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Introduction to Islam
Desert and Town Life
 Inhabited by Arab nomads called
BEDOUINS
 Organized into clans
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Provided security and support
 Bedouin ideals included courage,
loyalty to family, and warrior skills
 The city of Mecca was a center of
trade
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Also important for religious pilgrims
The Ka’aba (a shrine with hundreds of
idols to the tribal gods) was located in
the city
Muhammad, the Prophet
 Born into a powerful
Meccan family
 Married to Khadijah,
wealthy business woman
 The angel Gabriel
appeared to him and said
he was a messenger of
Allah
 From then on,
Muhammad began to
preach the word of Allah
Flight from Mecca
 Muhammad began to gather followers
 Muhammad and his followers migrated north to a city
called Medina (originally named Yathrib)
 This is called the Hijrah, which means “flight”
 During this time, Islam gained many followers
Return to Mecca
 In 630 C.E. Muhammad and
his followers returned to
Mecca
 They destroyed the
polytheistic idols in the Ka’aba
and called the people to prayer
from the roof
 Many Meccans then converted
to Islam
 After Muhammad’s death,
Islam continued to spread
Beliefs of Islam
 Main teaching is that there is one God, called Allah
 Islam does NOT have a central religious authority
 Does have a religious scholar class (Ulama)
 Holy text is called the Qur’an
 Contains the revelations Gabriel gave to Muhammad
 Written in Arabic
 Follow Sunna, which is Muhammad’s example
 Sunna and Qur’an assembled into body of law
(Shari’a)
The Five Pillars of Islam
 Five duties that Muslims must complete
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The Five Pillars
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There is one God,
who is Allah
The Five Pillars
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Pray 5 times a day,
facing Mecca
The Five Pillars
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They must
fast during
the month
of Ramadan,
from dawn
until dusk
The Five Pillars
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They must make a trip to
Mecca, if healthy enough
and have enough money to
do so
The Five Pillars
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They must give
money to the poor
The Mosque
• The mosque is the center of the Islamic community
• While daily prayers can be performed anywhere, it is
required to attend Friday prayers at the mosque
• In most mosques men and women are separated
• The minaret is the tower-like structure used to call
Muslims to prayer
The Mosque of the Prophet
The Blue Mosque
Minaret
Call to Prayer
Islam Quick Facts
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Place of Worship: Mosque
Holy Day: Friday
Direct Worship – no clergy
Pork is forbidden (considered unclean)
Alcohol is not allowed
Men & women are segregated at Mosque
Jerusalem (Masjid Al Aqsa) is a sacred site
Largest Muslim populated country is Indonesia
ISLAM Today
Countries with more than 10% Muslim population
Green=Sunni
Red=Shiite
Foldable Instructions
 You will be creating a foldable of the beliefs of Islam
 You will be graded on neatness, content, and creativity
 Fold your paper in almost in half (leaving an inch-
wide section on the bottom) and cut five flaps
 On each of the flaps you will write one of the five
pillars and illustrate it
 On the inside of the flap, include a description of the
pillar
 You will also title your foldable “The Five Pillars of
Islam”