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What is Islam?
By Colleen Messina
1
Muhammad never expected to change the world. He was born in
570 A.D. in Saudi Arabia. He was kind, and his nickname was "the
truthful one." The boy was orphaned, and his uncle raised him.
Muhammad tended sheep on the dry hills like many young Arabians.
Later, he became a successful merchant and married a wealthy
widow. However, he felt as though something was missing in his life,
so he went on a retreat.
2
Muhammad went up to Mount Hira to pray in a small cave. He
knew about Judaism and Christianity, and he wanted to find a deeper meaning for his life.
He was also upset about the cruelty of his people. They killed baby girls to control the
number of women, and they treated their slaves unkindly. Muhammad had a strong sense
of right and wrong. He wanted change, but he had no idea that his prayers would lead to a
new religion.
3
Islam began in 610 A.D. when Muhammad claimed that the Archangel Gabriel
appeared in the cave. Muhammad was amazed at the angel's first command: ‘Read, in the
name of Allah!' He wanted to obey, but he tried to explain that he didn't know how to read.
Muhammad suddenly could read! The messages from the archangel over the next
twenty-two years became the Koran. The Koran is the holy book of Islam.
4
Archangel Gabriel told Muhammad to preach about Allah. Muhammad began to preach
three years after his vision. Mecca had 360 shrines to different gods, and the people didn't
like the idea of just one god. They may have thought that more gods gave them a better
chance of getting answers to their prayers. So the first Muslims became outcasts, and they
moved to the city of Medina in 622 A.D. The Islamic calendar begins at this date instead of
from the birth of Christ. Medina later became the center of Islamic civilization.
5
By the time Muhammad died, he had united many people in the Arabian Peninsula. It is
said that Muhammad met Archangel Gabriel again at the end of his life. The angel led the
Prophet to a mysterious animal called the burag. This animal had a human face, angel
wings, and a horse's body. Muhammad ascended to heaven on its back. Muslims call this
event the Night Journey. Muslims all over the world celebrate this event.
6
A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam. A Muslim believes in Allah as
the one god. The word "Muslim" means "someone who surrenders to God." Muslims
believe in the Arkan-ul-Islam, the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims must do these five things.
The first is Shahadah, or a declaration of faith. A Muslim says, "There is no god except
Allah, and I declare that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." The second pillar, Salaat,
means that Muslims must pray five times a day. Zakaat is the third pillar, and it means to
give to the poor. Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, which is the fourth pillar. The
last pillar is Haj, a pilgrimage to Mecca.
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7
All Muslims want to go to Mecca. It was Muhammad's birthplace. Pilgrims wear white
robes in Mecca to show equality in Allah's eyes. They circle the Ka'bah, a small building
made from bricks covered with a black cloth. The Ka'bah represents monotheism. Millions
of pilgrims visit many holy sites each year. Many shops close during prayer time. Meetings
are arranged around prayers. Businessmen may say to each other, "Let's meet after
evening prayers!"
8
Muslims say their prayers in mosques, but some carry a prayer rug with them so they
can pray anywhere. Mosques are beautiful buildings that serve as the spiritual centers of
their communities. They can be simple or elaborate. Muslims follow certain rules when they
are inside their mosques. Everyone takes off their shoes and covers their heads. Often a
special area in the mosque is reserved for women. Everyone also washes before praying.
Muslims face Mecca when they pray. A niche in the wall shows the direction of Mecca.
9
Prayers are important, but Islam is a complete way of life for Muslims around the world.
Muslims believe that manners are important. They teach their children to respect others.
The Muslim way of life begins moments after a baby is born. The father whispers the name
of God, Allah, into his child's ear. Muslims raise their children to have high standards.
Muslims are taught to not kill, lie, steal, cheat, or betray their country. They don't gamble,
commit adultery, or drink alcohol.
10
Muslims also have fun. They enjoy wonderful festivals that celebrate historical events.
Other holidays honor the Five Pillars of Islam. Births and marriages are marked by great
celebrations. During Ramadan, Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset. A celebration
called Id al-Fitr marks the end of the fast.
11
Muslims prepare delicious foods for these celebrations. Sharing food is an important
part of Muslim life (after all, food was hard to find in the desert.) Yummy pastries called
hama are covered with honey. Cookies called kuch a
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Name
_____________________________
Date
___________________
What is Islam?
1. Which angel is reported to have
appeared to Mohammad?
Michael
Gabriel
Raphael
None of the above
2. Why did Muhammad go to Mount Hira?
He needed more rocks for his
collection.
He felt something was missing in
his life.
He was persecuted by his
neighbors.
He enjoyed hiking.
3. Which of the following is not one of the
Five Pillars of Islam?
Praying five times a day
Living in Mecca
Declaring the faith
Giving to the poor
4. What is the name of the building where
Muslims pray?
A mosque
A synagogue
A temple
A cathedral
5. Why do Muslims wear white robes when 6. What is the name of the holy book of
they visit Mecca?
Islam?
White represents purity.
The Diamond Sutra
White symbolizes that all Muslims
The Koran
are equal in Allah's sight.
The Torah
White is cooler in the heat.
The Bible
White cloth is easy to obtain.
7. What was the overall effect of Islam
upon the Arabian Peninsula?
It confused people.
It united people.
It divided the area into many
countries.
It made people smarter.
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8. What is the name of the Muslim month of
fasting?
Gatorade Month
Festival of Lamb Kebobs
Divali
Ramadan
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Name
_____________________________
Date
___________________
What is Islam?
Which pillar of Islam do you relate to most, and why?
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Name
_____________________________
Date
___________________
What is Islam?
Muslims give the extra money they don't spend on food from the month of Ramadan to
the poor. What would you do with your extra money if you fasted for a month? Who
would you give it to?
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What is Islam?
By Colleen Messina
al-Fitr
kuch
monotheism
tended
nickname
prayer
serve
burag
historical
commit
retreat
wealthy
unkindly
alcohol
Directions: Fill in each blank with the word that best completes the reading
comprehension.
Muhammad never expected to change the world. He was born in
570 A.D. in Saudi Arabia. He was kind, and his
(1) _______________________ was "the truthful one." The boy
was orphaned, and his uncle raised him. Muhammad
(2) _______________________ sheep on the dry hills like many
young Arabians. Later, he became a successful merchant and
married a (3) _______________________ widow. However, he
felt as though something was missing in his life, so he went on a
(4) _______________________ .
Muhammad went up to Mount Hira to pray in a small cave. He knew about Judaism and
Christianity, and he wanted to find a deeper meaning for his life. He was also upset about
the cruelty of his people. They killed baby girls to control the number of women, and they
treated their slaves (5) _______________________ . Muhammad had a strong sense of
right and wrong. He wanted change, but he had no idea that his prayers would lead to a
new religion.
Islam began in 610 A.D. when Muhammad claimed that the Archangel Gabriel
appeared in the cave. Muhammad was amazed at the angel's first command: ‘Read, in the
name of Allah!' He wanted to obey, but he tried to explain that he didn't know how to read.
Muhammad suddenly could read! The messages from the archangel over the next
twenty-two years became the Koran. The Koran is the holy book of Islam.
Archangel Gabriel told Muhammad to preach about Allah. Muhammad began to preach
three years after his vision. Mecca had 360 shrines to different gods, and the people didn't
like the idea of just one god. They may have thought that more gods gave them a better
chance of getting answers to their prayers. So the first Muslims became outcasts, and they
moved to the city of Medina in 622 A.D. The Islamic calendar begins at this date instead of
6 of 13
5/7/07 10:20 PM
http://www.edhelperblog.com/cgi-bin/vspec.cgi
from the birth of Christ. Medina later became the center of Islamic civilization.
By the time Muhammad died, he had united many people in the Arabian Peninsula. It is
said that Muhammad met Archangel Gabriel again at the end of his life. The angel led the
Prophet to a mysterious animal called the (6) _______________________ . This animal
had a human face, angel wings, and a horse's body. Muhammad ascended to heaven on
its back. Muslims call this event the Night Journey. Muslims all over the world celebrate this
event.
A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam. A Muslim believes in Allah as the
one god. The word "Muslim" means "someone who surrenders to God." Muslims believe in
the Arkan-ul-Islam, the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims must do these five things. The first is
Shahadah, or a declaration of faith. A Muslim says, "There is no god except Allah, and I
declare that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." The second pillar, Salaat, means that
Muslims must pray five times a day. Zakaat is the third pillar, and it means to give to the
poor. Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, which is the fourth pillar. The last pillar is
Haj, a pilgrimage to Mecca.
All Muslims want to go to Mecca. It was Muhammad's birthplace. Pilgrims wear white
robes in Mecca to show equality in Allah's eyes. They circle the Ka'bah, a small building
made from bricks covered with a black cloth. The Ka'bah represents
(7) _______________________ . Millions of pilgrims visit many holy sites each year.
Many shops close during prayer time. Meetings are arranged around prayers.
Businessmen may say to each other, "Let's meet after evening prayers!"
Muslims say their prayers in mosques, but some carry a
(8) _______________________ rug with them so they can pray anywhere. Mosques are
beautiful buildings that (9) _______________________ as the spiritual centers of their
communities. They can be simple or elaborate. Muslims follow certain rules when they are
inside their mosques. Everyone takes off their shoes and covers their heads. Often a
special area in the mosque is reserved for women. Everyone also washes before praying.
Muslims face Mecca when they pray. A niche in the wall shows the direction of Mecca.
Prayers are important, but Islam is a complete way of life for Muslims around the world.
Muslims believe that manners are important. They teach their children to respect others.
The Muslim way of life begins moments after a baby is born. The father whispers the name
of God, Allah, into his child's ear. Muslims raise their children to have high standards.
Muslims are taught to not kill, lie, steal, cheat, or betray their country. They don't gamble,
(10) _______________________ adultery, or drink (11) _______________________ .
Muslims also have fun. They enjoy wonderful festivals that celebrate
(12) _______________________ events. Other holidays honor the Five Pillars of Islam.
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Births and marriages are marked by great celebrations. During Ramadan, Muslims fast
between sunrise and sunset. A celebration called Id (13) _______________________
marks the end of the fast.
Muslims prepare delicious foods for these celebrations. Sharing food is an important
part of Muslim life (after all, food was hard to find in the desert.) Yummy pastries called
hama are covered with honey. Cookies called (14) _______________________ a
Copyright © 2007 edHelper
8 of 13
5/7/07 10:20 PM
http://www.edhelperblog.com/cgi-bin/vspec.cgi
Name
_____________________________
Date
___________________
What is Islam?
1. Which angel is reported to have
appeared to Mohammad?
Michael
Gabriel
Raphael
None of the above
2. Why did Muhammad go to Mount Hira?
He needed more rocks for his
collection.
He felt something was missing in
his life.
He was persecuted by his
neighbors.
He enjoyed hiking.
3. Which of the following is not one of the
Five Pillars of Islam?
Living in Mecca
Praying five times a day
Giving to the poor
Declaring the faith
4. What is the name of the building where
Muslims pray?
A temple
A synagogue
A cathedral
A mosque
5. Why do Muslims wear white robes when 6. What is the name of the holy book of
they visit Mecca?
Islam?
White cloth is easy to obtain.
The Torah
White symbolizes that all Muslims
The Bible
are equal in Allah's sight.
The Diamond Sutra
White represents purity.
The Koran
White is cooler in the heat.
7. What was the overall effect of Islam
upon the Arabian Peninsula?
It united people.
It made people smarter.
It divided the area into many
countries.
It confused people.
9 of 13
8. What is the name of the Muslim month of
fasting?
Festival of Lamb Kebobs
Divali
Gatorade Month
Ramadan
5/7/07 10:20 PM
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Name
_____________________________
Date
___________________
(Key 1 - Answer ID # 0268968)
Write each word three times.
preach
mosque
wealthy
niche
kuch
al-Fitr
adultery
unkindly
religion
cruelty
better
retreat
civilization
historical
prayer
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What is Islam? - Answer Key
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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Gabriel
He felt something was missing in his life.
Living in Mecca
A mosque
White symbolizes that all Muslims are equal in Allah's sight.
The Koran
It united people.
Ramadan
5/7/07 10:20 PM
http://www.edhelperblog.com/cgi-bin/vspec.cgi
What is Islam?
By Colleen Messina
Answer Key
Muhammad never expected to change the world. He was born in 570 A.D. in Saudi
Arabia. He was kind, and his (1) nickname was "the truthful one." The boy was orphaned,
and his uncle raised him. Muhammad (2) tended sheep on the dry hills like many young
Arabians. Later, he became a successful merchant and married a (3) wealthy widow.
However, he felt as though something was missing in his life, so he went on a (4) retreat .
Muhammad went up to Mount Hira to pray in a small cave. He knew about Judaism and
Christianity, and he wanted to find a deeper meaning for his life. He was also upset about
the cruelty of his people. They killed baby girls to control the number of women, and they
treated their slaves (5) unkindly . Muhammad had a strong sense of right and wrong. He
wanted change, but he had no idea that his prayers would lead to a new religion.
Islam began in 610 A.D. when Muhammad claimed that the Archangel Gabriel
appeared in the cave. Muhammad was amazed at the angel's first command: ‘Read, in the
name of Allah!' He wanted to obey, but he tried to explain that he didn't know how to read.
Muhammad suddenly could read! The messages from the archangel over the next
twenty-two years became the Koran. The Koran is the holy book of Islam.
Archangel Gabriel told Muhammad to preach about Allah. Muhammad began to preach
three years after his vision. Mecca had 360 shrines to different gods, and the people didn't
like the idea of just one god. They may have thought that more gods gave them a better
chance of getting answers to their prayers. So the first Muslims became outcasts, and they
moved to the city of Medina in 622 A.D. The Islamic calendar begins at this date instead of
from the birth of Christ. Medina later became the center of Islamic civilization.
By the time Muhammad died, he had united many people in the Arabian Peninsula. It is
said that Muhammad met Archangel Gabriel again at the end of his life. The angel led the
Prophet to a mysterious animal called the (6) burag . This animal had a human face,
angel wings, and a horse's body. Muhammad ascended to heaven on its back. Muslims
call this event the Night Journey. Muslims all over the world celebrate this event.
A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam. A Muslim believes in Allah as the
one god. The word "Muslim" means "someone who surrenders to God." Muslims believe in
the Arkan-ul-Islam, the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims must do these five things. The first is
Shahadah, or a declaration of faith. A Muslim says, "There is no god except Allah, and I
declare that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." The second pillar, Salaat, means that
Muslims must pray five times a day. Zakaat is the third pillar, and it means to give to the
poor. Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, which is the fourth pillar. The last pillar is
Haj, a pilgrimage to Mecca.
All Muslims want to go to Mecca. It was Muhammad's birthplace. Pilgrims wear white
robes in Mecca to show equality in Allah's eyes. They circle the Ka'bah, a small building
made from bricks covered with a black cloth. The Ka'bah represents (7) monotheism .
Millions of pilgrims visit many holy sites each year. Many shops close during prayer time.
Meetings are arranged around prayers. Businessmen may say to each other, "Let's meet
after evening prayers!"
12 of 13
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Muslims say their prayers in mosques, but some carry a (8) prayer rug with them so
they can pray anywhere. Mosques are beautiful buildings that (9) serve as the spiritual
centers of their communities. They can be simple or elaborate. Muslims follow certain rules
when they are inside their mosques. Everyone takes off their shoes and covers their heads.
Often a special area in the mosque is reserved for women. Everyone also washes before
praying. Muslims face Mecca when they pray. A niche in the wall shows the direction of
Mecca.
Prayers are important, but Islam is a complete way of life for Muslims around the world.
Muslims believe that manners are important. They teach their children to respect others.
The Muslim way of life begins moments after a baby is born. The father whispers the name
of God, Allah, into his child's ear. Muslims raise their children to have high standards.
Muslims are taught to not kill, lie, steal, cheat, or betray their country. They don't gamble,
(10) commit adultery, or drink (11) alcohol .
Muslims also have fun. They enjoy wonderful festivals that celebrate (12) historical
events. Other holidays honor the Five Pillars of Islam. Births and marriages are marked by
great celebrations. During Ramadan, Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset. A
celebration called Id (13) al-Fitr marks the end of the fast.
Muslims prepare delicious foods for these celebrations. Sharing food is an important
part of Muslim life (after all, food was hard to find in the desert.) Yummy pastries called
hama are covered with honey. Cookies called (14) kuch a
Answers to Reading Comprehension Questions
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
13 of 13
Gabriel
He felt something was missing in his life.
Living in Mecca
A mosque
White symbolizes that all Muslims are equal in Allah's sight.
The Koran
It united people.
Ramadan
5/7/07 10:20 PM