Islamic Law Unit 6

Five Pillars of Islam Qur’an: holy book of Muslims All believers should carry out Five Pillars of Islam: Faith: believing in Allah/Muhammad (1) Prayer: 5 times a day; facing toward Mecca (2) Assemble in a mosque: Islamic house of worship Alms: supporting the less fortunate (3) Fasting: Ramadan/fasting from sunrise to sunset (4) Pilgrimage: Muslims physically/financially able to make hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca (5)

The Shari’a Most Muslims believe Muhammad’s life is the true example of a Muslim should live his/her life Called the Sunna The guidance of the Qur’an & the Sunna was assembled into a body of law known as the shari’a Shari’a regulates family life, moral conduct, and business/community life

Sunni/Shia Muslims Islam’s 2 main branches: Sunni & Shi’a Their differences center around who can become religious leaders called imams Differences: Shia-allow only descendents of the prophet Muhammad’s family to become imams-Shi’as say these people are the only ones who can interpret the Qu’ran Sunni-Sunni groups choose their imams and they serve mainly as leaders of prayer

Iran

Iran’s New Gov’t Once ruled by a shah-ruler 1970’s---many in Iran wanted rule under the Islamic religion the shah did not truly represent the Islamic religion 1979-people of Iran revolted shah left Iran for the United States Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini set up new Islamic gov’t—became the Republic of Iran

Changes Made by Ayatollah Khomeini Harsh punishments for anyone who spoke out against the gov’t (1) Had to abide by Islamic dress code, especially women-had to be covered (2) No Western influences (3) Examples: No American movies/music/clothing/news

Iran Hostage Crisis Nov Iranian university students took 66 people the U.S. embassy in Tehran Hostages were held 444 days tried rescue attempt October 1980 Rescue attempt failed killing 8 U.S. military men some of the reason why Jimmy Carter not reelected Hostages finally released Jan 1981 the day Ronald Reagan took the oath of office

Iraq vs Iran 1980-Iraq & Iran start the Eight Year War Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, fought Iran over a border dispute Iraq was supplied with weapons by the U.S. Iran got weapons from the former communist Soviet Union The U.S. also secretly sold weapons to Iran War ended in a truce

Iraq

Hussein vs. the U.S. Former leader---Saddam Hussein-came to power in —Hussein attacks Kuwait b/c of its large oil supply US comes to Kuwait’s aid---beginning of Desert Storm Conflict/First Gulf War 1991-US liberates Kuwait from Iraq Hussein remains in power the United Nations places an embargo or a severe restriction on trade w/ other countries on Iraq

Hussein vs U.S. continued Embargo was to force Hussein to give up chemical/nuclear weapons United Nations inspectors look for chemical weapons in Iraq March 2003-US invades Iraq—beginning of 2 nd War in the Gulf Hussein captured in 2003, tried/executed in 2006

Kurds Ethnic group who lives in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, & Syria About million people Originally nomadic people Have their own language/culture Want independence Ruthlessly oppressed by Iraq & Hussein Bombed with mustard gas after last rebellion 5,000 Kurds died

Taliban Former leaders of Afghanistan Extreme version of Islamic Law: Women banned from work (1) Women denied education (2) Destroyed all non-Islamic statues (3) Ex: Destroyed Buddhist statues 100’s of years old Allowed Islamic militants to train plan terrorist attacks in Afghanistan Ex: Osama Bin Laden

Hezbollah Military group/political party in Lebanon Founded in response to Israeli forces invading Lebanon in the early 1980’s Led by Shi’a Muslims Sophisticated attacks against Israel Determined to drive Israeli troops out of Lebanon Also claimed responsibility for 1983 killings of 200 U.S. Marines in Beirut, Lebanon