The History of the Qu'ran

Islamic belief is strongly centered in its scriptural writings of the Holy Qu'ran. The Qu'ran is a text of religious guidance and direction for mankind. This important collection of writings is as important to Islamic faith, as the Bible is to Christians. But how did such an important book become what it is today? How did it come together centuries ago and survive throughout centuries of war and religious struggle?

The Qu'ran began with the prophet Muhammad who received it from an angel during a revelation. His followers were the ones who copied down his visions, although during this time, writing was not one of the main sources at their disposal. Much of the Qu'ran was passed down orally until the correct means for writing were available. However, even when writings were completed, they were not bound together into one cohesive book, but separated and individual. It was because of the lack of binding, that forced many followers to memorize the ancient text and continue to pass down the teachings orally.

Under the order of Uthman, the Qu'ran was collected together and competed to create a single formal text. As the years passed and the spread of Islam grew, so did other cultures and languages. With the invention of paper and the growing intellectual society, translations of the Qu'ran were made for several other regions and countries. Since then, millions of copies of the Qu'ran have been made and have become the guiding symbol of the Islamic faith. Memorizing the Qu'ran is still a wide spread custom among them, continuing the tradition of how the Qu'ran was originally passed down.

http://www.arabicbible.com/islam/hit.htm

Video notes

Muhammad Ibd Abdullah

Perhaps the best-known figure in Islamic history is Muhammad Ibd Abdullah. He was a powerful inspirational leader, who many consider to be the founder of Islamic religion.

Muhammad was born in 570 C.E. in the Arab city of Mecca. Mecca was an extremely important city, both during the time leading up to and following Muhammad’s lifetime. It was the place where the largest Arabic religious shrine, Kaaba, was located, and was home to a variety of different people, numerous fugitives, exiles, refugees, and merchants.

A tremendously influential religious experience caused Muhammad to believe that he was a messenger sent by Allah to speak to and guide the Arabs. Muhammad’s religious encounters with Allah over the next 22 years were documented in a book known as the Quran, which is observed to be the religious scripture of Islam, even to this day. Through the Quran, Muhammad demanded his followers to take on a monotheistic view, with Allah being the one and only god. He stressed social justice and moral values such as solidarity, equality, and generosity.

Muhammad’s revelations and teachings attracted a few important Meccan leaders, as well as free slaves and several from lower and poorer classes. However he also drew the attention of some of Mecca’s elite families, who were opposed to his strong testaments. Eventually, these oppositions drove Muhammad and his followers out of Mecca and to the town of Yathrib, later known as Medina. This migration marked the beginning of the new Islamic calendar.

Unlike the religious figures from the other Universal Faiths (Jesus and the Buddha), Muhammad was a political and military leader as well as a religious one. Muslims drew no line to separate the church from the state in regards to laws or leadership. Muhammad led them in religious practices and into battle until his death in 632 C.E.

Reference:
Robert Strayer, Ways of the World, a Brief Global History - Volume I: to 1500. pgs 303-308.

Taking a Deeper Look at the Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam, or أركان الإسلا in Arabic, is the term given to the five particular duties one must take on to practice the Islamic religion. These particular duties are the foundation and framework of Muslim life, and must be performed. The pillars make up the core belief of the Islamic faith, and are the most important qualities in ones life. To a Muslim, they hold the same sacred aspect as the Ten Commandments to a Christian. The Ten Commandments and the five pillars both hold the key to living a better, religious life. The difference between the two is that the Ten Commandments state what one shall not do, and the five pillars state what one must do. The five pillars were created by God (Allah) and were then revealed through Quranic revelations and prophets. The five pillars are a priority in the Islamic Faith, and serve as the foundation of the religion. We all learned what the five pillars of Islam are in class, but in this post I will go deeper into why each is important, and what exactly happens with each.

The first of the five pillars of Islam is the testimony of faith, or Shahadah. One must publicly speak out about their Belief in one God, Allah. They must state, " Ashadu alla ilaha illa Allah, wa ashadu anna Muhammed ar-rasool Allah." This literally means, "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is his messenger." The reason for this statement is for Muslims to indicate they worship no other deities but Allah, and that Muhammad was chosen by him to send his message of Islam. They believe that Islam reached its definitive form through Muhammad. When the religion first originated, many polytheistic religions and practices still existed, and through this pillar, Muslims state their monotheistic belief in one God, Allah.

To learn more about the first pillar of Islam, visit this site:
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/193/

The second pillar of Islam is Salat, or ritual prayer. Muslims must pray at least five times a day facing the holy city of Mecca. If they miss a prayer, it must be made up at another time. The Salat is a very physical act of worship, using words and actions to signify their submission to Allah. They must confess their sins through each prayer. The first prayer is said at sun up, another at noon, the next at mid afternoon, another at sunset, and the last at sun down. Muslims believe that constant prayer is needed to keep their lives in perspective.

To learn more about the Salat, visit this site:
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/9/

The third pillar of Islam is Zakat, or charity. Muslims must give money and food to the less fortunate as an act of worship. Two and a half percent of all income and holding must be given, although they are more than welcome to go above and beyond the minimum limit. Muslims believe that all things belong to God, and that he trusts them to share their wealth. The poor are obviously excluded from the charity, but middle and upper class Muslims must practice this pillar.

To learn more about the third pillar of Islam, Zakat, visit this site:
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/46/

The forth pillar of Islam is Saum, or fasting. Ramadan is the name given to the holy month in the Islamic calendar. During this month, all Muslims who are able are obligated to fast from sun up to sun down. The fasting requires refraining from eating, drinking, smoking, or sexual intercourse. The reason for this is to practice discipline, unselfishness, devotion, and love to God, and shows compassion to those who are unable to eat. This must only be practiced by adults who are physically and mentally able to do so. It excludes young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people who are seriously ill.

To learn more about the forth pillar of Islam, Saum, visit this site:
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/47/

The fifth, and last pillar of Islam is the Hajj, or pilgrimage. Mecca is the holy city of Islam, and each Muslim must make a pilgrimage to this site at least one time during their lifetime. Mecca unites Muslims from all over the world sharing the same beliefs. They take this journey to Mecca to worship and glorify their God, Allah. This pilgrimage is also seen as a spiritual journey, following in the steps of Muhammad. The pilgrimate serves as the ultimate forgiveness of sins, devotion, and intense spirituality.

To learn more about the fifth pillar of Islam, the Hajj, visit the following site:
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/184/

The five pillars of Islam are the foundation to the religion and the Muslim way of life. It is through these five obligations that Muslims prove their faith in their God, Allah. They shape the importance of the religion, and are the five tasks that must be accomplished to fulfill their lives as Muslims practicing the Islamic religion. Each religion is based on foundations, and have aspects that must be accomplished in order to practice that particular faith. It is important that we recognize religions other than our own and understand what is believed in around the world.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-five-pillars-of-islam.htm
http://www.themodernreligion.com/basic/islam_pillars.htm
http://www.allaboutreligion.org/five-pillars-of-islam-faq.htm
http://www.carm.org/five-pillars-of-islam

Islamic Symbols

In most religions, there is an iconic symbol that is affiliated with the religion in question. The symbol serves as a banner or an image of hope. In Christianity, there are multiple iconic symbols, but the most recognizable symbol is Jesus on the cross. This is an image of suffering and sacrifice for the greater good of the people. In Buddhism, the iconic symbol is the "Budduh." This jolly-looking figure is an overweight bald man sitting with his legs crossed and has an inviting smile on his face.

In Islam however, there is no official or direct symbol that represents the religion. Over the years, the most common symbol became the star and the cresent symbol. This image is represented on the flags of many countries of islamic faith, such as Turkey and Pakistan. Surprisingly, the symbol is not Muslim in origin. Rather, it was a polytheistic icon adopted during the spread of Islam, and its use today is sometimes controversial in the Muslim world.

It is important to keep in mind that Islam has few traditional symbols, and the crescent moon and star are not ones that are recognized by as traditional symbols by Muslims. The symbol is due to cultral diffusion and the spread of Islam to the Ottoman turks who ruled a large area and also put the crescent moon and star symbol on their flag.

What is Islam?

Islam is the youngest of the Universal religions. Islam is an Arabic word which means "Submission" and derives from a word meaning peace. Muslim is the title of the people who believe in the Islamic religion. There are many aspects of the Islamic religion.

First, in the religion, they believe in one God, Allah, which is the Arabic word for God. Tawhid is the most important Islamic beleif. It is the belief in Allah with all his power. Tawhid indicates that Allah is the sustainer of the universe and the soul source of guidance. The first step to becoming adopting the Islamic faith is the belief that there is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet.

http://www.ethikana.com/islam/allah_swt.htm

Also, Muslims believe in prophets, and Muhammad was the most well known and important. When Muhammad was forty years old, he was meditation and received his first revelation from God through the angel Gabriel. Muhammad began preaching what he heard from the angel and was persecuted for doing so. Because of the harsh treatment, he emigrated from Makkah for Madinah. This migration was known as the Hijra. After many years, Muhammad and his followers forgave their enemies and returned to Makkah. When Muhammad passed away, most of Arabia became Muslim, and it continued to spread.

http://www.zajel.org/article_view.asp?newsID=3218&cat=9

The Muslim Holy book is the Qur'an. It is the primary doctrinal source of Islam. It is the product of Allah's revelations to Muhammad over a period of twenty three years. It is divided into thirty sections with 114 chapters, 7 stops, 16 prostrations, and 6,666 verses. Many verses are very poetic, while others are just written normally.

http://www.ethikana.com/islam/about_quran.htm

Another aspect of Islam is the five pillars. They are the foundations of Muslim life. The first pillar is faith; the belief in Allah and that Muhammad is his prophet. The second pillar is prayer; Muslims are to pray daily. The third pillar is helping the needy. The fourth pillar is fasting; during the month of Ramadan each year, Muslims fast from first light to sun down. The last and fifth pillar is the pilgrimage to Makkah or "Mecca." It is known as the Hajj in Arabic.

http://www.zajel.org/article_view.asp?newsID=3216&cat=9

Islam, like all religions, has many parts to it. It is not just the faith in Allah, but the dedication to the Qur'an and practicing the five pillars. Although Islam is the youngest of the universal religions, it spread just as far and is practiced by just as many as the other religions. Today, Islam is the second largest religion in the world behind Christianity. 1.2 billion people practice this religion and they represent 22% of the entire world's population.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_numb.htm

In English Please

I am not a particularly religious person, but the idea religion has always been of interest to me. It is fascinating to look at the major world religions and to study their similarities and differences as well as the differences in the doctrine versus the actual practice of the religion. However, I have found myself confused and overwhelmed with all of the fractures within the system and the different denominations. Even though history is chronological for the most part, I find it easier to understand some aspects if I know what is going to happen.

For a world regional geography class a few semesters ago, I created my own simplified version of the history of world religions; a timeline of sorts. I like uncomplicated explanations because it makes studying a bit easier. Part of my outline shows the progression of Christianity and highlights events such as the Great Schism in 1054. I also included more details such as a list of denominations that grew from several divisions in the church.

History of World Religions: Christianity

1. Divisions: Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodoxy,
2. Great Schism, 1054.
1. Eastern Orthodox Church

i. Denominations include: British Orthodox; Serbian Orthodox; Orthodox Church of Finland; Russian Orthodox; Syrian Orthodox; Ukrainian Orthodox; Bulgarian Orthodox; Romanian Orthodox; Antiochian Orthodox; Greek Orthodox; the Church of Alexandria; the Church of Jerusalem; and the Orthodox Church in America.

2. Roman Catholic Church

i. Protestant Reformation.

1. Denominations include: Amish; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon); Jehovah's Witnesses; Quakers; Seventh-Day Adventist Church; United Pentecostal Church International; Calvinism; Lutheranism, Nazarene, Presbyterian.

2. Reformed: based in Switzerland. Followed teachings of Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin.

3. Presbyterianism: based in Scotland. Followed teachings of John Knox.

4. Anabaptists: based in Switzerland. Connected with Amish, Mennonites, Quakers, and Baptists.

5. Anglicanism: based in England. Created by King Henry VIII.

i. Episcopalianism: interpretation of Anglicanism in America.

ii. Methodism: based on Anglicanism. Followed the teachings of John Wesley.

I also included links to comparisons between denominations from Religious Facts. I like these charts because they are easy to read and compare the denominations well; it makes studying religion less overwhelming.
•Facts and Stats
•Beliefs
•Practices
•Positions on Social and Ethical Issues
•Catholic and Protestant Theology

Another nice graphic to help make sense of the organization of Christianity can be found here.


Source Consulted:
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/history.htm

Vocabulary Lesson!! Yay!!

As a person who is likes to keep up with happenings around the world, it is important to be familiar with the terminology that is used regarding certain topics. Since our topic this week is Islam, I thought it would be useful to explain frequently used vocabulary when addressing Islam.

I have heard many people use the words “Islam” and “Muslim” interchangeably. Simply, Islam is the religion and a Muslim is a follower of that religion. In 2005, PBS aired a special called “In the Name of Islam” and on its website invited viewers to submit their questions. Albert Frank of Kingston, Pa. asks:

“Please explain again the difference between Islam and Muslim. Is Islam a religion and are Muslims people who believe in and practice Islam?”

Professor Salim Mansur offered a more in depth answer to Frank’s question. He wrote,

“Islam is the faith-tradition and the word "Islam" means "peace" and "submission," hence "peace through submission to God (Allah in Arabic), the Lord of the Universe, the Master of the Day of Recompense." "Muslim" means a person who has made such a submission, at least in its outward form.”

Islam is built on five “pillars” which are the foundation of Islam. They are:

1. Faith or belief in the Oneness of God and the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad;
2. Establishment of the daily prayers;
3. Concern for and almsgiving to the needy;
4. Self-purification through fasting; and
5. The pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able.
   

The first pillar, “faith or belief in the Oneness of God,” means that Muslims accept Allah (God) as the only god. Additionally, they believe in “the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad” which means that Muhammad is the only person who has interacted with Allah and is his prophet.

The second pillar, “establishment of the daily prayers,” requires Muslims to pray daily on five occasions: pre-dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening.

The third pillar, “concern for and almsgiving to the needy,” is also known as Zakat. Islam asks that Muslims donate a portion of their monies to help other, less fortunate Muslims. A quick Google search for “Zakat calculator” yields nearly 50,000 websites to help calculate a donation.

The fourth pillar of Islam, “self-purification through fasting,” takes place during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims are required to fast from sun up to sun down each day. At the end of the month, a celebratory feast is held; it is known as "Eid" or "Eid ul-Fitr.”

Finally, the fifth pillar, “pilgrimage to Makkah” [Mecca] is required of all Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the trip. As written on Religious Facts website:

The most sacred place in Islam is the Ka'ba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Ka'ba is a mosque (built by Abraham according to Muslim tradition) built around a black stone. The Prophet Muhammad designated Mecca as the holy city of Islam and the direction (qibla) in which all Muslims should offer their prayers.

The last aspect of Islam that I want to touch on briefly is the two major sects, Shiite and Sunni. Again, to make is simple, the difference between the two is that Shiite Muslims believe that the appropriate caliphs to serve after Muhammad are those with direct, blood relation to the prophet. Sunni Muslims, however, believe that any legitimate religious leader is qualified to succeed Muhammad. This distinction has been the cause for conflicts between governments in the Middle East.

Iconic symbols of Buddha and Jesus

In the two faiths of Christianity and Buddhism, there are two icons that come to mind. When someone thinks about the Christian faith, the image of a starving, beaten, bloody man nailed to a cross. To a person that has no idea about Jesus or Christianity, this image is not very appealing.

In Buddhism, the iconic image is of a very round and plump man with a big smile on his face and he is sitting with his legs criss-crossed. On image alone, I believe that Buddhism is more appealing than Christianity. The Buddha looks jolly and inviting to all who care to listen.

If a person had to choose to follow a religion based only on how the icon of that religion appeals to them, I truely believe that person would choose to follow Buddhism. When looking at the the image of a bloody Jesus nailed to a cross, this tells me that this man has suffered a lot of pain and to be honest, makes the image of Christianity very depressing. Buddha, however, sits with his legs crossed and his giant belly sticks out while wearing a warm and welcoming smile on his face. Legend says that if a person rubs Buddha's belly, that person will have good luck.

The Byzantine Empire

After the division of the Eastern and Western parts of Rome, the eastern remained under the rule of Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome. Constantine moved the capital from Rome to the city of Byzantium. He rebuilt the city and called it Constantinople, naming it after himself. This new capital city represents the end of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Byzantine Empire. He began building monuments to create a more Christian feel in the new capital city. The first church built there by Constantinople was the church of St Eirene, and it was dedicated to Holy peace.
The fall of Rome ended the western half of the Roman Empire, and the eastern half continued as the Byzantine Empire. The empire had many different elements, a few of which were Christianity and Greek education. The Christianity developed here was the most significant cultural feature of the Byzantium Empire. It had a major influence on Orthodox Christianity, and missionary work began its spread.
The Byzantine Empire covered Greece, Balkans, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt. The empire looked less like a Roman empire, and had more of a Greek aspect, because the Greeks were the predominant race in the empire. Greek became the main language of the empire, replacing Latin. Also, legislation became thoroughly Greek.
The Byzantine Empire fell to Muslim invaders in 1453 because of the sack of Constantinople.
The Christianity and Greek influence in the Byzantine empire was extremely important. The spread of Orthodox Christianity lead to the adoption of a new religion still practiced in many places today. Without Constantine, and the Byzantine empire, Christianity might not have spread the way it did, and the religion would not be how it is today.

http://www.gothicmed.com/gothicmed/GothicMed/virtual-museum/greece/General/Byzantio.html
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/byzantium/index.html
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac59
http://www.lycos.com/info/byzantine-empire.html

Richard the Lionhearted

Richard I of England is best know for his role in the third Crusade, but his varied and often violent disposition followed him throughout his life. Richard was the second son of Henry II of England, who gave him his holdings in southern France. Henry encouraged his sons to live and learn in their own lands, but failed to teach them good methods of power and control. Eventually, his sons revolted against him, and although Henry defeated them, tensions and battles remained a continuous state of affairs for the family.

As he grew, Richard gained a reputation for power and chivalry through his many conquests. Richard loved power and might, and expended much energy and money on all chivalric pursuits. When he heard of the Crusade held in 1188, he became very involved and almost obsessed with it. Religious objectives justified the chance to show his strength, and Richard returned to England from his land in France to collect money to fund his contribution to the Crusade. He threw all his energy into fundraising, in both legitimate and questionable means, including the sale of political appointments and church lands.

In addition to his mishandling of state monies, Richard took many of his wise advisers with him on the Crusade and left many energetic officials in England who would have done well to join him. Richard committed many cruel acts while abroad, including killing many prisoners in a rage. In his absence, England was again upset by rebellion, and Richard rushed to return home because he found the chances of retaking Jerusalem slim. On his way, he was wrecked and taken prisoner, but England paid his ransom.

Richard returned England's aid by abandoning his country and returning to his lands in France, where he died in a battle with France. He left England under the watch of Archbishop Hubert Walter, who governed capably but tried to extort money from the people and church.

Richard supposedly died sincerely regretting his indiscretions, and one bishop considered him the most religious of his brothers. These positive descriptions, however, don't balance his acts in the eyes of history. Many people only know of him through his association with the Crusades, and as they learn about his failures as a leader, their bad impression is cemented.

Source and more information: Catholic Encyclopedia

Byzantium and the History of the Orthodox Church

Byzantium was an ancient Roman city that served as a major hub for Christianity. In contrast with today’s untheological mindset, Byzantium flourished with religious festivities and passionately heated debates. It was a powerful center for Christian civilization, with which any other Roman or European city could not compete.

There was no clear line that divided the church from the state in Byzantium. The two were seen as one unit, not truly separable. Emperors Constantine and Justinian played significant roles in blurring this division. The emperor played an important role in several religious ceremonies, as he was viewed as a symbol of the monarchy of God in Heaven.

Monasticism was a large aspect of religious life in Byzantium. It started in Egypt and Syria but quickly found its way into Christendom. There are three different aspects of monasticism: “first the hermits, ascetics leading the solitary life in huts or caves, and even in tombs, among the branches of trees, or on the tops of pillars … Secondly there is the community life, where monks dwell together under a common rule and in a regularly constituted monastery … Finally there is a form of the monastic life intermediate between the first two, the semi-eremitic life, a 'middle way' where instead of a single highly organized community there is a loosely knit group of small settlements, each settlement containing perhaps between two and six members living together under the guidance of an elder.”

It is interesting to read about the history of a religion that is so popular today. There are several aspects to the religion that are not commonly known, even though so many know the generalities about such a religion.

Reference:
http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/history3.aspx#Byzantine%20Christianity