ISLAM

The problem – Human pride and self-sufficiency.

ISLAM

The problem – Human pride and self-sufficiency.

The solution – absolute submission to Allah.

The Dar al-Islam

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The Worldof Islam

1. The Shahada

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The testimony.

The declaration of faith:There is no god worthy of worship except God, andMuhammad is HisMessenger [or Prophet].

2. The Salat

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The mandatory prayersperformed 5 times a day:

* dawn* noon* late afternoon* sunset* before going to bed

Wash before praying.

Face Mecca and use a prayer rug.

2. The Salat

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The call to prayer by themuezzin in the minaret.

Pray in the mosque on Friday.

3. The Zakat

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Almsgiving (charitable donations).

Muslims believe that all thingsbelong to God.

Zakat means both “purification”and “growth.”

About 2.5% of your income.

4. The Sawm

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Fasting during the holy monthof Ramadan.

Considered a method of self-purification.

No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.

Eid Mubarak

End of the Ramadan holiday.

5. The Hajj

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The pilgrimage to Mecca.

Must be done at least once in a

Muslim’s lifetime.

2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year.

5. The Hajj

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Those who complete the pilgrimage can add the titlehajji to their name.

What Do Muslims Believe?

What Do Muslims Believe?

Allah (God) is ONE – No Trinity.

What Do Muslims Believe?

Allah is all powerful.

What Do Muslims Believe?

Allah is benevolent, but Love is not a central attribute of Allah.

What Do Muslims Believe?

Allah is not a father.

What Do Muslims Believe?

Humans are basically good. They do not have a sin nature.

What Do Muslims Believe?

Salvation is belief in the one God and obedience.

What Do Muslims Believe?

Correct action is more important than right correct belief.

-Jesus was a great prophet, but subordinate to Mohammed-God cannot have a son

“It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be’, and it is.” Qur’an chpt.19 v. 35

Who is Jesus Christ in Islam?

Islam

-It is blasphemy to believe in the incarnation“They indeed have disbelieved who say: Lo!

Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. Say: Who then can do aught against Allah, if He had willed to destroy the Messiah son of Mary, and his mother and everyone on earth? Allah's is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. He createthwhat He will. And Allah is Able to do all things.” Qur’an chpt 5 v.17

Who is Jesus Christ?

What Do Muslims Believe? Spiritual beings

Angels, Jinn and the Devil (“Iblis,” “Shaitan”)

What Do Muslims Believe? Prophets & Messengers

Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Muhammad…

What Do Muslims Believe? Decrements (destiny)

Inshallah (“if God wills”)

Allah directly causes all things

• End Times (eschatology)• Resurrection, Judgment day, Heaven & Hell

What Do Muslims Believe?

• Muhammad went to pray in a cave in the mountains near Mecca.

• Allah (God) sent the angel, Gabriel, to Muhammad in a vision telling him to recite holy teachings.

• Gabriel told Muhammad, “You are the messenger of God.”

Muhammad’s Vision

• He went to talk with his wife, Khadijah.

• Kadijah expressed her faith that Muhammad had been chosen as a prophet of God.

• Khadijah became the first convert to Islam.

Muhammad’s Vision

•Muhammad continued to receive messages from Gabriel for 22 years.

• First, he told only his close family, but soon more people converted.

•His followers became known as Muslims (“those who surrender to God.”)

Muhammad’s Vision

• Holy Books:• Torah, Psalms, Gospels, Qur’an

What Do Muslims Believe?

The Origins of the Qur’an

Muhammad received his firstrevelation from the angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610.

622 → Hijrah → Muhammedflees Mecca for Medina.

* The beginning of theMuslim calendar (1 A.H.)

Muhammad’s revelations werecompiled into the Qur’an afterhis death.

Reading the Qur’an

The Qur’an only truly exists in Arabic.

Reading the Qur’an

Chapters (surahs) are not chronological or topical, but are arranged from the longest to shortest.

Reading the Qur’an

Principle of Abrogation (naskh) – more recent surahs and verses supersede older ones.

The Hadith

Traditions of Muhammad's saying, teachings and acts.

The Hadith

Traditions of Muhammad's saying, teachings and acts.

Also called the Sunna (traditions).

The Hadith

Traditions of Muhammad's saying, teachings and acts.

Also called the Sunna (traditions).

They are given more authority by Sunni Muslims. Shi'ites generally do not give the Hadith the same recognition.

Shari’a

Muslim law.

Shari’a

Muslim Law.

All law comes from Allah.

Shari’a

Muslim Law.

Shari’a supersedes all human law.

Shari’a

Muslim law.

Derived from the Qur’an and Hadith.

Shari’a

Muslim law.

Covers all aspects of personal and public life.

Shari’a

Muslim law.

There is no separation of religion and state in Islam. The notion of a secular state is not valid.

Shari’a - examples

Apostasy

Shari’a - examples

Laws concerning marriage and family

Shari’a - examples

Halal – what is permissible –dietary restrictions

Shari’a - examples

Economics

Shari’a

Muslim Law.

Western style democracy is not compatible with traditional Islam.

Shari’a

“Therefore, caliphate and royal authority are united (in Islam), so that the person in charge can devote the available strength to both of them (religion and politics) at the same time.”

14th historian Ibn Khaldun

The Dar el-Harb

The House of War

Countries or lands ruled by unbelievers and not ruled by Shari'a, the laws of Islam. Muslims are in a state of war against them and must bring them to submission, either peacefully or by means of war. They must be brought into the Dar al-Islam, the House of Islam.

Jihad

The House of War

Struggle – striving

Greater Jihad – personal struggle against sin

Jihad

The House of War

Struggle – striving

Greater Jihad – personal struggle against sin

Lesser Jihad – battle on behalf of Islam

Jihad

The House of War

Struggle – striving

Islamic apologists emphasize the Greater Jihad

Jihad

The House of War

Struggle – striving

Islamic apologists emphasize the Greater Jihad

Many scholars dispute that the Greater Jihad is personal struggle

Jihad

The House of War

Explicit commands in the Qur’an to wage war against unbelievers

O Prophet! Strive hard against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell, - an evil refuge indeed. (9:73, 66:9)

Jihad

The House of War

Explicit commands in the Qur’an to wage war against unbelievers

Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness. (25:52)

Jihad

The House of War

But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers. And if they cease, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Fight them until there is no [more] persecution and [until] worship is [acknowledged to be] for Allah . But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors.(2:191)

Jihad

The House of War

Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors. And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (2:190-192)

Jihad

The House of War

What about tolerance?

There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. (2:256)

Jihad

The House of War

What about tolerance?

Surah 2:256 is from the period immediately after the relocation to Medina and is abrogated by later verses such as Surahs 9 and 10.

Jihad

The House of War

What about tolerance?

Fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers [Islamic prayers five times a day] and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (9:5)

Dhimmitude

The conquered could accept either conversion to Islam, the status or Dhimmi (protected), or death.

Dhimmitude Dhimmi – inferior status for Jews and Christians

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya [tax] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. (9:29)

Dhimmitude Dhimmi – inferior status for Jews and Christians.

Forbidden to build or repair churches and synagogues.

Nor engage in public acts of religion – such as worship, preaching or evangelism.

Taqiyya Controversial idea that Muslims may hide the truth from unbelievers if it will advance Islam.

Generally applies to Muslims gaining the trust of unbelievers by hiding their true intentions in order to defeat them later.

Talking with Muslims

Treat them as individuals – Muslims are of many countries and races.

Avoid stereotypes.

Do not blame them for the acts ofother Muslims.

Talking with Muslims

Develop friendship.

Show interest in learning about their culture.

Talking with Muslims

Recognize that they have a distorted view of what Christians believe.

They think Christians are polytheists.

Explain Christianity with patience.