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Islam - History, Value, Cultures
Islam - History, Value, Cultures
We are all Muslims; some have the Gospels, others have the Quran
A Patriarch from Syria
A. Mecca C. Jerusalem
B. Islamabad D. Washington, DC
A. Mecca C. Jerusalem
B. Islamabad D. Washington, DC
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Introductory Remarks Historical overview Islam as a monotheistic religion
the Quran God or Allah pillars and values social code and reforms relation with other faiths the Sunni and Shiha sects
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5 min 20 min
Islam
Founder: Muhammad Ibn (son of) Adballah Born: 571 AD in Mecca, Arabia Descendant of Abraham Nicknames: Almustapha (the chosen), Alamin (the faithful) Titles: The prophet, the messenger (Alrasul) Tribe: Quraiysh Holy Book: The Quran, derived from read
Quraiysh Qussaiy Abdmanaf Abdshams Hashem Adbelmuttalib (Amneh+) Abdallah Abutalib Hamzeh Alabbas Abulahab Alhareth
Muhammad
Ummayah Dynasty (661-750)
Historical Overview
EGYPT
Medinah
Mecca
Dynasties of the South
Byzantine Empire
*
Persian Empire
An Arabian dynasty
An Arabian dynasty
Islam, 610-632
571 610 622 Muhammad born in Mecca. First revelation in the Harraa cave (27 Ramadan). Hijraor Escape. Muhammad and followers escape prosecution and go to Almadinah (Yathrib). Year 1 in the Islamic calendar Missionaries sent all over Arabia building peaceful coalition Muhammad conquers Mecca peacefully (NO REVENGE) destroys idols in Alqaaba. single-handedly, brings peace to war-torn Arabia Muhammad dies in Almadinah. Unmarked grave (his will)
629
632
Conquered the Levant, Egypt, Iraq, Persia Damascus (9 / 635) and Jerusalem (5 / 638) surrender peacefully Omars pledge to the Jerusalemites A modern state: Treasury, communication, defense. Engraved currency.
Othman bin Affan - 644-656 Collected and compiled the Quran Emergence of power struggle Ali Bin Abitalib - 656-661 Power struggle escalated to armed conflict Emergence of political parties End of democracy. Ummayah Dynasty in Damascus, Muawyia (661-680)
Islam:
Surrender, related to salaam, or peace. Abraham, father of all prophets, is the first Muslim Islam is also a code for social conduct Quran plus the authentic statements of Muhammad (Hadith) = Shareeha (constitution), as Interpreted by Islamic scholars
Muhammad is the last prophet (33: 40). Gabriel highest ranking angel
The Quran:
Islams holy book, an inspired scripture. Gods word inspired to his messenger, 114 Chapters (chapter = Surah), 4 to >200 verses/chapter (verse = Aiyah) Confirms most narratives and prophets of the Jewish and Christian faiths Special place for Virgin Mary, the only female (the Chapter of Mary) Allah is the word for God used by Christian and Muslim Arabs God = Allah (Arabic) = Eluhim (Hebrew) = El (Aramaic) One and only one God, no trinity Arabic as the language of the Quran
2. Prayer: Five obligatory prayers each day. A direct link between the worshiper and God. No hierarchical authority or priesthood
3. Zakat: Obligatory charitable giving. Wealth belong to God and it is held in trust by humans. Zakat, or, "purification" by setting aside a portion (2.5%) for the needy 4. Fasting: From sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan 5. Pilgrimage: A pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca, Arabia. Only those who can
'Do not attack a temple, a church, a synagogue. Do not bring a tree or a plant down. Do not harm a horse or a camel
The Levant remained mainly Christian for almost 200 Yrs. No one was forced to convert to Islam The right of all faiths to warship was respected Sites of warship, holy places and shrines of all faiths were protected
Social Justice
Charity, Charity, Charity . On top of the Zakat. Help the orphan, the poor, the ill, the lost, the homeless, the elderly Endless times in the Quran (16 times in Chapters 2-5 alone)
Freedom, Integrity, Equality, Justice . An hour of justice by a ruler is better than sixty days of hard work (Hadith) Endless request for justice in the Quran (e.g., 2: 282; 6; 152)
O mankind, Weve created you from a male and a female and have made you nations and tribes that you may know and interact with each other. The noblest of you in the sight of God is the best in conduct (49:13). No Arab is privileged over non-Arab but by his or her conduct (Hadith) All people are equal like the teeth of a comb (Hadith) You are not considered faithful in the sight of God unless you like for your brother (read, others) what you like for yourself (Hadith) when you are greeted with a greeting of peace, answer with an even better greeting, or at least the like thereof" (4: 86).
Other Values
Right and Status of Women Eliminated many pre-Islamic discriminatory practices Gave women rights (e.g., inheritance) and equality to men, both were made from a single soul (e.g., 4:1) Limited the number of wives a man can marry Treat women with kindness and respect their rights as equal to men The hijab or head scarf Modest dress apply to women and men equally (Quran and Hadith). Women are required to cover their bodies so that their figure is not revealed. Women are not required to cover their faces. The forbidden or taboo (muharramat) include pork, blood, improperly butchered animals, baby animals, gambling, and charging interest Alcohol drinking was gradually disallowed
A dedicated quest for knowledge and a burst of scientific innovation in a multi-ethnic and multi-faith society Lasted for over 8 centuries, and produced a plethora of knowledge and discoveries in all disciplines Induced the later European renaissance The Arabic tong, invigorated by the Quran, was the vehicle, and tolerant, inclusive, and knowledge-advocate Islamic faith was the culture Repeated requests in both the Quran and the Hadith for seeking knowledge, and application of rational thinking Seek knowledge even in China Seek knowledge from crib to grave On judgement day, the ink of scientists is valued by God higher than the blood of martyrs The two important disciplines of science are theology and Biology Initially, massive translation of Greek and Indian writings
preserved all literary and scientific works and transmitted them to Europe
Known Physicians
Abu-bakr Elrazzy; 9th Century Father of Physicians, great clinician and experimentalist Many books including Smallpox and Measles Ibn-Elhaytham: 10th Century Multidisciplinary scientist. Ophthalmologist Mechanism of sight. Function of the eye Over 100 books in Med. and Math. Ibn-Seena (Avisai): 10th Century The Qannun, the medical text book in Europe till 19th Cen. Described the medical use of over 2700 plants Light has a finite speed, which is much faster than the speed of sound Ibn-Rushd (Aviros): 13th Century Philosopher and Physician. Many books Ibn-Elnafees: Blood circulation and the role of lungs Abulkassim Alzahrawi (Abulcasis or Albucasis): 11th Century One of the greatest surgeons. A good dentist and GP. Removal of breast cancer. Hemophilia and its hereditary transmission (female to male)
Mathematics
Arabic numeral and the decimal system of numbers. Right Left. English. But 1000 Arithmetic. Roots and powers Algorithm = Alkhawarismi The mathematical ZERO Algebra (combining fractions). The Use of (x, y, z) to solve complex arithmetic/geometric problems Trigonometry (Albairuni and Albuzjani), differential and Integral. p = 3.141596535898732. Some known Mathematicians: Abu-bakr Alkhawarismi Thabit Ibn Qarra (9th Century). Calculus. Ibn-elhaytham Albairuni (10th Century) Albuzjani Omar Elkhayam (2 & 3 equations)
Astronomy
Astrology (myth) Astronomy (science) Movement, path, and location of planets and stars The Asturlab Earth is spherical and rotates along its axis and around the sun. Calculated earth circumference (Albairuni) Calculated the time needed for one rotation around the sun (solar year), with an error of 2 22 only (Albattani) Calculated the equinoxes Current names of most constellations, and many stars are from Arabic Some known astronomists: Alkindy (9th Century) Albattani (9th Century) Ibn-elhaytham (11th Century) Thabit Ibn Qarra Almajreeti
Important Holidays
Al-adhaa (the sacrifice) Symbolizes Abraham attempt to sacrifice his son Ishmael by Gods request. Should sacrifice an animal and give the food to the poor. The pilgrimage to Mecca Alfetr Observed at the end of the holy month of Ramadan (the fasting month) The Islamic New Year Yr 1, Islamic calendar = 622 A.D. Alisraa Walmaaraj Symbolizes the ascending, in Jerusalem, of Mohammed's soul to heaven
Islam Today
1.3 Billion worldwide, three continents
Arab Americans
Farouq Elbaz (Egypt), NASA, the moon mission Ahmed H. Zewail (Egypt) Winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Cal. Tech. Saleh Wakeel (Iraq), member of the Natl Acad. Sci., Biochemistry Qais Elawqati (Iraq), member of the Natl Acad. Sci., Microbiology Majdi Yacub, first open heart surgery Michael Debakee (Lebanon), chief cardiologist of the White House Ralph Nader (Lebanon), consumer advocate, Green Party founder, and 2000 presidential candidate John Sununu (Palestine), White House Ex-Chief of Staff John Sununu JR., current state governor
Donna E. Shalala (Lebanon), Ex secretary of HHS Helen Thomas, Ex dean of the White House press corps. Edward Attiyeh (Syria), Ex governor of OR Spencer Abraham (Lebanon), Secretary of Energy George Mitchell
Arab Americans
Casey Kasem and Don Bustany (Lebanon) creators of radio's American Top 40 Mustapha Elaqqad (Syria), Hollywood movie director (director of the Halloween series) Tom Shadyac (Lebanon), Hollywood movie director Salma Hayic (Lebanon), a Hollywood star Yasser Seirawan (Syria), US Chess Champion Jacques Nasser, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co Ray Irani CEO of Occidental Petroleum (Exxon Mobil) Co The Hyatt, Hagar, and Farah enterprises Christina McAuliffe, an astronaut who died aboard the space shuttle Challenger Candy Lightner, founder of MADD
Suggested Reading
History of the Arabs, Philip Hitti The Arab People, Albert Hourany
From Difference to Equas, George Kindy, and Philip Saliba, eds., NYAS, 1994
Science in Medieval Islam, Howard R Turner, 1997 Arab American Encyclopedia, Anan Ameri, and Dawn Ramey, eds., 2000