Islam Flashcards
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 his 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 caravan business at 25
Went into business with a wealthy widow named Khadija.
Would later marry her despite her age.
Geopolitical issues
Desert area, harsh living conditions, few material goods
City of Mecca dominated region.
Blood feuds between families common.
The magistrate in Mecca near total collapse.
Brigandage a viable and lucrative career option.
Area in chaos
Founder - Muhammad (cont.)
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, and Jesus
Dome of the rock built in 691 CE on the site of his 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
Victory over Mecca
In 630 CE, a Muslim force of 10,000 met little resistance
Mecca became religious center of Islam
Scripture
Qur’an
Literal, eternal, uncreated Word of God
Previous revelations (Jewish and Christian scriptures) has become
corrupted
Doctrine of abrogation
Compiled after Muhammad’s death (646-650 CE) from various
collections
Muhammad believed it to be his only miracle
Scripture (cont.)
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 fee from.
Different from other religious texts. Not historic and doctrinal like Torah and New Testament nor metaphysical like the Upanishads
Most central thing in all Muslim life
Emphasizes deeds over ideas
Hadith (traditions concerning saying and life of Muhammad)
God
Absolute monotheism
Greatest sin - shirk (assigning partners to to God)
Allah is
Transcendent (therefore unknowable)
All-powerful, all-knowing
Creator, sustainer, ordained, and judge
Absolutely sovereign
God (cont)
Believed that the Hindus totally failed to find the truth due to their polytheism
Believed that Jews were correctly instructed but incorrectly believed it was only for them and twisted their scriptures
Believed that Christians are in grave error due to deifying Jesus and corrupting scriptures
Believe themselves to be the only true monotheists
The universe
Not perfect (only Allah is perfect) hut very good
Physically and intentionally created by Allah
To be respected
Be thankful for the universe
Jesus
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 judgement with other men
Human beings
No Adamic fall
People are born innocent
Although not inherently sinful, they are weak and forgetful
Except for the sin of shirk, people can make up for their sinful deeds with good deeds
The pillars of Islam
Confession Prayer Fasting Giving alms Pilgrimage
Confession (shahada)
Public statement meaning, “there is no God but Allahabad Muhammad is his prophet”
First step in becoming a Muslim must be recited in Arabic
Repeated multiple times everyday, from birth through death
