Islam

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Islam

• An Introduction

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Roots

• s-l-m -- peace, surrender
• Al-Ilah-- the God,
• Adam-Noah-SHEM
• Shem-Abraham-Ismail/Ishmael (3799-111)
• Muhammad and Khadija (15 years )
• The Cave on Mount Hira, hanifs La ilaha
  illallah, There is no God but (the) God.
• The Night of Power (610 C.E. 961-5)

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Initial Reactions

• The appeal throughout was to human reason
  vectored by religious discernment. (Huston
  Smith)
• Hostility
• threat to polytheistic beliefs and shrines
• moral teachings demanded end to licentiousness
• challenged an unjust social order
• But families start to convert migrate to Yathrib
  (622 C.E.)

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Key Events

• 570 (ca.) Muhammad born
• 610 Receives first revelation
• 622 Hijra to Yathrib
• 624 Battle of Badr (defeat the Meccans)
• 625 Battle of Uhud (defeated betrayed by Jews?)
• 627 Battle of Trench (attackers leave Islam
  status confirmed, spreads)
• 630 Victory over Quraysh
• 632 Muhammad dies
• 632-634 Caliphate of Abu Bakr
• 634-644 Caliphate of Umar
• 644-656 Caliphate of Uthman
• 656-661 Caliphate of Ali
• 680 Martyrdom of Husayn
• 661-750 Umayyad Dynasty
• 750-850 Abassid Dynasty
• 874 Occultation of Twelfth Imam

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Islam in 632
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Islam in 661
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Islam in 750
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Ottoman Empire, 1566
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Today
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Basic Theological Concepts

• One God
• inspires fear
• provides peace
• full of mercy
• Human person is of finest state (954),
  individual, free, responsible
• Divine Judgment (e.g., 1413-18, 81)

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Five Pillars of Islam

• 1. ShahadahThere is no god but God, and
  Muhammad is His Prophet.
• 2. Prayer (salat). Five times/day, facing Mecca,
  ritual washing, postures
• 3. Zakat. 2.5 of ones assets/annually
• 4. Ramadan.
• 5. Hajj.

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The Quran (Koran)

• al-quran -- a recitation
• Words are Gods, proclaimed by Muhammad, recorded
  on bone, bark, leaves, parchment,minds God
  preservers the accuracy
• To every people we have sent a messenger. . .
  (1047) (Other Scriptures)
• only portions of truth
• corrupted
• Divine Speech
• Directly doctrinal, indirectly historical vs.
  directly historical, indirectly doctrinal

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Social Teachings

• Keep arteries open
• Increased rights to women
• Rejection of racism
• On force . . . (2190-95)
• Jihad
• lit. exertion
• holy war Christian just war
• as-salamu alaykum

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Five Major Prophets

• Noah
• Abraham
• Moses
• Jesus
• Muhammad

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Muslims, Jews, and Christians (2.111-121)
And they say "None shall enter Paradise unless
he be a Jew or a Christian." Those are their
(vain) desires. Say "Produce your proof if ye
are truthful. Nay,-whoever submits His whole
self to Allah and is a doer of good,- He will get
his reward with his Lord on such shall be no
fear, nor shall they grieve.?The Jews say "The
Christians have naught (to stand) upon and the
Christians say "The Jews have naught (To stand)
upon." Yet they (Profess to) study the (same)
Book. Like unto their word is what those say who
know not but Allah will judge between them in
their quarrel on the Day of Judgment. ?
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Muslims, Jews, and Christians (2.111-121, cont.)
And who is more unjust than he who forbids that
in places for the worship of Allah, Allah's name
should be celebrated?-whose zeal is (in fact) to
ruin them? It was not fitting that such should
themselves enter them except in fear. For them
there is nothing but disgrace in this world, and
in the world to come, an exceeding torment. To
Allah belong the east and the west Whithersoever
ye turn, there is the presence of Allah. For
Allah is all-Pervading, all-Knowing.
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Muslims, Jews, and Christians (2.111-121, cont.)
?They say "Allah hath begotten a son" Glory be
to Him.-Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the
heavens and on earth everything renders worship
to Him.?To Him is due the primal origin of the
heavens and the earth When He decreeth a matter,
He saith to it "Be," and it is. ?Say those
without knowledge "Why speaketh not Allah unto
us? or why cometh not unto us a Sign?" So said
the people before them words of similar import.
Their hearts are alike. We have indeed made clear
the Signs unto any people who hold firmly to
Faith (in their hearts).
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Muslims, Jews, and Christians (2.111-121, cont.)
?Verily We have sent thee in truth as a bearer of
glad tidings and a warner But of thee no
question shall be asked of the Companions of the
Blazing Fire. ?Never will the Jews or the
Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou
follow their form of religion. Say "The Guidance
of Allah,-that is the (only) Guidance." Wert thou
to follow their desires after the knowledge which
hath reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither
Protector nor helper against Allah.?Those to whom
We have sent the Book study it as it should be
studied They are the ones that believe therein
Those who reject faith therein,- the loss is
their own.
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Militant Islam or Militant Christianity?

• Crusades
• Inquisitions
• European Colonialism
• American Neo-colonialism
• Creation of Israel
• Support of Authoritarian Regimes (including
  Saddam Hussein vs Iran)
• Bosnia
• Chechnya
• Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
• Indian rule over Kashmir
• Equating Islam w/ Radicalism
• and ????