1	Islam: A Primer for American Citizens post-9/11 Timothy B. Cargal, Ph.D. Permission is granted to use this presentation for instruction in Scouting or other civic programs with the requirement that this title slide be shown and that all other slides be presented without editorial revision. Copyright © 2005 by Timothy B. Cargal. All rights reserved.
2	An Overview of Purpose What we will not be doing: Covering the full history of Islam Considering the political aspirations of contemporary Muslim fundamentalists (better termed “Islamists”) What we will be doing: Emergence and central beliefs of Islam Exploring Islam’s responses to European cultural development and influence
3	The Meaning of “Islam” Etymology of the word From the same Semitic root as the Arabic word salam and Hebrew shalom (“peace”) Base meaning is “submission” Islam means “entering into a condition of peace and security with God through allegiance or surrender to [the Divine]” Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, p. 479
4	Chronology of Muhammad’s Life c. 570 Birth of Muhammad c. 595 Marriage to Khadija 610 First of the Quranic “Recitations” 622 The Hijra from Mecca to Yathrib 630 Rededication of the Ka`ba 632 Muhammad’s Death Question of successor led to the division between Sunni (backed Abu Bakr) and Shi`a (Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law `Ali) sects
5	The “Five Pillars” of Islam ash-Shahada: the “testimony”/“witness” Salat: formal prayer Zakat: tithe for the poor (compulsory) Sawm: fasting during Ramadan Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca All are derived from the Quran, but there is some uncertainty as to when organized
6	ash-Shahada: the “Witness” “There is no God but the God …” Arabic Allah is not a name per se, but rather just the expression “the God” “and Muhammad is the messenger of God” That is, the final and authoritative prophet Affirming the “witness” is the only requirement for being a Muslim, and it is a key part of the call to prayer and the prayers
7	Salat: Formal Prayer Ritual prayers five times each day Dawn, Noon, (mid-)Afternoon, Sunset, Night Involves ritual cleansings before and set actions of standing, kneeling and bowing during prayer One praying must be oriented toward Mecca Prayers must be offered in Arabic Prayers should be offered in a mosque, especially the Sabbath (Friday) noon prayer
8	Zakat: Tithe for the Poor Zakat is the formal “poor tax” and sadaqa designates voluntary almsgiving The percentage varies for differing classes of goods and whether they are possessions or economic produce The base idea is one of purification By giving a portion of one’s wealth to Allah, one purifies the rest for one’s own use
9	Sawm: Fasting during Ramadan Fasting is required between sunrise and sundown for the whole ninth month No food, drink, smoking or sexual relations Some are exempted for some days, but must make-up missed days later in the year Begins with new moon Revelation of Quran Ends with a three day feast
10	Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca Two types of pilgrimage `umra at any time Hajj proper, only during Dhu’l-Hijja (last month)
11	Quran: Reciting God’s Words Collection of “recitations” by Muhammad Begun during his life, but assembled later Only true Quran is the Arabic form; translations are considered at best “interpretations” Structure: 114 suras Ordered by length Calligraphy
12	Other Authorities in Islam The Prophet’s Sunna Muhammad’s words, habits, acts and gestures as guide to living in submission to Allah These are preserved in the hadith Shari`a: the “way” or principles of Islam Fiqh: the “understanding” or laws of Islam Four sources of fiqh: Quran, Sunna, community consensus, and analogical reasoning Sunnis and Shi`as disagree whether the latter two are still “open” or have been set
13	Umma: the Islamic World Estimates of global Muslim population range from 800 million to 1.2 billion 200 million Middle Easterners, which includes 50 million in Turkey and 55 million in Iran Nigeria has 60 million Muslims, Egypt 40 million 300 million Muslims in India, Pakistan & Bangladesh, 150 million in Indonesia Muslims are not just Middle Eastern Arabs
14	Islam in Modern Africa & Asia
15	Islam in the Modern Age Islamic Revivalism Response to European colonial expansion in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Islamic Reform Religious/cultural tandem with the rise of post-colonial nationalism in Islamic population areas Islamic Fundamentalism/Nationalism “compliance with Oneness may supercede other loyalties” (Bruce B. Lawrence, Shattering the Myth, 54)
16	Religious Fundamentalism “Fundamentalism” was initially applied only to part of American Protestantism The Fundamentals: Jesus’ virgin birth, physical resurrection, scriptural infallibility, substitutionary atonement, physical second coming Doctrines don’t define Islamic Fundamentalism Concern for purity of faith, traditionally understood Jihad against the world is defining characteristic
17	Jihad: the Islamic “Struggle” “The most excellent Jihad is that for the conquest of the self.” (Sayings of Muhammad, 63) “Idolatry is worse than carnage” Armed or formal military jihad, in the Quran, is presented as defensive and in response to attack Few real restraints in conduct of jihad Those who die in jihad are martyrs and are assured Paradise
18	Muslim Rejection of the “West” There is nothing anti-intellectual or even inherently anti-technological about Islam However, Western materialism and secularism are viewed as a denial of God’s sovereignty Consumerism drives people away from God’s will toward fulfillment of their own desires Industrial dominance leads to the exploitation and oppression of the “non-developed” world
19	Islam and Women Quran provides a basis for sexual equality Marriage and conjugal life are precious; women have property rights in divorce and inheritance Rights in these areas do not equal men’s rights “Considered erotic and empty-headed” Leads to purdah (seclusion) and polygyny, etc. Much of this practice is not mandated by Quran but arises from societal forces
20	Islam and Society Islam draws no distinction between secular and sacred aspects of community life The assertion of this principle against modernity is a key aspect of conservative Islam Yet cultural distinctives remain in the Umma Thus, society should be ordered by Islam Muslims, covenanters, and enemies Enemies are those actively hostile toward Islam