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Islam / Arabic Cultures
Islam
1.2 billion Muslims around world in diverse group of countries. The largest Muslim communities are in
Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India (150 million). Many other countries and areas of the world have
significant Muslim populations, including:
▪ Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
The Balkans
Bosnia
Brunei
▪ Bulgaria
Burma
Cambodia
Canada
Chad
China (30 million+)
▪ Croatia
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Finland
Ghana
▪ Greece
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Kosovo
Libya
▪ Macedonia
Malaysia
Mali
Mauritania
Morocco
Nepal
▪ Nigeria
The Philippines
Senegal
Serbia
Siberia
Somalia
▪ Sri Lanka
Sudan
Syria
Tajikistan
Thailand
Tibet
▪ Tunisia
Turkey
Vietnam
Former Soviet Union (20million)
▪ Europe (25 million)
United States (5-7 million)
South America
Less than 20% (220 million) of Muslims live in Arabic countries, but this is the oldest part of Islamic
community since Qu’ran revealed to Muhammad in Arabia
Middle-Eastern Countries/Islamic Populations
Algeria: 99% Sunni Muslim
1% Christian and Jewish
Bahrain: 70% Shi’a Muslim
30% Sunni Muslim
Egypt: 90-94% Sunni Muslim
Coptic Christian and other religions, 6-10%
Iraq: 60%-65% Shi’a Muslim
32%-37% Sunni Muslim
3% Christian and other religions
Iran: 89% Shi’a Muslim
10% Sunni Muslim
1% Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha’i
Israel: 80% Jewish
15% Muslim (mostly Sunni)
2% Christian
Other religions 3%
Jordan: 92% Sunni Muslim
6% Christian
2% other religions (including Druze and Shi’a
Muslim)
Kuwait: 45% Sunni Muslim
40% Shi’a Muslim
15% Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other religions
Lebanon: 70% Muslim (including Shi’a, Sunni, Druze, Isma’ilite, Alawite, and Nusayri); 29% Christian;
1% Jewish
Libya: 97% Sunni Muslim
3% other religions
Morocco: 99% Muslim
1% Christian
0.2% Jewish
Oman: 75% Ibadhi Muslim
25% Sunni Muslim, Shi’a Muslim, and Hindu
Palestine: 87% Muslim (predominantly Sunni)
7% Jewish
6% Christian and other religions
Qatar: 95% Muslim
5% other religions
Saudi Arabia: 100% Muslim
Sudan: 70% Sunni Muslim (in the north)
25% animism
5% Christian (in the south and in
Khartoum, the capital)
Syria: 74% Sunni Muslim
16% Alawite, Druze, and other Muslims
10% Christian
Small Jewish settlements in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo
Tunisia: 98% Muslim
1% Christian
1% Jewish and other religions
Turkey: 99.8% Muslim (mostly Sunni)
0.2% Christian and Jewish
United Arab Emirates: 80% Sunni Muslim
16% Shi’a Muslim
4% Christian, Hindu, and other
religions
Yemen: 99% Muslim, including Shaf’I (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi’a)
1% Jewish, Christian, and Hindu
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There is only one Islam, but there are local differences, depending on ethnicity, language, culture, lifestyles.
In US:
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Over 2,100 mosques
Original explorers/settlers included Moors/Muslims
20% of African slaves were Muslims
Push factors: political, economic reasons
Pull factors: to US for education, work
Believe in one God (this oneness called tawhid), the same God of Judaism and Christianity
In addition to Prophet Muhammad, believe in prophets from the Old Testament, including Adam (the first
prophet), Abraham and Moses; and the New Testament, including Jesus and John the Baptist. 124,000
prophets in all
The Torah, New Testament, and Qu’ran all contain God’s revelations and are all seen as sacred texts. At
age 40, Prophet Muhammad received revelations from God thru angel Gabriel. Qu’ran corrected human
error written into scriptures/belief systems of Judaism and Christianity. Example: Eve did not tempt Adam
to eat the forbidden fruit – they were tempted together; the forbidden fruit was wheat, not an apple.
Jews and Christians descended from Abraham and wife Sara thru son Isaac. Muslims descended from
Abraham and servant Hagar thru son Ismail. Sara urged Abraham to sleep with Hagar so could have heir;
afterwards Sarah also became pregnant . She had Hagar and Ismail sent away; they ended up near Mecca
Muhammad seen as religious reformer, calling people back to worship of Allah (“the God”), one true God
of Abraham, after deviated into worship of multiple gods. Islam = the one straight path of God. Qu’ran
(“recitation”) = the eternal, literal word of God, preserved in Arabic; 114 chapters (surahs) were revealed to
Muhammad over 23 years. Each chapter stands alone as lesson to be learned, recited, reflected upon.
Qu’ran deals with laws for individuals and for society; it is the most important source of Islamic law (the
Shari’ah). God’s laws used to regulate society and actions of people (society does not dictate what laws
should be). Since God created all things, His laws apply to every aspect of life. All Muslims accept validity
of Shari’ah, even if they personally are too weak to practice all its injunctions. Shari’ah applies to all
Muslims, male and female, who have reached puberty.
God makes 5 kinds of demands thru the Shari’ah:
▪ Wajib or fard (obligatory)
o The 5 pillars
o Care for health
o Support family
o Feed the hungry
▪ Mandub (recommended) – pleasing in God’s eyes, bring reward after death
o Build school/mosque
o Perform extra prayers
▪ Haram (forbidden)
o “Thou shalt not” 10 commandments (murder, adultery, theft)
o Eat pork
o Drink blood
o Alcoholic drinks
o Usury (Islamic banks do not pay/ charge interest)
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o Gambling
o Marry 2 sisters at same time
o Look at genitals of anyone but spouse
Makruh (abominable) – not doing it is better than doing it; though not punished for doing it, not
doing it gains God’s pleasure
o Divorce
o Wear gold and silk (men)
o Offering to buy something after another person has already offered to buy it
Mubah (permissible) – you can do it or not do it equally
o Eating permitted foods
o A sinful act committed by sheer necessity (e.g., eat carcass of dead animal when dying of
hunger and nothing else to eat)
Qu’ran has many levels of meaning, and highest level known to God alone. Many Muslims memorize
entire Qu’ran and can recite all of it – recitation reinforces the miracle of God’s words. Qu’ran recited
during 5 daily prayers and before any kind of community event (wedding, funeral, lecture, business dinner,
etc.).
Muhammad was the “living Qu’ran,” showing God’s will in all his words and behavior/deeds (his sunnah).
Islam focuses on actions – follow Muhammad’s example in all aspects of life, use his words/deeds as the
norm. Do this by studying hadith (traditions), writings of what Muhammad said and did thruout life
(collected over several hundred years). Qu’ran gives God’s laws; sunnah and hadith are commentary on
Qu’ran. For example: Qu’ran orders Muslims to pray, but Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet tell Muslims how
to pray. The sunnah and hadith are responsible for unity that exists among all Muslims, no matter their
ethnicity, nationality, and culture. Examples of things covered in the hadith:
▪ How to treat friends and enemies
▪ What to eat and drink
▪ How to mourn and celebrate
▪ Personal hygiene
▪ How to dress
▪ How to treat a spouse
▪ Diplomacy and warfare
Many sayings from hadith:
▪ To honor an old person is to show respect for God
▪ There are heavenly rewards for every act of kindness to a live animal
▪ Charity is a duty for every Muslim. He who has not the means, let him do a good act or abstain from
an evil one. That is his charity.
▪ God is beautiful and He loves beauty
▪ When bier of anyone passes by (Jew, Christian, Muslim), rise to your feet
▪ Heaven lies at the feet of mothers
Muhammad born in Mecca in 570 of Hashimite branch of Quraysh tribe. Father died before he was born;
mother died when he was young. Raised by his uncle Abu Talib, the father of Ali (Muhammad’s cousin).
Muhammad spent time with Bedouin tribes in desert to learn their way of life. He was known for honesty,
sincerity, humility, charity. Highly contemplative, retreated often to desert to pray. A wealthy
businesswoman, 15 years older, asked him to manage her business affairs and they married; married to
Khadijah for 24 years – she died when he was 50. They had 6 children – 2 sons died in infancy and 4
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daughters. After her death, Muhammad took several other wives. Muhammad died in 632 after having
unified the warring tribes in Arabia.
The refusal of westerners to accept Muhammad as a prophet is a major obstacle to mutual understanding.
Muhammad was a man, not divine, but God chose him to be His final messenger; a mortal man, but God’s
most perfect creature.
All Muslims are members of a worldwide community (the ummah); all believers are equal. Identity as a
Muslim is more important than tribe, ethnicity, or gender.
5 Pillars of Islam
1st – Declaration of Faith (the shahadah), by which person bears witness to being Muslim
“There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God”
2nd – Prayer (salat)
▪ Worship 5 times a day (daybreak, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, evening) facing Mecca
▪ All men and women from puberty to death (not during menstrual periods)
▪ Cleanse mind/heart of worldly concerns
▪ Wash hands, arms, face, feet, top of head
▪ Wear clean clothing
▪ Each period of worship starts with declaration that “God is most great” (Allahu Akbar)
▪ Recite the Qu’ran
▪ Sequence of specific movements – stand, bow, kneel, touch ground with forehead, sit on heels
▪ Turn to right and say, “May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you,” then worship
concluded
Prayers:
▪ Rejuvenate the soul
▪ Protect against evil
▪ Shelter from life’s difficulties
▪ Each praying person stands directly before God to address him
3rd – Zakah, purification by almsgiving
▪ Contribute 2.5% of wealth/assets (not just income) each year to aid the poor
▪ Purifies what God has given by sharing it
4th – Fast of Ramadan
▪ 9th month of Islamic calendar
▪ Month Muhammad received 1st revelation of Qu’ran
▪ Fast from dawn to sunset (dusk for Shi’a), not partaking of:
o Food
o Drink
o Smoking
o Sexual activity
o Evil thoughts
o Evil deeds
▪ Only fast if physically capable (not if elderly/weak, sick, menstruating, pregnant, or nursing a child)
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A time for self-discipline, practicing virtues of patience and persistence despite hardship for sake of
God
Realize what it means to suffer from hunger, giving greater compassion toward needy
Money you would have spent on food is given to needy at end of the month (practice called
fitriyyah)
5th – Pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca in Saudi Arabia
▪ At least once in lifetime if financially and physically able
▪ Engage in rituals that recreate acts carried out by Abraham after rebuilt the Ka’bah
▪ Those who have performed hajj called hajji, deeply respected as pious and trustworthy
Most sacred place is the Ka’bah, cube-shaped structure called House of God located inside Grand Mosque
at Mecca. Inside is black stone meteorite that Abraham and Ismail placed in Ka’bah. Mecca was birthplace
of Muhammad; both Mecca and Medina are closed to non-Muslims. Pilgrimages also made to:
▪ Tombs of other prophets
o Abraham in Hebron
o Joshua in Jordan
o Moses’ resting place on Mount Nebo in Jordan
▪ Tomb of Prophet Muhammad in Medina
▪ Tombs of Muhammad’s descendants
God is greater than anything we can conceive of Him. He is closer to us than ourselves. He is present
everywhere. He created mankind with the intelligence capable of knowing the One. The greatest sin in
Islam, and the only one God does not forgive, is shirk, denying the Oneness of God. When we surrender
ourselves to God (al-islam), we achieve peace; Muslim is person in state of al-islam. Since we have free
will and intelligence, our surrender to God (following His commands) must be complete and total.
Surrender to God includes:
▪ Follow Divine Law
▪ Follow ethical teachings of Islam to extent of our ability
▪ Accept what destiny has put before us (maktub – “It is written”)
▪ Inward and outward striving combined with serenity
God judges us according to His justice, forgives us according to His mercy. God resides at the center of the
heart of the faithful. God punishes the wicked, loves His creatures and forgives them. God is the supreme
judge, and His judgment is final. Only God knows all things; able to judge human actions by what was
done as well as by what was in person’s intentions and heart.
Heaven – eternal reward, Garden of Paradise. Hell – eternal punishment. Depends on whether you
followed God’s will and acted with justice and mercy toward other people during life. A matter of
individual choice, moral responsibility and accountability.
Believe in Second Coming of Jesus (not of Muhammad) in Jerusalem, destruction of world, resurrection,
final judgment before God. We shall all be judged on Day of Reckoning. After each person dies, the
afterlife is the ma’ad, the “return to God”.
Virgin Mary is only woman mentioned by name in Qu’ran. She is mentioned more in Qu’ran than in New
Testament. Considered the perfect example of womanhood because completely submitted to God’s will.
Muslims believe in Jesus’ virgin birth from God’s spirit. Do not believe Jesus is son of God. Do not
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believe crucifixion/resurrection of Jesus. Jesus (Issa) one of long line of righteous prophets, second only to
Muhammad in importance.
Friday is day of congregational worship, prayer in mosque at noon. Men and women worship in separate
groups, women behind men for reasons of modesty because prostration is part of ritual. Prayer led by an
imam (leader) in front of congregation after a sermon. No ordained clergy; any Muslim can lead prayer,
conduct wedding or funeral.
Do not believe in artistic depictions (either paintings or sculptures) of God or of Muhammad. The beauty of
art is in the mosque itself, not any kinds of art or images inside the mosque. No musical instruments in
mosques – chanting of Qu’ran only done with human voices.
Scholars of Qu’ran and Islamic law are ulama (“the learned,” “those who know”). Often wear the dress of
the Prophet, including turban, to follow his example. They are the guardians and interpreters of the
Shari’ah. Mufti is specialist in Islamic law competent to deliver fatwa (legal interpretation); in Shi’a Islam
they are called ayatollahs.
Divisions of Islam
1st – Sunni’s – 87% of Muslims – from ahl al-sunnah wa’l-jama’ah, the majority who followed the sunnah
of the Prophet
▪ Muhammad did not designate successor, so leader should be elected as caliph, protector of the faith
▪ 1st caliph, Abu Bakr, selected in Medina while Muhammad being buried by his family
Major divisions of Sunnism (depending on founder):
▪ The Hanafi
The Maliki
▪ The Shafi’I
The Hanbali
2nd – Shia’s (or Shi’ites) – 13% of all Muslims – from shi’at Ali, followers of Ali
▪ Succession should be hereditary, passed to Muhammad’s male descendants (from daughter Fatima
and her husband Ali, Muhammad’s first cousin) as imams, the interpreter of God’s will
▪ Majority of muslims in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Lebanon are Shi’ite
▪ Significant minorities in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and East Africa
3 divisions of Shi’ites:
▪ Zaydis, recognize 5 imams (mostly in Yemen)
▪ Ismailis, 7 imams (Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, North Africa)
▪ Ithna Ashariyyah, 12 imams (Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Lebanon)
Major differences between sunnism and shi’ism:
▪ Who should succeed the Prophet
▪ Qualifications and functions of successor
o Sunni: protect Islam, maintain security and peace, appoint judges
o Shi’a: deep knowledge of Islamic law, Qu’ran, Prophetic teachings
▪ Shi’as know who Mahdi is (2nd coming), Sunnis expect appear in future
3rd – Khawarij – small radical minority who oppose both Shi’a and Sunni
▪ Began as followers of Caliph Ali but broke away when he ended a war
▪ World divided into believers and non-believers
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Non-believers are enemies of God (including Muslims who do not agree with Khawarij viewpoint)
Examples in recent times:
o Islamic Jihad (assassinated Egyptian President Anwar Sadat)
o Osama bin Laden and Al-Quaeda
o Ibadis in Algeria and Oman
4th – The Wahhabi Islam in Saudi Arabia, the most ultra-conservative
▪ All Muslims who do not agree with them are unbelievers who should be fought and killed in name of
Islam
▪ Taliban in Afghanistan
5th – Black Muslims in the US
▪ Elijah Muhammad claimed to be the last messenger of God
▪ Taught black supremacy/separatism, not that all Muslims were brothers
▪ Did not follow 5 Pillars or rituals
▪ Malcolm X split with EM to start new organization in line with mainstream Islam, but 2 of EM’s
followers killed him
▪ EM died 1975; son Wallace Muhammad tried to bring in line with Sunni Islam – changed his name
to Warith Deen Muhammad
▪ Louis Farrakhan protested reforms, kept EM’s doctrines (recently some movement toward
mainstream Islam)
6th – Sufi Muslims (who can be either Sunni or Shi’a)
▪ Seek to discipline mind/body to directly experience God’s presence
▪ Study, meditate, pray, fast, carry out good works
▪ Includes mysticism, magic
Values: Women
Unmarried men should not interact with unmarried women except in chaperoned situations and in business
interactions. Modesty in women’s clothing – in many areas includes covering her hair/body for modesty
and for respect before God. The type of covering they use depends on the country in which they live – from
the burqa (which covers the entire body, with mesh over the eyes), to niqab (covers the entire body, with a
thin slit for the eyes), to chador (covers the body and leaves the face bare), to hijab (a scarf covers only the
hair and neck)..
Qu’ran says men and women equal in God’s eyes, equal parts of a pair. Most Islamic societies patriarchal,
but in most countries women allowed to work. In some countries (Bangladesh, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia)
women have been elected to government positions. Saudi Arabia – women can’t drive cars and must be
fully covered in public, but more women than men in universities and women own businesses. Egypt – no
dress code and women active in all aspects of society. Iran – women wear scarf and chador or long coat in
public, are majority in universities, work in professions and serve in parliament. Malaysia – education,
professional jobs, but have to have male family member’s permission to travel. Kuwait – women can’t vote.
Pakistan – women vote, serve in government, but have restricted rights in marriage, divorce, and
inheritance. Man is head of household, and wife takes man’s nationality/status – if woman marries nonMuslim, she is lost to Islam.
Men
May wear variety of head coverings
• Turban (Black–descendant of Muhammad; White – not descendant of Muhammad)
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Fez
Skullcap
Keffiyah (Jordan and Palestine) (the checked head-covering with rings to hold in place)
Beards (some full and untrimmed). Circumcised. Polygamy not practiced much any more (Qu’ran allows
up to 4 wives if treated equally). Men should marry Muslim women; can also marry Jewish or Christian
because also received revelations from God (“People of the book”), though their family may not agree with
this. Marriage is contract between 2 families, not sacrament. Marriage between first cousins common.
Sexuality is sacred and a blessing. Marriage contract legitimizes the sexual act and protects rights of both
spouses. Sexual activity outside of marriage is a sin in God’s eyes.
Married man and woman complement each other. Husband is protector, provider, religious leader for
family. Wife is mistress of home (power), raises children, educates children. Great pressure put on young
people to marry so they can avoid sinful acts. Relatively few unmarried adults; widows/widowers usually
remarry.
Divorce is legal, but of all things it is what God hates most. Relatively rare among traditional Muslims.
Husband must say “I divorce you” 3 times (preferably a month apart to give time to reconcile). In many
Muslim countries, women can also seek divorce now thru courts.
Extended family roles:
▪ Upbringing of children
▪ Protect youth from social and economic pressures
▪ Transmit religion, customs, traditions
▪ Transmit secrets of the family’s trade
Unrelated men and women should not touch. Muslims should not touch non-Muslims (unclean, requires
ritual bath to purify). No dancing between unmarried if touch (belly dancing and folk dancing in groups
OK). Some disapprove of all music, some just western music (bad influence). Abortion = homicide after
ensoulment (120 days) (some say at conception). Contraception OK if both spouses agree. Sterilization not
OK, alters God’s creation. In some rare cases harsh punishment (stoning, whipping, amputation) for
adultery, unmarried fornication, theft, and alcohol use; these are crimes against God and threaten moral
fabric of Islam
Reverence for nature (sacred to God): Treat animals kindly. Preserve trees. Protect plants and bodies of
water. Do not waste. Respect all forms of life. Maintain balance (mizan) between all parts of God’s
creation.
Before carry out action/event, “Basma-lah” – “In the name of God, the infinitely good, the all-merciful.”
When ending action/event in gratefulness, “Alhamduli’ Llah” – “Praise be to God.” When talking about the
future, “Insha’a’ Llah” – “If God wills” – The future is in God’s hands and nothing happens except through
His will. “Wa’ Llahu a’lam” – “And God knows best.” Greeting – As-salaam-alaykum – Peace be upon
you; response – Wa-alaykum-as-salaam – And peace be upon you also. Anytime refer to Muhammad or
other prophets say May Peace Be Upon Him (and in writing put PBUH) after name – reminds of their
special role; disrespectful to mention their names without doing this
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Islam
The religion of 1/5 of all people in the world. More than 6 million Muslims live in the US. Reverence
toward all life and nature (God’s handiwork, reflecting God’s wisdom). The Qu’ran speaks of nature more
than any other core religious text. The Qu’ran is the Word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Allah is the One God, the Unseen Reality we tend to ignore and not recognize. Only God is divine. God is
alive. God is the giver of all life.
Islam does not focus on the supernatural or the after-life. Humans were created to be God’s servants and to
carry out God’s will on earth. But people have free will and can make the choice not to do God’s work.
People have an immortal spirit breathed into them by God. The dynamics of each individual soul are
somewhat different. To deny God is to lead to the destruction of your soul.
Islam views what is happening to world and society as mass collective suicide. Demonizing other people
who are different from you adds to the mass suicide – we need to see that we are all facing the same
problems and that we can pull together to find solutions that have a spiritual base.
Men and women have supreme equality before God and complement each other. All rights of human beings
flow from their responsibilities to God.
Ramadan:
• The ninth month in the Muslim lunar calendar
• The month in which Muhammad received the first revelations of the Qu’ran from the angel
Gabriel
• For Shi’ite Muslims (such as in Iran), also the month in which Ali (the successor to Muhammad,
his cousin and son-in-law) was killed
• On the anniversary of Ali’s murder, they stay up all night saying 110 special prayers given by the
Imams (Shi’ite saints)
• For Sunni Muslims (who did not believe Ali was Muhammad’s successor), Ramadan is simply
month of the revelation of the Qu’ran
• A month for penance and reflection, pilgrimages to burial places of holy ones, give money/food
to the poor
• Each day from dawn to sunset, abstain from food, drink, smoking, sex, and bad behavior
• Each night at sunset, the family spreads a cloth on the floor and eats symbolic foods, such as
cheese mixed with walnuts and spread on bread
• Fasting helps you appreciate your blessings and deepens empathy for those in need
Jihad – strive/exert effort in path of God
All of life is a jihad, try to live according to will of God. Struggle against your tendencies, ego, selfishness,
greed – oppose all evil. Struggle to be virtuous and moral. Do good works, help reform society by
eradicating poverty and disease. Fight injustice and oppression. Spread and defend Islam and family.
Daily work is jihad if carried out in difficult circumstances. Overcome ignorance and attain knowledge.
Some extend jihad to include aggressive warfare (Saddam Hussein, Taliban, Osama bin Laden), though
Qu’ran specifies that in warfare: War must only be for defense of homeland and religion. Violence should
be proportional, only enough to repel enemy. Should never be carried out in anger or hatred. Innocent
civilians should never be targeted (killing an innocent is same as killing all of humanity). Enemy must be
treated with justice and kindness. Always strive for peace. Muslim jihad can only be carried out in Muslim
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lands – therefore, those Muslims who called 9/11 attacks in US a jihad were improperly using a sacred term.
Suicide bombers problematic because suicide forbidden – God alone can decide when a person should die.
Jerusalem
Muhammad traveled to Jerusalem with angel Gabriel (Nocturnal Journey, al-mi’raj) on supernatural horse
(al-Buraq), traveling from place where Dome of the Rock now stands, taken to Divine Presence. On
journey met with earlier prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus.
Creation of Israel with sacred Jerusalem as its capital and artificial borders viewed as injustice of western
imperialism. Loss of sacred Jerusalem was major blow to Muslim pride/identity, and liberation of
Jerusalem is worldwide Muslim cause.
Gallup Poll: Interviews conducted in 9 countries by the Pan Arab Research Center: (Interviews began
December 2001, report printed February 26, 2002). The 9 countries included 5 Arab countries (Jordan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia) and 4 non-Arab Muslim countries (Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan,
Turkey). Number of people interviewed in each country: (Total of 10,004)
• Pakistan 2,043
Iran 1,501
Indonesia 1,050
Lebanon 1,050
• Turkey 1,019
Morocco 1,000
Jordan 797
Kuwait 790
• Saudi Arabia 754
“By focusing on the respondents’ worldview, making it clear that the primary goal of the study was to reach
a better understanding of their values and beliefs, they were able to couch indirect questions about terrorism
and the West in a more innocuous context.” Characteristics of the people interviewed:
Secondary education or higher:
• Kuwait 81% (28% university), 81% men, 80% women
• Saudi Arabia 74% (18% university), 76% men, 71% women
• Indonesia 72% (4% university), 79% men, 64% women
• Jordan 67% (15% university), 73% men, 61% women
• Lebanon 46% (18% university), 49% men, 44% women
• Iran 46% (10% university), 52% men, 41% women
• Turkey 41% (8 % university), 54% men, 31% women
• Morocco 20% (5% university), 25% men, 15% women
• Pakistan 12% (4% university), 17% men, 7% women
No formal education:
• Pakistan 36%
Morocco 26%
• Kuwait 3%
Jordan 3%
• Indonesia less than 0.5%
Iran 16%
Lebanon 2%
Turkey 8%
Saudi Arabia 1%
Approve of polygamy:
• Kuwait: Men 58%, Women 37%
• Saudi Arabia: Men 47%, Women 14%
• Jordan: Men 32%, Women 12%
• Lebanon: Men 17%, Women 7%. Lebanese Muslims 17%, Lebanese Christians 5%
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Approve of arranged marriage:
• Kuwait: Men 40%, Women 35%
• Saudi Arabia: Men 30%, Women 29%
• Lebanon: Men 11%, Women 12%, Lebanese Muslims 16%, Lebanese Christians 5%
• Jordan: Men 5%, Women 9%
What are the 3 most important qualities for children to learn at home?
Honesty:
• Turkey 92%
• Iran 85%
Kuwait 91%
Lebanon 82%
Jordan 86%
Pakistan 79%
Tolerance:
• Turkey 86%
• Jordan 70%
Morocco 78%
Iran 65%
Kuwait 71%
Lebanon 70%
Saudi Arabia 64%
Pakistan 60%
Obedience:
• Pakistan 71%
• Jordan 58%
Saudi Arabia 65%
Turkey 35%
Kuwait 63%
Lebanon 33%
Independence:
• Lebanon 47%
• Morocco 35%
Pakistan 40%
Saudi Arabia 30%
Iran 39%
Turkey 25%
Saudi Arabia 85%
Morocco 48%
Morocco 61%
Iran 21%
Jordan 36%
Kuwait 24%
Iranians agreeing with the following statements:
• Feel open-minded about Western culture – 28%
• Feel free in controlling their own lives and future – 23%
• Future promising technologically and scientifically – 21%
• Iran’s spiritual and moral values are critical to progress – 13%
• Adopting Western values will help progress – 10%
How Saudis view the United States:
• Adopts biased policies in world affairs – 65%
• High rate of crime – 65%
• Scientifically and technologically advanced – 64%
• Aggressive – 62%
• Conceited – 61%
• Ruthless – 54%
• Arrogant – 54%
• Easily provoked – 43%
• Attractive tourist destination – 13%
• Peaceful to live in – 5%
• Friendly – 3%
• Trustworthy – 3%
How they view Western societies:
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Technologically advanced
• Lebanon 94%
Saudi Arabia 61%
Equality of their citizens regarding rights and duties
• Lebanon 78%
Saudi Arabia 16%
Produce enjoyable films and music
• Lebanon 74%
Saudi Arabia 38%
Treat fairly the minorities living in their societies
• Lebanon 29%
Care about poorer nations
• Lebanon 22%
Saudi Arabia 15%
Willing to share technological know-how with less developed countries
• Lebanon 21%
Saudi Arabia 21%
Respect Arab/Islamic values
• Lebanon 10%
Saudi Arabia 13%
Take positions that support Arab causes
• Lebanon 5%
Saudi Arabia 10%
Fair in their stance toward Arab/Islamic countries
• Lebanon 3%
Saudi Arabia 8%
Fair in their stance toward the situation in Palestine
• Lebanon 3%
Saudi Arabia 6%
How positively/negatively do you think your country’s value system is being influenced by the value system
that prevails in Western societies?
Negative influence (very or somewhat):
• Jordan 74%
Morocco 67%
• Kuwait 48%
Indonesia 48%
• Iran 39%
Lebanon 62%
Turkey 45%
Saudi Arabia 53%
Pakistan 44%
The attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon were morally unjustifiable (mostly or totally):
• Indonesia 84%, Men 85%, women 84%
• Turkey 77%, Men 73%, women 80%
• Morocco 70%, Men 49%, women 81%
• Lebanon 70%, Men 70%, women 71%, Lebanese Muslims 62%, Lebanese Christians 81%
• Iran 67%, Men 69%, women 65%
• Pakistan 61%, Men 60%, women 62%
• Kuwait 38%, Men 41%, women 32%
* Saudi Arabia and Jordan governments did not permit any questions about the attacks
Do you believe that groups of Arabs carried out the attacks against the USA on September 11?
No, not true that Arabs were responsible:
• Kuwait 89%
Pakistan 86%
• Lebanon 58%
Turkey 43%
Indonesia 74%
12
Iran 59%
If Arabs were not responsible, who was?
• Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden
• Non-Muslim terrorists
The United States itself
Israel
Jihad – struggling or striving (Qu’ran). Media have popularized it as meaning “holy war”. In Islam, it is
unholy to instigate or start war; however, some wars are inevitable and justifiable
Palestine
As viewed by a Muslim Originally from Iran, Seyyed Hossein Nasr: In the last 400 years, there has been a
much worse record of killings by people in England, France, and Germany, resulting in far more killing,
than has occurred in Palestine. It is exclusivist thinking (“we’re right, they’re wrong”) that has led to most
of the bloodshed in Palestine. Man is responsible for his own actions, but can then ask God’s forgiveness
for his acts, if it is asked with sincerity. God holds people responsible for what they do. Suicide and
violence are against the Qu’ran, which says if you kill one innocent person, that is the same as killing all of
humanity. But desperate people will always do desperate things.
As viewed by Dr. Marc Ellis, a Jewish American: There is a choice of identification and of action that
exists in every religion. The early explorers who came to America thought of themselves as Christians, but
many of their actions were violent. Indeed, white European Christians have the most violent tradition in all
of history, seen in colonialism, slavery, and the Jewish holocaust. Islam also carries both beauty and terror
in its history, with the 9/11 terrorists claiming that their actions were for Islam. Palestinians are killed by
the Israeli government in the name of Judaism. Neither God nor humanity rescued the Jews from the
Holocaust – the Jews had experienced violence plenty of times before then, but they simply could not
believe that a government would organize together to try to annihilate them and remove them from the face
of the earth. Now the way the Palestinians are being treated by Israel is repeating the way the Jews were
treated. Reflects Israel’s desire for power and survival in spite of anyone else who tries to get in the way.
Jews of conscience who view the treatment of Palestinians as a violation of everything Jews believe in
(justice for all) are exiled from the Jewish community. There can be revolutionary forgiveness, forgiveness
for all those who show that they want justice and work to accomplish that justice. Forgiveness does not
change the past or your memories, but the issue becomes the oppression that has been experienced by ALL
people, and then you move together toward a new relationship and a new way of life for all people. If all
people came together in this way, each with their own memories of suffering at the hands of others – could
this then create a commitment to never let that kind of suffering happen again to any people? If Christians
can change and not be oppressors, then Jews can change and not be victims. Jews can’t say Christians must
repent forever for what they have done, and Jews can’t claim forever that they are entirely innocent. Jews
have a right to empowerment, but they do not have a right to oppress another people. They felt they had to
commit a wrong to the Palestinian people for survival – but the refusal to right that wrong and move toward
revolutionary forgiveness before it is too late is the real wrong. When you occupy and oppress a people
(Palestine), you can’t hold them responsible for how they react and the violence they carry out. But if
Palestine was given a separate state, then they should be held responsible for any acts they carry out after
that time. There are 3 million Palestinians imprisoned in their own homes. First and foremost, they need to
be freed.
“In the Name of God” (a videotape about Muslim extremists)
Shaheed = a martyr to Islam. The highest goal of a person is to die for Allah as a martyr; they are buried
separately from commoners, are known as the princes of heaven. Male martyrs get 72 virgins in paradise;
female martyrs get to sit by their husbands in paradise and be served by the 72 virgins, and they get all their
13
wishes fulfilled. It is also considered a great thing to sacrifice your son to Allah; family of first suicide
bomber was proud to have that distinction. Pictures of martyrs are hung in public places. Very young
children are taught about sacrificing their life for Allah, drawing pictures of bleeding martyrs in school.
Acknowledged that it takes great willpower to be a martyr, not everyone can achieve it. Martyrs bring life
to the community. They focus on the courage it takes to become a martyr; what is important is getting to
paradise, because this life is only transitory. For Shi’ites, only one day a year when you can mourn for
those who were martyred. There are large group ceremonies for grieving, women openly crying. In Iraq
they do this during Ashura festival, celebrating the day Imam Hussein was killed in the 7th century. During
that festival, men cut open their own heads and bleed until they pass out; they also cut the heads of young
male children.
Hezbollah is a major Shi’ite group in Lebanon. They view America as a power hungry tyrant trying to rule
the world, shout “Death to America” and vow never to bow to the tyrant Satan. Very young children are
taught these slogans. See Americans as using terror against Muslims all over the world. They vow to kill
everyone who is against Islam. They view Osama Bin Laden as the one true believer, and parents name
their son Osama so he will “grow up to be a warrior.” One man says, “If Osama Bin Laden dies, thousands
will take his place.”
Islam is viewed as the religion of equality and peace, love and fraternity. Qu’ran gives followers strength to
sacrifice themselves. “God loves those who follow the Qu’ran.” In school, children are taught from the
Qu’ran with a lot of chanting and singing slogans; believe they must do their part to make their home
countries truly Islamic states and fulfill the will of Allah. They state all children in the world are born
Muslim, but some are made non-believers by their parents. But they also say, “God can’t make everyone a
Muslim because there would be no one to go to hell.” Having many children is a woman’s contribution to
Islam; she is expected to devote her life to others and work to produce a better society.
Iraq
Hatred between Sunnis and Shi’ites has become very toxic within the country after centuries of social,
political, and economic inequality, political repression, prejudice, and bloodshed. The hatred is not just
about religious differences; it is more about the Sunnis having been the political oppressors of the Shi’ites
for decades, and now the reverse being true. Saddam Hussein (a Sunni) assumed power in Baghdad in
1979, the same year as Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution started in Iran. Saddam openly hated Shi’ites and
oversaw the killing of hundreds of thousands of them. After Saddam’s downfall, Shi’ites became politically
dominant, and Sunnis feared wholesale retaliation. US forces urged both to forget about the past and to start
working together for the good of the country.
Some of the differences between Sunnis and Shi’ites in Iraq:
• Sunnis pray with one arm folded over the other; Shi’ites keep their arms straight down at their
sides
• Shi’ites observe Ashura, a day that commemorates the killing of Ali’s son, Hussein, by Sunni
enemies. During the mourning Shi’ites march, cry, and might beat or cut themselves
• Shi’ite mosques have more decoration and portraits of Ali and Hussein. Sunni mosques are
plainer and refuse to have any portraits, viewing it as idolatry
14
Iran
Sources: Newspaper articles while I lived in Tehran in 1967-1968
Recent information: Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran, Random House, 2003 (Written by a
literature professor about life in the Islamic Republic of Iran after the downfall of the Shahanshah)
The Website of the Jimmy Carter Library
History
Westerners traditionally referred to Iran as Persia. In 1935 the Shah asked that the country be referred to by
its correct name, Iran, which means Land of the Aryans. “Aryans” referred to the people who migrated to
Iran from Asia in 1,000 BC – their language was called Persian, one of the earliest documented languages.
In 2004, 51% of Iran’s population had Persian heritage. The rest were Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Turkmens, and
other minority groups.
The first organized Persian state was founded in 648 BC by Achaemenes and his son, Teispes. Iran was
ruled by the Greeks from 330 BC to 170 BC, after being conquered by Alexander the Great. In 650 AD Iran
was conquered by Islamic Arab armies, and Islam replaced Zoroastrianism as the majority religion.
Mosques were built, and many Iranians intermarried with Arabs. Iran became a dominant world culture in
the 700’s and made significant contributions to science, mathematics, medicine, art, and poetry. In 1037
Iran was conquered by the Turks. In 1255 the Mongols took over the country, led by a grandson of Genghis
Khan; the country was plundered by the Mongols for the next 250 years.
In 1500 Shah Ismail I of the Safavid Dynasty took control of the country and created a new Persian empire
that included Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and much of Afghanistan. They went to war with the Ottoman Empire
in 1514, a war that continued until 1588. In 1588 Shah Abbas the Great took the throne and began a cultural
and political renaissance in Iran. Persia became the largest Shi’ite Muslim country in the world, which is
still true today.
In 1722 Iran was invaded by Peter the Great of Russia and again by the Turks. In the 1730’s Nadir Shah
drove out the invaders and stabilized the country. Between 1779 and 1925 the Russians and the British
(who were active at the time in India) carved out parts of Persia that became Bahrain, Azerbaijan,
Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. Iran was made economically dependent
on Europe; and when oil was found in Iran in 1908, Britain took over rights to the oil production. After
World War I and the Russian Revolution, Britain claimed Iran as a protectorate and took tighter control over
the oil fields.
In 1925 Shah Reza Khan Pahlavi (the last shah’s father) established the Pahlavi dynasty. Britain and the
Soviet Union maintained a lot of power over the country for many years. Under Reza Shah, in 1936 Iran
ended the requirement of women wearing “the veil” (chadors), to symbolize modernization of the country
and reduction of clergy’s power. Women could still choose to veil but not required to.
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi – the last shah before the Islamic Revolution in Iran – was Shah of Iran for 38
years, beginning in 1941 when foreign powers participated in having the father abdicate in favor of the son.
He focused on:
• White Revolution (land reform, rural health, literacy, urbanization, equality of women, nuclear
development, increasing oil production to fund reforms)
• Modernization and industrialization of Iran
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•
•
•
•
•
•
1975 he banned all political parties, which caused dissent – he justified it as trying to prevent
communism in Iran
An autocratic ruler who used SAVAK (secret police) to deal with dissenters
He amassed huge personal wealth, much of which he took with him when he and his family went
into exile
Under the shah’s rule, women could walk streets uncovered and accompanied by men. Women
worked in all professions (pilots, police, army, etc). Women lived in one of the most progressive
situations in a Muslim country, one source of the Shah’s unpopularity with Muslim extremists
US presidents supported the Shah beginning in 1953, in return for receiving oil supplies
Shah was overthrown 1/16/79 and went into exile (eventually in Egypt) after a year of savage street
riots, opening the way for Ayatollah Khomeini to return to Iran after being in exile since 1963 for
opposing the Shah’s modernization efforts
When the shah left, there was wide feeling of celebration. Khomeini returned 2/1/79 and instituted the
Islamic Revolution, renaming Iran the Islamic Republic of Iran. He wanted to recreate the past – the old
way of life – and fanned hatred of the US. The people allowed him to make those changes. The excitement
about the downfall of the shah quickly changing to apprehension and fear under Khomeini’s regime .
Executed all anti-revolutionaries. Militant vigilantes terrorized the streets in the name of Islam. Liberals
were assassinated wholesale. People were too afraid to protest what was happening. Closed down the
universities to reform them with new rules and new curriculum that was purged of western influence. There
were ongoing demonstrations by university students and faculty – many were killed or imprisoned. “We
were all victims of the arbitrary nature of a totalitarian regime that constantly intruded into the most private
corners of our lives…. What memories were we creating for our children? This constant assault, this
persistent lack of kindness, was what frightened me most.” (Nafisi, p. 67) When Khomeini convinced the
nation that the US was Satan, it was confusing to Nafisi since she had gone to school in the US for years.
She started having nightmares about never being able to get out of Iran again. It took her 11 years to get out
and return to the US
The West was declared to be the Great Satan not because of military might, not because of economic power,
but because of its “sinister rape of Islamic culture.” “America is now in decline because of their decadence;
they are giving the last hiccup of a dead culture.” We could use western technical know-how, but we must
reject their morals. Khomeini was also carrying out a war against the Iranian minority groups, especially
the Kurds and the Bah’ai.
Anti-US hatred reached an all-time high in 1979 when the exiled Shah came to New York to undergo
treatment for cancer. November 4, 1979, 63 Americans taken hostage from US embassy in Tehran,
demanding that the shah be returned to Iran to stand trial – US refused, and it took over a year to get the
hostages freed. Shah died of cancer in July 1980 – his wife and children still live in the US, and still hope
for oldest son to be able to return to Iran someday as ruler.
September 1980 Iran and Iraq started a war that lasted 8 years. Khomeini hated Saddam Hussein for
kicking Khomeini out of Iraq after he was exiled from Iran. Over a million people were killed in the war.
Those who fought were told they would go straight to heaven when they were martyred. When family
members were killed by Iraqi bombs, the motorized militia showed up on site to be sure the family members
did not show any mourning – congratulated them on the deaths of their family members. The war finally
ended because both countries realized neither would ever win it.
On July 3, 1988, toward the end of the Iran-Iraq war, the USS Vincennes, on patrol in the Persian Gulf to
protect Kuwaiti oil tankers, shot down an Iranian passenger jet by mistake, thinking it was a fighter aircraft.
16
The US eventually explained the error as being due to battle stress, which had heightened since the year
before when the USS Stark was attacked by an Iraqi fighter plane, killing 37 American sailors. The incident
with the Vincennes further solidified Iran’s hatred of the US.
Khomeini died June 1989 – succeeded by Hojatol-Islam Ali Khamenei
During Nafisi’s childhood and adolescence (while the shah was in power), she had as much freedom as
western females – her mother served in the Iranian Parliament in 1963. She went to school in Switzerland,
but returned to Iran when her father, Mayor of Tehran, was arrested. He was jailed for 4 years. Nafisi
married at 17 – she and her husband went to Oklahoma to attend college. She divorced her husband 3 years
later; he returned to Iran, she continued in college. September 1977 she married her 2nd husband, an
architectural engineer, whom she originally met at Berkley. By late 1979 (after Khomeini’s return) she was
in Iran teaching at universities. She quit teaching when they said she would have to “veil,” but by 1987 she
agreed to go back to teaching, though she refused to let them tell her what she could and could not teach.
She was in constant trouble with the authorities. She taught literature with works by western authors (Henry
James, Jane Austen, Bronte sisters, etc.). She had 2 children, daughter Negar born 1984 and son Dara born
1985. It became even harder for her to live in Iran, feeling it was tainting their childhoods. She left Iran
6/24/97 – family was allowed to take 8 suitcases with them. Took a job at Johns Hopkins University in
international studies and lives in Washington DC.
Her reflections on life in Iran after the Islamic Revolution:
• In public women have to “veil” (dress in long, shapeless black or gray robes and head scarves that
cover all but their faces and their hands, or wear a chador, a long and shapeless black cloth that
covers their entire body)
• Mothers put pressure on daughters to be orderly, organized, mature, a lady
• In school, she had rules about what she could wear (including veiling), how to act, and had to control
her gestures and facial expressions. Her visitors to the school were monitored. They tried to control
what she taught. They refused to accept her resignation, saying she didn’t have the right to leave.
She was constantly criticized for letting her scarf slip, showing some of her hair. At entrance to
university, all females had to go into a dark room to be inspected – did they have on the right
clothes, proper robe and scarf, shoes, proper objects in their bag, any evidence of makeup, type of
jewelry, etc. Male and female students were separated in classes. Females were punished for:
Running upstairs in hurry to get to classes, laughing in hallways, talking to male students, having
makeup in their bags, growing fingernails long or wearing nail polish, eating food “too seductively”.
• Women would walk with their heads down, watching the ground and bending bodies instead of
walking upright, all so no one would notice them – never looked at passersby on the streets. Can’t
walk in public with a man who is not father, brother, or husband. Women sit at rear on buses, men
at front. Islamic Republic dropped marriage age for females from 18 to 9 – many were married to
older men. Stoning is punishment for adultery and prostitution
• Female students were often sent to jail. One sent to jail for 5 years because she met with a dissident
religious organization; after released from jail, took 2 years to get permission to reenroll in college.
One sent to jail for 10 years for distributing leaflets. In jail, females were whipped, fined,
humiliated, not allowed to sleep, not allowed to contact their families, given virginity exams by a
gynecologist, forced to sign documents confessing to sins they had not committed. Frequently as
soon as girl was released from jail, her family forced her to marry to prove that she was a “good
girl”.
• Families were punished for: Having illegal satellite dishes, having alcohol in home, having books
that had been declared illegal (all literature banned unless it related to Islamic ideology), bookstores
forced to close, most newspapers forced to close, any behavior considered western and decadent
17
•
(shaking hands with members of other gender, clapping in public events, etc.), listening to forbidden
(non-religious) music . Ballet and dancing banned. Not allowed to express emotions in public.
Women not allowed to sing because sexually provocative.
During war with Iraq, women told they should sleep in their clothes so if their house was bombed
they would not be indecently exposed to strangers’ eyes
At times the ruling regime became a little more tolerant, then they cracked down and became strictly
controlling again – These cycles were unpredictable.
She viewed the way women were treated as a tragedy, an absurdity, and cruelty. Streets were patrolled by
militia patrols carrying guns – called the Blood of God. They made sure women in public were following
all the restrictions. Slogans written on buildings:
• Men who wear ties are US lackeys
• Veiling is a woman’s protection
• My sister, guard your veil. My brother, guard your eyes.
• Death to America! (Marg bar Amrika!)
• Down with imperialism and Zionism!
• America is our number one enemy!
• This is not a struggle between the US and Iran, it’s a struggle between Islam and blasphemy
• A woman in a veil is protected like a pearl in an oyster shell
By law, females had only half the worth of a man. Females were unable to develop a clear self-image – had
overwhelming sense of helplessness. She discovered that her female college students had been taught that
their own opinions counted for nothing, so they wrote down everything she said as the professor – then
simply repeated her own words back to her on exams and papers. No one had ever praised them for
anything, and they were never encouraged to think independently. Women who were abused by their
husbands could not use that as grounds for divorce. The judges blamed the women for their husbands’
beatings and ordered them to reflect on the wrongs they had committed to make their husbands unhappy.
Females taught that pleasure is the great sin, so never learned to feel happy. Taught that sex is only for
procreation and only to be done with husband. Learned nothing about their own bodies. Learned to just
keep their minds blank
Man not supposed to touch a namahram woman (woman other than wife, mother, and sisters). Man not
supposed to look a woman in the eyes. Men were allowed to have 4 official wives and as many “temporary
wives” as they wanted so men could keep their sexual needs satisfied. Men were allowed to curb their
sexual drive by having sex with animals. If a man has sex with a chicken, neither he, his immediate family,
nor his next door neighbors can eat the chicken afterwards – but a neighbor 2 doors down can eat it
In 2002 President George W. Bush proclaimed Iran to be an “Axis of Evil” and an “Outpost of Tyranny.”
April 2008 a survey of 4,000 people in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab
Emirates showed that 64% of them held a very unfavorable view of the US, with 19% more saying their
views were somewhat unfavorable. They believe that Israel and the US pose the greatest sources of threat
to their countries. 80% believed that Iraqis were worse off as a result of US military intervention in that
country.
18
Israel-Palestine Conflict
1948 creation of the State of Israel by the United Nations. May 1948 the British left Palestine. The USA
recognizes the new State of Israel.
• May 1948 members of the Arab League – including Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Transjordan, and the Arab
Liberation Army – declared their intention to take back what had been British-controlled Palestine. The
US Consul General, Thomas Wasson, was assassinated in Jerusalem
• Palestinian Fedayeen began raiding and attacking Israeli settlements
• In September the All-Palestine Government was created in Gaza Strip
1949 Palestine was divided between the State of Israel, Transjordan, and the All-Palestine Government in Gaza.
During the war 711,000 Palestinian Arabs were displaced and became refugees. 800,000 to 1 million Jews
living in Muslim countries were expelled from those countries.
• Throughout the year of 1949, armistice signed between Israel and Egypt, Lebanon, Transjordan, Syria
For decades there were ongoing battles between Israel and Palestinians, Egyptians, Jordanians, Syrians, etc.
1964 The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) created to destroy the state of Israel. (Yasser Arafat became
head of the PLO in 1969)
1967 the Six Day War (between Israel and Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq) – Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula and
the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights
• September 1967 eight Arab countries declared they would never recognize or negotiate peace with Israel
September 1972 the Munich Massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes by Palestinian militants, Black September
October 1973 the Yom Kippur War between Israel and Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt
1978 Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed the Camp David
Accord, in which Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula in exchange for peace and future
negotiations over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
1979 Egypt became the first Arab country to recognize Israel officially and sign a peace treaty
1987 to 1991 the First Intifada – Palestinians revolted across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and more than
1,000 Palestinians were killed, along with 164 Israelis. Not until 1993 did Yasser Arafat and the prime minister
of Israel sign a Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government for Palestine
July 1989 the Tel Aviv Jerusalem bus massacre, the first Palestinian suicide attack inside Israel’s borders
1994 King Hussein of Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel
1996 Israel went to war with Lebanon (Operation Grapes of Wrath)
1998 Bill Clinton hosted Yasser Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu (PM of Israel) and got them to sign the Wye
River Memorandum, agreeing on steps to bring security to the West Bank and Gaza Strip
2000-2005 the Second Intifada, a campaign of suicide bombings and terrorist attacks – in 5 years there were
1,068 Israeli deaths and 3,000 Palestinian deaths
1
•
•
March 2002 the United Nations demanded a cessation of all acts of violence and declared that Israel and
Palestine must learn to live together, side by side. Yasser Arafat’s response was a public declaration
that he would die a martyr and that suicide bombings would continue against Israel
June 2002 Israel began constructing the Israeli West Bank barrier to prevent suicide bombers from
entering Israel. In June 2003 the United Nations condemned the building of the wall, but the USA
defended it as a legitimate counter-terrorism protective measure
October 2004 Israel carried out a 17-day military operation in the Gaza Strip, during which 133 Palestinians
were killed. November 2004 Yasser Arafat died.
In 2005 Israel withdrew from Gaza, but Arab terrorists continued attacks on Israel. In June 2006 terrorists from
Gaza started tunneling into Israel in order to carry out attacks.
2006 Israel went to war with Lebanon after an attack by Hezbollah, resulting in 1,191 Lebanese deaths and 165
Israeli deaths. 1 million Lebanese and 300,000-500,000 Israelis were displaced from their homes
By 2007 Israel had set up numerous security checkpoints in the West Bank and Gaza to deal with ongoing
attacks and rocket launches
In 2008 Israel carried out a 22-day operation to try to end attacks by Hamas, including blockading Gaza.
Currently there continue to be ongoing suicide bombings, organized attacks, and retaliatory responses
2
Concept Mastery Quiz: Social Work with Diverse Populations
Dr. Claudia Rappaport
October 31, 2018
Your name: _______________________________________ Your grade: ________________
Total possible points: __34__________
1.
True or False:
More than half of all Muslims live in Arabic countries. (1 point)
2.
True or False:
The Qu’ran is viewed as a series of lessons to be learned and reflected on. (1
point)
3.
True or False:
4.
True or False:
5.
True or False:
6.
True or False:
7.
True or False:
To Muslims, Islam is the one straight path of God. (1 point)
8.
True or False:
The Shari’ah does not apply to any Muslim who has not yet reached puberty. (1
Tawhid refers to the belief that there is only one God in Islam. (1 point)
Muslims believe that their God is the same God who is worshiped by followers of
Judaism and Christianity. (1 point)
Muslims view Jesus as one of their prophets and as the son of God, but they do not
believe he was resurrected after death. (1 point)
Muslims believe that the Qu’ran corrected human errors that were written into
Judaic and Christian scriptures. (1 point)
point)
9.
True or False:
During daily prayers Muslims recite portions of the Qu’ran. (1 point)
10. True or False: The Qu’ran tells Muslims exactly how they should pray. (1 point)
11. True or False: Devout Muslims are resentful of the fact that westerners, including Americans, do
not recognize Muhammad as a prophet. (1 point)
12. True or False: Salat is prayer, which a Muslim is expected to do eight times a day. (1 point)
13. True or False: Muslims fast during Ramadan, the month when Muhammad received his first
revelations of the Qu’ran. (1 point)
14. True or False: Non-Muslims are not supposed to travel to the Ka’bah in Mecca. (1 point)
15. True or False: Muslims believe in heaven and hell. (1 point)
16. True or False: Muslims attend worship in a mosque on Saturdays. (1 point)
17. True or False: In a mosque Muslim women worship in a group that is separate from and behind
the men. (1 point)
18. True or False: There are no women mentioned by name in the Qu’ran. (1 point)
19. True or False: Many of the most violent, revolutionary Muslims, including Al-Qaeda, do not
follow mainstream Sunni or Shi’a Islam. (1 point)
20. True or False: There are more Sunni Muslims in the world than Shi’a Muslims. (1 point)
21. True or False: All predominantly Muslim countries have the same rules regarding what women are
allowed to do. (1 point)
22. True or False: In predominantly Islamic countries, marriage between first cousins is acceptable
and common. (1 point)
23. True or False: The Qu’ran condemns suicide and violence. (1 point)
24. True or False: Two Muslim countries that have a Shi’ite majority are Iraq and Iran. (1 point)
25. True or False: Iran and Iraq share a common physical border, and they have always been close
allies and friends. (1 point)
26. True or False: In Iran women are able to divorce their husbands if their husbands physically abuse
them. (1 point)
27. Which of the following is NOT forbidden to Muslims: (1 point)
A. Eating pork
B. Drinking alcohol
C. Collecting interest on a savings account
D. Gambling
E. Divorce
F. All of the above are forbidden to Muslims
G. None of the above are forbidden to Muslims
28. Which of the following is NOT required of a Muslim before and while they pray: (1 point)
A. Wash hands, arms, face, feet, and top of head before beginning
B. Wear clean clothing
C. Recite parts of the Qu’ran
D. Remain on your knees throughout the period of prayer
E. All of the above are part of Muslim prayer
29. Which of the following is considered the greatest sin in Islam: (1 point)
A. Premarital sexual activity
B. Abortion
C. Divorce
D. Murder
E. Marrying a non-Muslim
F. None of the above is the greatest sin
30. Ever since the 9/11 attacks in the United States, some Americans have considered all Muslims from
the Middle East to be waging a war of terrorism on this country. Is this view accurate, based on what
we have studied about Islam? Be specific about beliefs of Islam in answering this question. (5
points)