Understanding Islam: Excerpts from the Qur'an and Key Concepts

1. Pre-Class: Reading from the Qur’an (handout) Place a checkmark (5 total) next to each conclusion you can make about Islam based on the excerpts AND underline the evidence for each conclusion checked.

2. Understanding Islam Why should we study the religion of Islam? There are over 1 billion Muslims in the world. Masjid al-Haram

3. Land Called Paradise Video

4. Crash Course: IslamMy Religion My Life: Islam

5. Religions of the World Video 26 minutes next slide

7. Islam Identifications • Muslim: person who follows Islam – one who submits • Ka’aba: Islam’s holiest shrine – located in Mecca – Arabic for cube • Qu’ran: secret text, holy book of Islam, actual word of God • Mosque: Muslim house of worship • Allah: Arabic for God same as J and C • Mecca: birth place of Islam, holiest city, Saudi Arabia • Hejira: 622 – Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina; marks first expansion of Islam • Medina: first Islamic community, 2nd Holy city, Muhammad gains political and religious power – City of the Prophet • Jerusalem: 3rd Holiest city to Islam – Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock – Night Journey

8. Muhammad Video use Muhammad Video Biography: Muhammad Show 1st ten minutes Start 2 minutes in Stop 11:08 Why images of Mohammed offend Muslims Cnn.

9. Five Pillars of Islam • Islam means: (#2) • to submit/submission • Five Pillars of Islam: (#3) • Declaration of Faith (Shahada) • Prayers (Salah) • Charity (Zakat) • Fasting (Sawm) • Pilgrimage (Hajj)

10. The Rise and Spread of Islam

11. Arabia in the 7th Century

12. Muhammad Video use Muhammad Video Biography: Muhammad Show 1st ten minutes Start 2 minutes in Stop 11:08 Why images of Mohammed offend Muslims Cnn.

14. Arabian People • Nomads/Bedouins • Farmers • Traders • Tribes

15. Paganism • Worshipped many gods • Chief god was “Allah” meaning simply “the God.” Al-Uzza

16. Mecca

17. Arabia These Arab people were pagans, meaning they worshipped many gods. The center of Arabic pagan worship was in a town called Mecca. Pilgrims would travel to Mecca to worship the Kaaba The Kaaba: sacred shine that housed images of all the Arab gods. Also contained a black stone-probably a meteorite, which the Arabs thought was sent from heaven

18. Trade Routes

19. Muhammad (#4) • Born CE 570 • Parents died • Raised by Uncle • Marries Khadija • Merchant/trader • Meditated in desert • Daughter Fatima married to cousin Ali • Video 3:29 Muhammad Messenger of God – Discovery video

20. Muhammad: Founder of Islam • Muhammad was born in Mecca about 570. • His parents died when he was very young, but he was sent to live with his uncle, who was a Bedouin tribesman, even before they died. • Muhammad became a merchant. • When he was 25, he met a wealthy widow named Khadija, and married her.

21. Muhammad (#5) • Final Prophet/Founder of Islam • Messages from God compiled in the Qur’an • Spread the message of one God • 610 AD • Muhammad History Chanel Video

22. The Quran • Muhammad memorized, word for word, everything the Angel Gabriel spoke to him. It was eventually written down by scribes. • These writings are known as the Quran. • Quran means “recitation.” • it is the holy book for Muslims, containing guidance in all matters

23. The Quran (Koran) • The Quran provides guidance on every aspect of human life: from history and economics to morality, criminal and civil law, gender issues, social values, Judaism and Christianity, past prophets, and even science* • Any translation of the Quran from Arabic into a different language means that it is not entirely accurate

24. Similarities with Christianity and Judaism Universality of Humankind • Along with Judaism and Christianity, Islam emphasizes the dignity and equality of humankind: “No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab…Nor does any race have any superiority over any other race. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay.”

25. Similarities with Christianity and Judaism Belief in Heaven • Along with Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that we will be held accountable for our actions in the next life: “We shall set up scales of justice for the day of Judgment, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least.”

26. The Hejira • Muhammad began to speak about this new religion to the Arab tribes people around Mecca. • Some began to follow him. Others did not like his message, and plotted to kill both him and his followers. • In 622, Muhammad and his followers fled from Mecca to Yathrib, a town to the north. • This journey was known as the hejira. • Yathrib was later renamed Medina, which means “City of the Prophet.”

27. Medina and Hejira 622 Marks the beginning of expansion of Islam (#10) read

28. Sacredness of Jerusalem • “Night Journey” from the nearest mosque to the farthest (“al-Aqsa”) mosque - 619 AD in Jerusalem • Is believed to be when Muhammad “flew” to Jerusalem and met with the old Prophets: Abraham and Moses The Night Journey read

29. Noble Sanctuary In Jerusalem

30. Umayyad Culture Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem More BBC Video BBC Video Video Al-Aqsa (“furthest”) mosque, built CE 715

31. This rock is believed to be the place from where the Prophet Muhammed ascended to heaven during his night journey to Jerusalem.

32. Video 4:00 Sacredness of Jerusalem

33. People of the Book (# 6) • Muhammad’s Term for Jews and Christians • Cause followed Gods teachings • Old and New Testament were God’s words but had been corrupted over time • Christianity and Judaism influenced Islam

34. Return to Mecca – 628AD read Mecca

35. Kaaba • Housed 360 idols • Muhammad Smashed idols and dedicated to God (360) (#5) • Pilgrimages during holy month Dhul-Hijjah • Kiswah: the cloth that covers the Kaaba • Embroidered in gold the Muslim Declaration of Faith • At the end of the ḥajj, the new kiswah is put in place, and the old one is cut into small relics that are sold to pilgrims. Ka’bah

36. Kiswah

37. Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca . Tawaf: traveling around 7 times

38. What do you think? What are some of the implications that flowed from Muhammad’s smashing the idols at the Ka’bah?

39. “Farewell Speech” • Tribes throughout Arabia acknowledged Muhammad’s authority and converted to Islam • Muhammad delivered farewell speech in 632 • Muhammad died without designating a successor Mosque of the Prophet, Medina read

40. Spread of Muslim Rule

41. Spread of Muslim Rule

42. Spread of Muslim Rule

43. Spread of Muslim Rule

44. Spread of Muslim Rule

45. Spread of Muslim Rule

46. Schism • Disagreement over style and qualifications leader • Bloody massacre final spilt • (#11) Split into Sunni and Shi’a after death of Muhammad – permanent spilt during Umayyad Dynasty – murders - Mid 600’s • over the choosing of caliph – successor to Muhammad as leader of Islamic community (#11) • (#12) Sunni – 80% caliph based on merit – anyone • Shi'ite/Shi’a – caliph descendent of Muhammad Shrine at Karbala

47. Two Main Branches of Islam Battle of Karbala: 680. 11

48. 3:05 – Shi’a and Sunni Discovery Video

50. 7. Quran, Sunnah, Hadith make up the Sharia Sharia – sacred law of Islam Based on interpretation and various widely Sunnah: Islamic Faith in practice (customs/Traditions) Hadith: accounts and sayings of Muhammad Some hadiths are widely accepted and supported by Islamic scholars; others are strongly disputed or refuted