Download The Teachings of Islam

The Teachings of Islam
Background on Islam
• Islam has more followers than any religion
except Christianity.
• Muslims believe that Jews, Muslims and
Christians pray to the same God.
• All three religions trace their origins to the
prophet Abraham; and include such figures as
Adam, Noah, and Moses in their scripture.
• The Torah, the Jewish Bible, is the Old
Testament, in the Christian Bible. Muslims
believe that the Qur’an is a more perfect
version of the Torah and the Bible.
The Qur’an and the Sunnah
• The Qur’an is Islam’s
sacred book and
considered by Muslims
to be the words of God.
The Sunnah is the
example set by
Muhammad.
• Several of the figures in
the Torah and the Bible
are also found in the
Qur’an. The Qur’an
states that God “earlier
revealed the Torah and
the Gospel as a source of
guidance.”
The Qur’an and the Sunnah (cont)
• Muslims do not let the
Qur’an touch the ground
or get dirty. Most
Muslims memorize all or
part of the Qur’an.
• The Sunnah (Islam’s
second most holy book)
are Muhammad’s words
and deeds. Hadith are a
written record of
examples from the
Sunnah.
The First Pillar: Shahadah
(Profession of Faith)
• “There is no god but
God, and Muhammad is
his prophet.”
• According to Muslims,
Allah is the one allpowerful God who
created the universe.
• They believe that
everyone will face God’s
judgment, some will go
to paradise, others to
hell.
The Second Pillar: Salat (Daily Worship)
• Muslims pray five
times a day, wherever
they are. Men stand in
different rows than
women when praying
in a mosque.
• Muslims pray toward
the Ka’ba in Makkah.
• Muslims must perform
ritual washings of
their hands, face,
arms, and feet before
praying.
The Second Pillar: Salat (cont)
• mosques are where
Muslims gather to
worship
• rugs are for kneeling
• the qibla is in the
direction of Makkah
• muezzins call others to
prayer
• imams are prayer
leaders.
The Third Pillar: Zakat
(Almsgiving or Charity)
• Muslims believe that
wealth is purified by
giving some of it away,
that sharing helps to
control greed, and that
giving reminds people
of God’s gifts.
• Muslims give about a
2.5% of their surplus
wealth and possessions.
The Third Pillar: Zakat
(Almsgiving or Charity) cont.
• Zakat pays for
orphanages, hospitals,
soup kitchens, and
clothing and shelter
for the poor.
The Fourth Pillar: Siyam
(Fasting)
• Siyam is daily fasting
from sunrise to sunset
during Ramadan, the
ninth month of the
Islamic lunar calendar.
• Muslims do not eat or
drink between sunrise
and sunset.
The Fourth Pillar: Siyam
(Fasting) continued
• Muslims break the daily
fast at sunset. The end of
Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) is
celebrated with prayers,
special foods, an
exchange of gifts, and
giving to the poor.
• Pregnant women, the
sick, the elderly, and
young children do not
have to fast.
• Ramadan encourages
generosity, equality, and
charity
The Fifth Pillar: Hajj
(Pilgrimage)
• All adult Muslims who
can do so are expected to
make the hajj once
during their lifetime.
• Muslims believe the hajj
promotes fellowship and
equality.
• Muslims wear simple
white clothing for the
hajj.
The Fifth Pillar: Hajj
(Pilgrimage) continued
• Muslims travel along a
passage between two
small hills, as Hagar
did when she searched
for water. They camp
in tents at Mina, pray
at the plain of Arafat,
and some climb
Mount Arafat. Before
leaving, they circle the
Ka’ba seven more
times.
Jihad (Struggle)
• Jihad gives Muslims
a way to respond to
external and internal
challenges.
• The “lesser jihad”
relates to the
external struggle
against oppression.
It has become
synonymous with
“holy war.”
• The “greater jihad”
is the fight against
evil within oneself.
Jihad (Struggle cont.)
• The Qur’an and
Muhammad say that
there are specific terms
for war.
• Muslims should honor
agreements made with
enemies
• They should not mutilate
the dead, harm innocents,
or destroy property,
orchards, crops, sacred
objects, or houses of
worship.
Shari’ah: Islamic Law
• Shari’ah is the body of
Islamic law based on the
Qur’an and the Sunnah.
• It guides Muslims in
their personal behavior.
It was developed by
caliphs and scholars who
used the Qur’an and the
Sunnah to solve
problems that arose.
• Shari’ah promotes
obedience to the Qur’an.
Shari’ah: Islamic Law (cont.)
• Muslims may not eat
pork, drink alcohol,
or gamble. Women
must dress modestly.
• Western codes of law
have replaced or
supplemented
shari’ah in many
Muslim countries.