Islam Origins and Basic Principles Courtyard of the Great Mosque at Herat, Afghanistan. Photo:

Origins Arabia (Mecca & Medina) 7 th century Pre-Islamic Religious Life Muhammad the Prophet Born about 570 C.E. in Mecca. Died 632. Member of the Quraysh tribe Messenger of God: About 610 C.E. receives visit from angel Gabriel and begins recitation (the Qur’an)

Basis of Islam: Qur’an, Sunna, & Hadith Qur’an Word of God (Not Muhammad) One god Ethical monotheism: God as just & judging Oral & written Most authoritative source of Islamic doctrine & practice Hadith Based on Sunna: custom of the Prophet Hadith: customs in written form Confirm, extends, elaborates on the Qur’an

Doctrines & Pillars of Islam Five main pillars of Islam Shahada (faith) “There is no god but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God.” Prayer (salat), 5 times a day at set times Almsgiving (zakat) Fasting (sawm) during Ramadan Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) 5 main doctrines of Islam Faith in the unity of God Angels as helpers of god Belief in the scriptures & the prophets Final judgment Divine decree (predestination)

The spread of Islam Muhammad’s migration to Medina (Hijra) 620 C.E. Return to Mecca, 620 C.E.; city converts to Islam Muslim conquests 630s- 720s North of Arabia (present- day Syria, Iraq, etc) Egypt 640 C.E. North Africa 655 C.E. Spain 718 C.E. The Great Mosque, Cordoba, Spain. (Built 784-6, 961-6, , and other restorations). Photo: IslamiCity.

Expansion of Islam: Major Cities Map: Thomson/Wadsworth

Current Distribution of the World’s Religions Map: Thomson/Wadsworth

Major subtypes of Islam: Sunnism & Shi’ism Emerged in the late 7 th c. through political divisions over leadership of the Muslim community Differences in belief: Shiite belief in the Imamate: leadership of the Muslim community through familial connection to the Prophet About 85% of the world’s Muslims are Sunni A young Shiite woman of Iraq worshipping at the end of the Ashura holiday commemorating the death of Hussein in 680 C.E.

Sufism Islamic mysticism: emphasis on spiritual interpretations of Islam Emphasis on God’s love, piety, simplicity, informality, the “inner way” (tariqa) Organized into Sufi orders (tariqat) “Dance, as though no one is watching, Love, as though you've never been hurt before, Sing, as though no one can hear you, Work, as though you don't need the money, Live, as though heaven is on earth.” ~Jalal al-Din Rumi~ Miniature painting of Rumi by Hossein Behzad

Other topics Sharia Law 4 Sunni “schools”of Jurisprudence Jihad (Striving) The Status of Women Islam & Science An astrolabe, developed by Muslim scientists in the 7 th century. University Mosque at al-Azhar, established in 969 in Cairo & one of the oldest universities in the world.