Download The Five Pillars of Islam

The Rise of Islam
The Life of Muhammad
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Lived form 570-632. Born into a merchant family.
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Troubled by the growing gap between the simple honesty and generosity of the Bedouins and
the greediness of the rich trading elite in the city of Mecca.
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Muhammad received a message from the angel Gabriel to recite the words of Allah, which were
later used to create the Quran.
Muhammad’s Successors
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Abu-Bakr, a loyal friend of Muhammad, was elected caliph following his death. (Father-in-law)
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Abu-Bakr and the next three elected caliphs- Umar. Uthman, and Ali – all had known
Muhammad and used the Qur’an to guide the world of Islam.
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They are known as the “rightly guided” caliphs.
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Uthman was murdered which started a civil war.
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Following the war Ali- Muhammads cousin was the natural choice as successor.
A Split in Islam
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Ali is the central figure at the origin of the Shia / Sunni split which occurred in the decades
immediately following the death of the Prophet in 632.
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Sunnis regard Ali as the fourth and last of the "rightly guided caliphs" (successors to Mohammed
as leader of the Muslims) 85% of the Islamic world today
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Shias feel that Ali should have been the first caliph and that the caliphate should pass down only
to direct descendants of Mohammed via Ali.
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Sunnis and Shias agree on the core fundamentals of Islam - the Five Pillars - and recognize each
others as Muslims.
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The Umayyads had become a powerful dynasty in the Mediterranean region following the death
of Ali.
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Tensions arouse between Arab Muslims and non-Arab Muslims due to the lavish lifestyle of the
Umayyads.
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Rebel groups overthrew the Umayyads in the year 750. The most powerful of those groups, the
Abbasid took control of the empire.
The Five Pillars of Islam
The Dome of the Rock
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It was completed in 691 making it the oldest extant Islamic building in the world.
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Considered the second holiest site in Islam after the Kaaba at Mecca.
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Site where Muhammad was taken to heaven by the angel Gabriel and deemed the
messenger of Islam.
The 5 Pillars of Islam
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Term given to the 5 duties incumbent on every Muslim.
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These five practices are essential to Sunni Islam. Shi'a Muslims subscribe to eight ritual
practices which substantially overlap with the Five Pillars
Jihad
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Jihad requires Muslims to "struggle in the way of God" or "to struggle to improve one's
self and/or society."
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Jihad is directed against the devil's inducements, aspects of one's own self, or against a
visible enemy.
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The four major categories of jihad that are recognized are Jihad against one's own self
(self-perfection), Jihad of the tongue, Jihad of the hand, and Jihad of the sword.
FAITH
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There is no god worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.
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This declaration of faith is called the Shahada.
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All people faithful to Islam pronounce this saying.
PRAYER
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Salat is the name for the prayers which are performed five times a day, and are a direct
link between the worshipper and God.
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There is no hierarchical authority in Islam so a learned person who knows the Qur’an is
chosen by the congregation to lead the prayers.
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The prayers contain verses from the Qur’an and are spoken in arabic.
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Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall.
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Although it is preferable to worship in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere,
such as a field, office, or factory.
CHARITY
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One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God & all
Muslims have a responsibility to support the less fortunate.
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Zakat- means both purification and growth.
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Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need.
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Most muslims make a payment of 2.5% of their capital.
THE FAST
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Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown.
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The word Sawn refers to these practices.
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Those who are sick, elderly, on a journey, pregnant, or nursing are permitted to break
the fast and make up a equal number of days later in the year.
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If they are physically able to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day
missed.
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Children begin to fast from puberty, although many start earlier.
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The fast is seen as a means of self-purification.
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By cutting off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true
sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one’s spiritual life.
PILGRIMAGE
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The pilgrimage to Mecca-theHajj- is an obligation only for those who are physically and
financially able to perform it.
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About 2 million people go to Mecca each year from every corner of the world.
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Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments which strip away class distinction and
culture so all are equal before God.
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The Ka'ba, the centre of Islam, is a rectangular building made of bricks. Around the Ka'ba
is the great mosque, al-Haram, and around the mosque.
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Mecca was a central point on the caravan routes running over the Arabian peninsula at
the time of Muhammad.
Muslim Empire’s
Umayyads
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Lasted from 661-750.
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Came to power following the death of Ali.
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Abandoned the simple life of previous caliphs and began to surround themselves with wealth
and ceremony.
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Religious and political opposition led to the Umayyad downfall by rebel groups in 750.
The most powerful of the rebel groups were the Abbasids who took control
Abbasids
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Lasted from750-1258
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Moved the capital of the Muslim Empire to Baghdad.
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Developed a strong central government with many specialized departments.
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Sent diplomats to lands as far as Europe, Asia & Africa.
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To support such a large gov’t structure the Abbasids taxed land, imports, exports & nonMuslims.
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To encourage trade the Abbasid’s set up banks dealing only in their currency the sakk.
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Due to the size of the Empire, many independent Muslim states arose and dominated smaller
regions.
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The Fatimid caliphate was formed by Shi’a Muslims tracing their descent from Muhammad’s
daughter Fatima.
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The Abbasid dynasty fell due to poor leadership, the Fatimid revolt, and because the Seljuks
captured Baghdad and launched attacks on the Muslim Empire.
Islamic Achievements
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Golden Age occurred during the reign of the Abbasids.
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Developed the House of Wisdom to translate scientific and philosophical text in to Arabic.
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Developed calligraphy or ornamental writing.
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Wrote the Comprehensive Book detailing medical treatments.
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Used scientific observation and experimentation to make advances in Math and Science.