John Tyman's Cultures in Context Series EGYPT and the SAHARA www.johntyman.com/sahara |
|
3.3 Islam: Pt. I 196-214 |
| . |
|
John Tyman's Cultures in Context Series EGYPT and the SAHARA www.johntyman.com/sahara |
|
3.3 Islam: Pt. I 196-214 |
| . |
 |
| .196. Though they have, sadly, been bitter enemies at times (but not always!) the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions share the same patriarch -- Abraham. The Jews are descendants of Isaac, whose mother was Sarah; and the Arabs look to Ishmael his half-brother, whose mother was Hagar, Sarah’s maid. |
 |
| .197. However, Muslims believe that while the One Truth was revealed to humanity by a series of inspired prophets (including Jesus) and these insights can be found in Christian and Jewish scriptures, their revelations were corrupted -- by changes in the text during translation and/or willful misinterpretation. (Rowan Williams, when Archbishop of Canterbury, with an early English translation of the Bible courtesy: 3.bp.blogspot.com ) |
 |
| .198. So, Muslims believe, God addressed a final message to mankind through Mohammed who was “the seal of the prophets” (the last in the series). Born in Mecca around 570, he received his first divine message when he was about 40.These revelations continued for the rest of his life, and were written down in classical Arabic to form the Holy Koran or Qur’an. (An eleventh century North African Qur’an courtesy Wikipedia ) |
 |
| .199. While the Koran has been translated into other languages, its Arabic version remains unchanged since it is believed to be the direct word of God (Allah). There is nothing equivalent to the translations and/or paraphrases in which the Christian Bible has appeared over time. The meaning of the Koran can, however, be clarified by reference to the “Sunnah”, a collection of models and rules for daily living, and to the sayings of the Prophet recorded in the “Hadith”. (A dua -- or expression of submission -- from the Sunnah courtesy xeniagreekmuslimah.files.wordpress.com ) |
 |
| .200. The Koran declares that God (Allah) is both merciful and all-powerful, and that he controls the course of events -- which makes it possible for people to accept suffering without question, since it must be the will of Allah. On the Last Day he will judge people according to their acts and assign them to heaven or hell, so that how one behaves in this life is of utmost importance. (Mother and daughters studying the Qur’an: courtesy “I love Islam”) |
 |
| .201. The theology of the Koran is holistic, and allows no separation between the sacred and the secular. “Down the centuries the traditional education of a Muslim has rested on two pillars. Theology taught them what to believe, and the sacred law (Sharia) prescribed how they should behave. And in practice the law has been the senior partner, for Islam has always been more explicit about the quality of life God has ordained for his people than about the nature of the Creator himself.” [Norman Anderson in “The World’s Religions”: Lion Hudson, 2007] (Women and girl in conservative Swat Valley, Pakistan courtesy 1.bp.blogspot.com ) |
 |
| .202. In other words, Islam is clearly a way of life as well as a religion. Sharia law has at times been used (some would say misused) in ways that have harmed the image of Islam in the West, but it is meant to be a blueprint for the smooth running of an Islamic community and (inevitably) makes provision for punishment in one form or another. (Public caning : nimg.sulekha.com ) |
 |
| .203. While some Arab countries still use the Western/Christian calendar, others count their years from the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in the Christian year 622AD. This migration is referred to as the “hijrah” and Muslim history is reckoned in hijrah years -- or AH (Anno Hegirae) -- which are themselves based on the cycles of the moon. Each month begins only when the new moon is actually sighted in Mecca: and a full Islamic year is just 354 days in length. (Cover of wall calendar for 2009 AD and 1430 AH courtesy IslamicCalendar.wordpress.com) |
 |
| .204. Since from the beginning Muslims have always emphasized the importance of reading the Koran in the unchanged original, the language of Arabia spread with the religion. Persons who cannot read Arabic, like the Tuareg, are clearly disadvantaged and considered less than pure ... “cast out by God”. (Tuareg guide near Djanet) |
 |
| .205. In much the same way that Christ’s followers were split in time between Protestants and Roman Catholics (and much blood shed as a result) so the adherents of Islam have long been divided between Sunnis and Shi’as, over who should succeed the Prophet. The division is deeply felt and expressed today in horrifying sectarian violence. In 9th, 10th and 11th centuries the Great Mosque in Kairouan was an important centre of Sunni theology. (Mosque in Kairouan) |
 |
| .206. The Sunnis claim to be the true heirs of Mohammed. Believing that no one could possibly succeed him as a prophet, they appointed a succession of caliphs from Mohammed’s tribe who would guard the existing prophetic legacy. (Abdulmecid Khan II, the last Caliph of the Ottoman Empire courtesy Wikipedia) |
 |
| .207. The Shi’as believed that there was room for further inspired interpretation and that this should be provided by someone with a personal connection to the Prophet. They chose his son-in-law Ali as the first imam. Shia’s today are outnumbered by Sunnis, who dominate worldwide (85%) including North Africa. (Shia Muslims in Bahrain beating their chests to express their grief in remembrance of the hardships Ali suffered : Wikipedia) |
 |
| .208. While Sunnism and Shi’ism represent the major doctrinal forms of Islam, Sufism celebrates the inner spiritual life of both (though at times Sufis have been persecuted because they were different). They are sometimes referred to as “Whirling Dervishes” ... because of the way they may spin like tops to induce a trance-like state. In this case, though, the dancer was performing at a restaurant in Cairo. |
 |
| .209. The heart of Sufism is the love of God, which is celebrated in study and prayer as well as dancing. The Sufis are not a distinct sect, simply Muslims -- Sunnis or Shi’as -- who seek intimacy with God through a discipline of spiritual purification. In the West they are best known today for the ecstatic verses of their early poets -- especially Rumi and Hafiz -- whose lines serve sometimes as spiritual graffiti. (A wall in an American city courtesy 4.bp.blogspot.com) |
 |
| .210. Islam means submission and this is expressed in the observance of the so-called “Five Pillars of Islam”, namely (1) that followers declare publicly that “there is no God but God and Mohammed is his prophet;” (2) pray five times a day; (3) give alms to help the needy and assist in the propagation of the faith; (4) fast during daylight hours during the month of Ramadan; and (5) complete the haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca (if humanly possible). (Ghardaia and the mosque that dominates the town’s skyline) |
 . |
| .211. Prayer is an essential part of daily life in both towns and villages. The call to prayer -- “Allahu akbar!” (‘God is most great’) -- is now broadcast from loudspeakers fixed to minarets, but for most of history it was proclaimed by voice alone. (Painting of “A Muezzin Calling from the Top of a Minaret the Faithful to Prayer” by Jean-Leon Gerome in 1879 courtesy: Wikipedia) |
 |
| .212. At sunrise, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and during the night -- five times a day -- all work and business stops. These men were fishing from the walls of the harbour in Alexandria when, from a distance, they heard the call to prayer. |
 |
| .213. In the business district, offices and shops were closed. The shopkeepers pulled down their shutters, and simply knelt outside in the street. (In Alexandria) |
 |
| .214. Women usually pray at home then, or in their garden. On six days of each week both men and women are welcome to pray at home, or wherever they happen to be. However, Friday prayers are meant to be offered at a local mosque, or in the street outside it when the number of worshippers exceeds its capacity (as often happens). (Woman praying at Ain Khudra) |
Text and photos by John
Tyman unless otherwise indicated.
Intended for Educational Use
Only.
Contact Dr. John Tyman at johntyman2@gmail.com
for more information regarding
licensing.
www.hillmanweb.com
Photo processing, Web page layout,
formatting and hosting by
William
Hillman ~ Brandon, Manitoba ~ Canada
){kind=link}
