RELS 312 – Islam

Youngest of the worlds major religions but it is also one of the largest. "Peace" "Surrender" The peace that comes from surrendering one's life to god. The basic belief of Islam is that there is only one God, Allah. Islam teaches that a person has just one life to live. Birthplace - what is now Saudi Arabia

"The God"; Not a god, for there is only one. The God. This is the same god worshiped by the Jews and Christians. He is the same God worshiped by the Jews and Christians. He is the sole and sovereign ruler of the universe.

Born c.570AD in Mecca Not the creator of the religion but the restorer. The prophet through whom Islam reached its definitive form - The Seal of the Prophets - Born into the leading tribe of Mecca - The name muhammad means "Highly Praised" - Both his parents died when he was small -Became convinced that he was the last series of God's prophets, who included Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. He thought that these former prophets had had only a incomplete revelation of Allah, but that he had the complete and final revelation. Went to Ka'ba and destroyed the ideals and images thus becoming the sole leader of the Arabian people.

"There is no god but God!"

Lived in Ordinary clay house Milked his own goats Was accessible night & day

means recitation -Bible of Islam -The created Qur'an is the material crystallization of the infinite reality of the uncreated Qur'an. - The words of the Qur'an came to Muhammad in segments over 23 years through voices that identified itself as Gabriel. -In addition to being a spiritual guide, it is a legal compendium. It joins faith and politics, religion and society, inseparably.

God Creation The Human Self The Day of Judgement

1. Islam's Creed 2. Canonical Prayer 3. Charity 4. Observance of Ramadan 5. Pilgrimage

Also known as confession of faith known as the Shahadah. "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet." These are the first words a muslim child hears and are likely to be the last uttered by the dying muslim. -At least once during his or her lifetime, a muslim must say the Shahadah correctly, slowly, thoughtfully, aloud, with full understanding, and with heartfelt conviction.

The obvious reason to pray is to give voice to the gratitude one feels for life itself, but a deeper reason is to keep human life in perspective. Expected to pray five times a day (dawn,midday, mid-afternoon, sunset, and nightfall). Properly cleansed worshipers face Mecca and offer their prayers. Men and women may not pray together because of the possibility of inappropriate physical contact.

Those who are comfortable should share with the unfortunate. Annually, 2.5% to 10% of one's holdings should be distributed to the poor. Receiving as well as giving alms is considered a source of God's blessing.

Ramadan is the holy month in the Islamic calendar, because during it the Qur'anic Revelation commend and (ten years later) Muhammad effected his migration from Mecca. To commemorate these two great occasions, able-bodied muslims (who are not sick, mothers nursing infants, travelers and small children) fast during Ramadan. From the first moment of dawn to the setting of the sun, neither food, drink, smoke passes their lips, nor are sexually active. Ramadan varies from year to year. Ramadan concludes with a celebratory feast that lasts three days. It is believed that Allah will pardon the sins of all who complete the fast.

Once during his or her lifetime, every muslim who is physically and economically able to do so is expected to journey to Mecca where God's climatic revelation first descended. The basic purpose of the journey is to heighten the pilgrim's commitment to God and his revealed will, but the practice carries fringe benefits. During the month of Dhu al-Hijrah, in the Muslim calender, pilgrims from all over the world arrive at Mecca. During the hajj, pilgrims must abstain from food drink during the daylight hours, they must abstain from sexual intercourse, and they must not cut their hair and nails. While in Mecca, they take seven trips around the Ka'ba and kiss the sacred black stone. Then a sheep or goat is sacrificed on the tenth day of hajj to commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his own son to obey God's command. After they fulfill their duties, they may travel and visit to pay respect to the grave of the Prophet Muhammad and to visit his mosque. They may have the title haji attached to their names so all the world will know they have fulfilled this religious obligation.

Economics The status of Women Race Relations The use of force

"Sanctuary"

The journey from Mecca to Yathrib Hijrah = "migration"

agreed that he should be the caliph (Khalifa), or "successor", "deputy", "representative"

creation that is halfway between humans and angels. The good Jinn are believed to be Muslims and the evil ones are unbelievers.

Leader of the evil jinn

the 114 chapters in the Qur'an arranged according to length. - 287 verses is the longest - 3 verses is the shortest

6,000 verses contained in the Surah's

All things leads one to believe that people have no choice in life. Humans have the ability to choose from among a set of divinely created acts. Allah in his wisdom and mercy allows human beings to make choices in areas in which they will be judged.

The Qur'an says that when a person dies, the body returns to the earth and the soul goes into a state of sleep until resurrection day. On this day, the angel of Allah will sound his trumpet, the earth will split, and the bodies will rejoin their souls. The resurrected are then judged by Allah. Those who have been faithful and virtuous will be rewarded; those who have been evil will be punished.

Islam religion's educational institutions

(Islam) the man who leads prayers in a mosque

No Pork (most unclean of all the meats), birds, donkey, mules, and beast of prey. Also no alcohol or gambling.

"struggle in the path of God" Muslim scholars teach that only defensive wars are truly jihad.

1. Islam is a universal religion - All people were created by God and all are accepted as Muslims. 2.Islam is a religion with wide appeal - Islam is simple, one who repeats the creed is Muslim and a person who keeps the five pillars of Islam is a good Muslim. 3.The world that surrounded the early Muslims was confused and corrupt - Muslim conquerers were frequently received not as an invading army but as deliverers.

Islam is not highly structured. Most duties of a good Muslim can be done at home, without a priest. Muhammad never clearly left a successor or a plan for the succession of his leadership. First four caliphates: abu-Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali.

85% of all Muslims are Sunnis (traditionalists). See themselves as the guardians of Islamic orthodoxy and tradition. They base their practice of Islam on the Qur'an and on traditions concerning the early Muslim community.

Means "partisans of all" (Twelvers and Seveners) Basic rupture in the body of the religion. It began as a political dispute over the leadership of Islam. Only believe that the descendant of the 4th caliph, Ali, should be recognized. It is estimated between 10-15% of all Muslims are Shi'ites.

the words and acts of the Prophet Muhammad and his close companions.

word that means "woolen" and refers to the coarse wool garments worn by early Muslim mystics as a symbol of poverty and the rejection of worldly pleasures. Sufis claim they have always been a part of the Islamic tradition and trace their origins back to the Prophet and Qur'an. teaches that people can find gods love by having a personal relationship with god. The mystical path in Islam.

Abdallah - Father Amina - Mother Abu Talib - Uncle/Guardian Khadija - First Wife

The mother of all books - Qur'an.

term used to describe people that have completely memorized the Qur'an

has a child with Abraham, Ishmael. Abraham then casts Hagar and Ishmael out. Hagar travels 7 times between two hills to provide for her son. The well of ZamZam (sacred well).

gave Muhammad his first revelation from God.

Moroni

Islam is the last Abrahamic Faiths.

Muslims way of seeing the three Abrahamic traditions

Muhammad was seen as the seal because he was the last of the prophets to hear God's word and complete it.

Muhammad has his first revelation in a cave from the angel Gabriel.

Muhammad is taken from Mecca and brought up to the base of the celestial ladder that leads to heaven. God tells him to pray 5 times a day.

The faith

withdrawal

Practice

combination of the Qur'an and the Hadith make up the Sunna. means "path" or "muslim way of life"

the one central unifying office in the history of Islam.

rightly guided one

chain links