Introducing Islam
Muslim is a follower of Islam
Islam means submission to God
Muslims believe In
One God “Allah” who is the eternal creator of everything
Allah sent prophets to teach people to live according to what God wants
Muhammad (pbuh) is seen as the last and most important prophet who received messages from Allah
These messages have been collected in the Muslim Holy Book, the Qur’an (koran)
The language of Islam is Arabic
Symbols of Islam:
The star and crescent moon
The crescent moon is a new moon → Muslim calendar follows changes of the moon
The crescent points to Mekkah (mecca, The holy City where Muhammad was born)
The Life of Muhammad
Born: Makkah (Saudi Arabia), 570 CE
Life: Hard Knocks
Father dies before he was born
Mother dies when he is 6 yrs
Raised by his grandfather and uncle
Career: Businessman (trader)
Worked for a wealthy woman named Khadijah
Was wealthy and respected
Relationship Status: Married Khadijah
Social Conscience
Muhammad saw people behaving badly
Rich merchants cheating the poor
Gambling, drinking and fighting
Worshipping idols, sacrifices
Muhammad went to mediate in the mountains
Revelation
Meditating on the mount Hira had a vision
Vision: angel came to him carrying a cloth and was commended to read. Muhammad was able to read despite being illiterate
The angel said “Muhammad you are Allah’s messenger”
He preached in Makkah, but was driven out
The Hijrah (departure)
Muhammad moved to Madinah (a nearby town)
Beginning of the success of Islam
Muslim calendar begins from this date
Battle between Makkah and Midinah
Madinah defeated Makkah and Muhammad returned, and Islam became their religion
Died: in 632 and was buried in Madinah
The Qur’an (koran)
The Words of Allah
Qur’an means recitation → Muhammad recited what angel liberal tight him
Words would not be changed in any way → always in Arabic
Great Respect for the Qur’an
When not being used is it kept on the highest piece of furniture in the room
Must wash hands before reading it
Read from a stand
If you can read the whole thing you are allowed to use the title Hafix in your name
Contents:
115 chapters called surah
All begin with “in the name of Allah, most gracious, most careful”
Stories and detailed teaching on how we must live
Accepts the teachings of Judaism, Christianity
Hadith:
Another important collection of teachings sayings of Muhammad
Used to guide decisions and actions
Fast Facts
The Judeo-Christian Foundations of Islam
Origins of Islam
Islam is an Arabic word that means “submission/submitting to God.”
A person who followers the teachings of Islam is called a Muslim, “one who submits to God.”
Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life
Allah: Arabic name for God. It is preferred over other names because it has no gender affiliation and does not have plurality
Islam as an Abrahamic religion
Muslims are strict monotheists
They believe in the Judeo-Christian God, which they call Allah
Muslims believe that the torah and the bible, like the Qur’an, is the word of God
The Prophetic Tradition
Adam→ Noah→ Abraham→ Moses→ Jesus→ Muhammad (“seal of the prophets”)
The Qur’an: God's Last Revelation
Origins of the Qur’an
Muhammad received his first revelation from the Angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610
622 → Hijrah → Muhammed flees Mecca for Medina
The beginning of the Muslim Calendar (1 A.H.)
Muhammad’s revelations were compiled into the Qur’an after his death
The Qur’an
Muslims believe it contains the literal word of God, spoken by the angel
Holy book of Islam which means “recitation”
Records the revealed word of God that came through Angel Gabriel to Muhammad over a period of 23 years
Muhammad dictated revelations to scribes and companions who memorized passages
Principle source of Muslim faith and practice
114 Surahs (chapters)
A true Qur’an is only written in Arabic. (Muslims learn to read and recite Arabic)
The Five Pillars of Islam
The Shahada (faith)
The Creed - their statement of beliefs
Declaration of faith: There is no god but God and Muhammad is His messenger
The Salat (prayer)
The mandatory prayers performed 5 times a day: dawn, noon, late afternoon, sunset, before going to bed
Wash before praying (wudu)
7 body parts touching the ground
Face Mecca and use a prayer rug
The call to prayer by the muezzin in the minaret
Pray at the mosque on Friday
The Zakat (almsgiving)
Almsgiving (or charitable word)
Encourages empathy and care for the poor
Zakat means both “purification” and “growth”
About 2.5% of your income is donated
The Sawm (fasting)
Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan
Focus on God and empathize with the poor
No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan
The Hajj (Hajj)
The pilgrimage to Mecca
Must be done at least once in a Muslims lifetime
2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year
Ka’bah
Cube shaped building that was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael to honour God
Was filled with idols as people in Mecca followed polytheism
Muhammad- received revelations that led to Islam and monotheism (and removal of idols)
Other Religious Practices
No alcohol, pork, or gambling
Considered “haram” (sinful/harmful)
Muslims must eat “halal” food, which is permissible or lawful according to the Qur’an
Animals must be killed with as little pain as possible and meat can not be from the hindquarters
Muslim Worship
The most important part of Muslim worship is prayer (Salat)
Prayer five times a day is the 2nd of the Five Pillars of Islam
Muslims always pray facing towards Mecca
In a mosque, there is a special arch in the wall (known as the mihrab) to show the direction for worshippers to face
For prayers when they are not in a mosque. Muslims can carry a special compass to find Mecca
Prayer rug - top of the rug is placed facing the Ka’bah in Mecca
Prayer Beads (Tasbih)
99 beads corresponding to the 99 Names of God in Islam\
Sometimes only 33 beads are used, in which case one would cycle through them three times
The beads are traditionally used to keep count while saying the prayer
“Glory be to the Lord, Almighty”
Muslim prayer beads serve a similar to a Catholic rosary and allow the worshipper to reflect and meditate
Prayer times
Dawn prayer: between first light and sunrise
Noon prayer: after the sun has left the highest point in the sky after 12 noon
Afternoon prayer: between mid-afternoon and sunset
Sunset prayer: between sunset and darkness
Night prayer: between darkness and first light
Wudu
Ritual cleansing of certain parts of the body performed prior to salat prayers
It is also performed before reading the Qur’an and other religious practices
It is intended as an act of purification, to make the person fit to worship Allah
Washing is always done in the same order, to make sure that nothing is forgotten
Rak’ahs
Set pattern of prayers
Includes reveal several different positions. The Muslim stands, bows, and kneels and touches the ground with their forehead
7 points of contact with the ground
Different parts of the prayer are recited in each position
Divisions of Islam
Sunni
Approx 85% of the worlds Muslim are Sunnis
The name comes from the word Sunna meaning, “well-trodden path”
Sunni groups were established after the Prophet's death
Over time they have merged as the most influential group in Islam
Sunni Muslims make up the majority of the Muslim populations in Saudi Arabia, North Africa and South Asia
Beliefs:
They believe in building consensus within the community in order to arrive at a just and equitable society
Sunnis follow the traditions of the Prophet as well as the four schools of Sunni law: Hanafi, Shafi’i, Hanabali, and Maliki
Sunni Muslims view themselves as the traditional (orthodox), mainstream, pragmatic branch of Islam
Shi’ah
Also known as the “Shiite,” “Shia,” or the “Party of Ali.”
Shi’ahs believe that prior to the death of Muhammad, He chose Ali to be his successor. As Ali was not chosen, it created a major division within the Muslim Community. Later these would develop into doctrinal differences
Shi’ahs believe that, after the death of the Prophet a series of infallible leaders called Imams were to take
The Shi’ahs are a small but noticeable group within Islam, dominating politics and religious life in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and representing a vocal minority in Afghanistan, Kuwait, East Africa, Pakistan, and India
Both Sunni and Shi’ah practice Sufism, which is a type of Islamic mysticism (not a separate sect)
Sufi
Mystical philosophy of Islam
According to Sufi tradition, the goal is to develop spirituality, both inwardly and outwardly, in order to discover the reality of Allah
Sufis emphasize sincerity and excellence, reciting poetry, performing prayers and meditations. To develop a constant and deep concentration, the Sufis employ physical methods such as playing Sufi music, chanting the name of Allah or dancing (in the care of “whirling dervishes” of Turkey)
Living a Muslim Life
In addition to following the Five Pillars of Islam, attending a Mosque and participating in religious festivals and milestones, Muslims must also adhere to certain social rules, particularly with regard to dress code
Muslim Dress Code:
Islam expects both men and women to be modestly dressed, requirements enclude:\
The material must not be so thin that one can see through it
The clothing must hang loose so that the shape of the body is not apartment
The design must not consist of bold designs which attract attention
Clothing should not be worn for the sole purpose of gaining reputation or increasing one's status in society
Women in Islam
Islam teacher that men and women are equal but have different roles (similar to orthodox Judaism)
Women have equal rights. They can own property, pursue higher education, consent to marriage and initiate divorce
This freedom varies from country to country for political reasons
Ex: Benazir Bhutto was the first woman elected to lead a Muslim state, having twice been Prime Minister of Pakistan
Both men and women communicate w Allah, however only men can become an imam and lead the congregation in prayer. Women may lead female groups in prayer
In the mosque, women and men worship separately. The womans area is usually at the back of the congregation area of a mosque behind the men or in an upstairs gallery, overlooking the main congregation area
This is done for the respect and dignity of the women considering the prayer positions
Many Muslim women chose to wear a hijab
Some Muslim women believe that the hijab gives them freedom and control over their own bodies and gives them identity
Women wear a hijab so that men will not judge them by their features or their bodies instead get to know them for their minds and personalities
Muslim women declare that dressing modestly is a mark of liberation
Hijabs are not typically worn at home and around family members who would not sexualize them (brothers, uncles, cousins)
Relationships and Marriage
In Islam pre-marital relationships of any kind between members of the opposite sex is not allowed. Relationships and marriage are to be taken as seriously as any other major decisions in life - should include prayer, careful investigation, and family involvement
Many people raised in Canadian culture have a difficult time understanding the role of arranged marriages in other cultures/religions
When being true to the teachings of Muhammad and the Qur’an, all couples enter into any marriage freely and of their own will
Parents may often act in providing counsel and advice, that in the end, it is the bride and groom who give their consent for marriage
Key Festivals in Islam
Ramadam
9th month of the Islamic calendar. This is believed to be the month when the Angel Jabril first appeared to Muhammad
Muslims fast during daylight hours (between dawn and sunset)
No food, drinks abstain from drinking, sexual activity, and evil thoughts
People gather in community to break the fast when sun sets
Importance: it was a sign that they submitted to Allah
It teaches them to have patience, and not to give up just because things are difficult. It also reminds them that their religion is the most important thing in their lives
One of the aims of Ramadan is to make everyone equal, because hunger is the same for everyone, whether they are rich or poor. They experience solidarity with the poor
People who are exempt from fasting: children, elderly, pregnant women, and those with health issues
Most will try to read the whole Qur’an during Ramadan
Eid-al-Fitr (small Eid)
Festival of “Breaking the fast” is held on the 1st day of the 10th month of the Islamic year to celebrate the end of Ramadan
On Eid, all five daily prayers should be said at the mosque, Salat-al-Eid
Friends and families get together to celebrate, eat a big meal, and exchange presents and cards
Money (Zakat-al-Fitr) is given to the poor
Eid-al-Adha (big Eid)
“The festival of Sacrifice" marks Abraham's submission to the will of God and his willingness to sacrifice his first born son Ishmael. It marks the ends of Hajj, A lamb or goat is sacrificed and the meat is donated to the poor (zakat)
Muslim Code:
Actions
Perform the 5 pillars of Islam
No killing, stealing or acts to harm or abuse people
No idolatry- The Qur'an forbids the worshipping of idols, which means the muslims are not permitted to make images either of Allah or of the Prophet
No alcohol, eating pork or gambling - “Haraam” / forbidden
People are saved through their own good and faithful actions and also condemned by their evil or selfish actions
Family life consists of marriage and close family ties
They treat all talents, gifts and fortunes (health, a good job) as gifts from Allah - they must not abuse these gifts
Prayer
5 times a day - extra prayer during the festival of Ramadan
Islamophobia
Islamphobia: the fear, hatred of, or prejudice against the Islamic faith and Muslims
Prejudice: a negative judgement of its group and its individual members
Pre-judging: making a judgment about someone before you even know them
Discrimination: the negative treatment of a person based on the group, class, or category to which that person belongs, which may include race or religion
Distinctiveness can Breed Prejudice
Distinct characteristics, especially physical attributes, can lead to prejudice generalizations about an individual
We must be careful before we label someone “the other”
Ex: those who wear hijabs, turban, or yarmulke, or are of an ethnicity or faith other than our own
Parts of a Mosque
1. Qibla Wall - All mosques must face Mecca. The qibla, which means direction in Arabic, helps us locate that direction once in the mosque
2. Mihrab - This is a small concave niche in the center of the qibla wall that also helps indicate the direction of prayer.
3. Minbar - The staircase where the Imam or prayer leader will stand to address the community. At Friday prayers, a sermon (Kutbah) is often given by the imam, the leader of the community; political as well as specifically religious issues may be addressed.
4. Minaret - A tall and slender tower attached to the mosque. The adhan (call to prayer) is sounded five (5) times a day from the top of the minaret.
5. Ablutions area - Fountains, faucets or a pool of water can be used for ablutions (ceremonial washing). The area can be inside the courtyard of the mosque or outside the mosque walls. Muslims must clean their hands, feet and face before praying; so all mosques have a place to perform this cleaning.