1. Islam

2. The Prophet Muhammad, c. 570 – 632
Received revelations of God’s word from the Angel Gabriel between 610 and his death
Words repeated to others
Written down shortly after his death as the Koran (Qur’an)
Chosen as the “final prophet”
Not new revelations
Accepted Jewish and Christian prophets (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc.)
Islam (submission to God)

3. Timeline of Early Islam
570—Muhammad born
610—receives his first revelation
622—Hijrah (escape) to Medina
630—Muhammad re-enters Mecca
632—Death of the Prophet
632 – 680—The First Five (“Rightly Guided”) Caliphs

4. Five Pillars of Islam Shahadah – testimony of faith
Salah – Prayer five times a day
Zakah – Charity
Sawm – Fasting during Ramadan
Hajj - Pilgrimage

5. The Kaaba in Mecca

6. The Stoning of Satan
The Hajj

7. Six Fundamental Beliefs of Islam
A single, indivisible God. “Allah” is Arabic for God
Angels
Divine scriptures – Torah, Psalms, Bible, Qu’ran; “people of the book”
Messengers of God – Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Mohammad (Again – Muhammad’s message is final universal one for humanity)
Day of Judgement
Supremacy of God’s will

8. Islam by 750

9. The Sunni/Shi’a Split Shi’a do not recognize the 1st three caliphs
Ali (4th and cousin or son-in-law of Muhammad) is seen as legitimate successor
Shi’a argue that all caliphs must come from lineage of The Prophet
Shi’a imams are not just prayer leaders; they are the political and spiritual authorities, much like the Prophet
Some minor differences in rituals
Today’s world: % Sunni, 10-15% Shia, less than 5% - Sufi and others
Iran 90% Shi’a, Iraq 60 % Shi’a, Bahrain are majority Shi’a

10. Shari’ah “Islamic Law” Purpose of the State
System of civil laws based on the Qur’an and Islam
The Qur’an is as much a social and political as religious guide
Purpose of the State
To preserve and expand Islam
To provide for justice for the masses of subjects
Fully a component of Shari’ah
Applied to non-Muslims as well in areas of Muslim predominance

11. Tolerance Minority Groups Ancient Scholarship
Explicit acceptance of “People of the Book”
Historical tolerance (Mughal and Ottoman Empires)
Not all of Shar’iah applied to non-Muslims
Jizya tax, but large degree of self-rule
Ancient Scholarship
“House of Wisdom” in Baghdad
Kept alive the scholarship of Greco-Romans

12. Islam Nuts ‘n’ Bolts From the Hijra (escape) in 622 C. E.
Worldwide population of 1.3 billion
85-90% Sunni; 10-15% Shi’a
Less than 5% Sufi (mystical, direct contact with the Holy)
Population Centers:
Indonesia: 220 million
South Asia (Subcontinent) 450 million
Arab countries: 400 million
United States: 2-4 Million

13. Islamic Holy Days and Celebrations
Al-hijra/Muharram – Muslim New Year, the beginning of the first lunar month
‘Ashura (only celebrated by Shi’a) – recalls event c. 680 CE in Iraq, martyrdom of ~70 individuals who refused to submit to authority of the Caliph, one of martyrs was Imam Husein, youngest grandson of Muhammad
Ramadan – holiest period in the Islamic year; during 9th lunar month; month in which Quran was revealed to Muhammad, fast sunup to sundown
Id al-Fitr (a.k.a. “Id”) first day of 10th lunar month—i.e. Day after Ramadan. Rejoicing, gift giving, house decorating

14. Islamic Holy Days and Celebrations
Id al-Adha (a.k.a. the Feast of Sacrifice or Day of Sacrifice) during 12th month of Islamic year during the season of the Hajj. It recalls the day when Abraham intended to follow the instructions of God, and sacrifice his son Ishmael. (Muslims believe that Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his elder son Ishmael; Jews and Christians believe that Isaac was involved in the near sacrifice)