Islam and the West

Major Themes and Identities

Muslims and Population  1.3 Billion Muslims in the world today  Islam fasted growing religion  50 Muslim states  Large Muslim minorities in West: 30 Million and growing  globalization shrinks time and space  Interdependence and global connections through media, transport, communications, and economics make understanding between Islam and The West crucial

Four Central Global Concerns

•

SECURITY

•

ECONOMY AND PROSPERITY

•

IDENTITY

•

JUSTICE

Shared Values between Islam and West?

•

Respect for knowledge

•

Concern for justice

•

Concern for less privileged

•

Love or centrality of Family

•

Concern for here and now

Fears of Muslims

• Legacy of Colonialism and Neo-Colonialism 1. Westerners colonized Muslims politically in 19 th century (+demise of Ottoman Empire) 2. Westerners have colonized Muslims culturally and economically in 20 th and 21 st century 3. values of materialism, cover-ups, individualism, wastefulness, lies, sex, and violence 4. clash between Western greed and Muslim faith

Fears of West

• • • • Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism Spread of theocratic regimes, challenging the secular state Difficulty accepting Muslim’s desire to balance matters of the world (dunya) with ideas of religion (din) Fear of Islam spreading threatening Western values and democracy

Commonly misunderstood Arabic words • • • • Ummah: bond that transcends tribal, ethnic, identities

Jihad

Fatwa: formal opinion or decision on a point of Islamic law; does not have status of law Dawah: call to Islam; usually carried out by NGOs (private organizations outside of government) Islam is evangelical religion that seeks to spread the message and encourage conversion

Islamic titles: Ulema (religious scholars) • • • • Mullah: in charge of a local mosque and usually teaches children the Quran and prayers Sheik: higher standing than a Mullah and more learning; Sufi leaders also called sheik Imam: senior figure often in charge of a large mosque; tile is also given to highly respected spiritual figures descended from the Prophet in Shia Islam Ayatollah (sign of God): most senior category of alim— scholar—in Shia Islam; Ayatollahs al-uzma (Grand Ayatollah, f.ex. Khomeini); known for knowledge and piety

Religious Titles continued • • • • Mufti: specialist in Islamic law who is capable of delivering a legal opinion (fatwa) Sheik al-Azhar: head of the Al-Azhar University in Cairo—preeminent spiritual authority in Sunni Islam Sufi terms: 1. pir: master 2. faqir: someone who embraced poverty as choice Caliph, Sultan, Shah: King or Ruler

Sexual Modesty and Islam • • • Hijab: veil, head scarf Burqa: full veil covering a woman Chador: Iranian term for women’s veil that covers hair and body, leaving only face, hands and feet exposed

Common Religious Phrases • • • • Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim: In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate Salam: Peace ilm: Knowledge—Second most-used word in the Quran after the name of God The Prophet said: The first thing Created by god was the Intellect;