World Religions paper Due 6/11
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Esposito-WorldReligionsToday6e-Chapter5PowerPoint.pptx1
Lecture Outline Chapter 5
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Premodern Islam
Muhammad’s early years
Islam’s formative period, purest and most authentic Islamic community
Muhammad born 570 into tribal culture marked by frequent warfare and tribal polytheism
At age 30 respected and trusted businessman in Mecca
At 40 receives first message/revelation
Revelations continue for 22 years
Comprise Quran
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Muhammad sets out to reform society, especially polytheistic views
Preaches for social justice and against socioeconomic inequities
Leads to harsh persecution
After 10years, immigrates (hijra) to Yathrib (Medina) in 622
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Muhammad after 622
Hijra such a turning point for Islam that 622 becomes the Islamic calendar’s year 1
Proclaimed monotheism, rejecting polytheism and idolatry
Teaches that submission (“islam”) to God both an individual and a community obligation
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Islam becomes primary source of community solidarity, rather than tribe
In one decade, Muhammad forges Islamic identity, consolidates political base, establishes basic religious law and practice
Uses both force and diplomacy to unite tribes under the banner of Islam
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The Quran
Eternal, literal, and final word of God revealed to Muhammad for all humankind
Taken from Arabic tablet, preexisting with God in heaven
Moses and Jesus retain a special place as prophets
Quran affirms virgin birth
Language of Quran is Arabic
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After Muhammad
Death of Muhammad creates crisis, dissent, and civil wars
Problem of succession
Sunni: majority, believes that caliph is elected, only serves as political and military leader
Shiah: minority from beginning, believes that imam (leader) must be direct descendant of Muhammad’s family and is religiopolitical leader
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Paths to God
Law
Islamic law sourced by Quran, Sunnah, qiyas, ijma
Five Pillars provide unity of practice within community’s diversity
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Islam and state
From establishment of first Muslim community in 622, faith of Islam became central force in development of state and society
Caliph and ulama often complementary, establishing a religious order conditioned by political order
Confrontations with Western Christendom as well as periods of coexistence
Crusades most damaging to that history
Andalusia, period of interreligious coexistence
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Revivalist movements
Eighteenth to twentieth centuries
Revivalist movements, concerned with religious, political, and social disintegration of Islam
Believed the cure was a renewal of Islamic way of life
A return to the fundamentals—Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet
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Modernity—Muslim responses to Western Colonialism
Conservative traditionalism of the ulama—wanted to reapply Islamic teachings and law
Western-inspired secular modernism called for separation of religion and state
Islamic modernism—faith and reason compatible, as are Islam and modernity
Islamic revivalism emphasized religious renewal, social and political activism
Most influential: Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic Society
Sayyid Qutb, responding to conflict with Egyptian government, transforms ideology of Muslim Brotherhood into rejectionist revolutionary call to arms
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Postmodern trends
Increased religious observance among Muslims, a nonviolent revolution by early 1990s
Islamic revivalism/activism institutionalized in mainstream society
Islam playing more visible role in socioeconomic/political life
Emergence of schools, hospitals, social service agencies, private mosques
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New elite of modern educated but Islamically oriented professionals and laborers
Islamic activists
Found in cabinets and parliaments of many countries and in leadership of professional organizations
Mostly laypeople from all walks of life
Majority work within system
Emergence of radical extremist organizations
9/11 a watershed, signaling extent to which Muslim extremists had become global threat
Adopt own criteria for a just jihad—use of violence and revolution to establish Islamic way of life
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