1. Islam: Monotheistic Religion

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE Introductory Remarks Historical overview
Islam as a monotheistic religion
the Quran
God or Allah
pillars and values
social code and reforms
relation with other faiths
the Sunni and Shiha sects
Science and civilization
Islam today, and Arab Americans
Suggested reading, distribution of
educational material
Qs & As
Introductory remarks:
Very brief snap shut. Many bullets deserve a series of presentations to cover
Point of view of a secular person, who has affection to Islam. It is an important part of my culture

3. Islam Founder: Muhammad Ibn (son of) Adballah
Born: 571 AD in Mecca, Arabia
Descendant of Abraham
Nicknames: Almustapha (the chosen), Alamin (the faithful)
Titles: The prophet, the messenger (Alrasul)
Tribe: Quraiysh
Holy Book: The Quran, derived from ‘read’
Founder: Muhammad Ibn Adbellah
Born: 571 AD in Mecca. This year became known as the elephant year. In this year an Ethiopian leader called Abraha (Abraham) attacked Mecca using elephants as armored vehicles
Nicknames: Almustapha (the chosen), Alamin (the faithful)
Titles: The prophet, the messenger (Alrasul)
Tribe: Quraiysh
Descendant of Abraham
Holy Book is the Quran, derived from the Arabic root ‘read’

4. (Amneh+) Abdallah Abutalib Hamzeh Alabbas Abulahab Alhareth
Abraham
Ismail
Adnan
Quraiysh
Qussaiy
Abdmanaf
Abdshams Hashem
(Amneh+) Abdallah Abutalib Hamzeh Alabbas Abulahab Alhareth
The pedigree of Mohammed's family tracing back to Abraham.
Son of Abdallah and Amneh.
Note uncle Abutalib, viewed as monotheist by many historian, and his son Ali, Mohammed's cousin and ‘body’.
Paternal uncle, Abbas, the father of the Abbassids, while the Ummayah dynasty is 3 generations away
Uncle Hamzeh, whom Muhammad dearly loved, killed in a battle with Mecca, 627
The grave of his great grandfather, Hashim, is in Gaza
Adbelmuttalib
Muhammad
Ali
Ummayah Dynasty Abbbassides Dynasty
( )
( )

5. Islam as Monotheistic Religion

6. Islam: The Quran: ”Surrender”, related to ‘salaam’, or peace.
Abraham, father of all prophets, is the first Muslim
Islam is also a code for social conduct
Quran plus the authentic statements of Muhammad (Hadith) = Shareeha (constitution), as Interpreted by Islamic scholars
Muhammad is the last prophet (33: 40).
Gabriel highest ranking angel
The Quran:
Islam’s holy book, an inspired scripture. God’s word inspired to his messenger,
114 Chapters (chapter = Surah), 4 to >200 verses/chapter (verse = Aiyah)
Confirms most narratives and prophets of the Jewish and Christian faiths
Special place for Virgin Mary, the only female (the Chapter of Mary)
Allah is the word for God used by Christian and Muslim Arabs
God = Allah (Arabic) = Eluhim (Hebrew) = El (Aramaic)
One and only one God, no trinity
Arabic as the language of the Quran
Middle-Eastern origin of all monotheistic faiths
Judaism (in Palestine) reformed old Egyptian monotheism, Christianity (in Palestine) reformed Judaism, and Islam reformed both Judaism and Christianity

7. Note that Jihad is not one of 5 pillars
The 'Five Pillars' of Islam
The framework for Muslim life. Essential practices
1. The declaration of faith:
"There is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God"
2. Prayer:
Five obligatory prayers each day.
A direct link between the worshiper and God.
No hierarchical authority or priesthood
3. Zakat:
Obligatory charitable giving.
Wealth belong to God and it is held in trust by humans.
Zakat, or, "purification" by setting aside a portion (2.5%) for the needy
4. Fasting:
From sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan
5. Pilgrimage:
A pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca, Arabia. Only those who can
Note that Jihad is not one of 5 pillars
Faith:
Emphasize God (not Allah)
Prayer:
Facing Jerusalem (Alquds or Beit-elmaqdis) till 629, then facing Mecca
Ablution or wash: One should wash and clean his/her body before prayer
No priesthood or mass service. Imam serves no function during prayer. Direct link between the person who pray and God
Zakat
The only ‘No excuse’ pillar
Fasting
I fasted

8. Jihad and the Conduct of War
Islam is not addicted to war, and jihad is not one of its "pillars”
Jihad in Arabic does not mean "holy war”. It means "struggle” or “strive”.
It is the difficult effort needed to put God's will into practice at every level
The "greater jihad” in the Quran is that of the soul, of the tongue, of the pen, of faith, of morality, etc. The "smaller jihad" is that of arms.
Many directives in the authentic statements of Muhammad (Hadiths):
He told his companions as they go home after a battle "We are returning from the lesser jihad [the battle] to the greater jihad, at home"
Three levels:
Personal: That of the soul
Verbal: Raising one's voice in the name of Allah on behalf of justice.
"The most excellent jihad is the speaking of truth in the face of a tyrant" (Hadith)
Physical: Combat waged in defense against oppression and transgression.
Profoundly misunderstood in today's world.
Spell out bullets 1-4.
Very strict about proper conduct of war
Very strict about treatment of war prisoner
A person who enter homes of Muslim leaders is safe

9. Jihad and the Conduct of War
Much of the Koran revealed in the context of an all-out war imposed on early
Muslims by the powerful city of Mecca, and many passages deal with the conduct
of armed struggle.
While one finds "slay [enemies] wherever you find them!" (e.g., 4: 89),
in almost every case it is followed by something like "if they let you be,
and do not make war on you, and offer you peace, God does not allow you
to harm them" (2:90; 4: 90; 5: 2; 8: 61; 22: 39)
Since good and evil cannot be equal, repel thou evil with something that is
better, and love he between whom and thy self was enmity may then become
as though he had always been close unto thee, a true friend" (41:34)
God does not allow harm of civilian, and requests the protection of women,
children and the elderly during war (4:96; 9: 91; 48: 16,17)
“If any one slew a person--unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief
in the land--it would be as if he slew the whole people; and if anyone saved
a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” (5:32)
You shall feed and protect prisoners of war, and you shall not expect a
reward (4: 25,36; 5:24)
Thus, the only permissible war in the Quran is one of self-defense, you
cannot kill unarmed (civilian), and you have to protect prisoners of war

10. Jihad and the Conduct of War
Warfare is always evil. Sometimes you have to fight to avoid persecution. e.g., the one Mecca inflicted on early Muslims (2: 191; 2: 217), or to preserve decent values (4: 75; 22: 40)
Muslims may not begin hostilities
"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors." (2: 190).
Notice: Defensive war, fight back
Hostilities must be brought to an end as quickly as possible, and must cease the minute the enemy sues for peace (2:192-3; 41:34)
‘Martyrdom’: Those killed during fighting or while doing civic duties (martyrs) are promised a place in heaven (several passages, e.g., 2:154; 3: )
However, suicide is not allowed; it is forbidden and condemned (e.g., 6:151, 17:33, 25:68)
One of my favorite Hadiths
'Do not attack a temple, a church, a synagogue. Do not bring a tree or a plant down. Do not harm a horse or a camel’
One of my favorite Hadiths

11. Relation with other Faiths
Like the Torah, the Quran permits retaliation eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
But, like the Gospels, it says “it is meritorious to forgo revenge in a spirit of charity (5: 45)
Acknowledges Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses,
David, Solomon, Zacharia, Jesus, John the paptist, and others as the “the good prophets of God”
A special place for Jesus and Mary (e.g., 3:45,46; 4: ; 19:1-98)
Accepts that Mary’s conception is from God’s soul.
Rejects the divinity of Jesus (no trinity).
Jesus was not killed (e.g., 4: ; 5:17-19)
2. A Muslim is not a true Muslim without acknowledging and respecting them
3. “Mary” Chapter, and Mary’s father chapter
4. Absolutely one deity. Good prophets of God cannot be killed, God takes their soul to Heaven 5. 6.

12. Relation with other Faiths
Islam did not impose itself by the sword.
"There must be no coercion in matters of faith" (2: 256)
Muslims have to respect Jews and Christians, the "People of the Book,"
who worship the same God (e.g., 2:62; 29:46).
"And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better,
unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong: but say, 'We believe in
the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down
to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow.”
In one of his last public sermons Muhammad said
“God tells all human beings, "O people! We have formed you into nations
and tribes so that you may know one another" (49: 13). Do not conquer,
convert, subjugate, revile or slaughter but to reach out toward others with
intelligence and understanding”
The Levant remained mainly Christian for almost 200 Yrs.
No one was forced to convert to Islam
The right of all faiths to warship was respected
Sites of warship, holy places and shrines of all faiths were protected
2. Abdelmalek and the Christians in his literary circles. St. John of Damascus (the golden mouth), Alakhtal
3, 4. Keys of the Holy Sepulcher are until today with a Muslim family, and they consider it an honor to guard and serve (clean) Christianity’s holiest shrine
few of many specific instructions to soldiers:
When Abu Bakr stood on the borders of Syria he gave very specific instructions to his soldiers: “In the desert,” he said, “you will find people who have secluded themselves in cells; let them alone, for they have secluded themselves for the sake of God.”
Likewise, when Omar went to Syria, he actually stayed with the Bishop of Ayla and went out of his way to meet the Christian Holy Men in the town.

13. Social Justice Charity, Charity, Charity ….
On top of the Zakat. Help the orphan, the poor, the ill, the lost, the homeless, the elderly
Endless times in the Quran (16 times in Chapters 2-5 alone)
Freedom, Integrity, Equality, Justice ….
“An hour of justice by a ruler is better than sixty days of hard work” (Hadith)
Endless request for justice in the Quran (e.g., 2: 282; 6; 152)
“O mankind, We’ve created you from a male and a female and have made
you nations and tribes that you may know and interact with each other.
The noblest of you in the sight of God is the best in conduct” (49:13).
No Arab is privileged over non-Arab but by his or her conduct (Hadith)
All people are equal like the teeth of a comb (Hadith)
“You are not considered faithful in the sight of God unless you like for
your brother (read, others) what you like for yourself” (Hadith)
when you are greeted with a greeting of peace, answer with an even better greeting, or at least the like thereof" (4: 86).

14. Other Values Right and Status of Women
Eliminated many pre-Islamic discriminatory practices
Gave women rights (e.g., inheritance) and equality to men, both were made
from a single soul (e.g., 4:1)
Limited the number of wives a man can marry
Treat women with kindness and respect their rights as equal to men
The hijab or head scarf
Modest dress apply to women and men equally (Quran and Hadith).
Women are required to cover their bodies so that their figure is not revealed.
Women are not required to cover their faces.
The forbidden or ‘taboo’ (muharramat) include pork, blood, improperly butchered
animals, baby animals, gambling, and charging interest
Alcohol drinking was gradually disallowed
Empowered by this equality, women took active role in Islam. Many examples, such as Asma, Fatima, Aiyshah

15. Science and Civilization

16. A dedicated quest for knowledge and a burst of scientific innovation
in a multi-ethnic and multi-faith society
Lasted for over 8 centuries, and produced a plethora of knowledge and
discoveries in all disciplines
Induced the later European renaissance
The Arabic tong, invigorated by the Quran, was the vehicle, and tolerant,
inclusive, and knowledge-advocate Islamic faith was the culture
Repeated requests in both the Quran and the Hadith for seeking
knowledge, and application of rational thinking
Seek knowledge even in China
Seek knowledge from crib to grave
On judgement day, the ink of scientists is valued by God higher
than the blood of martyrs
The two important disciplines of science are theology and Biology
Initially, massive translation of Greek and Indian writings
preserved all literary and scientific works and transmitted them to Europe

17. Medicine and Pharmacy Chemistry and Physics Mathmatics Astronomy

18. Medicine and Pharmacy
Institutionalized and regulated the practice of Medicine and Pharmacy
The modern concept of clinics
Board exams and license to practice. Regulatory boards (FDA's!!!)
Classification of plants and Algae for their medical use, and outlined possible side effects (PDR’s!!)
Hospitals:
Tens, including specialized, in each of Baghdad, Qurtoba, and Damascus.
Mobile hospitals for emergency.
Departments and University Hospitals.
Patients records and vital signs, urine tests, family history.
Surgery:
Threads from animals intestine.
Opium and Hashish for Anesthesia.
Alcohol as disinfectant.
Treatment of cataract, and removal of kidney and gallbladder stones
Autopsy !!!
Students training (Anatomy)
Cause of death

19. Known Physicians Abu-bakr Elrazzy; 9th Century
Father of Physicians, great clinician and experimentalist
Many books including “Smallpox and Measles”
Ibn-Elhaytham: 10th Century
Multidisciplinary scientist. Ophthalmologist
Mechanism of sight. Function of the eye
Over 100 books in Med. and Math.
Ibn-Seena (Avisai): 10th Century
The “Qannun”, the medical text book in Europe till 19th Cen.
Described the medical use of over 2700 plants
Light has a finite speed, which is much faster than the speed of sound
Ibn-Rushd (Aviros): 13th Century
Philosopher and Physician. Many books
Ibn-Elnafees:
Blood circulation and the role of lungs
Abulkassim Alzahrawi (Abulcasis or Albucasis): 11th Century
One of the greatest surgeons. A good dentist and GP.
Removal of breast cancer.
Hemophilia and its hereditary transmission (female to male)
I will mention part of the list of those whose works were translated to Latin languages and directly influenced later European renaissance
Alrazi: Mention his story

20. Chemistry and Physics
Arabic terms and methods of preparation for Alkali, Alcohol, Tartarate
Discovered and prepared in pure form 28 elements (Ibn Elhaytham)
The processes of crystallization, fermentation, distillation, sublimation,
Preparation of acids (H2SO4, HCl, HNO3) and bases (NaOH)
Light travels in straight lines. Laws of refraction, reflection and illusion of light.
Eluded to the Magnetic properties of some objects Xx xx
Arab scientists did not come up with the quantum, but, ….

21. Mathematics
Arabic numeral and the decimal system of numbers.
Right  Left. English. But 1000
Arithmetic. Roots and powers
Algorithm = Alkhawarismi
The mathematical ZERO
Algebra (combining fractions).
The Use of (x, y, z) to solve complex arithmetic/geometric problems
Trigonometry (Albairuni and Albuzjani), differential and Integral.
p =
Some known Mathematicians:
Abu-bakr Alkhawarismi
Thabit Ibn Qarra (9th Century). Calculus.
Ibn-elhaytham
Albairuni (10th Century)
Albuzjani
Omar Elkhayam (2° & 3° equations)
In my mind, the decimal system of numbers is the most fundamental after the alphabet
Imagine we still use Roman numerals. Computers?
Arabic numerals and # of angles
Tables of trigonometry. Literary translation of the Arabic terms

22. Astronomy Astrology (myth)  Astronomy (science)
Movement, path, and location of planets and stars
The Asturlab
Earth is spherical and rotates along its axis and around the sun.
Calculated earth circumference (Albairuni)
Calculated the time needed for one rotation around the sun (solar year), with
an error of 2’ 22” only (Albattani)
Calculated the equinoxes
Current names of most constellations, and many stars are from Arabic
Some known astronomists:
Alkindy (9th Century)
Albattani (9th Century)
Ibn-elhaytham (11th Century)
Thabit Ibn Qarra
Almajreeti
I should have put “calculated” rather than measured
Influenced Kepler
George Kennedy

23. Sunni and Shiha Sunni 90% of Muslims
Follow the Quran and the Hadeeth as we have them today,
and as interpreted by the Sunni scholars
Shiha
Came to be as a sect after 680 A.D.
Believe in the Quran and Hadeeth, like Sunni
However, they place Ali very high as a holy figure, and think ‘main stream’
Islam discriminated against him
Today Shiah is mainly in Iran (90%), Iraq (55%) and Lebanon (~40%)

24. Important Holidays Al-adhaa (the sacrifice)
Symbolizes Abraham attempt to sacrifice his son Ishmael by God’s request.
Should sacrifice an animal and give the food to the poor.
The pilgrimage to Mecca
Alfetr
Observed at the end of the holy month of Ramadan (the fasting month)
The Islamic New Year
Yr 1, Islamic calendar = 622 A.D.
Alisraa Walmaaraj
Symbolizes the ascending, in Jerusalem, of Mohammed's soul to heaven
The Birthday of Muhammad
Ashuraa day (Shiha only)

25. Islam Today 1.3 Billion worldwide, three continents 0.3 Billion Arabs
Indonesia (200 M) > India (180 M) > Pakistan (160 M) > Bangladesh (120 M) >
China (80 M) > Egypt (70 M)
There are about 20 M Christian Arabs
Egypt > Syria > Lebanon > Palestine > Iraq
About 7 M Muslims in the USA, 3-4 M are Arabs
Roughly half of the Arab Americans are Christians

26. Arab Americans Farouq Elbaz (Egypt), NASA, the moon mission
Ahmed H. Zewail (Egypt) Winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry,
Cal. Tech.
Saleh Wakeel (Iraq), member of the Nat’l Acad. Sci., Biochemistry
Qais Elawqati (Iraq), member of the Nat’l Acad. Sci., Microbiology
Majdi Yacub, first open heart surgery
Michael Debakee (Lebanon), chief cardiologist of the White House
Ralph Nader (Lebanon), consumer advocate, Green Party founder,
and 2000 presidential candidate
John Sununu (Palestine), White House Ex-Chief of Staff
John Sununu JR., current state governor
Donna E. Shalala (Lebanon), Ex secretary of HHS
Helen Thomas, Ex dean of the White House press corps.
Edward Attiyeh (Syria), Ex governor of OR
Spencer Abraham (Lebanon), Secretary of Energy
George Mitchell
Currently there are 7 Arab US Congressmen

27. Arab Americans
Casey Kasem and Don Bustany (Lebanon) creators of radio's American
Top 40
Mustapha Elaqqad (Syria), Hollywood movie director
(director of the ‘Halloween’ series)
Tom Shadyac (Lebanon), Hollywood movie director
Salma Hayic (Lebanon), a Hollywood star
Yasser Seirawan (Syria), US Chess Champion
Jacques Nasser, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co
Ray Irani CEO of Occidental Petroleum (Exxon Mobil) Co
The Hyatt, Hagar, and Farah enterprises
Christina McAuliffe, an astronaut who died aboard the space shuttle
Challenger
Candy Lightner, founder of MADD
Anthony Quinn converted to Islam after he stared in Alressalah (the Message). In an interview he was asked, “name something you regeret”, his repply was, “I regret I did not become a muslim much earlier”.