• Achmed the dead Terrorist

Stereotypes and Islam“a conventional and usually oversimplified conception or belief”

• All Muslims are Arabs– Most Muslim actually live in

Asia and Africa, not the Mid-East

• Muslims are violent and promote terrorism– Jihad (struggle)

• Physical struggle against enemies of Islam– Enemies can be

attacked by the heart, the tongue, the hand, or the sword

• Struggle to build a good society

– Islam is considered a religion of peace• There is NOTHING in the

Koran that supports terrorism

• Muslims oppress women– Historically promoted women’s rights– Koran grants right to inherit property,

conduct business, education and right to divorce

– Most oppression is a cultural tradition not part of Islam

• Women are forced to wear a hijab (headscarf) or burka– Rules of modesty are open to

interpretation

Origins of Islam

Abraham

Ishmael• Son of Abraham and

Hagar, his servant• Sent away into the

desert• Hagar found water

where Ishmael’s heels touched the sand– Called Zamzam well,

where Mecca was founded

• Abraham visited Arabia– Built holy sanctuary at Zamzam– Called Ka’Bah (cube)

Abraham

Hagar

Ishmael

12 Arabian Tribes

Sarah

Isaac

Jacob

12 Tribes of Israel

Esau

Basic Beliefs

Muhammad• Prophet Muhammad

was an Arab– born in 570 CE, in Mecca

• present-day Saudi Arabia

• merchant known as “al-Amin,” – the trustworthy one

• In 610 CE, had a vision of the angel Gabriel, (a figure in Hebrew Bible)– Hira cave

– gave him messages from God, called Allah in Arabic

• Muhammad spread the messages he received from Allah

• Supported by his wife, Khadijah

• In 622 CE, forced to flee Mecca for Medina– known as the Hijrah

• In 632 CE, Prophet Muhammad died– Islamic control of central

Arabia was well underway

Basic Beliefs

Koran• Islamic holy scriptures

– contains the Word of God as received by Muhammad

• 114 suras (chapters), written in Arabic

• Another book of scripture like the Torah and Bible Gospels– Others were corrupted,

however, so Koran is most correct

• Gives directions for daily life, as well as the afterlife

Hadith• Life and teachings of

Muhammad– Including revelations

• Six volumes which Muslims use as a model to live by

“He has revealed to you the Book with the truth, confirming the scriptures which preceded

it; for He has already revealed the Torah and the Gospel for the guidance of men, and the

distinction between right and wrong.”

Basic Beliefs

“Peoples of the Book”• Non-Muslims

– Christians and Jews

• Allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes

Sharia• Moral code and religious

law of Islam– Secular laws

• Crime, politics, economics

– Personal laws• Halal (diet and life)

– No pork, alcohol, etc

• prayer, fasting

• Two sources of Sharia law– Precepts of Koran– Example of Prophet

Muhammad

• Interpreted by Islamic judges– Mufti, Mullahs, etc

Adam

Noah

Abraham -- JEWS

Moses

Jesus -- CHRISTIANS

Muhammad

Observances• The Five Pillars of

Islam is the term for the religion’s five main beliefs

Observances: 5 Pillars of Islam

• Shahada– Testimony or declaration of

faith– Declares oneness with Allah

and Islam

– “There is no god worth of worship except God, and Muhammad is His Messenger”

• Salat– Mandatory prayers

performed 5 times a day• Dawn• Noon• Late afternoon• Sunset• Before going to bed

– Face Mecca and use prayer rug

– Rakahs: specific bowing positions

– Pray in the mosque on Friday– “Allahu akbar!’”(God is

great!)

Observances: 5 Pillars of Islam

• Zakat– Almsgiving of about

2.5% of your income– Muslims believe that

all things belong to God

– Means both ‘purification’ and ‘growth’

• Sawm– Fasting during the

holy month of Ramadan• Time of purification and

religious devotion

– No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset

– Eid-al-Fitr• End of the Ramadan

holiday

Observances: 5 Pillars of Islam

• Hajj– Pilgrimage to Mecca– To be done at least once in a

lifetime, if possible– 2-3 million Muslims make the

pilgrimage every year• Can be called hajji after they’ve

returned

– Specific guidelines for worshippers• Men

– Shave heads and wear white clothing

• Women– Wear clothing of native country– Head must be covered

• First, walk 7 times counter-clockwise around the Ka’Bah

• Next, run seven times between hills of As-Safa and Al-Marwah

• Spend night at Mina, then meet in the morning at the plain of Arafat

• Pray from noon to sunset, then climb Mount of Mercy to ask forgiveness

• Spend night at Muzdalifah then return to Mina– “Stoning of the Devil”– Animal sacrifices on the 10th day

• Finally, walk 7 times again around the Ka’Bah

SymbolsMosque• Place of worship and prayer• Gather each Friday for

sermon by the Imam (preacher)– Does not hold special status– Elected by merit of his

scholarship and dedication to Islam• Built around a large dome

• Plainly furnished and floor covered with prayer rugs• Walls and ceilings inlaid with calligraphy

• Face a mihrab (small alcove) in the direction of Mecca• Imam preaches from a minbar (pulpit)• Minaret (ma’dhana) tower where adhan (call to prayer) is chanted

Symbols

• Built between 689-691 CE

• On the site of the Second Jewish Temple– Some believed it to be

where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac, or Ishmael

• Dome of the Rock– Haram ash Sharif• Muslim shrine• Site of Muhammad’s

Journey into Heaven

Symbols

Crescent and Star• Principal symbol of Islam

– Often used atop minarets, on flags, stamps, etc

• Symbolic of symbolic and understanding offered by Islam– Waxing moon increases in

light and star provides direction

– Islam guides faithful toward Allah

• Originally used in Byzantium– Ottoman Turks adopted it

as military symbol

Ka’Bah• Sacred shrine at Mecca• Curtains and carpets

cover the outside– Silver and gold lamps

inside– Oval black stone

• Given to Abraham by an angel

• Was once white but turned black with kisses of worshippers

Holidays and CelebrationsIslamic Calendar

• Starts from 622 CE, time of the Hijrah

• Lunar calendar – each month begins with the new moon

• Presently in 1433 H. (2012)

Ramadan – July 20, 2012Eid-ul-Fitr – Aug 19, 2012

Muharram

New Year’s Day

Safar Rabi 1

Rabi 2 Jumad 1 Jumad 2

Rajab Sha’Ban Ramadan

Month of FastingShawwal

Eid-ul-Fitr

Dhul-Quada Dhul-Hijjah

HajjEid-ul-Adha

Ramadan – July 9, 2013Eid-ul-Fitr – Aug 8, 2013

RamadanNinth month of the calendar year

• A time to draw closer to Allah and rededicate oneself

• Month to rid a follow of habits that may be bad– Seek forgiveness for sin

• Way to teach self-control and discipline– Control human desires like eating,

drinking, etc

• Starts at breaking dawn and ends at setting of sun– Suhoor – pre-fast meal before

dawn– Iftar – post-fast meal after sunset

• Eid-ul-Fitr– Celebration of the end of Ramadan– Marked by giving of charity and

sometimes small gifts– Lasts for 3 days– “Eid mubarak” (a blessed Eid)

Marriage• Marriages arranged by

families– In modern times, Muslims

are choosing their own mates

• Polygamy is allowed but rarely practiced– A man can have up to 4

wives as long as he can treat them equally

• Ceremony is simple but celebration is elaborate– Celebration can be 4-8

days long

• Actual wedding day– Groom’s party

comes to ‘take away’ the bride

– Bride usually wears red, or shades of red

– Both sign the Nikah, Islamic marriage agreement

• Mehendi– Day before when

bride gets henna on her hands

– Considered a ‘simple’ day with minimal makeup, dress, etc

• Reception– Hosted by

Groom’s party and conclusion of wedding celebration

CaliphsMuhammad

died June 8, 632 CEno instructions about

successor no son• Abu-Bakr

– 632 – 634– Muhammad’s loyal friend and

supporter; father in law– Rebellious tribes were defeated

and Arab world united

• Umar ibn al-Khattab– 634 – 644– Conquered the Levant, Egypt, Iraq,

Persia– Damascus and Jerusalem surrendered

peacefully

Caliphs

Mu’awiyah assumed leadership

• Ali Bin Abi Talib– 656 – 661 (assassinated by

followers)– Son of Abu Talib; brother in law

of Muhammad– Power struggle escalated to

armed conflict• With Uthman’s remaining family;

led by Mu’awiyah

– Emergence of political parties– Last caliph to know Muhammad

personally

• Uthman bin Affan– 644 – 656 (assassinated)– Collected/compiled the

Koran– Emergence of power

struggle

Shi’ah and Sunni SplitShi’ah• Led revolts to restore

leadership• Believed only

descendants of Ali should lead– Continued in successions

of Imams– Only Imams can guide

Muslims to salvation

• 10-15% of followers today

Sunni• Led by Mu’awiyah (Umayyads)• Follow traditional path but

differ from Shi’ah– Do not believe Islamic leader

must be heir to Muhammad– Lineage does not hold special

religious inspiration– Elected caliphs on merit of

character

• Close to 90% of followers today

Islam Today

• Arabs make up only 20% of the total Muslim population of the world

1. Indonesia 183,000,000

6. Iran 62,000,000

2. Pakistan 134,000,000

7. Egypt 59,000,000

3. India 121,000,000

8. Nigeria 53,000,000

4. Bangladesh

114,000,000

9. Algeria 31,000,000

5. Turkey 66,000,000 10. Morocco 29,000,000

Islamic Art

Calligraphy• Grew from importance of Koran

– Word of God written in best and most elegant script

– Also needed to be very clear

• Used to decorate mosques– Has become purely decorative

• History spread through oral stories and poems

• Art is devoid of all things animate– No graven images (idolatry)– No illustrations of human or animal

figures

• Focused on calligraphy and design• Educated peoples expect to have

good handwriting

Islamic Art: Calligraphy

• Tughra– Monogram of sultan of

Turkey• Symbol of unity and

authority

– Always on any written decree

– Complex design from the letters in name or signature

– Sultan Suleyman I• Ruled in 1500s• Thousands of books,

paintings, art objects were created

Your assignment• Practice your calligraphy, and

create your own monogram, or Tughra

• Share your Tughra with the class

THE END