2.1.1 Diversity in Islam

Background Information and Context on Islam

Introduction

Islam is one of the world's major monotheistic religions, founded in the 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula. It is based on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, who Muslims believe is the final prophet sent by God (Allah in Arabic).

Core Beliefs

• Monotheism: Islam is strictly monotheistic, emphasizing the belief in one God, Allah.
• Prophets: Muslims believe in a line of prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, with Muhammad being the last prophet.
• Holy Book: The Quran is the holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God as revealed to Muhammad.
• Five Pillars: The foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice includes:
  1. Shahada: Declaration of faith.
  2. Salah: Performing ritual prayers five times a day.
  3. Zakat: Giving to charity to benefit the poor and needy.
  4. Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan.
  5. Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime, if possible.

Historical Context

• Founding: Islam began in the 7th century in Mecca, a city in present-day Saudi Arabia. Muhammad, who was born in Mecca in 570 CE, began receiving revelations from Allah at the age of 40. These revelations continued for 23 years and are compiled in the Quran.
• Early Struggles: Initially, Muhammad's message faced opposition from the leaders of Mecca, leading to persecution of his followers. In 622 CE, Muhammad and his followers migrated to Medina in an event known as the Hijra. This marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
• Expansion: After the Hijra, Islam began to spread rapidly. Muhammad united the tribes of Arabia under Islam. After his death in 632 CE, the religion continued to expand under the leadership of the caliphs, through both peaceful conversions and military conquests. By the end of the 8th century, the Islamic empire stretched from Spain to India.

Sects

• Sunni: The largest branch, comprising about 85-90% of Muslims. Sunnis believe that leadership should be chosen by consensus. The first four caliphs, known as the "Rightly Guided Caliphs," are particularly significant in Sunni tradition.
• Shia: The second-largest branch, making up about 10-15% of Muslims. Shia Muslims believe that leadership should stay within the Prophet Muhammad's family, starting with his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. The Shia community places great importance on the lineage of the Imams, who are seen as the true spiritual and political successors of Muhammad.

Practices

• Worship: Muslims worship in mosques, led by an Imam. The weekly communal prayer on Friday (Jumu'ah) is particularly important.
• Dietary Laws: They follow halal dietary laws, which prohibit certain foods (like pork and alcohol) and dictate how animals should be slaughtered.
• Dress Code: Modesty in dress is emphasized, with specific guidelines varying among different cultures and interpretations. Women often wear a hijab (headscarf) and men may wear a kufi (cap).

Festivals

• Eid al-Fitr: Celebrates the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.
• Eid al-Adha: Commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
• Ashura: Particularly significant for Shia Muslims, commemorating the martyrdom of Hussein, the grandson of Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. For Sunnis, Ashura also marks the day Moses and the Israelites were saved from Pharaoh by God creating a path in the Sea.

Importance in Modern World

It has a profound influence on the cultural, social, and political life of many countries, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia. The religion continues to grow, both through higher birth rates in Muslim-majority countries and through conversion. Islam also plays a significant role in global politics and international relations.

Aspect	Sunni Muslims	Shia Muslims
Leadership	Believe the leader (Caliph) should be chosen by consensus among the Muslim community. The first four caliphs, known as the "Rightly Guided Caliphs," are particularly significant.	Believe the leader (Imam) should be a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, and his daughter Fatimah. They believe in a line of 12 Imams, the last of whom is in occultation.
Population	Largest group within Islam, making up about 85-90% of the Muslim population worldwide.	Smaller group within Islam, making up about 10-15% of the Muslim population worldwide, with significant populations in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.
Key Figures	Respect all the companions of Prophet Muhammad and follow the teachings of the four main Sunni schools of law (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali).	Particularly revere Ali, Hassan, Hussein, and the Imams. They place special emphasis on the martyrdom of Hussein at the Battle of Karbala.
Religious Practices	Follow the Five Pillars of Islam: Shahada (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).	Follow the Five Pillars of Islam with additional rituals and commemorations, especially during Muharram. They also observe practices such as Ziyarat (pilgrimages to the shrines of the Imams).
Prayer	Typically pray five times a day: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. They perform their prayers with specific postures and recitations.	Sometimes combine certain prayers, resulting in three prayer times a day: Fajr, Dhuhr combined with Asr, and Maghrib combined with Isha.
Main Festivals	Celebrate Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (during Hajj). These are joyful occasions marked by community prayers and feasts.	Celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and also commemorate Ashura with special significance, mourning the martyrdom of Hussein with processions and rituals.