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Amanda Roraback's World in a Nutshell |
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NOTES
"MY CLASSMATE IS A TERRORIST"
NCSS, San Diego, December 1, 2007 |
The World in a Nutshell |
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BACKGROUND 1) Arabia before 7th century a. On left coast of Arabia -- the Hejaz (meaning “barrier” from Nejd to the east) i. A few urban and agricultural settlements ii. Most notably the cities of Mecca and Medina b. Rest of the peninsula is essentially desert c. No central govt. i. No distribution of resources ii. No law and order in the conventional sense iii. Governed according to tribal law. d. Tribes i. Identity through tribe ii. Protection through tribe iii. Livelihood through tribe e. Arabia desert i. few natural resources 1. what you have need to protect 2. when supply is low, raid other tribes f. Vengeance i. According to tribal codes 1. If a member of your tribe is killed 2. The tribe may kill someone from the offending tribe. a. So no numerical advantage g. Prisoners of war often tortured to death. h. Culture of violence and eternal feuds
Misconception #1 - Islam as misogynistic 1) Women in ancient Arabia a. Were considered a liability and burden b. practice of kidnapping women for ransom i. Matter of tribal pride – have to get her back ii. Women didn’t fight c. Led to female infanticide. i. Infant girls buried alive in the sand d. Women who did survive to adulthood i. considered property of father, then husband ii. spousal abuse rampant iii. no recourse for help e. No limit to number of wives a man could have i. if husband died, she could even be married off to her son f. No divorce or inheritance rights. g. Orphans swindled of inheritance or treated like pariahs. 2) Muhammad born into this Arabia a. Throughout his life received series of revelations from God i. Correcting injustices ii. Quran – forbade killing of innocent man for crime of another iii. Islam open to all people 1. Went beyond tribal identity a. Some of first converts from weak tribes or didn’t belong to any tribes at all b. Without tribal protection – could be killed without consequence. iv. Infanticide condemned v. Men restricted to marrying only 4 wives 1. and must treat them all equally a. Why 4 wives – protection for widows and orphans. 3) Mohammed’s wives a. first wife Khadija i. as more than a decade older than him ii. Twice widowed iii. He was faithful to her b. After Khadija i. Mohammed Married a dozen women 1. Of them, only 1 was a virgin 2. The rest were widows 3. Daughters of friends 4. Daughters of enemies 5. Two were Jewish 6. And one was a former slave. c. In early days of Islam i. Mohammed’s followers were allowed to visit the household ii. Got out of hand 1. His wives were sequestered 2. And when they went out of the house, were covered with veils or traveled in enclosed carriages
Quran 33:59 O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their [jalabib] (Jilbabs) over their persons when abroad: that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
4) Veiling a. Muslims are encouraged to live as Mohammed and his family lived b. Following examples of moral behavior c. Also mimicked the way Mohammed’s wives conducted themselves i. Including veiling practices d. Quran i. Says men and women equally are supposed to dress modestly ii. women are supposed to talk as if from behind a veil (hijab) 1. Doesn’t say that women must cover themselves. e. Varied veiling practices worldwide i. Arabia – abaya ii. Afghanistan – burqa iii. Iran – chador – or manteau and head covering iv. India – dupatta v. Indonesia – jilbab f. Veiling predates Islam i. Examples: images of Mary, mother of Jesus ii. Nun’s habit iii. In Persepolis in Iran 1. See men as elaborately covered as women g. After Islam i. Veil as expression of piety ii. Veil to distinguish oneself as a Muslim iii. Veil as sign of wealth 1. Long piece of fabric 2. Means no need to work in fields a. Wealthy man can keep his wife at home. iv. Filming of Kandahar 1. Film about Afghanistan 2. Hired extras from across border of Afghanistan a. Agreed to participate in film in exchange for burqas. 5) Human rights for women a. Quran i. Women and men are equal spiritually 1. Both must dress modestly 2. Both men and women are addressed in verses a. God bestows his love and mercy on both men and women. b. Adam and Eve i. Creation of men and women at the same time
Quran 30:20-21 “Among his signs is this, that he created you from dust; and the – behold, you are men scattered far and wide. And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquililty with themn, and he has put love and mercy between your hearts: verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.
ii. Both Adam and Eve were responsible for eating the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. c. God has given both sexes gifts i. Although they may be different ii. To the woman – gift of childbirth and the responsibility or rather the honor of raising children iii. To the men, he gave them strength
4:34 “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because god has given the one more strength than the other and because they support them from their means ----- Therefore the reighteous women are devoutly obedient and guard in the husband’s absence what god would have them guard.” (be faithful).
d. Inheritance i. Women receive half inheritance than men ii. Before Islam women received no inheritance e. Women must approve of man they want to marry i. Pre-Islam 1. Women were acquisitions 2. Married and divorced at random 3. If divorced, woman and child would perish f. In case of death or divorce, the husband must provide for his wife.
2:240 Those of you who die and leave widows should bequeath for their widows a year’;s maintenance and residence…2:241 For divorced women maintenance should be provided on a reasonable scale. This is a duty on the righteous.
g. Divorced women i. Have the right to remarry. h. The education of women is encouraged i. As is participation of women in politics i. Benazir Bhutto ii. In Iran many women ran for the presidency iii. And many participate in the govt.
Misconception #2 Islam is a violent religion – or “all Muslims are terrorists” 1) Pre-Islamic tribal culture a. Tribes competing for meager resources b. Vengeance i. You kill our guy, we’ll kill yours. ii. Prisoners were usually tortured iii. And if you ventured outside the protection of your tribe 1. or if you were not part of a tribe at all 2. You were fair game 2) Quran and the words of Prophet Muhammad a. Aimed to pacify the violence b. In Quran Muslims are urged not to instigate wars c. But if its necessary i. Muslims are permitted to fight a defensive war ii. As long as there is no transgression iii. And if the warring party seeks peace 1. Then a Muslim is supposed to stop fighting.
“Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love trangressors.” (2:190) “If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things.” (8:61).
d. Prisoners of war i. Must be treated humanely.
3) Muhammad’s history a. After receiving his first revelation, he gathered a group of followers b. His message of monotheism angered and threatened the members of the Quraish tribe i. Who relied on paganism as a source of revenue and influence 1. The Ka’aba or Cube in Mecca used to house a number of gods a. he primary among them called Allah or “The God” 2. Pilgrims came from all over Arabia to worship their own idols and the Quraish took care of them c. so threatened by Muhammad, that the Quraish hassled the small band of Muslims i. Eventually forcing them to move north to Medina 4) Tribe is the source of your protection and livelihood a. The Muslims were exiled and had no way to make a living. i. In the verses of the Quran, God gave the Muslims permission to battle to save themselves. 1. Koran written within 20 years of Mohammed’s death 2. was not arranged chronologically but by the length b. Muslims began raiding the Meccan Quraish caravans that came through on way to Syria i. In their minds this was defensive since they had been deprived of their livelihood and the protection of their tribal brothers. ii. Without the threat, war and violence is highly discouraged iii. Muslims instead are supposed to “submit” to a merciful, compassionate and loving God. 1. Word “Islam” comes from the word “peace,” salam, or shalom. 5) Jihad a. Which literally means “struggle” but is mistranslated today as “holy war” 1. Arabic word for “war” is harb. b. There is the sense of military “jihad” as holy war i. But only as a last resort and with rigorous conditions ii. And innocent people, especially women and children, must not be targeted and every effort must be made to bring reconciliation and peace. c. One of the only “true” jihads of the 20th century i. According to most Muslims ii. Afghanistan war in 1979 1. Afghanistan invaded by true “infidels” (meaning “without faith”) – the atheist Soviets a. At this time, Muslims worldwide contributed money to the cause. i. Including, Osama bin Laden. d. but the “Greater Jihad” i. And by far the most common use of the word ii. Is a struggle against one’s own vices, 1. A struggle to stop smoking for instance 2. or giving in to carnal desires or road rage or picking your nose, whatever vice you might have.
Misconception #3 Muslims hate Jews and Christians 1) According to Muslims a. Mohammed was only the last in a long string of prophets sent by God to send his message. b. There are 100s of prophets in Islamic tradition i. Including Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Jacob, John the Baptist and yes, even Jesus
2:136 Say ye: “We believe in God, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes and that given to Moses and Jesuse and that given to all Prophets from the Lord: We make no diference between one and another of them: And we boy to God in Islam [submission].”
c. And the message they sent came from the same source i. God or Allah d. According to Muslims, the problem was that the message was corrupted. i. The Jews used to rely too heavily on ritual and not on the spiritual message ii. so God sent down Jesus 1. But the Christians mistakenly created a new religion 2. And began to worship Jesus as God iii. So God sent another messenger, 1. Mohammed a. But this time, the words given to Mohammed through the angel Gabriel were preserved verbatim in the local language – Arabic b. And it continues to be read in the originally style of Arabic. i. Highly discouraged to read any other translations since message is susceptible to mistranslations, politics, corruption. 2. Memorization a. Like in pre-Islamic times b. When people were illiterate and had to pass on information orally, c. Muslims are encouraged to memorize the words of the Quran 2) “People of the Book” a. Since the Quran is simply the last rendition of God’s words i. It doesn’t preclude the significance of the books that came before. ii. In fact, Muslims are encouraged to read and even memorize the bible as well. 3) Bible and the Koran a. And the Quran actually includes many of the same stories as the bible 1. Although with slight variations. b. Story of creation i. God didn’t rest on the 7th day because, well, he’s god and is tireless. c. Adam and Eve i. Both Adam and Eve responsible for taking the forbidden fruit (or wheat as some believe). d. Story of Abraham i. Who married Sarah and impregnated his servant Hagar ii. Muslims believe they are descended from Hagar’s son Ishmael 1. Who was left with his mother by Abraham in Mecca and forced to fend for herself. iii. Jews say they are descended from Sarah’s son Isaac. e. Also in the Quran i. Noah’ Ark, Jonah and the whale f. Jesus i. And even the birth of Jesus ii. To a virgin mother (no mention of her husband Joseph) iii. There is a whole chapter in the Koran titled and devoted to Mary. iv. Jesus as a baby 1. Was able to speak v. See Quran chapters 3:4-63 for more on Jesus vi. As an adult Jesus performing miracles vii. And on the cross. 1. He didn’t die, but was made to look like he died. viii. Not the son of God 1. But a venerable and important prophet. 4) Jews in Medina a. When the early Muslims with Mohammed were forced to move to Medina b. They befriended Jewish tribes that were living there. c. In the beginning i. Muslims practiced the same rituals as the Jews 1. Praying towards Jerusalem 2. Circumcision 3. Same dietary restrictions 4. Fasting etc. d. But then the Muslims and Jews had a falling out i. And the Muslims (per the words of god through Mohammed) adjusted 1. By praying towards Mecca 2. Fasting for a whole month (Ramadan) 3. Taking Friday instead of Saturday as a day of rest etc. e. Then a few of the Jewish tribes betrayed the Muslims i. In some cases by pretending to be an ally and then double-crossing the Muslims (called “hypocrites” in the Quran) ii. Verses in the Quran that reflect the animosity between the Muslims these Jews -- often cited as proof of anti-Semitism 5) But anti-Jewish feeling a. Didn’t really arise until after creation of Israel in 1948 i. Before then (under the early Muslims and the subsequent dynasties) ii. “People of the Book” or Dhimmies (Jews and Christians) 1. Were permitted to practice their religions freely 2. as long as they paid the jizya tax 3. Which also exempted them from serving in the military b. In Spain for 800 years i. Was under Muslim rule ii. Was a Golden Age for Judaism iii. And after the Spanish Inquisition 1. Many Jews fled to the Middle East a. Where many Jews already lived i. Some a product of the Babylonian captivity of Nebuchadnezzar.
Misconception #4 Muslims want to convert the world 1) Mantra sung by moderate Muslims worldwide a. Verse 2:256 in the Quran “There is no compulsion in religion"
2:256 Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And God heareth and knoweth all things.
b. People are born with different ideas and inclinations i. And it’s up to God and God alone to deal with them.
6:107 If it had been god’s Plan, they [those who believe in other gods] would not have taken False gods: but We made thee not one to watch over tehri doings, now art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs”
2) Historically spread of Islam a. Not by the sword b. In beginning i. Constituents of the Persian and Byzantine Empires were persecuted ii. Found invading Muslims much more tolerant and kind. 1. Welcomed them. c. Muslims didn’t want to convert the Jews and Christians i. Paying the jizya – source of income ii. Many within in the empire converted for financial reasons (Muslims were doing business with other Muslims) iii. Or to open up opportunities 1. Position in the military or government. iv. Many converted because it was easy 1. Only requires a declaration of faith (Shahada) “there is no god but God and Mohammed was his messenger.” v. Also denial of Byzantine or Persian empires 1. Who were Christians or Zoroastrians d. In Indonesia i. The largest population of Muslims in the world ii. Islam came via Sufis – a mystical sect of Islam 1. Similar to their own culture 2. syncretism (see elements of animism, worship of ancestors etc. in Indonesian Islam) e. Mongols i. Invaded Islamic empire in 13th century ii. Converted to Islam – then took the religion to China (today 29 million Muslims in China) f. Westerners i. Converting because the religion stands for peace. 1. Women feel elevated because of the respect for their roles as mothers and wives. g. Prisoners i. Drawn to the structure of Islam 1. Lacking in Christianity 2. Judaism is exclusive religion
Misconception #5 All Muslims are Arabs 1) Although Islam came from Arabia a. And Quran is written in Arabic b. Only about 15% of Muslims are from Arabia c. The largest number of Muslims are actually from Indonesia i. 182 million d. And then Pakistan (137 million) e. Bangladesh (115 million) f. India (108 million) g. Iran 63 million h. Turkey (61 million) i. Only 16 million Muslims living in Saudi Arabia 2) When the Muslim dynasty grew a. Arabic was declared the national language i. Replacing Aramaic, Coptic, Hebrew and other languages spoken in the region. 3) In many primarily Muslim countries a. Arabic isn’t spoken i. Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Iran, china, Afghanistan etc. b. Population still required to read the Quran in Arabic i. Must learn to read in Arabic ii. and then to memorize the words iii. And only lastly to understand c. Gives power to the religious teachers i. To give their interpretations of the Quran 4) Pakistan a. Gave us the Taliban (from “talib” meaning student) b. Educated in religious madrassas (simply means “school” but in Pakistan were largely funded by radical religious groups). i. Pakistani students only understood Pashtu or Urdu and relied on teachers to tell them what it said in the Quran ii. Gave the teachers the power to pass on their own political message. iii. Get a corrupt version of Islam – the Taliban 5) Much of the twisted portrayal of Islam a. Comes from ignorance of the Quran, or Muhammed’s life. b. And blending of Islam with the local culture c. And the use and abuse of Islam to achieve political ends 6) Suicide bombers a. Suicide is strictly forbidden in Islam i. It’s considered sinful and cowardly ii. And will not lead you to heaven b. Martyrdom on the other hand, will get you a do-not-pass go pass to paradise. c. Iranians i. During 8 year war with Iraq from 1980-88 ii. Iranian government was the first to employ suicide tactics to fight the Iraqis iii. Iran had just gone through a revolution (1979) 1. Much of the military from the Shah’s time had been purged 2. Saddam Hussein knew this and took advantage of Iran’s weakness by declaring war. 3. In order to build a ragtag army, the new leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini said that those who fought and died in the battle would be considered martyrs. a. Gathered an army of millions i. All given keys as symbols of opening the door to heaven ii. Would march over the landmines, killing themselves but clearing the way for the tanks and troops that came behind them. d. Palestinians i. Against the well-funded, organized and powerful military of Israel ii. Palestinians started a campaign of terror 1. Suicide bombers were cheaper and very effective (no way to find out where they came from after they were killed). iii. the bombers believed that they were not committing suicide 1. but giving their greatest possession, their bodies, in the cause of Islam a. Meanwhile the families were feted for what was deemed the marriage of the departed to the “houris” – the virginal creatures that awaited them in paradise. b. Other promises – families would be allotted places in heaven as well.
Misconception #6 Muslims worship Mohammed 1) In the olden days a. Muslims were referred to as “Mohammedans” i. Insulting term today ii. One of the greatest sins a Muslim can commit is “shirk” 1. Putting someone or something before God. 2) Even Muhammad is believed to have said that he is mortal and should not be revered. a. Story that after Muhammad’s last sermon i. He ordered the tree behind him cut down ii. Lest people put too much importance on the spot. b. That’s also the reason depictions of Muhammad i. Or any living creature for that matter ii. Is forbidden in Islam 1. In case any portrayal will lead to idolatry 3) In Saudi Arabia a. There is a movement begun in 18th c. by a man called ibn abd ul-Wahhab b. We know it as Wahhabism i. But those who follow the religion take deep offense to that 1. since, like the word “Mohammedan” it implies that they worshipped or venerated their leader c. Instead they call themselves Muwahiddun (“Unitarians”) or Salafists (from “pious ancestors”) d. The Salafists i. Were particularly incensed by any slight indication of shirk ii. Shi’a Muslims 1. Who believe in a line of divine successors to Mohammed a. From the line of his daughter and her husband, Mohammed’s cousin Ali b. Called Imams c. Taken on a saintly form iii. The Salafists of Saudi Arabia 1. From which Osama bin Laden arises. iv. Have also tried to destroy any vestiges of Mohammed’s existence in Arabia 1. Had tried to destroy the home he lived in Medina 2. Downplayed references to his homes in Mecca etc. e. The Salafi movement is strongest in Saudi Arabia i. After oil was found in the Peninsula ii. Became very wealthy iii. Funded schools (madrassas) around the world 1. King Fahd mosque in L.A. iv. And put a lot of money into the war in Afghansitan 1. And sent fighters v. Although bin Laden was not sent by Arabia 1. He came on his own with loads of money 2. and took over the base, Al Qaeda, a. The training ground for new fighters in Afghanstan i. Coming from all corners of the world. vi. At the base where ideas were circulated 1. Why the Salafist version of Islam permeates f. Salafist ideology i. String of Islamic philosophers beginning with Sayyid Qutb of Egypt ii. Believed the fall of the Islamic empire 1. Which, at its height, was developing mathematical formulas, inventions, medical breakthroughs etc. while the west was going through a dark age. iii. And the degeneration of mankind 1. Was due to Western schizophrenia 2. That is the separation of church (or mosque) and state. iv. Since god had sent down guidelines for living 1. in one, two, three and more books. v. In order to bring peace and enlightenment to the world 1. All people need to revert to pure Islam a. And live according to God’s will.
Misconception #7 Islam is a backward religion 1) In its heyday during the Abbasid dynasty ( 750-1258) a. The Muslims were the most advanced society in the world. b. They were the ones who invented Algebra, and the symbol for zero and began using Arabic numerals, and the astrolabe. Many medicines and medical procedures were developed, i. Great strides in mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, technology c. Sometimes called the “Paris of the 9th c” d. It was also the Muslims who collected and hence preserved works from ancient philosophers and intellectuals 1) But then the empire became fractured e. And the Ottomans became so arrogant that they ignored the developments in the West and their importance diminished i. Eventually becoming the “sick man of Europe” 2) The problem is that now that the West has overtaken the east a. And Christianity has become the economically dominant religion b. Some fundamentalist Muslims have become nostalgic for the old days 1. When punishments that are draconian by modern standards (like the cutting off of a limb for theft) were considered humane 2. and lifestyles considered archaic today (like polygamy) a. were revolutionary in the 7th century c. Anything other way would appear to be giving in to the victors d. But Islam when read allegorically i. Is no more or less backwards than the bible 1. and yet Christianity and Judaism are not considered backwards religions.
CONCLUSION 1) Islam as expressed in the Quran is not misogynistic, violent, backwards or anti-Semitic a. And the Quran, though there is only one official version in the original Arabic, i. Is so poetic and allegorical ii. That it can be and is interpreted in many many different ways. 1. Muslims inclined toward modernity and peace will read it that way a. And almost certainly, your Muslim students will come from that school of thought. 2. Muslims inclined toward violence, intolerance and anger a. Will use the Quran to justify their acts of violence i. Just like the crusaders used the bible to justify their violent crusade to take back Jerusalem. 2) And what isn’t written in the Quran a. Can undoubtedly be found in one of the many hadith i. Which are accounts (sometimes accurate, but often dubious) of Mohammed’s life through accounts of people who claimed to have been in his presence.
Some other misconceptions 1) The crescent moon and star are symbols of Islam a. Actually predates Islam by centuries b. Possibly to worship moon and sun gods c. In Byzantium i. The moon was adopted to honor the goddess Diana ii. When Christians took over, they added the star – a symbol of the virgin Mary and the north star that led the magi to Jesus d. Muslims used to carry one-color flags, green, black, white i. When Ottomans took Constantinople in 1453 they adopted the Byzantine flag as their own. 1. Crescent moon to symbolize Islam’s use of lunar calendar 2. star for 5 pillars of Islam 2) Stoning a. Came from the bible i. Never mentioned in the Quran. |
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