to be known as Medinat al-Nabi, the City of the Prophetnow known simply as Medina. The Treaty of Medina established an alliance between the Muslims and the other clans of Medina. The treaty gave Muhammad political authority, but established freedom of religion for the various clans.

Major Conflicts with the Meccans

The hijra intensified the rivalry between Mecca and Medina, leading to a number of important battles. A small army of Muslims defeated a larger Meccan army in the Battle of Badr in 624 CE. In 625, the Muslims suffered defeat at the Battle of Uhud. In 627, the Meccans attacked Medina with 10,000 troops, but the Medinans had dug a trench to defend the city. After a 2 week siege, the Meccans failed to take the city and returned to Mecca in defeat. This came to be called the Battle of the Trench.

The Treaty of Hudaybiyya

In 628, Muhammad and 1,000-1,500 of his followers attempted to travel to Mecca on pilgrimage. The Meccans stopped them at Hudaybiyya, about 10 miles outside of Mecca. Muhammad entered the treaty of Hudaybiyya, which allowed the Muslims to make pilgrimage the following year.

Conquest of Mecca

In 630, Muhammad again returned to Mecca with a force of 10,000. Meccan leaders surrendered without a fight. Muhammad entered Mecca and granted amnesty to those who had opposed him. He destroyed the idols in the Kaaba. Muhammad remained about two weeks in Mecca, before returning to Medina. He led the Muslims on pilgrimage again in 632 CE. Shortly after his return to Medina, he died.

After Muhammad: The beginning of the Sunni/Shia divide

The Sunni/Shia split began with a disagreement over who should lead the community after Muhammads death. Sunnis argue that Muhammad did not clearly designate a successor before his death. Shia interpret the incident at Ghadir Khumm as Muhammads designation of Ali as his successor.

Sunni
From the Arabic word sunna the way things have traditionally been done Some of Muhammads followers wanted to leadership to be passed on as it had always been tribal elders choosing a leader from among themselves

Shia
From the Arabic term Shiat Ali partisans of Ali Believed that leadership should pass to Muhammads nearest male relative His first cousin and son-in-law, Ali.

Ghadir Khumm

18 Dhu'l-Hijja 10 AH/10 March 632 CE After completing his last pilgrimage the Prophet and his followers left Mecca for Medina. They stopped in a place called Ghadir Khumm. Some people from Yemen complained that his governor over newly converted Yemen, Ali, was very hard in imposing Islamic laws on them. This upset the Prophet, and he asked them: "Do you dispute that I am your ruler?" They answered "No," and he said " Whoever considers me his ruler then Ali is his ruler", and he held Ali's hand and raised it for all to see.

Sunnis and Shias interpret this incident very differently.

Sunni/Shia Distribution

Source: http://www.reisenett.no/map_collection/world_maps.html, accessed 03/12/2006

Countries with significant Shia populations

Iran 89% Bahrain 70% Azerbaijan 67% Iraq 60-65% Lebanon 38% Yemen 30% Kuwait -25%

Source: CRS Report for Congress, February 23, 2004http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RS21745.pdf, accessed 03/18/2006

The concept of Imam

Sunni
Imam

is someone who leads prayer has a very different meaning

Shia
Imam

Divinely Appointed by God Must be the most excellent in all virtues Infallible

Ithna Ashari (Twelver) Shiism

Recognize twelve Imams:

Ali ibn Abu Talib (600 CE-661 CE) Hasan ibn Ali (625-669) Husayn ibn Ali (626-680) Ali ibn Husayn (658-713), also known as Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad al-Baqir (676-743) Jafar al-Sadiq (703-765) Musa al-Kazim (745-799) Ali al-Rida (765-818) also known as Ali al-Reza Muhammad al-Taqi (810-835) Ali al-Hadi (827-868) also known as Ali al-Naqi Hasan al-Askari (846-874) Muhammad al-Mahdi (b. 868)

Wilayat al-Faqih

Governing authority of the jurist

In

the absence of the divinely appointed Imam, governing authority is given to qualified jurists Ayatollah Khomeini elaborated the modern political understanding if this doctrine. Under it he claimed the role of supreme leader.

Religious Hierarchy and Authority Ulama (Scholars)

Sunni
Shaykh

Shia
Mullah

Alim
Imam Mufti

Ayatollah

Mujtahid Marji al-Taqlid

Shia - Qualifications of a Mujtahid

Completion of lengthy and rigorous seminary study in Qom or Mashhad in Iran, or Najaf in Iraq Authorization from a qualified mujtahid Recognition by the Shia community

Sharia law and Islamic decision making

Sources of Law
Sunni

and Shia

Quran Sunna/Hadith Qiyas (analogical reason) Ijma (consensus)

Shia

Ijtihad (independent juristic reasoning)

Hadith of Imams as well as the Prophet

Sunni Qualifications of a Mufti

Comprehensive knowledge of Arabic Comprehensive knowledge of the Quran, Hadith, and legal opinions of his school Acceptance by the community as pious and trustworthy

Sunni Schools of Law (Madhahib)

Hanafi Maliki Shafii Hanbali

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703 1792 CE)

Conservative Hanbali puritanical Islam had been corrupted by various innovations:

Sufism Saint

veneration Visiting graves of saints Celebration of the saints birthdays/the prophets birthday

Jihad
The concept of Holy War does not exist in the Quran. There are guidelines for just war in the Quran.

The term jihad is never used to refer to fighting in the Quran. The term used for fighting is qital.

Jihad in the Quran

The noun jihad occurs 4 times in the Qur'an. The verb jahada (to struggle, strive) in various forms appears 29 times. None of these refers directly to fighting. 14 of the 29 use very general wording:
those

who believe and emigrate and strive in the cause of God with their wealth and themselves (2:218; 3:142; 5:57;
8:72,74,75; 9:16,20,44,88; 16:110; 29:6,69; 49:15).

Fighting (Qital) in the Quran

One often-misused verse is 2:216:

Fighting

is prescribed for you and it is hateful to you. It is possible that you hate a thing that is good for you, and that you love a thing that is bad for. God knows and you do not know.

When, where, why, how, and with whom is fighting allowed?

Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not aggress. God does not love the aggressors. And kill them where you encounter them, and expel them from where they expelled you. Unrest and persecution is worse than killing. Do not fight them at the sacred mosque, unless they fight you there, but if they fight you, kill them. Such is the reward of the disbelievers. But if they cease, God is Forgiving, Merciful, and Fight them until there is no more unrest and oppression and religion is for God. But if they cease, let there be no hostility except against oppressors (2:190-193). And why should you not fight in the cause of God and the weak and oppressed among men, women, and children, who say, "Our Lord rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors. And give us from You, a protector. And give us from You, a helper" (4:75). But if they violate their covenants after pledging them and they defame you for your faith, fight the leaders of the unbelievers. For their covenants mean nothing to them. Perhaps they will be restrained. Will you not fight people who violated their covenants, plotted to expel the messenger, and attacked you first? (9:12-13)

When to stop fighting

And fight them until there is no more unrest and oppression, and religion is for God.... But if they incline toward peace, you incline toward peace and trust in God. He is the Hearer, the Knower (8:39, 61).

Relations with those uphold their treaties and do not fight Muslims
As long as they stand true to you, stand true to them. For God loves the pious... (9:7). God does not forbid you, regarding those who do not fight you for the religion, nor expel you from your homes, from dealing with them kindly and justly, for God loves the just (60:8).

Conflating Qital and Jihad: Jihad as Sixth Pillar

In his 1981 book Al Farida al Ghaiba (The Neglected Obligation/Forgotten Duty/Commandment), Muhammad Abdel Salam al-Farag posits jihad as the sixth pillar of Islam. Al-Farag was executed in 1982 for his role in the assassination of Sadat Revolutionary ideology influenced by Qutb and alMaududi

Maulana Adb al-Ala al-Maududi (1903-1979)

A controversial figure Opposed British colonial rule in India Saw a dichotomy between Islam and the West Advocated an Islamic political system
Freedom of expression and conscience Societys obligation to promote good

and forbid evil. While he argues against rule by a priestly class, the issue of exactly what constitutes good and evil is open to a degree of interpretation.

Profoundly influenced Sayyid Qutb

Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966)

Islams theoretical foundation:

Sovereignty of God Freedom from servitude to humans

Islam's theoretical foundation-belief must materialize in the form of an organized and active group from the very beginning. This group must separate itself from the jahili society, becoming independent and distinct from the active and organized jahili society whose aim is to block Islam. The jahili society must be actively opposed because it stands between the human being and Islam. Saw secular dictatorships of the Muslim world as clearly jahili

Late 20th Century Salafism

Late 1970s early 1980s In the South Asia and Arab world and in immigrant Muslim communities in the North America and Europe.
Strict neo-traditionalists Segregation of

women Prohibition of music, television, imagery

Bolstered by the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan.

Muslim Culture Manners and Etiquette

Respect

Disrespectful

Offering something with the left hand Turning the back

Modesty

Eye contact is consider immodest Shaking hands between men and women is also often perceived as immodest Nakedness for the strictest, all of a womans body except the eyes are private parts. For men, everything between the navel and the knees is to be covered.

Cleanliness

Shoes are unclean and are removed on entering a home or prayer area. Dogs are unclean, and for many Muslims contact with dog saliva requires washing seven times before they can pray. Washing after using the toilet is considered necessary. A full bath is required after sexual intercourse, menstrual periods, and the bleeding after childbirth.

Perceptions of the West

Stereotypes go both ways.

Americans

often have stereotypical views of Muslims. Arab and Muslim are often conflated. Middle Easterners and South Asians often have stereotypical views of Americans. The West is often conflated with the US. American television shows and movies are often a source of information, and these do not always portray the best of our culture. News reports are often biased.

The Propaganda War

Audio and video campaign

Voice

of the Caliphate

news To Be Continued

The

War of the Oppressed Peoples

The US as aght
aght

Something/someone people serve/worship besides God Evil/oppressive/unjust

Islam becoming a Western religion

Islam is growing in Europe and North America.

Second and third Adult converts

generation Muslims.

Shifting geographic locus of Islamic religious study and interpretation Increasing number of Western Muslim academics Many graduate students in Islamic Studies programs in US universities are now Muslim rather than nonMuslim. These will be the future academics and religious scholars.

Images

From the Quran

Solomon

had images made (34:12)

They made for him whatever he wished: niches, images, deep reservoirs, and heavy cooking pots.

Prohibition of Images - Hadith

Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 34, Number 428:

Narrated Said bin Abu Al-Hasan: While I was with Ibn 'Abbas a man came and said, "O father of 'Abbas! My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures." Ibn 'Abbas said, "I will tell you only what I heard from Allah's Apostle . I heard him saying, 'Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.' " Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Ibn 'Abbas said to him, "What a pity! If you insist on making pictures I advise you to make pictures of trees and any other unanimated objects."

Hadith cont.

Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 833: Narrated Abu Talha: The Prophet said, "Angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or there are pictures."

Volume 7, Book 72, Number 834:

Narrated

Muslim: We were with Masruq at the house of Yasar bin Numair. Masruq saw pictures on his terrace and said, "I heard 'Abdullah saying that he heard the Prophet saying, "The people who will receive the severest punishment from Allah will be the picture makers.'"

Images of Muhammad

Early 14th century Persian

Miraj-nama

-Topkapi Museum

Jami al-Tavarikh, Tabriz c. 1315 Sackler Museum

16th Century Turkish

Seyar-i-Nabi

- Topkapi Museum

Islam in Latin America

Islam has history in Hispanic culture

Muslims ruled in Spain from the 8th-15th century.

Many immigrants came to Latin America from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine in the late 19th century. Descendents are re-discovering their Muslim heritage. No firm figures on conversion rates Est. 6,000,000 Muslims in Latin American Muslim population in Brazil is estimated to be approximately 1 million people.

Profile of Muslim immigrants

19th century immigrants from the weakening Ottoman empire sought economic opportunities in the Americas. 20th century immigrants came seeking education and economic opportunities.