islam cing_islam.ppt
TRANSCRIPT
• Scriptures: Quran / Koran• God: Allah• Authority: Muhammad • Date founded: 622 CE• Believers: 1,570 million
(80% outside the Arab world. the fastest growing religion)
• Islam means submission to the will of God. A Muslim is one who submits. Man’s purpose is to serve the will of God.
Introducing Islam
• Tawhid – the oneness or unity
• Prophecy – Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Jesus was the second to last prophet, who foretold the coming of Muhammad.
• Revelation – God revealed scriptures to humanity as guidance for them. The Quran is the final word.
• Angelic Agency – Angels are everywhere; they come to people’s help in every thought and action. (Fisher and Luyster)
• Last Judgment and Afterlife – the pictures of Heaven and Hell.
Five Pillars of Faith
• Shahada—Declaring your faith 承认信仰– “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of
Allah.”
• Salat—Five daily prayers and one communal on Friday 礼拜
• Zakat—Almsgiving 课功• Sawm—Fasting one month every year, the holy month of
Ramadan 斋月• Hajj—Pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia once in a life
time 麦加朝圣
Five Pillars of Practice
• Two meanings:– Inner Jihad, the struggle with oneself, mastering one’s passions and
leading to a virtuous life
– Outer Jihad, all activities like defending Islamic faith or Muslim lands
Jihad—Holy War
The ProphetHis background
• An orphan of a noble, but not well-to-do, family that lived in Mecca.
• His father died before his birth. His mother died when he was six. His uncle raised him.
• He was known for being honest and truthful before prophethood.
• Worked as a shepherd and later as a trader • Married his first wife Khadija, and the mother of his
surviving children, when he was 25. She was 40.
The ProphetHis prophethood
• In 610, he received his first revelation at 43. These revelations were compiled later into the Quran; the holy book of Muslims
• The nobles of Mecca refused his call, ostracized and persecuted him and his followers.
• After 12 difficult years, he immigrated in 622 to Medina whose people welcomed him.
• In Medina, he was a prophet and a statesman.
• In 633, he died at 63
• His personality revolves around the traits of mercy, generosity and forgiveness.
The ProphetThe message
• The oneness of God, the creator of the whole universe.
• Islam is the continuation of divine messages that God sent to humanity through prophets like Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and Jesus.
• The moral principles of the ten commandments are reflected in the message of Muhammad.
• It acknowledges the diversity of the human race and freedom of religions
The Quran
• The revelation of God to Muhammad
• It has been preserved as revealed 14 centuries ago.
• It consists of 114 chapters of various lengths. In Arabic, it numbers about 604 pages.
• The translation of its meaning is available in English, Chinese and most of the world’s languages
The Quran
• Appeals to the mind to reflect on creations and the creator
• Glad tidings for the believers
• Admonitions to the non-believers
• Stories of previous messengers of God such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Jesus, Mary, etc.
• Rulings on social and commercial issues.
What the Quran says about• Moses: And we sent Moses with our signs; get your people
from darkness to light and remind them of the miracles of Allah. For in it are signs for the thankful (14:5)
• Mary: The angels said. “O Mary! Allah has chosen, purified and chosen you among the women of this world. Mary, worship your Lord devoutly: Prostrate and bow with those who bow down.(3:42-43)
• Jesus: The angels said, “O Mary! Allah brings you good news; a word from Him whose name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the hereafter and of those nearest to Allah. (3:45-46)
The Muslim legal code “Shari’a”• Consists of the following
components:• Rulings mentioned in the Quran
• Precedents in the life of Muhammad as it explains and complements the Quran in more details
• Opinions (fatwa) of Muhammad’s prominent companions.
• Opinions of previous jurisprudents
• Opinions of contemporary scholars
• Importance of majority and consensus
The Mosque
• The Muslim’s house of God, where they pray.
• The Imam (religious leader) leads the prayers and delivers sermons.
• Persons entering the mosque are supposed to have cleansed themselves.
• Non-Muslims should seek permission before entering the mosque.
Islamic Foundation, Scarborough
The Muslims of the world
• Sects: Sunni (the majority), Shia 7%, Ismaili 1%?
• Homogenous when it comes to core beliefs and essential practices of Islam like daily prayers, fasting, etc
The Muslim Women
• The first to accept Muhammad’s message was his wife Khadija. Many of his followers were women who embraced Islam before their spouses or fathers.
• Islam gave women the following rights, 1400 years ago:
– The right to decide their future Muslim husbands.
– The right to a definite share of the estate of a father, husband or children. A will cannot take away or abrogate this right.
– The right to own property independently of their husbands or children.
– The right to education.
– The right to conduct their own commercial business.
– The right to participate in politics.
• Muslims take their religion, and its symbols, very seriously.
• Muslims invoke prayers frequently in their daily chores.
• Muslim women are required to dress modestly and not to show their beauty except to near family.
• Muslims are not supposed to sit or meet alone with members of the opposite sex.
• Muslims are respectful of elders, women and persons of authority. Out of respect they may not look you in the eye, not because they are avoiding you.
• Muslims have dietary restriction; mainly they are not allowed to eat pork, wild animals or animal slaughtered improperly. Islam forbids alcoholic beverages and drugs.
Dealing with Muslims
Know them better; their religion and culture(s).
Communicate with leaders and institutions to build trust and cooperation.
Solicit advice from leaders on handling issues and situations.
Show respect and understanding: soft approach works better than hard one.
Winning the Muslims