Module 8 Islamimage of the Vatican and a Jewish man at the Wailing Wall  What are the influences of Judaism and Christianity on Islam, and how is Islam different from them?  image of a Muslim man praying  Why do Muslims pray five times a day?  image of a Sunni man and a Shiite woman  What are the differences between Shiite and Sunni Muslims?  image of The Dome of the Rock and Golgotha  What is Islam's view of Jesus?  image of a Jihadist  Is Islam a violent and bellicose religion by nature?  image of a Sufi whirling dervish  What does Islamic mysticism look like?  What does it mean that God can change, correct, or cancel a previous revelation?

Beginnings of Islam A major religion in its own right today, Islam exemplifies how boundaries between religions are not hard and fast. Pre-Islamic Arabic religion was polytheistic and animistic. Mecca was already a holy city with a religious shrine containing many deities and a large black meteorite, the Kaabah, revered as holy. Through his travels as a camel trader, Muhammad came into contact with Jews and Christians. As he began to preach, Muhammad’s teaching and later the Qur’an (Koran) included a mixture of Judaism, Christianity, and pre-Islamic Arabic religion. Practically speaking, Muhammad’s greatest accomplishment was uniting previously warring clans under the banner of one God.  Does being a mixture of previous traditions compromise Islam’s claims? Why or why not? What about the other religions we have studied? Establishing a Muslim Theocracy Muhammad’s early preaching focused on basic monotheistic themes: God’s goodness and power, returning to God and preparing for Judgment Day, thanksgiving for God’s goodness, charity toward others, and Muhammad as God’s prophet. This brought him into conflict with pre-Islamic religion, jeopardizing his life. Monotheism was dangerous for those benefitting (often financially) from the old religion. Warring clans did not want to be charitable toward one another, and people do not like hellfire preaching. With his life under threat, he and his

small band fled to the city of Medina, amassed a great following there, and returned to conquer Mecca. There he established a Muslim theocracy. God’s Unity and Uniqueness Although heavily influenced by Christianity, Muhammad strongly opposed Christian teachings about the Trinity and Jesus being divine. Christian teaching on how Jesus is both God and man were still in dispute at the time. Different factions, including ones ultimately rejected by the Church, disagreed on these doctrines. Among the three Western monotheistic religions, arguably Islam most forcefully preaches and defends the absolute oneness (Tawhid) of God. Many have argued that one of the reasons for the rapid spread of Islam was that its teaching on God’s radical unity was much simpler than the Christian doctrines of the Trinity and deity of ChristPrayer and Remembrance One of the Five Pillars of Islam is prayer five times a day. The rationale is “remembrance” (dhikr) of God. Muslims believe that “forgetfulness” of God is the reason for sin and idolatry. Times for prayer are announced from a tower (minaret) in the Mosque, with a loud song in a sad melody, to mimic the longing of one’s lover for their beloved. Islam rejects Christian teaching that all humans are born sinners. Rather, each person freely chooses to follow God and do good or not. For Islam, the Christian doctrine of original sin removes personal responsibility. The idea that Jesus died for others is judged to be unfair and against God’s justice. Each individual alone, is responsible for their eternal destiny.  Does the Christian or Muslim view of the human person and the role in their salvation make more sense? Why? Consider this as you read.The Qur’an and Abrogation Like other scriptures, the Qur’an contains diverse points of view, even apparent contradictions. Scholars correlate the Qur’an’s Suras (chapters) to various points in Muhammad’s career. For example, some verses embrace Judaism and Christianity, but others condemn them as false. The reason is that at first Muhammad had good relations with Jews and Christians, but later bad relations with them. To explain such differences and apparent contradictions, the Qur’an claims God can correct, change, or replace previous revelations. This is called the “Abrogation”:  “God does blot out or confirm what He pleases: With Him is the Mother of the Book” (Sura 13:39).  “But We substitute something better or similar: Do you not know that God has power over all things” (Sura 2:106)?  What do you think of the Muslim Doctrine of Abrogation? Does God’s freedom and power mean that He can correct or change previous revelations? Why or why not? Think about this question as you read. Sunni and Shiite After Muhammad’s death his father-in-law, Abu Bhakr, became leader (caliph). The next two leaders were not Muhammad’s blood relatives, but the fourth, Ali, was his cousin. Opposition from supporters of a rival caliph led to Ali’s and his sons’ deaths. Ali’s followers, called Shiites, claim Muhammad wanted a blood relative to lead. The other group grew into the larger branch of Islam, Sunni (literally “well-trod” [path]).

 Shiite Muslims say the first three caliphs were illegitimate. Only one in Muhammad’s bloodline may be a caliph. Shiites focus on suffering, persecution, and martyrdom, and venerate their saints and martyrs. Their worship and laws differ from Sunnis. They expect a future prophet to herald the world’s end and annually commemorate the assassination of Ali’s son, Husain. Sunni and Shiite After Muhammad’s death his father-in-law, Abu Bhakr, became leader (caliph). The next two leaders were not Muhammad’s blood relatives, but the fourth, Ali, was his cousin. Opposition from supporters of a rival caliph led to Ali’s and his sons’ deaths. Ali’s followers, called Shiites, claim Muhammad wanted a blood relative to lead. The other group grew into the larger branch of Islam, Sunni (literally “well-trod” [path]).  Shiite Muslims say the first three caliphs were illegitimate. Only one in Muhammad’s bloodline may be a caliph. Shiites focus on suffering, persecution, and martyrdom, and venerate their saints and martyrs. Their worship and laws differ from Sunnis. They expect a future prophet to herald the world’s end and annually commemorate the assassination of Ali’s son, Husain. “The Path” Like Judaism, Islam is a religion of action (code and cult) and less concerned with theology (creed). Islamic law, or Sharia (literally "The path" or "The way"), is based on the Qur’an and the Hadith, a secondary authoritative collection of oral traditions. Sharia is the way to please God and attain salvation. It has been essential to Islamic culture. Like codes or ethics in other religions, Sharia involves obligations to both God and other people. In Sharia actions are classified as: (a) obligatory; (b) strongly urged but not necessary; (c) permissible; (d) strongly discouraged but not forbidden; and (e) forbidden. There are different schools of Islamic Law in Sunni, each with interpretative differences and Shiite Sharia. Islam and Jihad What does “jihad” mean to you? Do you perceive Islam as violent or peaceful? Why? Write down your answers.  Jihad (“struggle”) in the Qur’an is often directed only toward those who oppose Islam: “To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they are wronged” (e.g., Sura 22:39; cf. 2:190, 4:91, 9:5, 9:12–14). Other verses are generally against all non-Muslims: “Kill the nonbelievers wherever you find them” (Sura 9:5) and: “…for the Unbelievers are open enemies to you" (4:101). The Qur’an and Hadith speak about a struggle (jihad) against one’s ego, and performing religious duties as the best jihad. From these later Islam spoke of the “greater jihad” as one’s inner spiritual struggle. Sufism Islamic mysticism, or Sufism, developed in response to an outward focus on law- keeping. It promoted personal piety and seeking union with God. Sufism also partly resulted from contact with Eastern religions and mystics in older traditions. Like Jewish and Christian mysticism, Sufism claims that humans are partly divine and seek reunion with God. Through meditation, asceticism, and spiritual exercises learned from a teacher (Sheikh), Sufi adepts are said to develop occult powers and perform miracles. Sufism’s blurring of the distinction between humans and God, more negative view of the physical world, and focus on personal

piety over external law have led to its persecution by orthodox Muslims at various points in history. Sikhism Around 1500, a Hindu in northwestern India synthesized Hinduism and Islam into a movement that would become a distinct religion, Sikhism. Guru Nanak (AD 1469–1539) was a devotional (bhakti) Hindu but wanted peace between Hindus and Muslims. He claimed the gods of Hinduism, especially Brahman, and Allah are the same god, who revealed himself to Guru Nanak as “The True Name.” He affirmed karma and reincarnation but drew a sharp distinction between the creator and the world, and taught that the human predicament and its solution are moral.  The early Sikh movement peacefully attempted to bridge both traditions but later Hindus and Muslims would reject Sikhs as heretical, even persecuting them. Sikhism became militant in order to defend itself. To this day Sikh men wear a turban, a steel wristband (originally for defense), a dagger, and special shorts for agility in combat. Islam and the Modern World Muslim responses to modernity have been of the same types as Jewish and Christian responses. Progressive Muslims embrace science, values, secular democracy, and the academic study of Islam and the Qur’an. Fundamentalist Muslims oppose these to various degrees. Islam has been more resistant to modern values and modern secular governments, largely due to the lack of a boundary between the sacred and the secular and the historical prominence of Sharia law. Bahá'í One challenge for all religions in the modern world is the realization of religious pluralism. The world has become “smaller,” and people of different faiths live and work together. This was not the case in centuries past. How should one religion view the other religions of the world? Are they all wrong? Are some of them partly correct? Are they all paths to the same goal?  In the 1800s a Persian Shiite known as the Bab (“gate”), proclaimed that he was the twelfth imam (Shiite leader) and promised Messiah. His disciple, Baha Ullah (“Glory of God”), and his sons formulated the teachings and writings of the Bahá'í faith. Bahá'í teaches the universal brotherhood of humankind and that all religions are different approaches to the same God. Its temples have twelve gates, symbolizing how the great world religions are different gates to the one God.  As you read and journal this week, consider your own response to religious pluralism in the modern world.

REL 223 Module 8 AVP Script

Title: Islam’s Relationship to Arabic Religion, Judaism, and Christianity

Slide 1

Narrator: Welcome to our presentation on Islam’s relationship to Arabic religion, Judaism, and Christianity.

Slide 2

Slide title: Pre-Islamic Arabian Culture

Slide content: No text

Image: reproduction of a Pre-Islamic tent in the sandy Arabian desert

Narrator: Sixth-century pre-Islamic Arabia had an animal herding and trading economy. Clans of Bedouins traded camels and other animals with Ethiopia and the Northeastern African regions. There was no central government or law enforcement, so the warring tribes functioned like gangs. Vendettas between clans were commonplace.

Slide 3

Slide title: Pre-Islamic Arabian Religion Slide content: No Text

Image: dome on a mosque with the star and crescent moon symbol that represent Islam

Narrator: Religion was a mixture of polytheism and animism. Each clan had a patron deity, but everyday affairs were controlled by good and evil spirits called jinn. Jinn also appear

in the Qur’an. Popular religion included elements of all tribal religions: divinization, magic, exorcisms, sacrifice, and prayer. Natural shrines with sacred stones, trees, and caves speckled the countryside for wandering desert nomads to visit. The deity of Muhammad’s clan was the moon god. Thus the moon is an Islamic symbol. A Hadith reports that Muhammad split the moon with his finger.

The central city of Mecca had a large temple and marketplace. In the temple were symbols and statues of every tribal deity for clan members to worship when in Mecca. In Mecca, the warring clans also refrained from fighting one another. Those who ran the temple, made a lucrative business of selling sacrifices and religious paraphernalia to pilgrims. When Muhammad began preaching the existence of only one God he naturally came into conflict with those who financially benefitted from the older religion.

Slide 4

Slide title: Pre-Islamic Influences on Islam Slide content: No text

Image: Large crowd of people at Al-Haram Sharif, Ka’aba, Mecca

Narrator: The Qur’an bears numerous marks of pre-Islamic religion and culture. For example, refraining from fighting

during certain holy months was a pre-Islamic tradition retained by Muhammad. Hospitality was a foremost virtue, one that Muhammad continued to uphold (Sura 15:51–60).

The shrine at Mecca contained a huge black stone cube, called the Kaaba. The Kaaba was venerated by pilgrims, probably because it was a meteorite that fell from the sky. Pilgrimage to the Kaaba was part of the pre-Islamic religion. Through Jewish and Christian influence, a pre-Islamic tradition developed that the Kaaba was where God tested Abraham, asking him to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, forefather of the Arabs. Muhammad incorporated this tradition and pilgrimage into the Kaaba and into Islam.

Slide 5

Slide title: The Hanifs Slide content: Text: Hanif: a Pre-Islamic devotee to the Supreme God, Allah Image: hands of a scribe and an ink well

Narrator: As in other tribal religions, some believed that above the spirits, gods, and goddesses, there was a higher creator God. They called this God “Allah,” meaning “The God.” Allah seemed inaccessible but some mystics, called hanifs, worshipped Allah exclusively. They did not deny the existence of the other gods but were dedicated to Allah, who was seen as more powerful. Alone in caves, they would pray to Allah. At some point Muhammad became a hanif.

Slide 6

Slide title: The Satanic Versus

Slide content: No text

Image: page from a manuscript of the Qur’an

Narrator: Once he began preaching, Muhammad proclaimed that Allah alone is God, and that the numerous tribal deities were idols. Probably due to threats on his life, at one point, Muhammad conceded the existence of three prominent goddesses as daughters of Allah: "Have ye seen Lāt, and ‘Uzzā,? And another, the third (goddess), Manāt? What! For you the male sex, and for Him, the female? That indeed is an unfair division” (Sura 53:19–21). Here Allah complains that he has only female offspring, these three goddesses. Arabs highly valued male children but devalued female children, a position also preserved in the Qur’an (Sura 16:57, 52:39). Thus Allah is complaining.

Later, Muhammad claimed that these verses came from Satan (Shaytan), but God allowed them in order to test Muhammad: “Never sent We a messenger or a prophet before you but when He recited the message, Satan proposed (opposition) in respect of that which he recited. But Allah abolishes that which Satan proposes. Then Allah establishes His revelations. Allah is knower, wise” (Sura 22:52). For this reason they are known as

the “Satanic Verses.” Historically speaking, the different Suras of the Qur’an came at different points in Muhammad’s career, and they reflect the situation of that context. When his life was threatened by those benefitting from Arabic polytheism, Muhammad gave those verses. Later, when the threat was gone, he explained that those verses were inspired by Satan but Allah cancelled them.

Slide 7

Slide title: The Qur’an and the Bible Slide content: No text

Image: stained glass image

Narrator: Through his career as a camel trader Muhammad met many Jews and Christians. Being illiterate, he learned Bible stories by word of mouth. He also learned apocryphal stories not in the Bible, as well as variants of the stories that do appear in the Bible. Once Muhammad began to preach, he used these stories, but they often differ in details from the biblical versions or are missing from the Bible altogether.

The Qur’an refers to Adam and Eve, Satan, the angel Gabriel, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. The Qur’an contains the stories of Gabriel’s annunciation of Jesus’ birth to Mary, the virgin birth, Jesus’ disciples, public ministry, ascension to heaven, and the second coming.

Slide 8

Slide title: Qur’anic Divergences from the Bible

Slide content: No text Image: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

Narrator: The Qur’anic stories tend to diverge in details or are absent from the Bible. For instance, in the Qur’an, Satan fell because he refused to prostrate himself before Adam and Eve, as God commanded. God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael, not Isaac, at the Kaaba in Mecca, not in Palestine. The Qur’an states that as God’s prophet, Jesus began preaching as an infant. The apocryphal story of Pseudo-Matthew contains a story of the infant Jesus delivering a miraculous speech. An apocryphal Arabic gospel includes an accusation against Mary by her family. The Qur’an combines these two apocryphal stories into one account. The apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas has a story in which Jesus brings clay birds to life by blowing on them. The Qur’an contains a variant of this story.

Slide 9

Slide title: Biblical Figures as Prophets

Slide content: No text

Image: Moses and the tablets

Narrator: Muhammad accepted Old Testament figures like Abraham, Moses, Aaron, and David, as genuine prophets or

messengers of God. He claimed that Jesus was God’s prophet—the greatest prophet next to Muhammad—but only a prophet. The Qur’an explains that God gave Moses a book, the Law, and Jesus a book, the Gospel (Injil). The Qur’an says: “Also mention in the Book of Moses: for he was specially chosen, and he was an apostle, a prophet. And we called him from the right side of Mount (Sinai), and made him draw near to us, for mystic (converse). And, out of Our Mercy, We gave him his brother Aaron, a prophet” (Sura 19:51–53). In the Muslim view; however, later Jews and Christians corrupted these books: “There is among them a group who distorts The Book with their tongues. (As they read) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say: ‘This is from God’, but it is not from God. It is they who tell a lie against God” (Sura 3:78).

Slide 10

Slide title: The Qur’an on Jews and Christians Slide content: No text

Image: drawing of three angels reading the bible

Narrator: The Qur’an contains positive statements about Jews and Christians, including how they, or at least some Jews, will be saved. For instance: “Those who are Muslims, Jews, Christians and Sabaeans have a reward awaiting them with their Lord and should have no fear or grieve because they

believe in Allah, the Last Day and they do what is right” (Sura 2:62) and: “We followed them up with our apostles: We sent after them Jesus, the son of Mary, and bestowed on him, the Gospel; and We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him Compassion and Mercy.…We bestowed, on those among them who believed, their reward” (Sura 57:27).

Slide 11

Slide title: The Qur’an on Jews and Christians (continued) Slide content: Text:

There are negative statements in the Qur’an about Jews and Christians.

Different attitudes in the Qur’an are due to Muhammad’s different relationships with Jews and Christians at various points in his life.

No image

Narrator: There are negative statements in the Qur’an about Jews and Christians. Different attitudes in the Qur’an are due to Muhammad’s different relationships with Jews and Christians at various points in his life.

Yet, the Qur’an also contains many negative verses about Jews and Christians, for instance: “They surely disbelieve who say:

Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. ... for him Allah has forbidden paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evil-doers there will be no helpers” (Sura 5:72) and: “Never will the Jews or Christians be satisfied with you unless you follow their form of religion. Say to them: ‘The Guidance of God—that is the (only) Guidance’. If you follow their desires after the knowledge that has reached you then you will find neither protector nor helper with God” (Sura 2:120).

Again, scholars explain these differences as being due to Muhammad’s positive and negative relationships with Jews and Christians at different times. Early in his career, Muhammad had favorable relations with Jews and Christians, but later, he experienced opposition from them.

Slide 12

Slide title: Islam on the Trinity and the Deity of Christ

Slide content: No text

Image: a trinity symbol

Narrator: Although heavily influenced by Christianity, Muhammad strongly opposed Christian teachings about the Trinity and Jesus being divine. He argued that God is absolutely one with no distinctions or division, and that it is blasphemous to say God had a son. For example: "Say: He is God, the one and

only God, the eternal, absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten" (Sura 112:1–3) and: “O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion, nor say Of God nothing but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was an apostle of God. . . . Say not ‘Three’: desist . . . For God is One God, Glory be to Him! Far Exalted (is He) above having a son." (Sura 4:171)

Christian teaching about how Jesus is both God and man were still in dispute at this time, with different factions arguing about these doctrines. Some unorthodox Christian groups existed in Ethiopia and Arabia. Muhammad also evidences inaccurate views of some Christian teachings. For example, the Qur’an presents Christians as making Mary part of the Trinity: “And behold! Allah will say: ‘O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, “Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah”’?" (Sura 5:116)

Many argue that one reason for the rapid spread of Islam was that God’s radical unity was simpler to understand and accept than the Trinity and deity of Christ.

Slide 13

Slide title: Islam on Sin and Jesus’s Crucifixion

Slide content: No text

Image: picture of Jesus crucified

Narrator: Muhammad also found the Christian teaching that Jesus died for others’ sins unjust. This violates God’s justice. Each person is responsible for their own sins and their own good actions. This is also probably why the Qur’an denies that Jesus was crucified, saying: “They said (in boast): ‘We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God’. But they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them. . . . They killed him not, No! God raised him up to Himself” (Sura 4:157–58).

Yet, Muslims believe that Jesus will return and will establish a Messianic Kingdom before Judgment Day. The Qur’an says: "When the son of Mary is held up as an example, behold. . . . And (Jesus) shall reign for the hour (of judgment)” (Sura 43:57, 61), and one of the Hadith says: “The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary descends among you as a just ruler; He will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it. A single prostration to Allah in prayer will be better that the whole world and all it contains” (Hadith Sahia al-Bukhari, #656).

Slide 14

Slide title: Conclusion Slide content: No text

Image: The word FAITH in block letters

Narrator: In conclusion, the Qur'an includes, but also changes and rejects, aspects of pre-Islamic Arabic religion, Judaism and Christianity. Islam today is a distinct world religion that strenuously opposes syncretism. Early Islam, however, is a poignant example of how the boundaries between religions are vague, and how new traditions emerge as composites of earlier traditions. Historically speaking, perhaps Muhammad’s greatest accomplishment was uniting previously warring tribes under one God, to become a formidable socio-political force on the world stage and one of the world’s great religious traditions.

Slide 15

End of Presentation