Islam Flashcards
Geopolitical Issues (Islam)
Desert area, harsh living conditions, few material good.
City of Mecca dominated region.
-Blood feuds between families common
-The Magistrate in Meccanear total collapse
—-Brigandage a viableand lucrative career option
—-Area in chaos
Founder Muhammad
Born in Mecca around 570 AD (exact date unknown)
Born into one of Mecca’s premier families
Parents die while he is in infancy, he is raised by an affectionate uncle.
Tradition states he was of pleasant and kind temperament.
Took issue with the lawlessness of the time.
Went into the Caravan Business at 25
Went into business with a wealthy widow named Khadija
Would later marry her despite her age
Muhammad: First Revelation
First revelation
- 610 CE, during lunar month of Ramadan (Night of Power)
- Cave of Harra (or Hira), near Mecca
- Gabriel dictated text
- Muhammad was to memorize and preach the text
Night Visit to Jerusalem
Miraculously transported to Jerusalem, 620 CE
Ascended into each of the seven levels of Heaven
Conversed with Abraham, Moses, Jesus
Dome of the Rock built in 691 CE on the site of Muhammad’s ascension (the temple mount)
Hijra (“Flight” to Medina)
622 CE
Marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar
Represents the transformation of Islam from merely a religion to a faith-focused political system
Revelations continued in Medina 622-632 CE
Scripture (Islam)
Qur’an
- Literal, eternal, uncreated Word of God
- Previous revelations (Jewish and Christian Scriptures) had become corrupted
- Doctrine of abrogation (anything that is farther into the Qur’an overrides whatever was previously said)
- Compiled after Muhammad’s death (646-650 CE) from various collections
- Muhammad believed it to be the only miracle
- Emphasized deeds over ideas
- Hadith (traditions concerning sayings and life of Muhammad)
Scripture (Insiders/Outsiders/Differences)
- For insiders it is considered perfect in thought and form
- Outsiders have many problems with it including many internal contradictions and with it being “toilsome reading” at best. Find many of the flaws it claims to be free of.
- Different from other Religious texts. Not historic and doctrinal like the Torah and New Testament nor metaphysical like the Upanishads.
- Most central thing in all Muslim life
God (Islam)
Absolute monotheism Greatest sin - shirk (assigning partners to God) Allah is -Transcendent (therefore unknowable) -All-powerful, all-knowing -Creator, sustainer, ordainer and judge -Absolutely sovereign (deterministic)
God (beliefs re: other religions)
Believed that the Hindus totally failed to find the truth due to their polytheism.
Believed the Jews were correctly instructed but incorrectly believed it was only for them and twisted their scriptures.
Believed that the Christians are in grave error due to deifying Jesus and corrupting the scriptures.
Believe themselves to be the only true monotheists.
The Universe (Islam)
Not Perfect (only Allah is perfect) but very good
Physically and intentionally created by Allah
To be respected
Be thankful for the universe
Jesus (Islam)
Jesus was the son of the virgin Mary
He was a great prophet (messenger), not the Son of God
Jesus was not crucified
He will someday return to reign for 40 years, marry, have children, die and be buried in Medina
In the end he will stand for judgment with other men
The Pillars of Islam (Merit-Based “Salvation”)
Confession Prayer Fasting Giving Alms Pilgrimage
Eternity (Judgment)
(Islam)
Resurrection
God is the final judge
Judgment based on weighing evil deeds against good deeds
-Unbelievers and those whose evil deeds outweigh the good spend eternity in hell
-Those whose good deeds outweigh the bad spend eternity in paradise
One sure way to reach paradise - die in “jihad”
