Islam and the West

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 19th century (+demise of Ottoman Empire) 2. Westerners have colonized Muslims culturally and economically in 20th and 21st 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;