The Founder - Muhammad (570 - 632 CE)

The Faith: "Islam" and "Muslim", not "Mohammedanism"

Quran + Sunnah + Hadith = Shariah

Beliefs:

God (Tawhid, Shirk, 99 names)

Spiritual Beings (Angels and Jinn)

Prophets and Messengers

Holy Books

God’s will & Human freewill ("Decrements" - limited freewill)

Afterlife: Resurrection, Judgment, Heven & Hell

Practices:

The "Five Pillars" of Faith:

Creed

` Prayer: Mosque, Imam and Prayer

Feast Days:

Eid-al-Fitr (Ramadan fast)

Eid-al-Adha (Pilrgimage)

Sunni

Women

Militancy and Jihad

Race issues (a non issue)

Economics

Christians & Jews

Church & State (politics)

Science

• grew up an orphan in Mecca, Arabia under his uncle’s care
• like most people, he was illiterate
• Mecca - the center of pre-Muslim Arabian culture, commerce and religion
• a polytheistic culture, each Arabian tribe had its own god all of whom were represented at the Ka’ba (now the center of Islamic faith). "Allah" was seen as the greatest of all these gods before Muhammad proclaimed Allah to be the only true God.
• As a young man Muhammad was employed in commerce/merchant trade by a woman, Khadijah, 15 years his senior.
• At age 25 Muhammad married Khadijah. They had children. His daughter Fatimah along with Khadijah are significant in early Muslim history and important role models for women in Islam. It was his wife who encouraged and supported him in his mission when he was unsure of himself.
• Several pre-Muslim Arabian religious traditions were incorporated into Islam including pilgrimage to and circling the Ka’ba and fasting during the month of Ramadan
• During Ramadan Muhammad would meditate in seclusion in a cave on Mt. Hira just outside Mecca.
• It was here, at the age of 40, in the year 610, that Muhammad began to receive messages - revelations - from Allah through the angel Gabriel. Muhammad was instructed to "remember and recite" ("Quran") these messages, word for word, to others upon his return to the city.
• Muhammad continued to receive revelation the rest of his life (till 632). They comprise the Quran (the holy book of Islam) having been written down by Mohammed’s followers during and/or shortly after his life.
• From 610 - 622 the small movement of Islam was centered in Mecca without much success, growth or acceptance from most of the Arabs there.
• In 622 Muhammad took his movement to Medina (250 miles NW of Mecca) on invitation and request from the people there. Muhammad agreed to take the role of statesman and arbiter of Medina providing the people of Medina follow the new faith. The year 622 is considered the start of the Islamic era and is dated the year 1 AH (after Hijrah - migration).
• Islam flourished in Medina and by the year 630 Muhammad had returned triumphant to Mecca, his new religion being well settled and widespread amongst the tribes of Arabia, uniting them as a single, cooperative people.
• Within 100 years of Mohammed’s death Islam had spread into Europe, Northern Africa and central Asia.

• The name of the religion is "Islam", meaning "peace" or "submission" (a peace which comes from surrendering one’s life to God). A "Muslim" is one who submits, referring to a follower of Islam. The community of the faithful is called Ummah.
• Muhammad understood Islam as the pure, original state of Judaism and Christianity, a restoration to the original state of faith as followed by Abraham and his son Ishmael (origin of the Arabian people). Abraham and Ishmael are of particular importance for Muslims.
• Muhammad is seen as a fully human prophet. Islam is NOT "Mohammadenism" - there is no worship of Muhammad. Muhammad compares to Moses, not Jesus.
• Quran compares to Torah and Jesus as place of importance in each respective tradition. Unlike the Bible, the format of the Quran is not a historical or chronological text. Arranged in 114 chapters called suras from longest to shortest in length. (show text)
• "Quran" means "recitation" and is truly only the Quran as recited in the original Arabic (as the angel presented it to Muhammad). Technically, a translation is not Quran. Even the written Arabic is not the pure Quran, which is ethereal and remains in heaven.
• Shariah (Islamic law) is comprised of Quran, Sunnah - traditions (practice and example) of Prophet Muhammad and Hadith - stories about Muhammad, his actions and additional (extra-Quranic) teachings & guidance. In addition, contemporary issues not dealt with directly by these sources are legalized by analogy and consensus of Muslim scholars.
• Islam provides guidance for religious life through all aspects of life

• God - "Allah" (Arabic word for "the God"), singular, great and powerful, compassionate and merciful, perfect (same God as Jews and Christians worship).
• A strict monotheism - Tawhid (oneness), God is one and unique.
• To associate anyone or anything with God (e.g., a "Son of God" or concept of the Trinity) is to commit "shirk", the worst sin. No idol worship in Islam - to safeguard against making idols of God’s creatures no images of the Creator or His creation, no painting or other art forms of natural creatures (thus Islamic art expresses itself through calligraphy and architecture).
• God is said to have "99 names" found in Quran; each name identifying a different aspect of God e.g., "Creator," "Beneficent," "Merciful," "Truth," "Beauty," "The One," etc.
• Angels and other spiritual beings (e.g., Jinn and Satan ["Iblis"]) in the heavens and the hells.
• Prophets, including many figures from the Bible (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, Jesus) along with Muhammad himself as the "seal of the prophets" (the final prophet needed by humanity). Additional prophets from Arabian culture as well as "others you know not of" are also mentioned in Quran.
• Jesus is respected and revered. Islam believes that Jesus did not die on the cross but ascended bodily into heaven and expects the "second coming". Also recognizes the virgin birth. Mary and Jesus are both spoken of in Quran, verifying much of the Gospel story (Sura 19 - Mary, Sura 43, 61:6 - Jesus)
• Messengers are special prophets who bring a new revelation to humanity thus starting a new religion. Moses, Jesus and Muhammad were messengers as well as prophets. Other prophets merely speak within the context of the old religion.
• Holy books - not only Quran but also Torah, Psalms and the Gospels are recognized as the "word of God"
• Decrements - God is omnipotent and omniscient but humans do have freewill: personal destiny and the destiny of humanity and the world is fated according to the will of God however, individuals do have freewill as regards conscious surrender to God’s law (natural laws) and will. Aligning ourselves with (submitting to) God’s will brings peace (Islam). That which is beyond human control (e.g., hair, eye, or skin color, race or national origin) humans are not held accountable for or judged by.
• Afterlife:
• Resurrection of the dead
• Judgment day - no "original sin", each individual is judged according to how well s/he has observed the will of God
• Degrees of heaven and hell

The "Five Pillars" of Islam:

• Creed ("Shahadah") - statement of faith: "There is no god but The God (Allah) and Muhammad is His prophet"
• Prayer ("Salat") - five times a day (dawn, noon, mid-day, sunset, evening); Friday noon is major community prayer and is a day off in Muslim countries although not a religiously required "day of rest" like the Sabbath in Judaism or Christianity.
• The Mosque & the Imam: Place of prayer for Muslims. Imam is spiritual leader, leader of prayer.
• The Mosque is bare of furnishings but often lavishly decorated with Persian carpets and geometric tile work. It is oriented toward Mecca - the direction of prayer (qiblah). A niche (mihrab) in the front wall is where the prayer leader (imam) stands for prayer, facing the same direction as the others - toward Mecca. A minaret (sometimes symbolic) outside the building is where the Muezzin calls people to prayer
• The people are called to prayer by the chanting of Azan (call to prayer) [play tape]
• Prayer is preceded by a ritual ablution for symbolic purity [read booklet]
• Shoes are removed and women must cover the head in prayer and are seated behind the men or in a balcony (to protect their modesty). The people stand in neat lines, touching toe to toe to indicate their unity
• Prayer consists of several sets (rakahs) of various movements (bowing, kneeling, prostration) and recitation of passages from Quran. Leader may offer brief commentary on passages cited. Prayer takes but 10-15 minutes. Need not be done in Mosque (though preferred), can be done alone if necessary.
• Fasting ("Sawm")during month of Ramadan - sunup to sundown no food, drink or sex (age 16 and up; sick, elderly and pregnant excepted and make up the fast at a future date or feed the hungry for that period). Ramadan was the month in which Mohammed’s revelation began.
• The Islamic calendar is strictly lunar thus each year is eleven days shorter than our year. Significantly, the fast may take place during the short days of winter or the long days of summer.
• Giving Alms ("Zakat") - 2.5% of excess funds, given privately and voluntarily (those in need, who do not have excess, are the ones who receive)
• Pilgrimage ("Hajj") to Mecca (in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar) - at least once in a Muslim’s life if able. Symbolic re-enactment of Hagar and Ishmael’s journey and struggle to survive banishment.

• The Ka’ba in Mecca is where Abraham and Ishmael built an alter to God.
• Medina, the city of the Prophet, to which Muhammad and his followers migrated in 612 CE.
• The Dome of the Rock In Jerusalem is where Abraham almost sacrificed Ishmael (Isaac in Biblical tradition) as an act of faith. This is also the site from which Muhammad made his mystical ascent into the heavens on his "Night Journey"

• Eid-al-Fitr - close of the fast of Ramadan, a great community feast and celebration
• Eid-al-Adha - close of the period of the Hajj, celebrated by all Muslims whether they have gone on pilgrimage that year or not. The "Feast of Sacrifice" commenorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son (Ishmael)

• Prohibited
• no intoxicants
• no fornication
• no eating of pork, meat is ritually slaughtered and prepared (Halal meat)
• no Gambling
• no usury: no charging of interest on loans (also try to avoid taking loans on which interest would be charged)
• Frowned upon but not prohibited
• Neither good nor bad
• Encouraged but not required
• Required (i.e., the Five Pillars)

Death

• Body is buried, not cremated
• Special prayer is held for the dead (in addition to the regular five daily prayers)
• A man mourns for one day; a woman mourns for four months, staying at home (this assures if she is or is not pregnant from her husabnd)

Family is very important.

• Duties of husband and wife are clearly defined: husband is to support wife (or wives) and children.
• Paternity issues are of special concern: a man must know which children are his so he knows who to give his paternal responsibility (thus a woman’s seclusion after her husband dies). Paternal responsibility is taken seriously; even after divorce the father must continue to support and provide for his children.
• Marriage:
• signing of a simple legal document before two witnesses plus state requirements (e.g., license).
• A Muslim man can marry a non-Muslim woman but a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man (the man is more likely to influence the woman away from Islam than to be influenced away by a woman).
• Divorce:
• A woman is given the right to divorce her husband by simple declaration of intent.
• The husband declares his desire to divorce after the woman completes her menstrual cycle but before having relations with her again. They must wait three months (three more cycles) before the divorce is final and remain abstinent during this time. During this time the man can reconsider and reconcile. If they have relations during the waiting time the divorce decree is automatically null and void. All this assures that the woman is not pregnant with the man’s child.
• During the three months, an Imam will help with marital counseling.

A political & cultural, not theological issue:

• Sunni (80%) - followers of tradition (sunna). The Arabic tradition held that the successor of Muhammad should be determined by election from among the followers.
• Shi’ite (15%) - primarily in Persia/Iran, follows the Persian tradition of hereditary leadership, thus disagreeing with Sunni as to who is the rightful heir to Mohammed’s leadership. Leaders of the community should, in Shi’ite eyes, be in familial relation to Muhammad.

• Initial division began right after Muhammad died. There was great debate over who the successor should be. The Shi’ites do not recognize the legitimacy of the first three elected leaders, called Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman. The forth Caliph, Ali, was also elected but also happened to be the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad and, as such, is the only successor to the Prophet recognized as legitimate by both sides.
• The first Caliph died after just two years. The next three made great strides in spreading and formalizing the new faith but all three were met with resistance from rebel groups and were assassinated (martyred).
• These four Caliphs all knew Muhammad personally. Period of time under their guidance was 632 - 661 CE.

• Sunnis are more literal or orthodox ("traditional") in their following of the religion laid down by Mohammed but they are, at the same time, less militant and less extreme than Shi’ites in their beliefs and attitudes.

Shi’ite Islam:

• Has a greater focus on personalities: Saints, founders of various sects and Imams. Here an "Imam" is more than just the prayer leader of a local mosque. For Shi’ite Islam, an Imam is a community wide spiritual leader, recognized almost as a saint or holy man. The Imamite, as an extension of the family of Muhammad, is given almost equal respect as Muhammad himself. Shi’ites recognize Ali as the first Imam (Shi’a = "party of Ali") and trace an hereditary lineage of up to 12 succeeding Imams. Disagreements about the legitimate heir cause further division ("party politics") among Shi’ites into "Fourers", "Seveners" (Ismailis) and "Twelvers" depending upon which Imam they consider to be the last legitimate Imam. Majority are "Twelvers".
• Shi’ite beliefs concerning the 12th Imam: he did not die went into hiding, became invisible to human perception (9th century). At some time in the future he will reappear. At this return he is seen to be Al Madhi (a spiritual concept not unlike the "second coming" of Jesus or the coming Messiah of Judaism. In some versions of the story, Al Madhi will actually be the forerunner for the return of Jesus who will then complete his mission as the Messiah).
• Shi’ite Islam is much more passionate than Sunni. The fact that their early Imams were martyred is incorporated into the expression of the faith in the form of passion plays and an unwavering willingness to suffer and even die for the faith.
• Shi’ite Imams are both political as well as spiritual leaders (as Muhammad himself was), thus Shi’ite lands (e.g., Iran) tend to be run as Islamic states.
• Shi’ites are less strict than Sunni’s about following the traditions of the Prophet. Guidance from the Imam, as an extension of Muhammad (as Catholics follow the Pope as an extension of Peter), serves as primary interpreter of Islam for Shi’ites. Shi’ite Islam is less uniform than Sunni and has many variations, depending on the Imam lineage recognized. In addition to subdivisions, there were several break-away faiths (e.g., the Druze, Babis and Baha’is). Ironically, one of the results of their creative interpretation of Islam was the Muslim mystical movement called "Sufism" (a positive passion)

Sufism - Islamic mysticism actually crosses and blurs the lines between divisions of Islam. Sufis come from both Sunni and Shi’ite camps. Like most mysticism in any religion, it is not appreciated or understood by the mainstream majority of the faith.

• Focus is on ecstatic, direct, inner experience of God. Love poetry (e.g., the poems of the favorite Medieval Muslim mystic, Rumi - read passages) expresses this experience in symbolic imagery.
• There is the tendency (as in most mysticism) to find symbols of God in all things, to see everything as an extension of God. (For Sufis, "there is no God but God" becomes "there is nothing but God". The Quran even reads in one passage: "where-so-ever ye turn there be the face of God"). This tendency toward Pantheism (identity of God with the Creation) is seen as blasphemous by non-mystical Muslims. For Sufis, it is simply taking Tawhid (oneness) to its full ramifications.
• Sufi practices focus on inward spiritual life, not just on outward practice of the Five Pillars; include circle dancing (e.g. the "Whirling Dervishes") and Dhikr, the remembrance of God’s name through mantra-like repetition of the 99 names of God (a meditation)
• Fana - Sometimes this experience causes the mystic to lose all sense of self distinct from God in a union of lover and Beloved (God). Some of the early Sufis were martyred as blasphemers for their statements of unity with God (this association of self with God is considered shirk, as is pantheism)
• Membership in a Sufi order is through initiation and direction under a spiritual guide whose spiritual lineage can be traced back through Ali to Muhammad himself as the original initiator into esoteric spiritual truths and practices. (MTO in Annandale)
• The "Sufi School of the West", although influenced by basic Muslim beliefs and founded by a Muslim Sufi and his followers, is not considered true Islam by traditional Muslim Sufis. This "Sufi" movement goes beyond Islam, especially with its "Dances of Universal Peace" (2nd Fri. 8 PM, Unity Church of Fairfax)

Ali: Aside from Muhammad himself, Ali is is of great importance for all three Muslim groups (Shi’ite, Sunni and Sufi). Ali is the only successor to Muhammad recognized by all three groups as a legitimate transmitter of the faith.

• Women are highly respected and to be protected by Islmaic law. Guidelines regarding treatment of women were advanced in their time even though they may seem "behind the times" from the perspective of today’s Western culture. Status of women was much improved over pre-Muslim Arabia. No infanticide, daughters can inherit property, women have rights as citizens, sex is limited to marriage, a man can only have four wives and must treat all equally, women can instigate divorce. Veiling is a local custom, different from culture to culture, and is not religiously binding. (show video)
• Militancy is an over-stereotyping. Islam stresses decent conduct of war.

• Race relations: most equitable and interracial. Any so-called Muslim movement (e.g., "Nation of Islam") which focuses on race as an issue is not true to Islamic teachings. Islam is a "universal religion" (like Christian, unlike Judaism) not an Arabian, Middle Eastern or Black religion. Most Muslims are not Arab and many Arabs are not Muslim (many are Christian).
• Economics: regulations are aimed at equalizing riches. Those with funds are to give charity; those in need are provided for by the community. Support for widow, orphans and the poor is stressed in Quran.
• Relations with Christians and Jews: the "People of the Book" are respected and, although given limited rights in Muslim lands, are also not expected to follow all the Muslim laws of those lands. Non-Muslim minority in a Muslim country are taxed because they do not have the religious obligation to give alms.
• Church and State: No separation of "church and state" in Islam. From the beginning, Muhammad was a statesman as well as a spiritual leader. Ideally, a Muslim religious community is governed by an Islamic government. Thus sometimes problems arise in Muslim lands where non-Muslims live and in non-Muslim lands where Muslims live. In Iran (late 1970’s), a political leadership (Shah) influenced by non-Muslim Western values was overthrown by the religious leadership (Ayatollah Kohmeni). Shi’ite Islam is especially political in nature.
• Science: Islam does not see science as antithetical to religion. Science explains nature are God created it. Any endeavor to understand the created world (e.g., through science) serves only to better understand the Creator and His purpose. Islam finds much in science to support statements in the Quran. Islam advanced to a great degree scientifically and philosophically while Europe was in the Dark Ages under Church domination. 16^th century European science owes much to the Islamic world. Sciences begun or advanced by Islam in the middle ages include:
• math and physics (Arabic numerals)
• medicine, esp. opthamology and gynecology, the role of diet and drugs
• natural history (zoology) and geography
• chemistry
• architecture
• philosophy (Islamic culture saved Aristotle for later reintroduction to Europe)
• incorporated sciences from various cultures