9. Islam

 

I. Origins

    - see class Video

II. Development of Islam
    A. Division in Islam occurred shortly after Muhammad’s

         death in 632
         1. Sunni
             - believe only Muhammad’s political and military

                 authority can be passed on to his successors
             - Caliph > representative of Muhammad, must be

                 a member of the Prophet’s clan
             - supported Abu-Bakr, Muhammad’s close companion,

                 advisor and father-in-law as successor

         2. Shia
              - Believed Muhammad’s religious authority could also be

                  passed on; successor must be a member of the Prophet’s

                 clan by birth
             - Imam > both a political leader and divinely inspired religious leader
             - Ayatollah > highest level of religious scholar
             - supported Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law

         3. The Division
             - After Muhammad’s death Abu Bakr was chosen as caliph rather

                 than Ali
             - Ali was chosen as the fourth caliph, but was murdered by

                 supporters of the Umayyad clan
             - Ali’s son, Husayn, and his supporters were massacred in the

                 680 battle at Karbala
 

         4. Legacy
              - Sunni (Traditionalists)

                 > consider themselves the guardians of religious orthodoxy
                 > consider the Qur’an and Hadiths as sources of religious

                     and legal authority

             - Shi’ites (Party of Ali)
                 > Imam are divinely inspired religious leaders
                 > succession of Imams traced from Ali, some are hidden
                 > belief in a Mahdi (guided one), a Messiah
                 > importance of Martyrdom
                 > Mistrust of Sunni interpretation of the Qur’an and

                     allows for an allegorical reading look to reveal

                     hidden meanings

         5. Sufism
             - opposed materialism of the Abbasid Empire and called for

                 a return to the more austere and spiritual life of early Islam
             - sought a mystical union with God
             - a tolerant, mystical interpretation of Islam with an emphasis

                 on peace, compassion and humility

    B. Spread of Islam
         1. Umayyad Dynasty (661-750)
             - capital in Damascus, Syria

         2. Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258)
             - capital in Bagdad, Iraq

III. Islam and the Modern World
    A. Lagged behind the West from the 17th century; Isolation
         1. Conservative nature of Islam
         2. Self satisfaction relative to European countries
         3. Development within Islam of extremely conservative

                 groups > such as Wahhabism (founded 1744)

    B. End of Isolation in the early 20th century
         1. Better means of transportation and communication

         2. World War I
             - Ottoman Empire entered on the side of Germany and lost
             - break up of the Ottoman Empire into independent states

                 > initially as League of Nations mandates granted to

                      England and France

         3. Discovery of Oil in the Middle East and Indonesia

    C. Resurgence of Islam
         1. Reform Movements
             - close reading of the Qur’an for answers to modern

                 political and economic problems; feminists seek

                 grounds to expand their roles and right in the Qur’an

         2. Extremely active Missionary movements if Africa

         3. Islam associated with the struggle for social justice and

              self-determination vs. the West

IV. Islam Today
    A. Islam is again an expanding and growing religion

    B. Emergence of Islamic Fundamentalism
         - reaction against Western culture
         - call for a return to traditional Islamic customs and practices
             > left wing response - 1979 Iranian Revolution
             > right wing response – Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabsim; however,

                 dissidents like Osama bin Laden seek dissolution of the monarchy

                 and imposition of an even stricter social order
         - struggle between modernization and Fundamentalism

 

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