Islam - Quarter 2, Lesson 5

Islam - Quarter 2, Lesson 5

• Islam was established around the 7th century CE.
• Islam is the youngest of the world's major religions.
• Over 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide.
• Islam is the second largest and one of the fastest-growing religions globally.
• The majority of Muslims live in Asia and Africa.
• There are 49 countries where Muslims make up 50% or more of the population.
• Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country, with nearly 87% of its population practicing Islam.

Islam's Symbolism

• The star and crescent are recognized symbols of the Islamic faith.
• The star and crescent appear on the national flags of states formed after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the 20th century.
• The crescent moon (hilal) has ties to royalty.
• The symbol was embraced by movements advocating Arab nationalism.
• The star and crescent are linked to the lunar calendar, which governs the religious life of Muslims.

Islam's Beginnings

• Islam originated among Arabian desert people.
• Before Islam, Arabian tribes had diverse religious influences including Byzantine Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.
• Pre-Islamic Arabs worshipped many gods, though they acknowledged one supreme deity.
• Local gods, spirits, and animistic beliefs were significant, with sacred objects like the Black Stone at Mecca's Kaaba revered.
• Mecca became a pilgrimage center due to these spiritual associations.

Muhammad

• Muhammad ibn Abdullah was born in Mecca in 570 CE.
• Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib and later his uncle, Abu Talib.
• He worked as a caravan driver, traveling across the Arabian Peninsula and encountering various religious influences, including Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.
• At 25, Muhammad married Khadija, a wealthy widow.
• In 610 CE, he began receiving divine revelations from the angel Gabriel.
• These messages, revealed in a cave on Mount Hira, formed the foundation of Islam.

Muhammad's Preaching

• Muhammad initially shared his revelations with close family and friends.
• By 613 CE, Muhammad began preaching publicly, but the polytheistic Quraysh tribe in Mecca opposed his teachings.

Hijra and Leadership in Medina

• In 622 CE, Muhammad and his followers fled to Medina (the Hijra), marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
• He united the tribes of Medina and established a constitution, gaining political and religious leadership.
• Muhajirun - those who made the hijra
• Ansar - the helpers

Conquest of Mecca

• After years of conflict with the Meccans, Muhammad and his followers peacefully took control of Mecca in 630 CE, cleansing the Kaaba of its idols.
• By the time of his death in 632 CE, Islam had spread across the Arabian Peninsula uniting the Muslim community under one faith.

The Quran

• The word Quran literally means "recitation" or "reading."
• It is the sacred book of Islam, revealed by God (Allah) to Prophet Muhammad.
• The Quran is considered the foundation of the Islamic faith.
• It holds supreme authority in matters of faith, theology, and law for all Muslims.
• The Quran was revealed gradually over a period of 23 years (609-632 CE).
• Muhammad initially memorized the messages because he was illiterate and recited them to his followers.
• Muhammad's companions recorded the revelations on various materials such as leather, stones, palm leaves, and bones.
• Muhammad's secretary, Zayd ibn Thabit, played a key role in compiling the Quran after his death.
• Around 20 years after Muhammad's death, the Quran was formally compiled into a single book.
• This version has remained unchanged for over 1,400 years.

Structure of the Quran

• The Quran is divided into 114 chapters known as surahs.
• Each chapter contains verses called ayahs.
• The term ayah means "evidence" or "sign."
• The Quran is divided into 30 parts, known as juz, which allows for the complete reading of the Quran in one month, especially during Ramadan.
• The Quran is classified into Meccan and Medinan verses, based on whether they were revealed before or after Muhammad's migration (hijra) from Mecca to Medina.
• Meccan verses emphasize faith and spiritual ideals.
• Medinian verses focus on community organization and law.

Recitation and Memorization

• The Quran's verses are rhythmic and often rhymed, making it easier for memorization.
• Those who memorize the entire Quran are given the title hafiz (guardian), and hafiza for women.

The Most Recited Surah

• Al-Fatihah (The Opening)
• The first chapter of the Quran.
• It is a prayer for God's guidance, mercy, and blessings.
• Used in daily prayers (Salah), making it a central part of Islamic worship.

The Universal Quran

• The Quran was revealed in Arabic, and it remains unchanged and unaltered in its original form across the world.
• Despite translations into many languages, only the Arabic version is considered the true Quran.
• No two copies of the Quran anywhere in the world differ in any way, ensuring universal consistency in the practice of Islam.

The Hadith

• The Hadith is a collection of deeds and sayings of Prophet Muhammad and his followers.
• It serves as the second most important source of Islamic law, after the Quran.
• The Hadith plays a key role in the development of Shari'a (Islamic legal system).
• The Hadith guides aspects of daily life, ritual practices, and legal matters.
• Unlike the Quran, which was compiled under a central authority shortly after the Prophet's death, the Hadith was collected generations later, making its compilation more decentralized and complex.

Collections of Hadiths

• Around the 9th century CE, Muslim scholars began systematically collecting Hadith.
• The collected Hadiths were later known as the Kutub al-Sittah
• These collections are critical to Islamic theology, law, and everyday practices.

Kutub al-Sittah

• "Six Sahih Books"
• The two most respected collections among the Six Sahih are:
• Sahih al-Bukhari: Authored by Imam Bukhari (810-870).
• Sahih Muslim: Compiled by Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj' (c. 815-875).

Authenticity of Hadith

• The word sahih in these collections means "authentic" or "sound."
• The scholars painstakingly sifted through reports, distinguishing between authentic and unsubstantiated narratives.
• Reliability of narrators and the chain of transmission were carefully examined to validate the authenticity of the Hadith.

The Role of Hadith

• The Hadith provides critical details for practicing rituals and obligations, including the Five Pillars of Islam (Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj).