ISLAM 

 

KEY TERMS:

Allah; muezzin; Sunni; Shi’a; Shari’ah; Sufism; hajj; jihad

            Please use the following questions as you prepare for exams. You may find some questions especially helpful in distinguishing different branches of religious traditions

            Please regard the answers found below as a mere beginning. I encourage you to read further in the text for additional material on each question.

            NOTE: The first set of page numbers in italics refers to the 7th edition of Fisher, Living Religions. The second set refers to the 6th edition, and the third set (in parentheses) refers to the 5th edition. 

 

ETHICAL

1. What are the basic myths or origin stories (cosmogony) associated with the

religion?

      Same as Judaism and Christianity: the stories of the opening chapters of Genesis.

2. What virtues does the religion advocate?

      Submission to Allah, selflessness, kindness to parents, consideration of others, chastity and restraint toward women, be just and fair-minded, be honest in dealing with others, be true to commitments, loyalty, humility, peace-loving

3. Does the religion prescribe a way to enlightenment or salvation? If so, what

does it call this state?

      384.1-6  370.7-11 (367.1-4) The Prophet's task is to combat oppression and corruption: "not only to call people back to faith but also to create a just moral order in the world as the embodiments of God's commandments."

      399.6  379.5 (376.12) Shari'ah-the sacred law of Islam

      392-398  381-386 (369-375) (basic five doctrines-also discussed in Question 27 below) Belief and witness, daily prayers, tithing, fasting, pilgrimmage

386 Another important injunction: jihad

4. Does the religion hold that everyone or only some people can attain

enlightenment or salvation?

Only believers in Allah (and people of the book)

5. Does the religion hold that clerics belong to a higher moral or spiritual order than lay people?

399.21  379.4-5 (376.9-10) No. The Sunnis regard the caliph as the leader of worship and the administrator of the Shari'ah, the sacred law of Islam.

 

6. What impact has the religion had on the way of life of its followers? On the surrounding culture?

       

POLITICAL

7. What are the major political divisions of the religion? (In Christianity, for

example, major divisions would be Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicanism

and Protestantism.)

      399  378 (376) Sunnis

      400  380 (376) Shi'a

      401.15  380.23 (377.16)  'Twelver' Shi'a believe that there were a total of twelve Imams, legitimate hereditary successors to Muhammad. The twelfth Imam, they believe, was commanded to go into an occult hidden state to continue to guide the people and return publicly at the Day of Resurrection as the Mahdi. A minority of the Shi'a, the Isma'ilis and 'Sevners,' recognize a different person as the seventh and last Imam, and believe that it is he who is hidden and still living. There must always be an Imam."

      401  388 (377) Sufi (mystical tradition)

 

8. Does the religion have a central authority that determines orthodox beliefs?

     

9. Has the religion at any point in its history accepted the status of an official state religion?

      Yes, in Islamic theocratic states.

10. Does the religion accept a just war or does it advocate non-violence?

      A Muslim may defend his or her home against invasion and may defend the faith.

11. Does the religion accept spiritual leaders--such as ordained clergy, shamans, and the like?

      No. The caliph is viewed as an administrator rather than a spiritual leader.

      393.16  382.5 (384.13) The imam is the prayer-leader, "but no priest stands between the worshipper and Allah." Every male is a caliph (priest).

      380  366.10 (363.7) The muezzin is simply one who calls the people to prayer

12. Does the religion take a position on class division in society?

      It rejects class division and regards all Muslims as equal.

      396.17  384.3 (386.9) During hajj, all dress in the same garb to signify the equality of everyone.

13. What is the role of women in the religion? Has the role changed over the years?

14. Does the religion permit a married clergy?

15. Has the religion increased or decreased in numbers during the past century?

      406  393 (391) (caption to map): refers to Islam as the fastest growing religion today.

16. Does the religion advocate social engagement or personal salvation-or both? If so, which receives the greater emphasis??

      386.22  372.25 (369.20) "[A Muslim] works for building social institutions which reflect the guidance of God."

      394.15  382.20 (385.7) Zakat or tithing is the second pillar. At least 2.5% of one's wealth should be given in alms.

 

METAPHYSICAL

17. Does the religion accept a belief in a soul, spirit, or the like?

      Yes, a soul.

      390.29  376.29 (373.26) "...the Qur'an emphasizes that after a period of repose in the grave, all humans will be bodily resurrected and assembled for a final accounting of their deeds.

      391.25  377.26 (375.7) In the afterlife: "The desire of the purified souls will be for closeness to God, and their spirits will live in different levels of this closeness."

18. Does the religion hold there is one God (monotheism), many gods (polytheism), or no god (nontheism)?

      376.15  362.12 (359.12) "Its monotheistic creed is simple: 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his Messenger.'"

19. What evidence or proof is offered in support of the existence of God?

20. Does the religion hold that God is something to strive for?

      Emphasizes that God's ways are something to strive for, but God is transcendent.

21. Is faith or reason given greater emphasis in the religion?

22. What position does the religion take on the question of belief in an afterlife or immortality--such as heaven, hell, and reincarnation?

      390.25  376. 26 (373.25) The section entitled "The Last Judgment"

23. Does the religion accept that the ultimate reality is (or could be) female?

      No human qualities may be attributed to Allah.

      389.25  375.25 To associate anything else with divinity except the one God is to shirk, one of two major sins.

 

INSTITUTIONAL

24. Does the religion regard a particular locale (land, city, and so forth) as holy or sacred?

      382.13  368.16 (365.15) "He [Muhammad] was instructed to have the people face Mecca rather than Jerusalem during their prayers."

      396.14  383.24 (386.8) "The fifth pillar is hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. All Muslims who can possibly do so are expected to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime."

25. Does the religion have special places or locations for worship?

      Mosques

26. What are the religion's major holy days or festivals?

      No Sabbath, but special prayers on Friday.

      394.24-396.10  383.5-15 (385.20-386.3) During the month of Ramadan, a commemoration of the first

revelations of the Qur'an, fasting from dawn until dusk is required.

      396-398  383-386 (386-388) The month-long period of hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca.

27. What are the basic doctrines of the religion?

      386.6  372.9 (369.3) "Muslims do not accept...that Jesus has the power to pardon or atone for our sins." Only God has this power.

     386-392  372-378 (369-375) The Central Teachings:

     386  372 (369) the oneness of God and of humanity

      387  373 (370) Prophethood and the compass of Islam

      389  375 (372) Human relationship to the divine

      390  376 (373) The unseen life

      390  376 (373) The Last Judgment

      392-398  381-388 The Five Pillars and Jihad: Belief and witness, daily prayers, tithing, fasting, pilgrimmage

     

29. What are the major texts or sacred documents?

      384-386  370-372 (367-369) The Qur'an ("reading," "reciting")

      385.11  371.12 (368.9) single authoritative text established c. 650 CE

379.10  365.4 (362.3) Hadith: stories of Muhammad's life and sayings (Sunnah)

379.11  365.5  (362.4) Sunnah (sayings and actions)

     

30. What attitude does the religion advocate toward other religions? Is it

exclusivist or universalist?

      387.20  373.21 (370.17) Devout Muslims feel that Islam encompasses all religions. It tolerate non-Muslims (dhimmi), but it taxes them at a higher rate.

      385.28  372.3 (368.29) "Islam is the original religion, according to the Qur'an. Submission has existed as long as there have been humans willing to submit."

 

31. What is the nature of the service, ceremonies, or worship (format, participation of congregation)?

393.10  381.16 (384.7) Daily prayer (salat) is one of the five pillars.

32. Who is regarded as the founder of the religion?

      376-384  362-370 (359-367) Muhammad ("the praised one")

33. Does the religion actively seek converts through missionary activity?

      406-408  392-393 (390-391) Yes.

 

EXPERIENTIAL

34. What is the religion's position on prayer, meditation, chants and dance?

      393  381 (384) Daily prayer is required.

35. What are some individual practices-such as confession?

      393  381 (384) Daily prayer and

      394  383 (385) Fasting

36. What are the religion's attitudes toward healing and health-such as laying on of hands, faith healing, and the like?

37. What is the place of prophecy and oracles in the religion?

      387.22-389.8  373.24-375.8 (370.17-372.6) Prophethood and the compass of Islam

38. Is the religion critical of lack of religion-of secularism, for example?

      401.27  388.21 (378.4) In its early years, Muslims of deep faith, both Sunni and Shi'a, "were distressed by the increasingly secular, dynastic, wealth-oriented characteristics of Muhammad's Ummayad successors. The mystical inner tradition of Islam, called Sufism (Arabic: tasawwuf), also involved resistance to the legalistic, intellectual trends within Islam in its early development."

39. What is the role of sacrifice in the religion?