Sunni & Sh’iaFour “rightly-guided” Caliphs over Islam
• Abu Bakr
• Umar
• Uthman
• Ali – challenged by Aisha, Mu’awiya– Civil War, Ali Assassinated– Ali’s son Hussein martyred in battle– Other son Hassan poisoned
Sunni & Shi’a:Theological Differences
Sunni
No formal clergy
Rely on written tradition, consensus of independent scholars, clerics
Sunni & Shi’a:Theological Differences
Shi’a
12 “Imams” descended from founder Ali
12th Imam, Muhammad Al-Mahdi Claim to Caliphate Disappeared at 4 yrs old Sunni claimed he was dead Shi’a said he was “hidden” & would return
Sunni & Shi’a:Theological Differences
Established council of clerics after last “true” Imam descended from Ali died
Focus on current, charismatic leaders who speak with Pope-like infallibility, e.g. Ayatollah Khomeini
Add “Ali is the beloved of Allah” to Shahadah Different call to prayer, prayer style, put clay from
Karbalah on forehead (where Ali killed).
Sufi
Suf = wool Focus on God’s love, mystical experiences, esp.
seeing God’s face Asceticism, poverty Whirling dervish subsect
Sufi
Sufi
Sufi
Sufi
IslamIsrael & Palestine
61 B.C. Romans occupy Judah
70 1st Revolt
132 2nd Bar-Kokbah Revolt
135 Romans drive most Jews from Rome, name the area Palaestina (“Philistine Syria”)
638 Caliph Umar conquers Jerusalem
IslamIsrael & Palestine
19th Century - Zionism - Jews move to Israel
• 200,000 Arabs in Palestine
• No national identity
• Settlers had mixed views from utopian to exclusionary
IslamIsrael & Palestine
1917 Balfour Declaration• Britain promises a national homeland to the
Jews in Palestine which will not infringe of the rights of the current population
1918 WWI ends• Britain and France take control of Middle
Eastern colonies of the Ottoman Empire
IslamIsrael & Palestine
1920 Mandate of Palestine“Palestine” split at the Jordan riverWest of the Jordan (23%) = “Palestine”• a Jewish homelandEast of the Jordan (77%) = “Transjordan” • an Arab homeland (later simply “Jordan”)
IslamIsrael & Palestine
1920-1939 Periodic Violence over increasing Jewish immigration in Palestine
1939 Under pressure from Arabs, British Govt. Issues White Paper of 1939, which limits Jewish immigration
• Jews to immigrate anyway bc of Holocaust1945-1947 Pressure on Intl Community for
Jewish homeland promised in Balfour
IslamIsrael & Palestine
1947 UN plans another partition of “Palestine” (23% of original territory) into an Arab and Jewish State
Arabs reject the offer, both sides arm for war1948 Israel Declares Independence• Civil War breaks out• British Troops Evacuate
IslamIsrael & Palestine
1948 After 6 Weeks of War, the Jews win, truce declared
Expulsions on both sides500-700k Arab refugees createdArab countries refuse to take in refugees1964 Palestinian Liberation Organization created1967 Surrounding nations attack Israel• Israel wins and takes Gaza and West Bank
IslamIsrael & Palestine
1983 Islamic Jihad forms and begins terrorist attacks1987 Hamas (Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine)
launches first Intafada - Islamic terror 1993 Oslo Accords - Yassir Arafat offered 97% of
Six Day War Territory - West Bank, Gaza, East Jerauslam - walks away and starts 2nd Intafada (terrorist attacks)
• Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Arafat’s Al Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade begin suicide bombings
IslamIsrael & Palestine
2003 Israelis begin building security fence2005 Israel forces Gaza settlers to leave and
gives the land to Palestinians2006 Hamas wins election over Arafat’s
Fatah party after his death. Fatah withdraws. Israel responds with blockade.
2007-2009 Hamas & Fatah fight for control: Fatah takes West Bank, Hamas takes Gaza
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