Islam!

Submission Brings Inner FreedomPgs. 133-179

Islam: a religion of peace or war?

Thoughts?

An internal struggle?

Over Interpretation? Over practice?

Interfaith peace possible?

In word and in deed!

What does our culture/media say?

What do you say? What does the Church say?

Introduction (pgs. 133-35)

• The Arabic word Islam comes from the same root as Shalom or the Hebrew word for peace. Islam means submission. Thus submission or surrender to God will bring peace.

• An adherent to Islam is called a Muslim.

Muhammad (pgs. 136-138)• Born in Ca. 570 CE in Mecca

(Modern-Day Saudi Arabia)• Orphaned and raised by

relatives, the prophet traveled in merchant caravans and learned stories of Christianity and Judaism.

• He later married and had children.

• During one of his regular visits to a cave (610CE) the angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared to him. Thus, Islam was born. The Angel commanded Muhammad to be the messenger of Allah.

Ka’bahHirjahCaliphsQur’an

Muhammad (pgs.136-138)

• At first, few people believed the prophet because Mecca was a place of polytheism.

• Islam asked its followers to follow only one God and to unite the various tribes of Mecca under one God.

• Life becomes too “hairy” for these followers so they all migrate to Medina in 622CE.

• This is the beginning of the Islamic calendar and the technical beginning of Islam.

As his movement grew so did his opposition. The prophet was able to unite tribes in Mecca and they battled tribes in Medina. They were successful. They did the same in Medina. By the time Muhammad died in 632CE, many tribes were calling themselves Muslim.

Islamic Historical Periods• The Rightly-Guided Caliphs

(pgs. 138-140)– A complicated story that

shows why Islam is still divided today.

– Caliph, Koran, Imam, and Shari’ah

• Classical Period (pgs. 140-141)– Expansion of Islamic Empire

capital at Damascus. Defeat of Muslims at Battle of Poiters. Conversion not accomplished by “the sword.”

• Medieval Period (pgs. 141-144)– Capital city Baghdad. Trade

expanded. Education and culture flourished. The Golden Age of Islam.

• Modern Period (pgs. 144-147)– Decline of Islamic Empire

under control of Ottoman Turks parallels the rise of Europe as an Empire. Colonization of world by Europe perceived, by some as attack on Islam.

– 2 responses to perceived decline!

Sacred Stories and Scriptures (pgs. 151-154)• Qur’an or Koran means

“recitation.”– Compiled and promulgated by

Uthman. (Uthmani Edition)– Contains 114 suwar (surah

singular).– Two revelations: Medinan and

Meccan.

• Sunnah of Muhammad. His way of life/his story.– Hadith

• Written accounts/sayings of his teachings.

• For Shi’ah Muslims Imams are sources of authority as well.

Hafiz?

Beliefs and Practices (pgs. 154-161)• Five Pillars- the foundational principles and practices

of Islam that we set forth by Muhammad and are practiced by all Muslims.– Shahada-Witnessing– Salah-Prayer– Zakah-Almsgiving– Sawm-Fasting– Hajj-Pligrimage

• Articles of Faith (SparkNotes)– Belief that there is no deity but God and that

Muhammad is his messenger.– Belief in God’s angels– Belief in all the prophets and messengers sent by

God ending with Muhammad.– Belief in the successive revelations conveyed by

the messengers ending with Muhammad, the final message

– Belief in the Day of Judgment and that there will be a life after the death of every soul.

Muezzin or crierWudu-cleansingJum’ah or Assembly on FridayRamadan-commemorates the nights of power.

Islamic Living pgs. 161-162

• Ummah or a collective term meaning nation.

• Islamic Law or Shar’iah is guidance provided by God on how to live the way God desires both an individual and a society to live.– Sunni: Ulama– Shi’ah: Imams

Islamic Law Explained further (Spark Notes)

• Sharia: the totality of religious and moral guidelines that God commands for humanity. – Because no one can know or implement God’s will

in a perfect manner, the sharia functions as an ideal.

– The Sharia comprises moral laws, ethical principles, and etiquette guidelines.

• Fiqh: the human endeavor to determine the will of God on any matter.

Sacred Time (pgs. 166-168)• First, all time is sacred because it

belongs to God.• The Muslim Calendar, like the

Jewish, is based on lunar cycles and is only 354 days.

• Eid al-Fitr (Breaking the Fast)– Marks the end of Ramadan

• Eid al-Adha (Sacrifice)– Marks the end of the Hajj.

Commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Ishmael. Not related to washing sin away but rather to indicate willingness to sacrifice for God.

• Ashura– Commemorates the day God frees

the Hebrews from the Egyptians.

Sacred Spaces/Places (pgs. 168-171• Mosque translates to “Masjid” or

place of prostration. The place of public worship/prayer for Muslims.– Can also be used for education,

weddings, and funerals.

• Mecca…the geographic center of Islam and symbolic place of Divine Presence.

• Medina or 2nd most holy city in Islam.

• Jerusalem site of Muhammad’s Night Journey. Site of Mosque al-Asqa or “the farthest mosque”

• Karbala is a holy site for Shi’ah Muslims. Place believed to the where Husayn (youngest son of Ali) and family were massacred.

Adan?

Islam and Catholicism in Contrast (Spark Notes)

• No notion of Original Sin in Islam: Adam and Eve’s disobedience is forgiven; guilt is not passed down. Humans are born innocent.

• Adam and Eve’s disobedience leaves no chasm between God and humankind; no need for atonement as through Christ.

• Islam has no baptism, because there is no original sin and because the innate fitra (nature) cannot be eliminated.

• Islam emphasizes correct behavior (orthopraxy) over belief (orthodoxy) and focuses on moral law over theology.

• God is incarnate, so the idea of divine incarnation is rejected.• God is one alone and distinct from any human or other being.

Islam rejects the divinity of Jesus and the inclusion of the Holy Spirit or Christ in the concept of God.

Catholicism and Islam pgs. 172-174• The plan of salvation

also includes those who acknowledge the Creator in the first place, amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us thy adore the one, merciful God, humankind’s judge on the law. (CCC, 841)

Catholicism and Islam pgs. 172-174• The Church also has a high regard for the Muslims. They

worship God, who is one, living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has also spoken to people. They strive to submit themselves without reserve to the hidden decrees of God, just as Abraham submitted himself to God’s plan, to whose faith Muslims eagerly link to their own. Although not acknowledging him as God, they venerate Jesus as a prophet, his virgin mother they also honor and even at times devoutly invoke. Further, they await the Day of Judgment and the reward of God following the resurrection of the dead. For this reason, they highly esteem an upright life and worship God, especially by way of prayer, alms, deeds and fasting. (Nostra Aetate, 3)

Catholicism and Islam pgs. 172-174• Two final things to consider:

– Most Catholics have an understanding of the Muslim world that is gleaned from the Western Media. This is a skewed view considering most of the world’s Muslims live in peace and want peace.

– Islam continues to react in many varied ways in response to 17th to 20th Century Western Colonialism. Many Muslims believe that this occurred because of religious laxity. Because of this Muslims have attempted to purify their religion at least by sometimes isolating themselves from dialogue with other Catholics.