VII. Islam

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 442.

1. Outline of the lecture

1. Origin of Islam

Islam is a monotheistic religion. “Islam” in Arabic means “submission”( to God). The Arabic word “ Muslim” means “ vassal” of god.

Since Islam, like Judaism and Christianity, claims descent from the biblical patriarch Abraham, it sees itself as an Abrahamic religion. Muslims hold that it is the same belief as all messengers are sent to by god to mankind.

*Islam emerged in the Near East in the VII century on the territory________________

It was the time of the states formation and internecine wars between Arabic tribes. The Arabs needed strong state and this was done by the religious-political movement of Islam. Founder of Islam- Muhammad ( 570-632). The year of 622, when Muhammad resettled to Medina, is date of Islam foundation. In 630 Mecca adopted Islam and became the center of Islam and Arabic Caliphate. Spreading of Islam was accompanied by wars under the slogan of jihad. Muhammad took part in 18 battles.

2. Main beliefs

Muhammad brought a message of radical monotheism. Allah was the one and only true god, to worship any other was a grave sin. Allah was almighty, righteous in judgment, terrible in his wrath (гнев), merciful and loving to his followers

Compare with Buddha and God in Christianity

**

Islam, however, believed itself to be the final revelation.

No such thing as incarnation ( god becoming human) is possible in Islam.

There are 6 basic beliefs in Islam:

1.

2.

3.

The scriptures recognized in Islam are:

i. The Koran ( Quran, Qur'an)

ii. The Torah- the first five books of Moses

iii. The Injil- the gospel message of Jesus in the New Testament

iv. The Psalms- the sacred writings given to David

4.

5.

6.

3. Doctrine. Religious feasts

The Five Pillars of Islam is the term given to the most fundamental aspects of Islam. These are 5 duties that every Muslim is obliged to perform

Shahada- the Testimony that there is none worthy of worship except God and that Muhammad is his messenger

Salat- establishing of 5 daily prayers. Muslims prefer to perform Salat with others as this demonstrates the unity of all Muslims.

Sawm ( Uraza)- fasting from dawn to dusk in the month of Ramadhaan, the 9-th Muslim month.

Zakat- charity

Hajj- pilgrimage

Sharia ( Shariah) is the code of social norms for Islam. The Koran and the Sunnah contains narrations of the Prophet sayings) is the source of Islamic jurisprudence. Sharia covers not only religious rituals but many aspects of day-to-day life.

Dietary laws

Dress code

Holidays

Friday

Ramadan

Feast of Breaking the Fast

The Big Feast

Ashura

2. Questions for test

1. Origin and spread of Islam.

2. Main beliefs in Islam

3. Religious traditions in Islam

3. Glossary

Submission- подчинение

testimony- утверждение-бекіту

Internecine- междоусобный

fast- пост, поститься

Almighty- всемогущий- құдіретті

Revelation- откровение- аян беру

Gospel- евангелие-інжіл

4. Task for IWS- Islam and modernity

5. Task for office hours- Women in Islam

6. References

Музафарова Н.И. История религий. стр.240-282

Религии мира. Энциклопедия. М. 1996 раздел « Ислам»

A History of the World Religions. Chapter “ Islam”

http:// www.carm.org/islam/faith_imam.htm

VIII. Islam as a political movement

1.Outline of the lecture

1. Islam and politics

Most religions influence the political beliefs of their followers and Islam is no exception. Any actual practice of Islam as a faith requires acts that could be seen as political activities.

Islam and politics

Last decades Islam activated in socio-political processes and international relations- it is expressed in intensification of Islam role in political life.

Causes of political activization of Islam in the XX century:

1.socio- economic

2.reaction to racism, colonialism, imperialism

3.reaction to “westernization”

4.deep and broad influence of Islam in the East.

2. History of Islam as a political movement

The roots of Islam as a political movement go back to the medieval times when secret societies (tarika) emerged .

Some scholars consider that the tarika developed into the modern militant Islamic movements in reaction to these factors:

a. Before WWI German Kiser Wilhelm II proclaimed Germany and himself as historically European defender of Islam as a faith. He even prayed in the mosques of Syria under the name of Muhammad William.

*Why?

England guaranteed that no intervention would take place in Arab countries that were under the Ottoman Empire power. France had an agreement with the British that the Arabs would have self-rule.

**After the WWI

b. After the WWII the Arab resistance was drastically magnified when Israel was created- the promise made to Arabs had been broken , while that to Jews had been kept. Islamism was a response to Zionism. More mullahs were involved in politics.

c. Cold war exploitation

d. Political situation of the 70-s: peace of Egypt and Israel, the Iranian revolution,

the Soviet invasion to Afghanistan- had wide- ranging effects on Islam becoming a political phenomenon.

e. USA invasion in Iraq

In 80-90-s most Muslims believe that Islam is a universal solution to a political problems.

Some Muslims blame for all flaws in Muslim societies on the influx of foreign ideas., including capitalism, communism, feminism, a return to the principles of Islam is seen the natural cure.

Islamist movements:

* International- Al- Qaida

* Afghanistan-Taliban

* Algeria-Islamic Front of Salvation

* Egypt- Gama'at Islamiya

* Lebanon- Hezbollah

* South Asia- Jamaat-e- Islami ( India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan )

* West Bank and Gaza Strip – Hamas

Common- __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Perspectives

2. Questions for test

1. Historical roots of Islam transformation into political movement

2. Causes of upsurge of political Islam

3. Main Islamist movements and their role in world terrorism

3. Glossary

Flaw-порок, недостаток

4. Task for IWS: Islam in Central Asia

5. Task for office hours: Wahhabism

6. References

Музафарова Н.И. История религий, стр. 134-156

Васильев Л.С. История религий Востока.стр.78-89

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