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Articles and Other Materials • Catholic-Muslim Forum: Final Declaration (Nov 6, 2008) • Address of Pope Benedict XVI to Forum Participants (Nov 6, 2008) • Return to CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM Page
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- to top - INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM Muslims and Christians together make up approximately 45% of the world’s population. Without peace between these two large world wide religious communities, meaningful peace is difficult to visualize. The need for Christian understanding of Islam and vice versa, inter-faith cooperation and peaceful co-existence is a theme which is more relevant now, than at any other time in the history of our nation. But the basis for this peace and understanding already exists. It exists in our commonalities, in our foundational principles, in our bed rock beliefs such as the belief in one God, Prophets, prophecies, worship, supplications, mercy, law, scriptures, sin, forgiveness, judgment, heaven, hell, angels, rewards, eternal life, moral character, love of thy neighbor, justice and freedom and perhaps others. Our efforts to build relationships on the basis of common ground today would be very similar to what the Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars were doing in 10th century Baghdad, 11th century Alexandria, 12th century Harran, 13th century Cordoba, 14th century Granada, 15th century Isfahan, 16th century Istanbul and many other great centers of classical Islamic civilization. These encounters were among the greatest achievements of world history. They can very well be replicated today. INTRODUCTION TO BASIC ISLAMIC BELIEFS MUSLIM CREED ISLAM ALLAH BELIEF IN PROPHETS BELIEF IN DIVINE SCRIPTURES QURAN BELIEF IN ANGELS BELIEF IN DAY OF JUDGEMENT AND LIFE HEREAFTER MAJOR PROPHETS JESUS MARY MUHAMMAD SATAN FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM Muslims are required to
MUSLIMS IN THE USA Muslims have been emigrating to these United States since 1920’s. The earliest known Mosque (sometimes called a Masjid) or place of worship in the USA was established in Cedar Rapids Iowa some 70 years ago. Current estimates of Muslims living in the US range from 2.5 million to 7 million, with large pockets in all the major metropolitan cities of the US. It is widely believed (amongst Muslims) that there are approximately 150,000 Muslims living in the State of Virginia. There are three areas of concentration here in Virginia, mostly around Washington D.C., Norfolk and its surrounding townships and the Richmond metropolitan area. The largest pocket being Northern Virginia. There are approximately 6000 to 8000 Muslims residing in the greater Richmond metropolitan area. Roughly one third of the Muslims in the U.S. are from South West Asia which includes Pakistan, Bangla Desh, India, Iran and Afghanistan. Another third is from the Middle East and remaining are indigenous Afro-American Muslims who have embraced Islam. For the most part, Muslims are peace loving and law abiding citizens working shoulder to shoulder with their non Muslim friends and neighbors in the mainstream workforce. They have contributed quite positively to their communities for years and still continue to do so. U.S. MUSLIMS & 9/11 The heinous crime that was committed on September 11, 2001was condemned by most Muslims, if not all, that reside in the U.S. Muslims in the Richmond metropolitan area publicly (repeatedly) denounced this barbaric act of terrorism in the newspaper, on radio and TV. But unfortunately some stereotyping of Muslims did result as an outcome of 9/11. Crimes must be dealt with on an individual basis. Each criminal must be apprehended and brought to justice, not on the basis of national origin, religious beliefs or ethnicity. NEXT STEPS As mentioned at the outset, Christian understanding of Islam and vice versa is an absolute requirement. Pope Benedict's approach to have dialogue with Muslim scholars is an excellent idea that will hopefully bring better understanding. But dialogue, interaction and interface must be adopted at the grass root level. Lastly I must commend Fr. Pat for his openness and his friendship. This program on November 30 th can be a springboard for having better relations with Muslims. It is a great step towards a great future, not just for ourselves but for our kids and future generations as well. - to top - |
- to top - BRIEF HISTORY OF ISLAM History of Islam has its beginnings, not surprisingly with the creation of Adam and Eve. Suffice it to say that all three semitic religions namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam start at this common point. The Quran (Muslim divine scripture) has several stories that are also related in the Old testament, for instance, David and Goliath, Noah and his ark, Jonah and the whale, and the trials and tribulations of Joseph with respect to his brothers. Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, and Jesus are all covered, some in more detail than others. However for our purposes, a very short history is provided below that covers an era that starts with the birth of Muhammad and ends with the 'Era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs'. This is roughly a period of 90 years. Year 570 C.E is commonly known to be the year when Muhammad was born in the tribe of the Quraish. His father died before he was born. He was raised by his mother and grandfather in his early years however both died early leaving him to be raised by his paternal uncle Abu Talib. Meccan Arabs were traders by profession, who typically trekked long caravan routes from Mecca, Saudi Arabia to greater Syria. Young Muhammad visited Syria twice in his lifetime, once when he was about twelve and another when he was in early twenties. He worked for a business woman named Khadija managing her caravans, eventually marrying this widow. He was 25 years at the time and she was 40. They had six children, two boys who died in their infancy and four girls. Muhammad was known for his help to the poor. He would often times feed the hungry and the homeless, assist the needy, and provide assistance to his community members. Religiously, he would however, distance himself from the idol worshiping Arabs of Mecca who worshiped a different idol each day. At the age of forty, whilst sitting in a cave, according to Muslim belief, the arch angel Gabriel visited him. His Prophethood started at this juncture with Gabriel transmitting a few verses of the Quran. He would continue to receive a few verses of the Quran at a time, over a period of 23 years. Muhammad was not well received as a Prophet in Mecca. For 13 long years he struggled with his message in his home town with little success. He was ostracized by his own Quraish clan, demeaned and forced to live along with his few followers in the outskirts of town with their food being rationed. Upon receiving divine revelation he emigrated to Medina, some 250 miles north of Mecca. This emigration is known as the Hijra. In Medina, the Arab tribes of Aws and Khazraj supported him to overcome his continuing struggle with his old home town Quraish tribesmen. Three wars were fought between the Quraish and the fledgling Muslim community, with the latter eventually winning. Muhammad lived in Medina for a period of 10 years before he died. But in the last decade of his life, the Muslim community grew exponentially. Islam had spread from Medina to the entire Arabian peninsula. He died at the age of 63, which is the year 632 C.E. Muslims had a new leader (caliph) in Abu Bakr, (632 C.E. through 634 C.E.) a very close confidante of Muhammad who led the state for a period of 2 years before he died. During his era, he had to overcome one major obstacle. Several Muslim clans apostatized and refused to pay Zaka (obligatory charity to the poor). Abu Bakr went to war against them and eventually suppressed their apostasy and in the process unified Arabia again. During his short period, the Muslims made conquests in Iraq and Syria which as we will see started the Muslim course of expansion. The next caliph Umar ibn Khattab (634 C.E. through 644 C.E.) was a close confidante of Muhammad as well. His era extended over a period of 10 years, which saw Muslim campaigns continue in Iraq, and Syria. Muslim armies during this 10 year time frame entered Persia and Egypt as well. Umar was an extraordinary leader who was a great statesman and reformer as well. He introduced the Muslim calendar, the Bait ul Maal (public treasury), patronized education, organized census, started several municipal departments and during his period captured Jerusalem. Caliph Uthman ibn Affaan (644 C.E. through 656 C.E.) was also a close confidante of Muhammad. His was the longest period of rule amongst the rightly guided caliphs. Expansion continued in both East and West directions, with Muslim Arabs advancing into the Caucasus and conquering parts of North Africa as well. Expansion came to an abrupt halt in the year 652 C.E. Caliph Ali ibn Abu Talib ( 656 C.E. though 661 C.E.) was a cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad. Expansion had ended but there was strife and dissension within the Muslim community. Although Ali was an honest man who possessed many virtues, political struggle within the Muslim community was the dominant theme. The period 632 C.E. - 661 C.E is called the era of the 'Rightly Guided Caliphs' for a few reasons: All four Caliphs had very close familial connections with Muhammad. They had witnessed the early struggle, fought early wars and were totally dedicated to the cause of Islam. Their honesty, integrity and passion for Islam could never be questioned. Furthermore, besides being caliphs they were religious leaders as well. Their knowledge of Islamic tenets was legendary, which includes providing explanation/exegesis (commentary) on Quranic verses, and narrating several traditions from Muhammad as well. SUMMARY -- MUSLIM RULES OVER THE ENTIRE MUSLIM WORLD THE FOUR RIGHTEOUS CALIPHS [632 C.E.– 661 C.E.]
5. Umayyad Caliphate [661-750 C.E] 90 years approximately. Caliphate Damascus
6. Abbasid Caliphate [750-1258 C.E] 500 years approximately. Caliphate Kufa/Baghdad 7. Muslim Rule in Spain - Umayyad rule [714 -1492 C.E] 780 years approx.
8. The Fatimid Rule in Egypt [953-1171 C.E] 220 years approx. Caliphate Egypt
9. Egypt’s Abbasid Caliphate [1261 – 1516 AD] 260 years approx. Caliphate Egypt 10. The Ottomon Empire [1258 – 1912 C.E.] 600 years approx. Caliphate Istanbul
11. The Muslim world is currently distributed in 56 majority Muslim countries. - to top - |
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