IslamIslam

Islam todayIslam today

Roughly 1.6 billion MuslimsRoughly 1.6 billion Muslims– Around 85% SunniAround 85% Sunni– 2.1 billion Christians2.1 billion Christians– 900 million Hindus900 million Hindus– 375 million Buddhists375 million Buddhists– 14 million Jews14 million Jews

Fastest growing religion in many regionsFastest growing religion in many regions MulticulturalMulticultural Largest Islamic population: IndonesiaLargest Islamic population: Indonesia

– Followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, IndiaFollowed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, India– Less than 15% of Muslims are ArabLess than 15% of Muslims are Arab

Sunni and Shi’aSunni and Shi’a

Concerns beliefs about family of Muhammad (Hussain, Concerns beliefs about family of Muhammad (Hussain, 43)43)– Issue: Who would succeed Muhammad?Issue: Who would succeed Muhammad?– One group (Sunni) chose an elder; another (Shi’a) chose One group (Sunni) chose an elder; another (Shi’a) chose

Muhammad’s son-in-law AliMuhammad’s son-in-law Ali LeadershipLeadership

– Sunnis have caliphs: spiritual leaders, chosen by people Sunnis have caliphs: spiritual leaders, chosen by people (ummah)(ummah)

– Shi’a have imams: political and spiritual leaders, chosen Shi’a have imams: political and spiritual leaders, chosen by heredityby heredity

GeographyGeography– Sunni: 85% of Muslims in worldSunni: 85% of Muslims in world– Shi’a: Iran, now in power in IraqShi’a: Iran, now in power in Iraq

DoctrineDoctrine– Shi’a hold belief in imamat as one of the 5 Pillars Shi’a hold belief in imamat as one of the 5 Pillars

OriginsOrigins

Context: Arabia: polytheistic, tribalContext: Arabia: polytheistic, tribal Muhammad (570-632 CE)Muhammad (570-632 CE)

– Qu’ran records revelations to Qu’ran records revelations to MuhammadMuhammad

Revelations begin in 610Revelations begin in 610 Qur’an written by 650Qur’an written by 650

– Other stories of his sayings and actions Other stories of his sayings and actions ((SunnahSunnah) recorded as ) recorded as HadithHadith

– Unified Arabs and started missions out Unified Arabs and started missions out of Medina and Mecca (622-632)of Medina and Mecca (622-632)

Five PillarsFive Pillars

Belief and witnessBelief and witness Daily prayer (5x)Daily prayer (5x) Tithe (Zakat)Tithe (Zakat)

– Must give 2.5% of wealth to needyMust give 2.5% of wealth to needy– Shi’a give 20% of disposable income Shi’a give 20% of disposable income

(half to clergy, half to needy)(half to clergy, half to needy) FastingFasting Pilgrimage (Hajj)Pilgrimage (Hajj)

BeliefsBeliefs

Unity of GodUnity of God– Major sins: idolatry, ungratefulnessMajor sins: idolatry, ungratefulness

Unity of humanityUnity of humanity MediatorsMediators

– Revelation, Qur’anRevelation, Qur’an– AngelsAngels– Prophets and MessengersProphets and Messengers

JusticeJustice– Now (society, shari’ah)Now (society, shari’ah)– Afterlife (reward or punishment for deeds)Afterlife (reward or punishment for deeds)

Mosque, International Medical Center, Saudi Arabia

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (former Orthodox church, now a museum)

HagiaSophia

Page of an illuminated Qur’an

Example of a contemporary Christian illuminated Bible:Page of Genesis 28-29St. John’s Bible(21st century)

JihadJihad

““Striving”Striving” ““Sixth pillar”Sixth pillar” TypesTypes

– Greater: spiritual struggleGreater: spiritual struggle Within oneself or for justiceWithin oneself or for justice Many regard as the dominant typeMany regard as the dominant type

– Lesser: physical struggleLesser: physical struggle

MysticismMysticism

All religions have forms of mysticismAll religions have forms of mysticism– Resist legalistic, overly defined or Resist legalistic, overly defined or

dogmatic forms of religiondogmatic forms of religion– Use poetry and experience to move Use poetry and experience to move

beyond ordinary language and definitionbeyond ordinary language and definition Goal: union with the divine (immediate Goal: union with the divine (immediate

experience)experience) Uses bodily experience, meditation, Uses bodily experience, meditation,

finding God in creationfinding God in creation

SufismSufism

AsceticAscetic Focus on experience and unity of Focus on experience and unity of

God God – leads some Sufis to accept ideas of leads some Sufis to accept ideas of

other religionsother religions Dance, music, poetry, meditation Dance, music, poetry, meditation

are modes of divine experienceare modes of divine experience