🕌Islamic World Unit 3 – Islamic Beliefs and Practices

Core Beliefs

• Belief in one God (Allah) who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and merciful
• Belief in angels as servants of God who carry out His commands (Jibreel)
• Belief in prophets as messengers of God who guide humanity towards righteousness
  • Includes figures such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad
• Belief in sacred scriptures revealed by God to His prophets (Quran)
• Belief in the Day of Judgment when all souls will be held accountable for their deeds
  • Righteous will be rewarded with Paradise (Jannah) while sinners will face punishment in Hell (Jahannam)
• Belief in divine predestination (Qadar) where God has predetermined all events
  • Humans still have free will to make choices within the framework set by God

Five Pillars of Islam

• Shahada: Declaration of faith affirming belief in one God and Muhammad as His prophet
• Salah: Five daily prayers performed facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca
  • Prayers are held at dawn (Fajr), noon (Dhuhr), afternoon (Asr), sunset (Maghrib), and night (Isha)
• Zakat: Obligatory charity given annually by Muslims who meet certain wealth criteria
  • Typically amounts to 2.5% of a person's surplus wealth and is distributed to the poor and needy
• Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset
  • Abstaining from food, drink, and sinful behavior to develop self-discipline and empathy for the less fortunate
• Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca that every able-bodied Muslim must perform once in their lifetime
  • Involves a series of rituals (Tawaf, Sa'i) that symbolize unity, equality, and submission to God

Prophet Muhammad's Life

• Born in Mecca around 570 CE into the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe
• Orphaned at a young age and raised by his grandfather and uncle
• Known for his honesty and trustworthiness, earning the title "Al-Amin" (the trustworthy)
• Received his first revelation from God through the angel Jibreel at the age of 40
  • Continued to receive revelations over the next 23 years, forming the basis of the Quran
• Faced persecution in Mecca for preaching monotheism and challenging the status quo
• Migrated to Medina in 622 CE (Hijra) where he established the first Islamic state
  • This event marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar
• Returned to Mecca in 629 CE and peacefully conquered the city, forgiving his former enemies
• Delivered his farewell sermon at Mount Arafat during his final Hajj, emphasizing equality and unity

Quran and Hadith

• Quran is the central religious text of Islam, believed to be the literal word of God
  • Consists of 114 chapters (surahs) and over 6,000 verses (ayahs)
  • Covers various topics including theology, ethics, history, and law
• Quran was revealed to Muhammad in Arabic and memorized by his companions
  • Compiled into a standardized written form during the reign of Caliph Uthman
• Hadith are the sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad
  • Provide guidance on how to interpret and apply the teachings of the Quran
• Hadith were transmitted orally by the companions and later compiled into collections
  • Authenticity of Hadith is determined by the reliability of the chain of narrators (isnad)
• Quran and authentic Hadith form the primary sources of Islamic law and guidance for Muslims

Islamic Law (Sharia)

• Sharia is the Islamic legal system derived from the Quran and Hadith
  • Aims to guide Muslims in all aspects of life, from worship to social interactions
• Consists of both immutable principles (Usul al-Fiqh) and flexible interpretations (Fiqh)
  • Immutable principles include the five pillars of Islam and prohibitions on murder, theft, and adultery
• Fiqh is the human understanding and application of Sharia, which can vary based on time and context
  • Developed through the use of reason (Ijtihad) and consensus (Ijma) by Islamic scholars (Ulama)
• Sharia covers various areas of law, including criminal, civil, and personal status law
  • Punishments for crimes (Hudud) are prescribed in the Quran and Hadith, but their application is subject to strict conditions
• Implementation of Sharia varies across Muslim-majority countries, with some adopting it fully and others partially

Sunni and Shia Divisions

• The Sunni-Shia split originated from a dispute over the succession of leadership after Muhammad's death
  • Sunnis believe Abu Bakr was the rightful successor as he was elected by the Muslim community
  • Shias believe Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the designated successor
• Sunnis make up the majority (85-90%) of Muslims worldwide
  • Follow the Quran, Hadith, and the consensus of the companions (Sahaba)
• Shias believe in the infallibility and divine appointment of the Imams, descendants of Ali
  • Recognize the authority of the Twelve Imams, with the twelfth (Mahdi) believed to be in occultation
• Differences in religious practices and rituals, such as prayer and commemoration of Ashura
  • Shias place greater emphasis on the veneration of the Ahl al-Bayt (family of Muhammad)
• Political and historical conflicts have exacerbated the divide, leading to sectarian tensions in some regions

Islamic Worship and Rituals

• Salah (prayer) is the central act of worship in Islam, performed five times a day
  • Involves a series of physical postures (Rakat) accompanied by recitation of Quranic verses and supplications
• Friday prayer (Jumu'ah) is a congregational prayer held at noon, typically accompanied by a sermon (Khutbah)
• Wudu (ablution) is the ritual washing performed before prayer to ensure physical and spiritual purity
• Ramadan is the month of fasting where Muslims abstain from food, drink, and sinful behavior from dawn to sunset
  • Nightly prayers (Tarawih) and increased recitation of the Quran are encouraged during this month
• Eid al-Fitr is the festival marking the end of Ramadan, celebrated with prayers, feasts, and charity
• Eid al-Adha commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son and coincides with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage
  • Animals are sacrificed and the meat is distributed to the poor and needy

Islam in Daily Life

• Islam provides guidance for all aspects of a Muslim's life, from personal hygiene to social interactions
• Halal (permissible) and Haram (forbidden) are the two main categories in Islamic dietary laws
  • Pork and alcohol are considered Haram, while Halal meat is from animals slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines
• Modesty in dress is encouraged for both men and women to maintain dignity and avoid sexual temptation
  • Some Muslim women choose to wear the hijab (headscarf) or other forms of covering as a sign of faith and modesty
• Islamic finance prohibits the charging or paying of interest (Riba) and encourages risk-sharing and ethical investments
  • Zakat (obligatory charity) helps redistribute wealth and support the less fortunate in society
• Marriage is considered a sacred contract in Islam, with specific rights and responsibilities for both spouses
  • Polygyny (up to four wives) is permitted under certain conditions, but monogamy is the norm
• Islamic art and architecture often feature geometric patterns, calligraphy, and avoidance of human or animal depictions
  • Reflects the belief in the unity and transcendence of God and the emphasis on the written word of the Quran