Intro to Islam

• The topic is Islam
• This set of notes provides guides, outlines, descriptions, discussions, explanations, and analysis of Islam.

Origins: Pre-Islamic Arabia

• Social conditions and religious practices in pre-Islamic Arabia influenced the development of Islam.

Muhammad

• Principal events in Muhammad's life are examined.
• Considered the final messenger so is as a model for Muslim life.

The Development of Islam

• Islam's development under the Rashidun Caliphate is described.

The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs

• Examines the leadership of Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman bin Affan, and Ali ibn Abu Talib.
• Describes their role after Muhammad's death, accounting for the emergence of the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam.

Abu Bakr (632-634 CE)

• Highly significant as the first successor to Muhammad.
• His election was based on merit rather than blood relation, setting a "democratic precedent".
• Disagreements arose due to beliefs that Ali, Muhammad's relative, should have been chosen.
• Abu Bakr resolved these issues through strong leadership.
• He started compiling the Quran and began expeditions to spread Islam, like the one that made Damascus a Muslim area.

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (634-644 CE)

• Second Caliph and founder of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh).
• Influential in developing legal, financial, and social service institutions.
• He organized a strong army and effectively managed conquered territories.
• Some disagreed with his appointment as he wasn't a born Muslim.
• Umar strengthened Islam and demonstrated that converts are equal.
• He expanded the Muslim state's borders, leading to the capture of Jerusalem and Egypt.

Uthman Bin Affan (644-656 CE)

• Uthman came from the powerful Umayyad clan in Mecca.
• He encouraged the spread of Islam across northern Africa and Central Asia.
• His reign is seen as controversial due to conflicts among political leaders.
• Uthman continued conquests, increasing the empire's size but also wealth disparity.
• In response, he accepted Muhammad and became a high-standing convert.
• A senior committee produced copies of the Quran in the Meccan dialect and distributed them to major Muslim cities.

Ali Ibn Abu Talib (656-661 CE)

• A very significant figure in Islam, scribe of the Quran, and religious administrator.
• Many believed Ali was Muhammad's intended successor.
• His decision not to immediately punish Uthman's killers angered some Muslims.
• This led to a battle between Ali's supporters and those wanting Uthman's murderers punished, led by Muhammad's daughter A'isha.
• Ali was assassinated; his role represents the bloodline of Muhammad.
• He was a popular, charismatic leader who defended the Muslim community during conflict.

Principal Beliefs

• The articles of faith are central to Islam.
• These include belief in Tawhid (Oneness of God), Angels, Holy Books, Prophets, Predestination, and the Day of Judgement.

Six Articles of Faith: Tawhid

• Tawhid means the oneness of God.
• Islam is strictly monotheistic, with no association of anything with God (idolatry).
• God revealed His oneness through messengers like Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.
• Allah has many names describing His characteristics, such as: -Immanent: present everywhere. -Transcendent: Creator of the universe. -Beneficent: all-loving and good. -Omnipotent: all-powerful. -Omniscient: all-knowing. -Omnibenevolent: all-good.

Malaikah: Belief in Angels and Jinn

• Angels are genderless beings of light who completely obey God without free will.
• They do not reproduce, have parents, or sin.
• Angels possess consciousness and intelligence, studying both material and immaterial dimensions of God's dominion.
• Jibra'il represents God's throne of lordship.
• Azra'il is the angel of death.
• "The angel of death who has charge concerning you."
• Mikhail is the bearers of god's throne of sustenance
• Israf'il represents gods throne of life giving and will blow the horn that will start doomsday then resurrection.
• Belief that every human has a angel assigned to write their bad or good deeds.

Rusul: Belief in Messengers of Allah

• If there is a revelation/message from god he will send a messenger to do so
• Messengers (Rusul) bring divine law, while prophets reinforce existing laws.
• Muhammad is the last and final messenger.
• Key messengers are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.
• Prophets are fully human and do not possess divine powers.
• They have exceptional qualities, recognize the difficulty of their job, and serve as messengers between God and humanity.
• They are role models for Muslims and have undergone difficult trials, providing guidance and examples.
• All messengers are prophets, but not all prophets are messengers.
• Muslims often say "peace be upon him" after mentioning a prophet's name as a sign of respect.

Belief in the Books of Allah

• Refers to scriptures revealed by Allah to prophets, guiding humanity in various times.
• Provide the base of islamic beliefs law and practices

al-Akhirah

• At the moment of death, angel of death appears in different forms relative to a persons faith and deeds.

The 3 stages

• Barzakh - waiting for day of judgement, God sends 2 ppl to question them about their faith. Depending on answe they will either see rewards or punishments to come
• Day of judgement - archangel will blow a comic horn which will trigger the beginning of the end of the world. Predetermined time whenGod will enf the world as a place of testing
• Everyone whos ever lived will be raised from the dead. Right = heaven, left=hell.

Al Qudr: Fate and Predestination

• "Insha allah" means "if it is in God's will".
• Fate/predestination involves divine determination and knowledge.
• Muslims believe they are responsible for their actions and that God knows everything that will happen.
• Belief in Qudr provides a balanced understanding of free will.
• Humans take accountability while understanding unforeseen circumstances.

The Books of Allah and Prophecy

Book | Prophet | Primary Purpose | Notable Features

• -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- The Scrolls | Abraham | Lost | Contained Rules, First Revelation Torah (Tawrat) | Moses | Contains guidance, instructions, the Ten Commandments | Part of Abrahamic faith Zabur (Psalms) | Prophet David | Contains prayers, poems, and songs | Changed over time

The Injil (Gospel)

• Injil revealed the arrival of Jesus
• Intended to guide Muslims on how to live as Allah would want.
• Seen as divine instruction

The Qur'an

• Revealed to Muhammad through Angel Jibril.
• His followers wrote it down after memorised by Muhammad, so is therefore the word of God.
• The scripture confirms and completes previous books.
• Made up of surahs and ayats.

Sacred Texts and Writings: The Qur'an

• The Qur'an has 114 chapters (surahs).
• It was revealed over 23 years to Muhammad through Angel Gabriel.

Hadith

• The revelation of the Hadith went through trance-like states.

• The holy books were all mentioned in the Quran.

• The theme is monotheism, prophethood, resurrection, and justice.

• After the death of Muhammad, standardized copies were made in the Meccan dialect.

Characteristics of the "Hadith"

• It is a primary source of divine revelation, treatest as a sacred book
• Hadith contains the words that God revealed.
• It is a holy book that ensures people know and transmit the word of good giving the faithful a clear direction to live.

Sources of Islamic Teachings

• Hadith is a secondary source of Islamic teachings, containing Muhammad's instructions.
• Sunnis believe Hadith is reliable; Shia and Sunni versions may differ.

Meaning of Sunnah

• Rely on actions and sayings of muhammad called the Sunnah
• Sunnah concritises, explains and interprets the teachings of the quran and forms the basis of islamic law. Many are about prayer, personal conduct, e.g how to pray, fast.

Core Ethical Teachings: Shari'a

• The Shari'a is the moral and legal code of Islam based on the teachings of the Qur'an and the Prophet.
• Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh) is the scholarly interpretation and human understanding of Shari'a.
• Ulama are scholars trained in Islam and Islamic law.
• The goal of the islamic of law and ethics is to ensure the well-being of the individual and community in a balanced way.
• The Shariah encompasses ethics and law from a worldly and otherworldly perspective.

Sources of Islamic Law

1. Qur'an - direct word of Allah.
2. The sunna and Hadith - the sayings and actions of prophet and Muhammad.
3. Ijma (Consensus) - agreement of schollars where no clear answer exists
4. Qiyas (analogy) - teaching of hadith compared and contrasted to quran and applied to decisions over time

Key Virtues

• Humility and modesty
• Love of allah
• Justice and fairness
• Selflessness and charity
• Jihad (struggle)

Madhab and the Schools of Thought.

• Madhab-school of thought.
• Fundamental reles stay the same.
• Originated in early islam ad based on the teaching and interpretations

Describe and List the Schools

• Hanafi school (abu Hanafi) - Emphasises use of reasoning and personal interpretation in legal ruling
• Shafil school (Muhammad al Shafii) - Emphasis on the quran and the sunnah
• Malki School (Malik Ibu Anas) - Known for reliance on the practice and customs of medina.
• Hanbaliu school (Ahmad Ibn Hanbal) - Known for its strict adherence to the literal texts of quran and sunnah

Fatwa

• Used Islamic rulings.
• Can be many rulings up for debate.
• They have to be insured within each thought of the history of Islam.
• Judgements are made by religious authorities.
• Can be taken seriously

Mufti

• Religious scholar who makes a fatwa.

Halal

• Lawful and allowed.

Haram

• Unlawful and forbidden.

Basic Principles of Expression of Faith

• Has to derived from quran, hadith, ijma and quiyas.

Purpose of the Laws and Expression of Faith

• Provides muslims with frameworks to keep their spirituality and health balanced.
• The five pillars is what muslims follow has god recommends.

The Five pillars

1. Shahada (faith)
2. Salah (prayer)
3. Zakat (aimstiving)
4. Sawm (fasting)
5. Hajj (pilgrimage)

The Shahada (Faith)

• Shows the world that there is no deity but God and that Muhammed is a messenger of God.
• Its the testimony of faith.
• In statement of faith "there is no god except allah and muhammad is his messenger"

The two Shahada concepts

1. Tawhid - shows the Oneness of God "there is no God except Allah”
2. Prophethood: and Muhammad is his messenger”

Salah (prayer)

• Used to offer daily prayers and get closer to god.
• "Salat is the central pillar of Islam" - prophet Muhammad.
• Structure and must be at the mosque.
• Should be performed in Mecca
• Has to wash hands before beginning prayer.
• Signifies that its to reach god.
• Motivates muslims to be like god.

The Zakat

• Required to pay compulsory aims.
• Has to be a yearly contribution.
• Spiritual benefit in order to stop taking possessions.
• 5 pillars and belief in judgement day to gain a reward.

Sawm (fasting)

• One month long, fasting muslims usually wakes up before dawn for an early breakfast
• At the end festival which are celebrate for three days.
• Helps muslims Empathise with poor.

The Hajj (pilgrimage)

• Pilgrimage should be set out and practiced once done at least.
• "All that is in the heavens and on earth extols and glorifies God" (quran 57:1)
• Aims to worship in the face of god.