module 5 Islam in Moro History
The Foundations and Basic Tenets of Islam
To understand the history of the Moro people, one must first comprehend the religion of Islam and its core principles. In the face of modern global hostilities, Islam is often incorrectly blamed for violence; however, evidence from the Qur’an and the Sunnah (the traditions of the Prophet) characterizes Islam as a religion of peace that encourages coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims. Etymologically, the term Islam is derived from the word “Salam,” which literally translates to “peace.” Literally, the word Islam means “absolute surrender/submission to the Will of God/Allah.” Therefore, a Muslim is defined as a person who absolutely surrenders to the Will of Allah and is expected to be a peaceful and righteous individual.
In the Islamic perspective, the Will of Allah is discernible through various scriptures revealed to different Prophets throughout history. These include the Qur’an (received by Prophet Muhammad), the Injeel or Gospel (received by Jesus Christ/Isah), the Psalms (received by David/Da’ud), and the Taurat or Torah (received by Moses/Musa). Islam maintains that one cannot be a true Muslim without believing in Jesus Christ and His message, though Muslims do not view Him as God or the Son of God, but rather as one of the many Prophets sent to guide humanity. Other shared figures between the Bible and the Qur’an include Mary (Maryam), Abraham (Ibrahim), Noah (Nuh), Aaron (Harun), Solomon (Sulieman), Joseph (Yusuf), Job (Ayyub), Isaac (Ishaq), Jacob (Yaqub), and Jonah (Yunus).
The Five Pillars of Islam
The practice of Islam stands on five fundamental pillars that define an ideal Muslim's life: Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Assiyam, and Hajj.
Shahada (Profession of Faith): This is the primary requirement for a Muslim. It involves declaring with conviction: “As’hadu anla ilaha ilallah wa as’hadu anna Muhammadur rasulullah,” which means, “I bear witness that there is only One God and Muhammad is a messenger of God.” This principle is rooted in Tawheed (Islamic monotheism), emphasizing the absolute Oneness of God and the refusal to associate partners with Him. Associating anyone with God is considered the gravest and most unforgivable sin in Islam. Because of Tawheed, Muslims prefer the term "Muslim" over "Mohammedan," as the latter suggests they worship Muhammad rather than God.
Salah (Five Daily Prayers): Performing the five obligatory daily prayers is a manifestation of submission to Allah. These prayers are $Salat\,ul\,Fajr$ (Dawn), $Salat\,ul\,Zuhur$ (Noon), $Salat\,ul\,Asr$ (Afternoon), $Salat\,ul\,Maghrib$ (Sunset), and $Salat\,ul\,Aisha$ (Evening). Each prayer consists of a set of supplications, bowing, and prostrations known as Rak’ah. Before praying, a Muslim must perform “wudu” (ritual ablution), washing the hands, mouth, nostrils, face, arms, head, ears, and feet while purifying the mind. Muslims must face the Qibla (the direction of the Kaaba), which is west in the Philippines. Men must cover their aurah from the navel to the knees, while women must cover from the head down to the ankles, excluding the face and hands.
Zakat (Alms Giving): This involves giving a mandatory portion of one's wealth to the poor and destitute. The obligatory amount is $2.5\%$ (or ) of a person’s annual income. For example, if a person earns $P40.00$, $P1.00$ goes to the needy. This principle of social responsibility ensures that wealth owners concern themselves with those who have little. Failure to pay Zakat is likened in the Qur’an to the worship of false gods.
As-siyam (Fasting during Ramadan): All healthy Muslims who have reached puberty must fast during the month of Ramadan, with exceptions for children, the sick, the aged, travelers, and pregnant or menstruating women. Fasting goes beyond the stomach; it includes the ears, mouth, and eyes to avoid bad listening, speaking, or seeing. It fosters self-restraint, discipline, and patience, serving as a sign of contradiction to a materialistic world and unifying the rich and poor.
Hajj (Pilgrimage): This is an expensive and physically exhausting pilgrimage to the Holy land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It is required once in a lifetime for those who can afford it and are healthy enough to perform it. The Hajj symbolizes the global unity of all Muslims regardless of ethnic or cultural background.
Social Ethics and Concepts in Islam
Islam includes specific guidelines regarding justice, harmony, and religious tolerance. The Qur’an rejects racism, stating that all people were created from a single pair and made into nations and tribes to know one another, not to despise one another. Righteousness is the sole measure of honor in the eyes of Allah. Muslims are commanded to be steadfast witnesses in equity and to avoid letting hatred of others lead to injustice. Specific prohibitions are placed on insulting others, using derogatory nicknames, suspicion, spying, and backbiting.
Regarding religious tolerance, the Qur’an explicitly forbids Muslims from being unkind to those who do not wage war against them on account of religion. It emphasizes that every nation has its own sacred rites and that Allah will be the ultimate judge of religious differences on the Day of Resurrection.
Understanding Jihad, Dietary Laws, and Marital Practices
The concept of Jihad is often misunderstood as synonymous with terrorism. Literally, Jihad means “struggle,” and it is divided into two types:
Jihad ul Asgar (The Lesser Jihad): This is a physical or defensive struggle waged during times of oppression, persecution, or violent attacks against the faith. The Qur’an strictly forbids starting hostilities. Rules of war include prohibitions against using poison on weapons, killing noncombatants (women, elderly, monks), and destroying property like crops, trees, or livestock. Treacherous acts like bombing civilians or using terror are against these teachings.
Jihad ul Akbar (The Greater Jihad): This is considered the superior form of Jihad and refers to the internal struggle against one's own base appetites and self. It involves exercising self-restraint, controlling anger, and choosing patience over temptation.
Dietary laws in Islam, such as the prohibition of pork, are shared with some Christian groups like the Seventh Day Adventists. While the Qur’an identifies certain foods (pork, blood, carrion, carnivores) as unclean, many Muslims associate these prohibitions with modern scientific findings regarding health risks like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and arthritis.
On the subject of Polygyny (the marriage of one man to multiple women), Islam did not invent this practice but regulated it. In pre-Islamic Arabia, men often took many wives with no legal protection for women. The Qur’an permits up to four wives as a form of social obligation—specifically to care for widows and orphans resulting from war—but it strongly encourages monogamy. The condition for multiple marriages is that the husband must treat all wives with absolute equality and justice, which the Qur’an notes is a nearly impossible standard for men to achieve.
The Arrival and Spread of Islam in the Philippines
Islam reached the Philippine archipelago through the southern islands of Sulu, Palawan, and Mindanao. Several theories explain this spread including the Missionary Theory (proselytizing zeal) and the Trade Theory (Muslim traders). Caesar Majul suggests that these factors were likely inclusive; expansion occurred as native rulers converted or as the population began practicing the Five Pillars.
Muslim Arab traders likely reached the Philippines by the tenth century, long before the mass embrace of the faith. Archaeological evidence, such as a grave on Bud Dato in Jolo dated $710\,AH$ ($1310\,AD$), suggests a foreign Muslim settlement was present by the end of the 13th or beginning of the 14th century.
Personalities credited with the introduction and consolidation of Islam include:
Tuan Mashai’ka: Mentioned in the Sulu tarsila (genealogies) as a foreigner who arrived in Jolo when people still worshipped stones. He married a local chieftain's daughter and raised his children as Muslims.
Karim ul Makhdum: A Sufi missionary title; he is credited with reinforcing Islamic practices among established settlements and gaining new adherents.
Rajah Baguinda: Arriving in the late 14th or early 15th century from Sumatra with warriors and settlers, he eventually consolidated political power in Sulu through marriage and leadership, laying the groundwork for the Sulu Sultanate.
Sayyid Abu Bakr (Sultan Sharief ul Hashim): The Arab son-in-law of Baguinda and the first Sultan of Sulu. He shaped institutions along Islamic lines and converted the hill people of Jolo. An oral tradition recounts how he won the hill people over by treating them kindly and providing cakes and clothing, rather than through force.
Sharief Muhammad Kabungsuan: Credited with introducing Islam to mainland Mindanao. A descendant of the Prophet (Sharief), he arrived with a migration of Muslim Samals. He established himself in Cotabato through diplomacy, intermarriage with the local datus, and occasionally force, founding the Maguindanao Sultanate. From his territories, Islam spread to Zamboanga, Sarangani, and the Gulf of Davao, eventually reaching the Maranaos.
Sharief Alawi: Maranaos specifically claim he introduced Islam to the Lanao region after arriving at the Tagoloan River in Misamis Oriental.
Colonial Impact and the Polarization of the Philippines
Prior to Spanish colonization, Islamization was ongoing throughout the Philippines, reaching as far north as Manila, Batangas, and Bicol. The Spaniards halted this process, employing a “Divide and Rule” strategy that confined Muslims to Mindanao and Sulu while polarizing the population into “Moros” and “Indios.” This colonial experience effectively defined religious differences as a source of conflict and laid the foundation for the contemporary “Mindanao problem,” despite the fact that Filipinos of varying beliefs had lived together peacefully prior to these external interventions.