Islamic Traditions

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Islamic Traditions

• Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D.
• REL 117Introduction to World Religions
• Berea College
• Spring 2005

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WHO IS A MUSLIM?

• Muslim from Arabic Islam, submission
• A Muslim is one who submits to one who submits
  to Allah (God) through the revelation (Quran)
  given to humanity through His Prophet, Muhammad
  (570-632 CE)
• A Muslim is anyone who can say and believe the
  Shahada, or Profession of Faith
• There is no God but Allah
• Muhammad is Allahs Prophet

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ANCIENT ROOTS OF ISLAM

• Muhammad (570-632 CE)
• Born in Arabian city of Mecca raised by
  relatives after parents death
• Absorbs diverse religious influences (Christian,
  Jewish, local Arab polytheism) in cosmopolitan
  commercial city
• Experiences revelations from Allah (name of one
  Arab deity) beginning with Night of Power
  (610), later transcribed in Quran
• As revelations continue, begins to preach
  monotheism, moral purity, and simplicity of
  lifestyle
• Persecution leads to escape (Hijra) from Mecca to
  Medina (622)
• Gaining support, returns to Mecca as conqueror
  (630)
• Dies after making pilgrimage (Hajj)
• to sacred sites in Mecca

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THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

• Shahada profession of faith in Allah as sole
  deity and Muhammad as final messenger
  (culmination of Hebrew and New Testament
  prophecy)
• Shalat ritual prayer five times daily (morning,
  noon, afternoon, sunset, dusk) while prostrated
  in direction of Mecca customarily solitary, but
  communal on Fridays at noon in masjid (mosque)

• Zakat charity a loan to God representing
  2.5 of ones income, donated by those 16 years
  and older who can afford it
• Ramadan abstinence from food, drink, sex,
  stimulants during daylight hours of ninth lunar
  month in commemoration of the Prophets Night of
  Power
• Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca to be made by every
  Muslim at least once in a lifetime

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THE GROWTH OF ISLAMIC INSTITUTIONS

• After the Prophets death, caliphs (deputies)
  govern the ummah (Islamic community) in his
  place, combining judiciary, military, political,
  and religious functions
• Power struggle leads to death of fourth caliph,
  Ali (600-661), Muhammads cousin, and Husain
  (626-680), Muhammads grandson
• Sunni (traditional) Muslims revere first four
  caliphs, emphasize Islamic unity, and see Sharia
  (jurisprudence) as link between Prophet and ummah
• Shia (factional) Muslims honor Ali and Husain
  as martyrs, tend toward sectarianism, and see
  imams (religious leaders) as link between Prophet
  and ummah

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ISLAMIC MYSTICISM

• Soon after Prophets death, some Muslims become
  critical of what they see as worldliness and
  corruption of caliphs
• Preaching simple living and constant prayer, and
  distinguished by their blue wool (suf) clothing,
  Sufis become famous for their use of meditation
  and mystical union with Allah
• Primary value of Sufism tawakkul (absolute trust
  in Allah)
• Tawakkul in turn arises from tawhid (absolute
  unity/uniqueness of Allah)
• Tawakkul is expressed through faqr (poverty,
  both material and spiritual)
• Faqr in turn leads to fana (annihilation of
  self in the presence of almighty Allah)

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ISLAM SINCE THE MIDDLE AGES

• Since 1600s, gradual domination and exploitation
  of Muslim world by non-Muslims has generated
  fear, resentment, and violent resistance
• Wahhabi (after Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab,
  1703-1792) movement revives strict faithfulness
  to Islamic traditions, especially Quran, in
  attempt to purify Islam still very
  influential in Saudi Arabia
• Pan-Islamism, a movement begun by Sayyid Jamal
  al-Din al-Afghani (1838-1897), teaches Islamic
  unity against Western colonialism, selective
  embrace of science and technology, and individual
  reason in Quran interpretation
• 50 of Muslims today live in India and Indonesia
• Less than 20 of Muslims are Arabs

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TRADITIONAL MUSLIMGOALS GUIDES FOR LIFE

• Muslims affirm that
• Life is linear and finite
• One omnipotent and loving God (Allah) created all
  life, gave humans free will and revealed himself
  in Quran
• Human refusal to submit to Allah leads to
  lawlessness and suffering
• Submission (Islam) is the proper response to
  Allah and offers redemption
• Two greatest values
• Tawhid (unity) of Allah through Islam, humanity
  is unified
• Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah through prayer and
  action

• Muslims rely on
• Quran Allahs revelation to the Prophet,
  initially memorized and later transcribed only
  Arabic original is authoritative
• Hadith traditions related to sayings of
  Prophet not found in Quran, which record his
  sunna custom
• Sharia (broad path) Islamic jurisprudence
  result of Arab encounter with non-Arab customary
  laws and cultures
• Muslims interpret using
• ijma (communal consensus)
• qiyas (analogy)
• ray (speculation)

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