📿World Religions Unit 13 – Islam: Sunni, Shia, Sufism, and Sharia

Key Concepts and Beliefs

• Monotheism: Islam is a strictly monotheistic religion that believes in one God, Allah
• Five Pillars of Islam: Shahada (declaration of faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
• Quran: The holy book of Islam, believed to be the direct word of Allah as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad
• Prophets: Muslims believe in many prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, who is considered the final prophet
• Afterlife: Islam teaches the existence of an afterlife, with heaven (Jannah) and hell (Jahannam)
• Predestination: The belief that Allah has predetermined all events and human actions, while still maintaining human free will
• Tawhid: The concept of the oneness and uniqueness of Allah, which is central to Islamic belief

Historical Origins and Development

• Pre-Islamic Arabia: The Arabian Peninsula was inhabited by various tribes practicing polytheism, with Mecca being a significant religious center
• Prophet Muhammad: Born in Mecca around 570 CE, Muhammad received divine revelations from Allah and began preaching Islam
• Hijra: In 622 CE, Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar
• Expansion of Islam: After Muhammad's death in 632 CE, Islam spread rapidly through military conquests and trade, reaching from Spain to India within a century
• Rashidun Caliphate: The first four caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali) led the Muslim community after Muhammad's death
• Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates: These dynasties ruled the Islamic empire from 661-750 CE and 750-1258 CE, respectively, overseeing significant cultural and intellectual developments

Major Branches: Sunni and Shia

• Sunni Islam: The largest branch of Islam, comprising about 85-90% of Muslims worldwide
  • Believes in the legitimacy of the first four caliphs and the importance of the Sunnah (teachings and practices of Muhammad)
  • Emphasizes the consensus of the Muslim community and the role of Islamic scholars in interpreting religious texts
• Shia Islam: The second-largest branch, comprising about 10-15% of Muslims worldwide
  • Believes that Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the rightful successor and that leadership should remain within Muhammad's family
  • Places importance on the role of imams, believed to be divinely appointed leaders
• Differences in practices: Sunni and Shia Muslims may have variations in prayer styles, marriage customs, and religious festivals
• Political and historical conflicts: The Sunni-Shia divide has led to political tensions and conflicts in various Muslim-majority countries (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon)

Sufism: Islamic Mysticism

• Spiritual dimension of Islam: Sufism emphasizes the inner, mystical aspects of faith and the personal relationship between the believer and Allah
• Origins: Sufism emerged in the 8th century CE as an ascetic movement, later developing into a more organized and influential tradition
• Key concepts: Sufis seek to purify the soul and attain spiritual enlightenment through practices such as dhikr (remembrance of Allah), sama (spiritual music and dance), and khalwa (spiritual retreat)
• Notable Sufi figures: Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet and mystic, and Al-Ghazali, an 11th-century theologian and philosopher, are among the most influential Sufi thinkers
• Sufi orders: Sufism is organized into various tariqahs (spiritual orders), each with its own lineage, practices, and teachings (Qadiriyya, Naqshbandiyya, Mevlevi)
• Influence on art and literature: Sufism has had a significant impact on Islamic art, poetry, and music, with themes of divine love and spiritual yearning being prominent

Islamic Law and Sharia

• Sharia: The Islamic legal system derived from the Quran and the Sunnah, which guides all aspects of Muslim life
• Sources of Sharia: The Quran, the Sunnah (teachings and practices of Muhammad), ijma (consensus of Islamic scholars), and qiyas (analogical reasoning)
• Five main schools of Islamic law: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali (Sunni), and Ja'fari (Shia)
• Areas of Sharia: Islamic law covers various aspects of life, including worship, family relations, financial transactions, and criminal justice
• Implementation: The application of Sharia varies among Muslim-majority countries, with some implementing it more strictly than others
• Relationship with secular law: Many Muslim-majority countries have a dual legal system, with Sharia courts handling personal and family matters, while secular courts handle other areas of law

Practices and Rituals

• Daily prayers: Muslims are required to pray five times a day (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha) facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca
• Ramadan: The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset as an act of spiritual discipline and devotion
• Eid al-Fitr: The festival marking the end of Ramadan, celebrated with prayers, family gatherings, and charitable giving
• Eid al-Adha: The festival commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, celebrated during the annual Hajj pilgrimage
• Hajj: The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which all able-bodied Muslims are required to perform at least once in their lifetime
• Zakat: The obligatory charitable giving, calculated as a percentage of a Muslim's wealth and distributed to the poor and needy
• Dietary laws: Islam prohibits the consumption of pork, alcohol, and meat not slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines (halal)

Cultural Impact and Global Influence

• Islamic Golden Age: The period from the 8th to the 14th century CE, characterized by significant advancements in science, mathematics, philosophy, and the arts
• Contributions to knowledge: Muslim scholars made notable contributions to fields such as algebra, astronomy, medicine, and optics (Ibn al-Haytham, Al-Khwarizmi)
• Islamic art and architecture: Distinctive styles developed, characterized by geometric patterns, calligraphy, and the use of mosaics and tilework (Alhambra Palace, Taj Mahal)
• Spread of Islam: Islam is the second-largest religion worldwide, with significant populations in the Middle East, North Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa
• Influence on other religions: Islam has influenced and interacted with other religions, such as Judaism and Christianity, throughout history
• Islamic finance: The development of financial practices and institutions that adhere to Islamic principles, such as the prohibition of interest (riba) and speculation (gharar)

Contemporary Issues and Challenges

• Islamophobia: The rise of prejudice, discrimination, and hate crimes against Muslims, particularly in Western countries post-9/11
• Extremism and terrorism: The challenge of addressing and countering extremist ideologies and terrorist groups that claim to act in the name of Islam (Al-Qaeda, ISIS)
• Women's rights: Debates surrounding the role and status of women in Islam, including issues of gender equality, education, and personal autonomy
• Secularism and modernity: The ongoing negotiation between Islamic values and the demands of modern, secular societies
• Sectarian conflicts: The persistence of tensions and conflicts between Sunni and Shia Muslims in various parts of the world (Iraq, Syria, Yemen)
• Integration and assimilation: The challenges faced by Muslim minorities in non-Muslim majority countries, including issues of cultural identity, religious freedom, and social cohesion
• Reformation and reinterpretation: The efforts by some Muslim thinkers and activists to promote a more progressive, inclusive, and contextually relevant understanding of Islam