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Islam
Muhammad, Sunni, Shiite, and America
“There is no God but Allah, and
Muhammad is his prophet.”
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Allah= what Christians would call “God”

Muhammad= the main prophet of the Islamic faith

Christians see Jesus as the main prophet of God, BUT
Muhammad was NOT Allah’s son.

Jesus is a prophet in Islam and Judaism, but NOT
believed to be the son of God.
Islam: Basics

Islam- the name of the religion
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Muslim- someone who practices Islam

Someone called an “Arab” is not necessarily a “Muslim.”
Arab is a cultural group sharing language and culture
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Quran: Holy book of Islam
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Ramadan- the holy month
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There is no hierarchy in Islam
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Unlike Christianity and Judaism
All Muslims believe in 5 essential things.
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This is the foundation of their belief system
The 5 Pillars of Faith
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I. Shahadah: Testimony of faith
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“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his
prophet.”
II. Salat: Prayer
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Prayer 5 times per day (varies for Shiite Muslims)
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Face direction of Mecca, Saudi Arabia (holy city)
III. Sawm: Fasting
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No eating or drinking during daylight hours for the
month of Ramadan
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Ramadan is the holy month
The 5 Pillars of Faith
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IV. Zakaat: Alms giving (giving to the poor)

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All Muslims give a fixed amount of $ every year to the
poor (2.5% of income)
Purpose- to create equality among Muslims and to purify
wealth
Wealth is an evil thing!
V. Hajj- Muhammad’s Pilgrimage
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Making a pilgrimage (trip) to Mecca at least once during a
life time
Purpose is to become closer to God and create equality
Occurs during the last month of the Islamic Calendar.
Re-creation of Abraham’s journey to Mecca
 Prophet of God in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism
Hajj to Mecca
Mecca

Millions of Muslims
make the Hajj yearly

They Come from all over
the world

Mecca becomes the most
populated city in the
world during this time

It is a Holy journey and
violence is not tolerated
Sunni Muslim vs. Shiite
Muslim

Sunni and Shiite are different sects of Islam, just as
Catholics and Protestants are different sects of
Christianity

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Shiite=Shia
The two groups have political and spiritual
differences
How Did the Division
Start?

Muhammad, Islam’s main prophet, died

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Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s close friend and advisor,
was selected to the leader of the Islamic nation


Who would take over the leadership of the Muslim
faith?
Known as a “caliph”- spiritual and political leader
Most Muslims agreed with the selection of Abu
Bakr, however some disagreed and believed the new
caliph should be a relative of Muhammad (tied to
bloodline)
Sunni vs. Shiite

Those who disagreed with Abu Bakr’s selection felt
that Muhammad’s cousin, Ali, should have been
selected as caliph

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Sunni= “one who follows the traditions of the
Prophet”

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They believed that Muhammad himself told Ali he
would take over as leader on his death bed
Supported Abu Bakr
Shiite= “the Party of Ali,” or “People of the
Household of the Prophet”

Supported Ali
Sunni vs. Shiite

Shiite Muslims believe caliphs should be from the
bloodline of Muhammad
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Today therefore, they DO NOT recognize the leaders of
their own countries as caliphs!
Sunnis do support the leaders of their countries as
caliphs.
Everyday Differences

Sunnis and Shiites share the same basic beliefs and
practice religion in the same way. Slight differences
occur in:
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Praying
Fasting
Pilgrimage
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85% of the Muslim world is Sunni

10% of Muslim world Shiite
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Iraq has a large population of Shiite Muslims, but
Sunnis are the majority

Iran is the only majority Shiite country in the world
Map of Sunni and Shiite
Nations
Why Does It Matter?

Terrible violence between Sunnis and Shiites has
occurred for hundreds of years and is still occurring
today!

Civil war in Iraq between Sunnis/Shiites after US
occupation

Afghanistan control and support of US invasion divided
between Sunni and Shiite Muslims
Afghanistan Terms

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Pashtun- majority of people in Afghanistan.
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Considered “native” to Afghanistan
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Sunni Muslims
Hazara- minority of people in Afghanistan
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Shiite Muslims
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Seen as outsiders, not “native”
Taliban
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Extremist Sunni Muslim’s
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Ruled Afghanistan since 1996
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Overthrown with US invasion
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Leading current insurgency against NATO forces
Islam in America

First Muslim’s arrived with
Spanish
 Came as slaves

Many African slaves were
Muslim
 Brought from Muslim regions
of Africa

Nation of Islam
 Established in 1930
 African-American specific
organization
Islam in America Con’t.

Malcolm X
 Radical leader of NOI
 Spoke out against racism
 Race war!!!

Change in Views
 Made Hajj
 Saw many different races
 Came back changed
 Assassinated by NOI
 Not following radical
ideas
Islam in America Con’t.

Cassius Clay
 Pro boxer
 Converts to Islam
 Joins NOI
 Changes name to
Muhammad Ali

Vietnam
 Refuses to draft
 Convicted
 Not allowed to fight
 Later pardoned
 Missed best years of his
career
Islam in America Today
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Currently there are 5-7 million
Muslims in America
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9-11
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Many are immigrants
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Muslims were killed in the
Twin Towers
Many have also converted
Peaceful religion
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But like all, radicals have hurt
the image of Islam
Distribution of Muslims in
America
Where They Come From