Islam History, Customs and Religion
Part Four
Slide Presentation
Pre-Islamic Arabia And Its Socio-Religious
Condition
Muhammad Mohar Ali
In the article by the above title the author gives a
lengthy essay of social and religious conditions in Arabia prior
to the establishment of Islam. The full article may be read on
the Internet at: http://bismikaallahuma.org/History/preislamic.htm. Some of the more pertinent points are:
“Arab historians and traditions classify the
inhabitants of Arabia into two broad divisions,
their extinct ancestors and the surviving
people. The extinct ancestors are called al'Arab al-Ba'idah (the extinct Arabs) who lived
and flourished in dim antiquity but who have
gone almost entirely out of existence. Examples of
these extinct Arabs are the 'Ad, and the Thamud, the
Tasm, the Jadis, the 'Amlaq and others of whom
virtually no survivors are found. The Qur'an makes
repeated references to those bygone peoples,
particularly to the 'Ad and the Thamud.”
“The surviving people are divided into two
categories, al- 'Arab al- 'Aribah or the Aboriginal
Arabs and al-'Arab al-Musta'ribah or the Naturalized
Arabs. The first are the descendants of Ya'rub son of
Yashjub, son of Qahtan (Joktan of the Old
Testament). They are therefore more generally called
Qahtanite Arabs. Their habitat was Yaman. The
famous Sabaean and Himyarite kingdoms and their
high degree of civilization were the work of these
Qahtanite Arabs. The Qur'an makes special mention
of the Sabaeans.”
“The Naturalized Arabs, al-'Arab al-Musta'ribah,
were the descendants of Prophet Ibrahim(P) through his
eldest son Prophet Isma'il(P). It must not be supposed
that they were later in coming to Arabia than the
above mentioned Qahtanite tribes from the south. In
fact Prophet Isma'il and his mother settled at Makka
long before the dispersal of the above mentioned
Qahtanite tribes in different parts of Arabia. It should
also be noted that Prophet Ibrahim was no non-Arab
or non-Semitic person. He descended from the same
Semitic Arabs who had long previously migrated and
settled in the Tigris-Euphrates valley (Babylonia). In
that sense his coming to Makka and settling his son
and wife there was a sort of return to the original
home of his ancestors. The descendants of Isma'il are
called "naturalized Arabs" not really because they were
originally non-Semitic outsiders, but mainly because
their ancestors had long before left the land.”
“For a long time indeed the descendents of Isma'il
continued to follow the faith and rites in their original
forms as introduced by him and his father. With the
passage of centuries, however, they gradually deviated
from the original faith and succumbed to the natural
tendency of the crude and unsophisticated mind to find
an easily approachable god for support in times of
distress and for redress of wrong, to the tendency to
idolize a hero or ancestor, to the sense of helplessness in
the face of the forces of nature and, above all, to the
influence of the practice of those who were regarded as
superior, intellectually, physically or materially.”
Please keep in mind that these quotes are from an Islamic
historian and they are presenting his viewpoint.
Introduction of Idols
“Polytheism was introduced at Makka after its occupation
by Banu Khuza'ah, particularly by their leader 'Amr ibn Luhayy.
According to Ibn Hisham 'Amr once went to Syria where he
observed the people worshipping idols. He enquired of them of the
reasons for their doing so and they replied that they did so
because those idols caused the 'rains to fall for them and victory
to attend them as they prayed to the idols for these things. 'Amr
was impressed and asked them whether they would give him one
for his people to worship it. Accordingly they gave him the idol of
Hubal which he brought to Makka, placed it near the Ka'ba and
asked his people to worship it. As they considered him their leader
and wise man they started worshipping the idol. According to Ibn
al-Kalbi, 'Amr once fell seriously ill and was told by someone that
if he took a bath in a special spring in Syria he would be cured. So
he went there, took a bath in that spring and was cured. As he
observed the people there worshipping idols he asked them the
reason for their doing so, etc.”
Semite god; a bull with man’s head,
one type of idol to be found in early
Mesopotamia.
Babylonian sun god
on a clay tablet. The
worship of the sun in
many cultures may
have prompted
Muhammad to look,
instead of the sun, to
the moon as a god.
Some of the ancient gods were
humanized by bodies or heads of
animals, birds and men.
Many of the gods were real or
fictionalized animals. The Ka’ba
at the time of Muhammad
contained many different types
of gods.
“The story illustrates the fact that polytheism
found its way among the descendants of Ismail from
their neighbours and others.”
“These gods were indeed worshipped by Prophet
Nuh's people, as the Qur'an clearly states (Q. 71:23).
They represented certain cults relating to astral worship
or worship of the forces of nature or deification of some
human qualities, prevalent in ancient Assyria and
Babylonia, the land of Nuh's people.”
“Ultimately each and every tribe and clan, in fact every
family, had their special idol to worship. On the eve of the Prophet's
emergence some 360 idols were placed in and around the Ka'ba.
The most important of these was Hubal. It was a big statue in
human form of which a hand having been broken the Quraysh had it
remade with gold. Two of the idols in the Ka'ba compound were 'Isaf
and Na'ila, placed originally on the spot of the Zamzam well but
subsequently removed to a spot near the hills of Safa and Marwah.”
The Pre-Islamic deity
"Hubal" was derived from
the red
skinned Ba-Hubali, another
name for Lord Hanuman
“Muhammad’s
attention then turned to the
large statue of Hubal on the
roof of the temple. Hubal is
none other than Ba-Hubali,
another name for Hanuman.
The First Encyclopaedia of
Islam relates that "Hubal
was an idol, made of red
carnelian, in the form of a
man".
“Anybody who is familiar with Hindu temples knows that
BaHubali (Hanuman) is the great Monkey God, the son of the WindGod. He is always represented in red, and adorns the roof of the temple
pinnacle. This is because in the great Hindu epic Ramayana, BaHubali
was rewarded for his great devotion to Lord Rama, by being accorded
the privilege of always carrying the Hindu flag, which is poised on the
pinnacle of temples. Thus the image of Hubal, was none other than the
red colored image of BaHubali holding the saffron "Dhvaj" or flag of
Hinduism on the roof of the Kaaba temple.
“This image of BaHubali was dragged down from the roof, and
the saffron flag that it held was trampled into the dirt by the "Holy
Prophet". The icon itself was buried in the sand and used as a doorstep.
This particular practice of the Prophet, of taking down the sacred idol of
a temple and using it as a doorstep to trample, on set a precedent that
would be extensively followed by the pious adherents of Islam in the
future. One has a hard time believing in the "tolerant" nature of Islam,
when the Prophet of Islam himself desecrated and insulted another
religion in such a disrespectful fashion.”
“Like a devouring fire, Muhammad's malevolence fed off the
innumerable defilements and desecrations that he and the Muslims
committed that day. All the other stones that were worshipped in the
Temple were used as cornerstones of the Kaaba Mosque structure that
was raised. The only idol that Muhammad spared was the black stone
known today as "Sangey Aswad", which I have explained before as
being the Shivling. The only reason this was spared is that, it was the
family deity of Muhammad's clan. In addition, the Prophet was cunning
enough to realize that in leaving the Shivling there, he would be
guaranteed a sizeable and constant income, by charging pilgrims who
would throng to worship the sacred stone. This act by itself invalidates
all of Muhammad's pompous claims about idolatry and exposes the selfcontradictory nature of Islam. If indeed his new religion was violently
opposed to idolatry in any form, why did the founder of Islam decide to
invest a mere Black stone with divinity? In fact, Muhammad is said to
have circambulated the Shivling seven times and then to have kissed it,
in an exact replication of the manner in which the Vedic Arabs used to
pay homage to it.” Aditi Chaturvedi Vedic Past of Pre-Islamic Arabia - Part 5
The Ka’ba at
Mecca
“Besides thus making
the Ka'ba the principal
dormitory of their numerous
idols the Arabs had
developed a number of
subsidiary Ka'bas
(tawaghit), so to say, at
“They used to visit those different places in the land,
shrines at appointed times,
each with its presiding god
circumambulate them and
or goddess.”
make sacrifices of animals
there, besides performing other
polytheistic rites.”
“The pre-Islamic Arabs used to worship these idols
or gods and goddesses in various ways. They used to
make supplication to them, prostrated themselves
before them, made offerings to them, beseeched their
favour, sought to please or propitiate them in the belief
that they were capable of doing good or harm to man,
sacrificed animals on altars dedicated to them, made
pilgrimages to their shrines, circumambulated them and
drew arrows of divination by them or in their shrines.
They also used to name themselves after these gods and
goddesses….But though thus engrossed in extensive
polytheism and idol-worship the pre-Islamic Arabs did
not develop any elaborate mythology or involved
theology around their gods and goddesses….No trace of
such things can be found in the pre-Islamic poetry and
traditions. This fact further indicates that polytheism and
idol worship were not indigenous to the Isma'ilite Arabs
but were grafted on to the Abrahamic tradition.”
“Idols however were not the only abominations, that the Prophet
had to destroy in the Kaaba. There were many holy paintings in the
Kaaba as well. According to another Muslim historian's account,"Umar
began to wash out the pictures with the water of the Zamzam well, when
Muhammad placed his hand on a picture of Jesus and Mary and said:
"Wash out all except what is below my hands". This is an absolute
anomaly.
“The Pre-Islamic Arabs were known for their abhorrence towards
Christianity and in fact had even fought off the Christian Ruler of
Yemen, an Abyssinian by the name Abraha. Abraha had massacred the
Jews of Yemen and sold a third of them as slaves. He had sworn to
destroy the Kaaba and in 570 AD, he attacked Mecca for this very
reason. However a miracle which the Meccans attributed to their beloved
Allah (Durga), is supposed to have turned away Abraha and his hordes. It
is ludicrous to imagine that the Meccans would then proceed to put up a
painting of the Christian icons, Mother Mary and Jesus, in their sacred
precinct of the Kaaba. Muhammad's God himself admits as much in the
Quran, where he says the disbelievers show great disrespect for (Jesus).”
The only painting that was not destroyed in the
Kaaba
probably depicted Goddess Parvati and the
child-god Kartikkeya
Source: Amar Chitra Katha
“…we can safely conclude that the Painting described by
Muslim historians couldn't possibly have depicted Jesus and
Mary as claimed. This painting probably depicted the divine
motherly representation of Durga(Allah) as Shiva's wife Parvati
with the child Kartikkeya. Kartikkeya was named after the six
Kritikkas, which are actually the six stars known as Pleiades.”
“Since the Kaaba is based on an astronomical plan, it's quite
possible that the Kritikkas and the son of God named after them,
Kartikkeya would be depicted along with the Mother-goddess in a
Temple paintings. The presence of a Shivling in the Kaaba which
represents Lord Shiva, the father of Kartikkeya is also significant in
this regard. Also one may remember that Muhammad's family were
primarily Shiva worshippers and that his name "Muhammad" is
derived from the word "Mahadev" which is another name for lord
Shiva. Perhaps Muhammad could not dare to demolish this one last
reminder of his family's polytheistic past.”
“The initial destruction of all 360 images in the Kaaba, was
only the beginning of Muhammad's horrendous rampage. Within a
matter of days, he would attempt to destroy as much of Arabia's
Vedic heritage as possible.”
The Works "The Life & times of Muhammad" by Sir John Glubb, "An Introduction to the Hadith" by
John Burton and "Hindu Temples: What Happened to Them?" by Sita Ram Goel
The Gods of the Quraysh
The Quraysh tribe into which Muhammad was
born was particularly devoted to Allah, the moon
god, and especially to Allah's three daughters who
were viewed as intercessors between the people
and Allah.
The worship of the three goddesses, Al-Lat,
Al-Uzza, and Manat, played a significant role in the
worship at the Kabah in Mecca. The first two
daughters Allah had names which were feminine
forms of Allah.
The literal Arabic name of Muhammad's father
was Abd-Allah. His uncle's name was Obied-Allah.
These names reveal the personal devotion that
Muhammad's pagan family had to the worship of
Allah, the moon god.
Crescent Moon: Symbol of Islam?
The crescent moon and star is
an internationally-recognized symbol
of the faith of Islam. The symbol is
featured on the flags of several
Muslim countries, and is even part of
the official emblem for the
International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies.
The Christians have the cross, the Jews have the
star of David, and the Muslims have the crescent
moon.
What is the history behind the crescent moon
symbol? What does it symbolize or mean? How
and when did it become associated with the faith
of Islam?
The Crescent Moon Symbol
The symbol of the worship of the moon god
in Arabian culture and elsewhere throughout the
Middle East was the crescent moon.
Archaeologists have dug up numerous
statues and hieroglyphic inscriptions in which a
crescent moon was seated on top of the head of
the deity to symbolize the worship of the moon
god. In the same fashion as the sun is pictured
above the Egyptian deity.
While the moon was generally worshiped as
a female deity in the Ancient Near East, the
Arabs viewed it as a male deity.
The Maqam Ibrahim is
located in front of the only door of
the Ka’ba. Inside the building is a
boulder about 2 x 3 feet in size and
that claims to have the footprint of
Abraham which was imbedded when
his foot miraculously sank into the
rock when he stood on it. Muslims
believe (without proof) that this is
the spot where Abraham used to
perform prayers near the Ka’ba.
They also believe he used it as a
stepping stone to build the Ka’ba.
Tradition says the Ka’ba was built first by Adam and restored by
Abraham and Ishmael, thus the reference to “build the Ka’ba”.
The
Crescent
Moon Used
Today
You can see the
symbol of the crescent
moon on top of the
Maqam Ibrahim beside
the Ka’ba, as well as
nearly every mosque in
the world. The historical
connection with pagan
moon worship is thus
obvious.

The Islamic Center In Nashville
on 12th Avenue South.
Notice the Crescent Moon
and Star on the top of the Center,
a symbol appearing on most
mosques.
The Black Stone
"Before Muhammad appeared, the Kaaba was surrounded by
360 idols, and every Arab house had its god. Arabs also believed in
jinn (subtle spirit beings), and some vague divinity with many
offspring. Among the major deities of the pre-Islamic era were al-Lat
("the Goddess"), worshiped in the shape of a square stone; al-Uzzah
("the Mighty"), a goddess identified with the morning star and
worshiped as a thigh-bone-shaped slab of granite between al Talf and
Mecca; Manat, the goddess of destiny, worshiped as a black stone on
the road between Mecca and Medina; and the moon god, Hubal,
whose worship was connected with the Black Stone of the Kaaba.
The stones were said to have fallen from the sun, moon, stars, and
planets and to represent cosmic forces. The so-called Black Stone
(actually the color of burnt umber) that Muslims revere today is the
same one that their forebears had worshiped well before Muhammad
and that they believed had come from the moon. (No scientific
investigation
The Black Stone
has ever been performed on the
stone. In 930, the stone was
removed and shattered by an
Iraqi sect of Qarmatians, but
the pieces were later returned.
The pieces, sealed in pitch and
held in place by silver wire,
measure about 10 inches in
diameter altogether and several
feet high; they are venerated
today in patched-together
form.)" (Peter Occhigrosso,
1996 The Joy of Sects)
Muslims believe (without proof) that the revered
"black stone" (Alhajar Al-Aswad) is a special divine
meteorite, that pre-dates creation that fell at the foot
of Adam and Eve. It is presently embedded in the
southeastern corner of the Ka’ba. Muslims touch
and kiss the black stone during Hajj but nonMuslims are strictly forbidden to even touch it.
The stone has been attacked
many times and is now composed
of several pieces and fragments,
bound together by a silver
ligature. It is semicircular and
measures about ten inches
horizontally and twelve inches
vertically.
“The Arabs' polytheism and worship of idols
together with their mistaken notions about Allah
determined their whole attitude toward life and society.
They considered life in this world to be the be-all and
end-all of human existence. They worshipped and
propitiated the gods and goddesses and recognized Allah
for that purpose alone. They did not believe in
resurrection, reward and punishment and life after
death. ‘There is nothing but our life in this world; we
shall die and live but shall never be raised up again’, so
they believed and declared.”
“This attitude led to a sense of ultimate
unaccountability and a desire to enjoy the worldly life in
all possible ways and without any restrictions.
Licentiousness, prostitution, adultery, fornication and
unbridled indulgence in wine, women and gambling
were thus widely prevalent. Unlimited polygamy was in
vogue and a sort of polyandry, in which a particular
woman was used as wife by a number of men (less than
10), was not uncommon. If a child was born in such a
case, it was to be accepted by the person whom the
woman declared to be its father. Sometimes a person
allowed his wife to go to other persons for the sake of
having a son.”
“The woman's position in society was indeed
unenviable, though she participated in many a social
and economic activity and though we sometimes find
glowing tributes paid to sweethearts in pre-Islamic
poetry. In general, women were treated as chattels.
There was no limit to a man's taking as many wives as
he liked. Similarly he divorced his wives at will and quite
frequently.”
Arabian
Peninsula.
The area
occupied by
the
descendants
of Abraham
and the
origin of the
religion of
Islam.
Arabian
Peninsula
as seen
from
space.
The
lighter
area is
desert.
“While this was the general socio-religious scene,
other religious systems like Christianity, Judaism,
Mazdaism (Zoroastrianism) and Sabaism (or
Sabianism) had made their way into the peninsula in a
limited way. Christianity was introduced in some
northern tribes, particularly among the Ghassanid and
in Hira mainly at the instance and initiative of the
Byzantine authorities. Some princes of Hira had
embraced it. In the south it was introduced in Yaman
mainly after the first Abyssinian occupation of that land
(340-378 A.C.). In its neighbouring region of Najran
Christianity of the Monophysite type was introduced by
a missionary from Syria named Faymiyun. A number of
people of the area embraced that faith. There was
also a sprinkling of Christian immigrants and
converts at Makka at the time of the Prophet's
rise.”
“So far as Judaism was concerned it found its
place in the peninsula not so much by conversion as by
immigration of the Jews into it. This immigration took
place mainly at two periods - one after the Babylonian
occupation of Palestine in 587 B.C. and for a second
time after the Roman conquest of the land and the
destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 A.C. A number
of Jewish tribes migrated into Arabia and were settled
at places like Yathrib (Madina)…Not that they remained
completely inactive in the matter of propagation of
their faith. According to tradition they made a convert
of the Himyarite king (Tubba') Abu Karib As'ad Kamil
(385-420 A.C) when he visited Madina in the course of
a northern expedition and sent with him two rabbis to
propagate Judaism in Yaman. The extent of the success
of these Jewish missionaries in Yaman is not clear; but
a descendant of As'ad Kamil's, Dhui Nuwas,
proved to be a vigorous champion of Judaism. He
persecuted the Christians not only of Yaman but even
massacred the Christian community of Najran,
throwing a large number of them in a deep ditch full of
fire. His intolerance brought about a joint ByzantineAbyssinian intervention in Yaman leading to the end of
Dhu Nuwas's rule and the beginning of the second
Abyssinian occupation of the land under Abrahah. As
noted earlier, Abrahah determined to Christianize the
whole land, built a gigantic cathedral at San'a' and led
a campaign against Makka in 570-7 1 A.C. to destroy
the Ka'ba.”
These were the general conditions which led to the opportunity
of Muhammad to establish a new religion which became Islam.
The Development of Islam
After the church had been in existence for 500 years, a
period in which people were drawn both toward and away
from the New Testament pattern, and a period during which the
early “church fathers” began organizing into what developed as
the Catholic church, a man by the name of Muhammad was
born on August 20 in the city of Mecca in 570 A.D.
Muhammad was a part of one of the dominant Arab
tribes, the Qu’raish (people) and was a part of the trading
society of Mecca. Mecca had become a great trading city and
was a stopping place for merchants and businessmen of all
races, religions, and countries. It was an open city, open to the
world. It was a period of many leaders, none able to control the
area for a long period of time.
Muhammad’s father , Abdullah, died before his was born and
his mother, Amina, died when he was six years old. His grandfather,
Abdul-Muttalib, took him to raise, but he died two years later. An
uncle, Abdul-Talib, took him in where he helped run the camel
caravan business taking goods to and from Syria and other places.
Muhammad was hired by a
widow named Kadijah to help
with the caravan she inherited
from her deceased husband.
At age 25 he married the
rich widow (who was 39)
whose money allowed him
to rise from a lowly position in life. They had three sons (who died in
infancy) and four daughters; one Fatima, who became the wife of a
great warrior, a Caliph, and eventually a successor to Muhammad. He
is believe to have spent a great deal of time in a cave named Hira
located on a hill near Mecca (photo). Beginning around 610 A.D.,
Muhammad claimed that one night in the month of Ramadan he thought
he heard a voice speaking to him twice. Through meditating in the
desert cave he claimed God revealed to him through the angel Gabriel
certain revelations.
The voice commanded him to read, to which he replied, “I
cannot read.” The voice continued until he asked “What shall I
read?” The response was: “Read in the name of your Lord Who
created. He created man from a clot. Read again and your Lord is
most Honorable. Who taught (to write) with the pen. Taught man
what he knew not.” (Surah 96:1-5) It is claimed that this is the first
revelation of the Qur’an brought from heaven by the angel Gabriel.
Muhammad never personally wrote down any of these
revelations that were received over a period of 23 years. They
were written shortly after his death and they are now called the
Qur’an.
After the experiences in the desert, Muhammad claimed to
be a prophet of God with the commission to guide others by God’s
message revealed to him. Around 617 A.D. he began to preach to
anyone who would listen to him.
His message at first was a simple one: that Allah (God) is
one, and is lord of everything. The people of Mecca at this time had
a religion called Ka’aba. They literally worship a black stone (a
cube). The basis of the religion was the belief that many objects
possessed spirits (called jinn) and power, and the black stone was
one of these objects. Obviously, the message claiming Allah was
Lord was not well received in a society that already had hundreds of
gods. The people called Muhammad a sorcerer and a false prophet.
They claimed he was possessed, and eventually ran him out of
Mecca. His fleeing , or escape, is now called the year of Hijra
(Flight, immigration) and marks the first year on the Muslim
calendar.
Muhammad fled to Medina, a city situated c.110 mi inland
from the Red Sea in a well-watered oasis where fruit, dates,
vegetables, and grain are raised. Before the flight from Mecca to
the city in 622, Medina was called Yathrib. Muhammad quickly
gained control of Medina, successfully defended it against attacks
from Mecca, and used it as the base for converting and conquering
Arabia. He used the city as a base for a Holy War (Jihad) against
Mecca, which, after eight years he conquered and became its ruler.
The first mosque was built which became a place for the
homeless and travelers as well as a place for public discussion and
worship. Muhammad used the supposed revelations to govern the
community by “divine law.” This system inaugurated the way of life
now known as Islam. A way that controls not only the religious life,
but also the political and social life as well. It is the way that Islam
continues to advocate today.
The early visions of Muhammad suggests he was a
prophet to everyone in Arabia, whether pagan, Jewish or
Christian, and all of them were to be included in the community
life. But when the Jews rejected him as a prophet and his
accounts of sacred history he severely denounced them in the
Qur’an. In some parts of the Qur’an the Jews are called
“people of the book” and were to be tolerated, and in some they
are dealt with harshly.
The Black Stone of Islam
Upon the defeat of the
Meccan army, Muhammad tore
down the 360 idols of the Ka’ba
and destroyed them, but kept
the Black Stone as a sacred part
of Islam.
The prayers that
formally were directed toward
Jerusalem must now be said
facing Mecca.
The Black Stone
Pilgrims to Mecca, after
circumambulating the Ka’ba,
enter the Ka’ba to see, and if
possible, to kiss the Black
Stone.
“Remember We made the
House a place of assembly for
men and a place of safety; and
take ye the Station of Abraham
as a place of prayer; and We
covenanted with Abraham and
Isma’il, that they should
sanctify My House for those
who compass it round, or use it
as a retreat, or bow, or
prostrate themselves (therein
in prayer)." (Qur’an 2:125)
Muhammad established the divine orders he thought he was
called to carry out and made a pilgrimage to Mecca a part of his
religious reorganization.
Islam spread very rapidly during the first
100 years of its existence.
With the majority of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam,
Muhammad died on June 8, 632 A.D. During his lifetime he did
not claim to be an innovator or a revolutionary, only that he was
commissioned to complete the work of the Jewish and Christian
prophets. In less than 100 years from the advent of Islam, the
Islamic Empire extended from Spain to areas of India and China.
Islam at that time made no distinction based on race, class, or
background, and the Muslim world was considered a worldwide
community, the ummah.
“This day have I perfected your religion for you and
completed my favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as
your religion.” Sura 5:4.
Muhammad rose to become lawgiver, administrator and
judge. He brought peace and reconciliation to tribes and families
who had long been at war.
Abu Bakr said, “If you worshipped Muhammad, he is
indeed dead; but if you worship God, He is alive and can never
die.” This statement is the reason why his followers do not wish
to be called “Mohammedans”, rather they want to be called
“Muslims”.
Some Tenants of Islam
Visit to Mecca to worship at the Ka’ba
The Ka’ba is a small, cubed building in Mecca towards
which Muslims face five times a day, everyday, in prayer. This
has been the case since the time of Prophet Muhammad. The
current height of the Ka’ba is 39 feet, 6 inches and total size
comes to 627 square feet. The walls are all made of stone. The
stones inside are unpolished, while the ones outside are polished.
This small building has been constructed, it is claimed, by Adam,
and reconstructed by, Abraham, Ishmael and Muhammad.
Literally, Ka’ba in Arabic means a high place with respect and
prestige. The word Ka’ba may also be derivative of a word
meaning a cube. It is sometimes associated with the Black Stone
which is housed in the Ka’ba.
Worshippers march slowly around the Ka’ba seven times.
The Ka’ba originally held the black stone
worshipped as a god along with some 360
other idols housed within the walls. Current
belief states that the tribe, the one to which
Muhammad belonged, was given the
responsibility for the care of the building and
abused their power for money which led to the idolatrous use of the
building. The square structure is said to represent the unity in Islam.
Muhammad adopted the building as a convenient symbol and had the
Qur’an to state:
“Remember We made the House (Ka’ba) a place of
assembly for people and a place of safety; and take ye the Station
of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We covenanted with
Abraham and Ishmael, that they should sanctify My House for
those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or
prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).” –Surah 2:125
Muslims are supposed to make at least one journey to Mecca
during their lifetime in order to worship at the Ka’ba. Worshippers move
around the Ka’ba in a circular motion, gradually getting closer to the
building as they bow and pray on schedule. The black stone has been
adopted as the platform Abraham and Ishmael used to stand on to lay the
stone for the base of the building. The Ka’ba and is said to be a symbol
of unity.
The Five Pillars of Islam
Five requirements of all faithful Muslims
1. Faith
There is no god worthy of worship
except God and Muhammad is His
messenger. The declaration of faith
is called the Shahada, a simple
formula which all the faithful
pronounce. In Arabic, the first part
is la ilaha illa'Llah- 'there is no god
except God'; ilaha(god) can refer to
anything which we may be tempted
to put in place of God- wealth,
power, and the like. Then comes
illa'Llah: 'except God', the source
of all Creation. The second part of
the Shahada is Muhammadun
rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the
messenger of God.' A message of
guidance has come through a man
like ourselves.
2. Prayer
Salat is the name for the obligatory
prayers which are performed five
times a day, and are a direct link
between the worshipper and God.
There is no hierarchical authority in
Islam, and no priests, so the prayers
are led by a learned person who knows
the Qur’an, chosen by the
congregation. These five prayers
contain verses from the Qur’an, and are said in Arabic, the
language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be
offered in one's own language.
Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and
nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day.
Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a
Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices,
factories and universities.
3. The Zakat
One of the most important
principles of Islam is that all things
belong to God, and that wealth is
therefore held by human beings in
trust. The word zakat means both
'purification' and 'growth'. Our
possessions are purified by setting
aside a portion for those in need, and,
like the pruning of plants, this cutting
back balances and encourages new
growth.
Each year Muslim calculates his
or her own zakat individually. For
most purposes this involves payment
each year of two and a half percent of
one's capital.
4. The Fast
Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first
light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual
relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women
who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make
up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically
unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day
missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from
puberty, although many start earlier.
Although the fast is most beneficial to the health it is regarded
principally as a method of self-purification. By cutting oneself off
from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains
true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one's
spiritual life.
5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)
The annual pilgrimage
to Makkah- the Hajj- is
an obligation only for
those who are
physically and
financially able to
perform it.
Nevertheless, about two
million people go to
Makkah each year from
every corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those of
different nations to meet one another. Although Makkah is always
filled with visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the
Islamic year (which is lunar, not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadan fall
sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter). Pilgrims wear special
clothes: simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and
culture, so that all stand equal before God.
The rites of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include
circling the Ka'ba seven times, and going seven times between the
mountains of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar during her search for
water. The pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Arafat and
join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a
preview of the Last Judgment.
In previous centuries Hajj was an arduous undertaking. Today
however, Saudi Arabia provides millions of people with water,
modern transport, and the most up-to-date health facilities.
The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid al-Adha,
which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim
communities everywhere. This, and the Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day
commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the main festivals of the
Muslim Calendar.
The ZamZam
Sacred well in Mecca,
just a few metres to the
east of the Ka’ba.
The Zamzam is also
called the well of Ismail. The
well is 35 metres deep, and
is marked by an elegant
dome. The water is
considered health-giving,
and pilgrims collect the
water in bottles and bring it
back home. One of the last
things a hajji tries to do, is
to dip his or her future
burial clothes in the
Zamzam.
Muslim tradition states that the Zamzam was
opened by the angel Gabriel, to save Hagar and her son
Ishmael from dying of thirst, when they were out in the
desert. From the sources available, the Zamzam appears
to have been revered since long before Muhammad, that
is from pre-Islamic times.
The Hajj (Pilgrimage) requires eight days of formal ritual
including trips (usually by foot) to the site of Hagar and Ishmael’s
revival in the desert (her going back and forth looking for water).
The stay in Mecca is orchestrated by the Saudi government, the
Mecca government and the considerable tourist trade business.
Because the Muslim calendar is lunar the month of Ramadan can
fall in any part of the year.
The Hajj at a Glance
The Islamic State
Islamic states are radically different from a national state.
Islamic countries, which are able to impose Islamic law upon their
citizens, have an ideological system as their foundation for their
political, economical, social and religious life. This system
intentionally discriminates between people according to their religious
affiliations. A prominent Pakistani Muslim scholar, summarizes three
differences between secular and Islamic states as interpreted by the
Hanifites:
First, “An Islamic state is ideological. People who reside in it
are divided into Muslims, who believe in its ideology and nonMuslims who do not believe.”
Second, “Responsibility of policy and administration of such a
state ‘should rest primarily with those who believe in the Islamic
ideology.’ Non-Muslims, therefore cannot be asked to undertake or be
trusted with the responsibility of policymaking.”
Third, “An Islamic state is bound to [discriminate] between Muslims
and non-Muslims.” (Mawdudi, S. Abul `Ala’, The Rights of NonMuslims in Islamic State, Islamic Publications, LTD. Lahore,
Pakistan, 1982).
There are four Islamic Schools of jurisprudence. We’ve looked at
the view of the Hanifites. The other three schools are the Malikites, the
Hanbilities (the most fundamentalists and the strictest), and the Shafi
`ites. All four agree dogmatically on the basic creed of Islam but
differ in their interpretations of Islamic law that comes from four
sources:
1. Qur’an (meaning reading or recite): The sacred book of
Muslim community containing direct quotes from Allah as allegedly
dictated by the angel Gabriel.
2. The Hadith (meaning narrative): The collections of Islamic
traditions including sayings and deeds of Muhammad as head by his
contemporaries, first second and third hand.
3. Al-Qiyas (meaning analogy or comparison): The legal decision
drawn by Islamic Jurists based on precedent cases.
4. Ijma’ (meaning consensus): The interpretations of
Islamic laws handed down by the consensus of reputed Muslim
scholars in a certain country. (Samuel Shahid, http://answeringislam.org/Non-Muslims/right.htm, Internet, Oct. 1, 2001).
Differing emphasis upon the various interpretations
explains how one Islamic faction can promote the propagation of
peace while, at the same time, another Islamic group promotes
Jihad, or a Holy War. To harmonize practices, the many splinter
groups of Islam usually claim dissenters misquote Qur’anic verses
and place them out of context.
Legal Opinions Considered God’s Law
The Qur’an has only a few textual laws, the majority of laws are
formulated as Fatwa (legal opinion) by prominent scholars in each
country and carry equal weight with the Qur’an. Actual laws may vary
from country to country depending upon the Fatwa (a term you may
have heard in some newscast lately). Some of the more interesting
Fatwa are:
The two classifications for Non-Muslims (or infidels); (1) Darul-Harb (Household of War), people who are not bound by treaty, or
covenant, or whose blood and property as not protected by the law of
vendetta or retaliation; (2) Dar-us-Salam (Household of Peace) which is
divided into three subgroups:
“A. Zimmis (those in custody) are non-Muslim subjects who live in
Muslim countries and agree to pay the Jizya (tribute or penalty) in
exchange for protection and safety, and to be subject to Islamic law.
These enjoy a permanent covenant;
B. People of the Hudna (truce) are those who sign a peace treaty with
Muslims after being defeated in war. They agree to reside in their own
land, yet to be subject to the legal jurisprudence of Islam like Zimmis,
provided they do not wage war against Muslims;
C. Musta'min (protected one) are persons who come to an Islamic
country as messengers, merchants, visitors, or students wanting to learn
about Islam. A Musta'min should not wage war against Muslims and he
is not obliged to pay Jizya [tribute or penalty] but he would be urged to
embrace Islam. If a Musta'min does not accept Islam, he is allowed to
return safely to his own country. Muslims are forbidden to hurt him in
any way. When he is back in his own homeland, he is treated as one who
belongs to the Household of War.” (Abdullah, Najih Ibrahim Bin, The
Ordinances of the People of the Covenant and the Minorities in a Islamic
State, Balagh Magazine, Cairo, Egypt, Volume 944, May 29, 1988; Vol.
945, June 5, 1988).
According to Muslim jurists, the following legal ordinances must
be enforced on Zimmis (Christians and Jews alike) who reside among
Muslims:
1)
Zimmis are not allowed to build new churches, temples, or
synagogues. They are allowed to renovate old churches or houses of
worship provided they do not add any new construction. "Old churches"
are those which existed prior to Islamic conquests and are included in a
peace accord by Muslims. Construction of any church, temple, or
synagogue in the Arab Peninsula (Saudi Arabia) is prohibited. It is the
land of the Prophet and only Islam should prevail there. Yet, Muslims, if
they wish, are permitted to demolish all non-Muslim houses of worship
in any land they conquer.
2)
Zimmis are not allowed to pray or read their sacred books out
loud at home or in churches, lest Muslims hear their prayers.
3)
Zimmis are not allowed to print their religious books or sell them
in public places and markets. They are allowed to publish and sell them
among their own people, in their churches and temples.
4)
Zimmis are not allowed to install the cross on their houses or
churches since it is a symbol of infidelity.
5)
Zimmis are not permitted to broadcast or display their ceremonial
religious rituals on radio or television or to use the media or to publish
any picture of their religious ceremonies in newspaper and magazines.
6)
Zimmis are not allowed to congregate in the streets during their
religious festivals; rather, each must quietly make his way to his church
or temple.
7)
Zimmis are not allowed to join the army unless there is
indispensable need for them in which case they are not allowed to
assume leadership positions but are considered mercenaries.
Special Rules for Islam Women
These rules are interpreted and enforced differently in various
countries depending upon the degree of political power exercised by
the religious leaders of Islam. The following descriptions are typical
of the religious practices in the more strict Muslim countries
although they may be partially followed in any country where
permitted.
Three rules for women’s dress code. First, “…we have provided
you with garments to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury. But
the best garment is the garment of righteousness.” Surah 7:26.
Second, “They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies,
except that which is necessary. They shall not strike their feet
when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their
bodies.” Surah 24:31.
Third, “O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives
of believers that they shall lengthen their garments. Thus, then will be
recognized and avoid being insulted.” Surah 33:59. From these verses
the Islamic scholars have determined that women should in public ware
only long dresses, have a hair covering, and for the extremist, have a veil
or face covering.
These photos illustrate the “burqa” or lengthened garment
with head covering.
The Chador
The Hijab
Men are superior to women. "And it is for the women to
act as they (the husbands) act by them, in all fairness; but the men are
a step above them." (Surah 2:228, trans. Rodwell). "Men have
authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the
other." (Surah 4:34, trans. Dawood). “Men are superior to women
because women have less intelligence, are less religious, lack
gratitude, and are less reliable as witnesses. It takes two women to
equal one man in matters of testimony.” (Surah 2:282).
Islam is male dominated. Mohammad himself said: ‘the woman
is a toy, whoever takes her let him care for her (or do not lose her)."
(Tuffaha, Ahmad Zaky, Al-Mar'ah wal- Islam, Dar al-Kitab alLubnani, Beirut, first edition, 1985, p. 180). The belief that a
woman is a toy is of vital importance for the spiritual well being of
a Muslim man. "In the company of women, looking at them, and
playing with them, the soul is refreshed, the heart is rested, and the
man is strengthened to the worship of God...this is why God said:
'That he might rest in her.' (Surah 7:189)" (Ihy'a 'Uloum ed-Din by
Ghazali, Dar al-Kotob al-'Elmeyah, Beirut, Vol II, Kitab Adab alNikah, p. 34). The husband’s desires are to met at once. Obedience
to a husband is the key to paradise for a wife (Surah 4:34) and he
may beat her for any disobedience (some translations say “beat
lightly”). A husband’s rights are considered divine. He is her
Paradise or Hell. If Allah were not the only one to be worshipped,
then the wife would be required to worship her husband. (Mishkat
al-Masabih, English translation, Section 'Duties of husband and
wife', Hadith No. 70).
Women in Islam
The state of women in Islam is described
variously, depending upon which side one takes.
"The most satisfying and final word on the
matter is that marriage is a form of slavery (riq). The
woman is man's slave and her duty therefore is
absolute obedience to the husband in all that he asks
of her person. As Mohammad himself said: 'A
woman, who at the moment of death enjoys the full
approval of her husband, will find her place in
Paradise'.”
http://debate.domini.org/newton/womeng.html
The Veil and Islam
There is a debate within Islam over the
use of the veil. Some countries require
it and others do not.
Three attitudes are emerging: Very
relaxed dress code, moderate dress
code, and very strict dress code.
Women try to be active participants in modern Islamic
society and some have moved away from traditional dress to
adopt new forms (window in Egyptian store) which are both
modest and stylish.
Islam has many other ideologies that are
strange to western cultures but accepted as
the norm in Islam dominated countries. All
of these ideologies, which are both religious
and political, create problems when
foreigners travel in Muslim lands. They
interfere with business and trade, and make it
most difficult to take the gospel to these
lands. Knowledge of these beliefs and
practices will at least put one on his guard
considering the current events in the
shrinking world in which we live.
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