Understanding Islam
Encore Course - Spring 2013Gulf Coast State College
Medhat Elmesky, InstructorIslamic Understanding Institute
Understanding Islam Course Structure
• Class Timeline– January 18th - February 22nd
– Fridays from 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM
• The course structure will include:– Instructor-led sessions– Invited guest speakers– Panel discussions with local Muslim professionals– Classroom small group discussions & final presentation– Question and answer time
Course Content
Week 1: January 18, 2013• Introduction to the course
– Course objectives– Course structure– The meaning of Islam
Week 2: January 25, 2013• Articles of Faith in Islam
– Belief in the oneness of God, the prophets, the revelations, the angels, the Day of Judgment, and predestination
• The Sources of Islam– The Glorious Quran– The prophetic Sunnah
Course Content
Week 3: February 1, 2013• The five pillars of Islam and a Muslim’s spiritual life
– Shahada (declaration of faith)– Prayer– Fasting– Zakah (Alms)– Hajj (Pilgrimage)
Week 4: February 8, 2013• Islam as a complete way of life
– Personal Life– Family life (Marriage, wife rights, husband obligations, etc.)
• Distortions about Islam
Course Content
Week 5: February 15, 2013• Islamic contributions to society
– Islamic Arts and Architecture– Medicine and science
Week 6: February 22, 2013• Course conclusions and small group presentations
– “My New Understanding of Islam”
Understanding Islam Course Objectives
• Through this course, you will:– Become acquainted with the basic teachings of Islam.
– Reflect upon some of the eternal questions of humanity from the Islamic perspective: From where? To where? And why?
– Understand Islam as a complete way of life that is relevant to every phase of human existence.
– Learn how Islam contributed to the society in the past, through to the present, and into the future.
– Be able to clarify and answer some distortions around issues in Islam.
The Meaning of “Islam”
• Arabic root of the word “Islam”: S L M– Meaning: Peace, Submission
• ISLAM• MUSLIM = One who submits to God• YUSLIM = To submit• ASLAMA = Submitted
Purpose
• To Attain Peace with:– God– Self– Other Creations of God
• (Humans, Animals, Vegetation, Ecology)
• Through submission to God – By choice, in trust & love– Affirmed by acceptance & obedience
Peace in Central Islamic Terms
• One of God’s divine names (attributes)– “The peace”: A divine name
• Paradise = abode of peace
• Peace be with you– Meaning - Greeting of angels to believers– Mutual greeting of dwellers of paradise– Standard greeting of all Muslims
• “As salamu alaikum”
Broad Objectives of Islamic Law
• Safeguarding faith (2:256)
• Safeguarding Life (5:32)
• Safeguarding the Mind
• Safeguarding Honor (17:70)
• Safeguarding Property and Wealth