Download Islam

Islam Resource Package
http://resources.woodlandsjunior.kent.sch.uk/homework/religion/Islam.htm
Islam is the second most popular religion in the world with over a
thousand million followers. It is more often thought of as a
complete way of life rather than a religion.
Islam began in Arabia and was revealed to humanity by the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Those who follow
Islam are called Muslims. Muslims believe that there is only one
God, called Allah.
Islam is mainly followed in the Middle East, Asia, and the north of
Africa.
Place of Origin
Saudi Arabia
Founder
Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with
Adam.
Sacred Text
The Qur'an
Sacred
Building
Mosque
Holy Places
Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem
Major
Festivals
Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha
Who is the founder of Islam?
The prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him ), who was born in
A.D. 570 at Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, is often regarded as the
founder of Islam. He was the last prophet to be sent by Allah.
However the first prophet was Adam.
There were many prophets before Muhammad (pbuh) including:
Adam, Noah, Abraham (Ibrahim), Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph,
Job, Moses (Musa), Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John
the Baptist, and Jesus (Isa), peace be upon them.
Islam Resource Package
(peace be upon him - Muhammad is so revered that it is usual to
make this statement every time his name is mentioned)
What does Islam mean?
The Arabic word 'Islam' means submission and obedience, and
derives from a word meaning 'peace'.
What is Islam based on?
Islam is based on the ministry of a man named Muhammad
(peace be upon him), and on the words that Allah gave to the
world through Muhammad.
(NB. Muhammad is so esteemed by Muslims that it is usual to
utter the blessing "peace be upon him" after his name.)
What or who is a Muslim?
A Muslim is a follower of the religion of Islam.
What do Muslims believe?
The basic belief of Islam is that there is only one God, whose
name in the Arabic language is Allah, and who is the sole and
sovereign ruler of the universe.
Muslims have 6 main beliefs
1.
2.
3.
4.
Belief in Allah as the one and only God.
Belief in angels.
Belief in the holy books.
Belief in the Prophets (special messengers).
e.g. Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud
(David), Isa (Jesus).
Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final prophet.
5. Belief in the Day of Judgement...
The day when the life of every human being will be
assessed to decide whether they go to heaven or hell.
6. Belief in Predestination...
That Allah has already decided what will happen.
Muslims believe that this doesn't stop human beings
making free choices
Islam Resource Package
Who or what is Allah?
Allah is the name Muslims use for the supreme and unique God,
who created and rules everything. The heart of faith for all
Muslims is obedience to Allah's will.
Who is Muhammad (peace be upon him)?
Muhammad (pbuh) was born around 570 A.D. in the city of
Mecca on the Arabian peninsula. Muslims believe that
Muhammad (pbuh) is the last in a line of prophets that includes
Moses, Abraham, and Isa (Jesus). Muhammad (pbuh) proclaimed
that the Quran was the last Book of God, and that he himself was
the last Prophet.
The Qur'an is a record of the exact words revealed by Allah
through the Arch Angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Muhammad (pbuh) memorized and wrote down the words.
Muhammad (pbuh) interpreted the words in his daily life.
Therefore many of the things which Muhammad (pbuh) did and
said were remembered and carefully recorded. The stories and
sayings help Muslims to understand the Quran and put what it
teaches into practice in their daily lives.
What is the holy book of Islam called?
The Muslim scripture is the Holy
Qur'an. Muslims believe it is 'the word of God'.
Muslim beliefs and practices are rooted in the
Qur'an.
Muslims treat the Qur'an with great respect
because they believe that the Qur'an is from
Allah, and every word and every letter is sacred.
It is usually placed on a special wooden stand to
be read.
Muslims regard the Qur'an as the unaltered word of God.
Islam Resource Package
Where do Muslims worship?
The Muslim building for communal
worship is called a mosque. Muslims
often refer to the mosque by its Arabic
name, masjid. The word comes from the
Arabic for "place of prostration".
Very often Mosques have a domed roof and a tall tower called
a minaret. Muslims are called to prayer from the minaret. The
man who who enters the minaret and calls them to prayer is
called a muezzin.
In Britain, calling Muslims to pray this way is not allowed, so
some Islamic communities broadcast the call to prayer on a radio
frequency which Muslims can pick up in their homes and places
of work using a small receiver.
There are no pictures or statues in a mosque. They are decorated
with patterns and words from the Qur'an. There is also very little
furniture inside because Muslims use prayer mats for prayer.
When people go into the mosque they take off their shoes. This is
to keep it clean for prayer.
There is often a fountain or pool, or at least an area with water
where people can wash (wudu). Muslim wash their hands,
mouth, throat, nose, ears, arms up to the elbow and feet. This is
a sacred wash that symbolises spiritual cleansing and purity in
readiness for coming before God.
There is always a quibla wall in a Mosque which is the one facing
Makkah (Mecca), it has an empty arch to signify the direction. It
is important that Muslims always know the direction of Mecca.
Women do not pray in the same place as men, there is usually a
screened off area for them.
When are services held?
Services are held every day at the Mosque.
Islam Resource Package
When is the most important service at the Mosque held?
On Friday at noon . All Muslims go to the mosque on Friday. Is a
special day for prayer.
What are the five Pillars of Islam?
These are five duties that every Muslim is obliged to
perform. The five pillars of Islam help Muslims put their faith into
action.





Shahadah: declaration of faith
"I bear witness that there is no god, but God; I bear
witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God." By reciting
this, one enters Islamic faith.
Salah: prayer
Muslims are required to pray five times a day, washing
themselves before prayer and facing in the direction of
Mecca while praying.
Zakat: giving a fixed proportion to charity
Muslims are required to give away a percentage of their
earnings to those less fortunate, regardless of their religion.
Saum: fasting during the month of Ramadan
Muslims fast for one lunar month each year, a period called
Ramadan. During this time, Muslims reflect on their
behaviour and strive to purify their thoughts.
Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca
If it is financially possible, Muslims are required to travel to
Mecca once in their lifetime.
What is so special about how Muslims
pray?
Muslims are required to :



pray five times a day (prayer times are fixed by the sun
and change daily),
wash themselves before prayer and
face in the direction of Mecca (Mekkah) while praying.
Islam Resource Package
Why do Muslims face Mecca when praying?
Mecca or Makkah is the birthplace of prophet Muhammad, peace
is on him. In the center of the mosque in Mecca, is the cubeshaped building called a Kaaba (Ka'bah) is found. All Muslims
face the direction of the Kaaba during ritual prayer (Salat).
Muslims believe that the Kaaba is the holiest place on earth. It is
generally thought to have been built by Prophet Abraham. It is
used only as a focal point for prayer (not worshiped) and simply
signifies a direction, imposed by God to maintain unity and
uniformity among worshipers.
The Kaaba is draped with a black cloth, which is covered with
Koranic verses that are embroidered in gold and silver thread.
During performing the Hajj ceremony a Muslim walks seven
times around the Kaaba and then he or she kisses and touch the
Black Stone.
Every Muslim family, no matter where they live, knows what
direction the Kaaba is from their house.
(The Kaaba is also called Bakka )
When do Muslims pray?
Each period for prayer has a special name and each time is
separated by two hours.
These essential times are:
1. After first light and before sunrise ( Fajr )
2. Between the sun reaching its height and mid-afternoon (
Dhuhr )
3. Between mid-afternoon and sunset ( Asr )
4. After the sun has finished setting ( Maghrib )
5. In the dark of the night ( Isha )
What are the different types of Muslims?
Almost 90% of Muslims are Sunnis. Shiites are the secondlargest group. The Shiites split from the Sunnis in 632 when
Muhammad died.
Islam Resource Package
What are the main Muslim Festivals?
The Muslim year is based on Lunar calendar.
Ramadan (Ramadhan)
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and a time
when Muslims across the world will fast (do not eat) during the
hours of daylight.
The Muslim year is a lunar (moon) year, so Ramadan moves
forward by ten or eleven days each year. The day Ramadan
begins is decided by the sighting of the new moon.
Muslims believe that the gates of Heaven (Jannah) are open and
the gates of Hell (Jahanam) are locked for the duration of
Ramadan.
During Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the time when the verses of
the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him). Ramadan is a time of worship and contemplation. A
time to strengthen family and community ties.
Every Muslim is expected to fast from sunrise to sunset. Muslims
must not eat or drink during daylight hours. During Ramadan
Muslims get up early before dawn (Fajr) and have a light meal.
This time is known as Suhoor.
At the end of each day (Maghrib), Muslims traditionally break
their fast with a meal called the iftar. Following the custom of
Prophet Muhammad, the fast is often broken with dates, then
followed by a prayer and dinner.
Ramadan concludes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
Eid-ul-Fitr (Id-ul-Fitr)- The festival for the first day after
Ramadan.
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the breaking of the fast for Muslims at the end
of Ramadan. Lasting three days, it is a time for family and
friends to get together, for celebrating with good food and
presents for children, and giving to charity.
Islam Resource Package
Eid-ul-Adha - The Festival of Sacrifice which occurs 70 days
after Eid-al-Fitr.
Eid ul-Adha is the second most important festival in the Muslim
calendar. It is to remember the time when Abraham was going to
sacrifice his own son to prove obedience to God and marks the
end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca). It
takes place on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the
Islamic calendar.
Dhu Al-Hijja:
The month of pilgrimage during which all Muslims, at least once
in their life, should try to make the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Al Hijra:
The Islamic New Year begins on the day Muhammad left Mecca to
travel to Medina.
Islam Resource Package
http://www.uri.org/kids/world_isla_basi.htm
How did Islam begin?
Islam is a monotheistic faith centered around belief in the one God (Allah).
In this regard, it shares some beliefs with Judaism and Christianity by
tracing its history back to the patriarch Abraham, and ultimately to the first
prophet, Adam. All the prophets preached the same universal message of
belief in one God and kindness to humanity. The last in the series of
prophets, according to Muslims, was Muhammad.
Muhammad was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia around 570 CE. He worked
first as a shepherd and then as a merchant. He was not happy with the people
around him because of superstitions and social and economic injustice. The
people were worshipping many gods and had forgotten the message of
prophet Abraham to worship one God. Muhammad loved to pray and
meditate in the mountains. On one of those occasions, in the year 610 CE,
when he was about 40 years old, he received a revelation from God through
the angel Jibril (Gabriel). He continued to receive messages from God
throughout his life and he began preaching to others what he had learned.
His main message is that there was no other God but Allah and that people
should lead their lives in a way that was pleasing to Allah.
How many Muslims are there?
Islam spread quickly first throughout Arabia and surrounding countries and
then throughout the world. There are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world with 7
million in the United States. Only about 18% of Muslims are Arabs and live
in the Middle East. The countries with the largest Muslim populations are
Indonesia and India. There are two basic groups of Islam: the Sunnis (about
80% of the world's Muslims) and the Shi'ites (about 20% of the world's
Muslims). Although they share the same basic beliefs, they disagree on who
was the rightful leader of Islam after Muhammad's death.
What does Islam mean?
Islam is an Arabic word which means "surrender, submission, commitment
and peace." Thus, Islam can be defined as a path to attain complete peace
through voluntary submission to the divine will.
Who is Allah (God)?
"Allah" is simply the Arabic word for God. He is the same universal God
worshipped by people of all faiths. The word "Allah" is sometimes preferred
over God because it is neither masculine nor feminine. Also, there is no
Islam Resource Package
plural for "Allah."
What do Muslim's believe?
Muslims have six major beliefs.
•Belief in one God (Allah).
•Belief in the Angels.
•Belief in the holy books sent to all the prophets including Torah that was
revealed to the prophet Moses, Bible that was revealed to the prophet Jesus,
and Qur'an (Koran) that was revealed to the prophet Muhammad.
•Belief in all the prophets sent by God including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael,
Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Although Muslims believe in
Isa or Jesus they don't think of Jesus as the Son of God the way Christians
do.
•Belief in the Day of Judgment and life after death. The best reward for
performing good deeds is getting closer to God.
•Belief in divine decree. This means that God is all-powerful and nothing
can happen without His permission, however, he has given human beings
freedom to choose whether to be good or bad. In the end, everyone will be
questioned about how they lived in this life.
What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
These are guides for daily life for putting the beliefs of Muslims into
practice.
•Shahadah (declaration of faith)—to bear witness or testify that there is no
god except one God (Allah) and Muhammad is His prophet or messenger.
•Salat (ritual prayer)—the five daily prayers are performed at dawn, noon,
mid-afternoon, sunset and night. The prayers are offered in Arabic language
and facing the direction of Mecca.
•Zakah (alms tax) –Giving 2.5% of one's wealth to the poor and needy.
Islam Resource Package
Sawm (fasting)—Muslims fast during the daylight hours in the ninth month
of the Islamic lunar calendar called Ramadan. The purpose is to remind
people of the goodness of what they have and to show equality with the
poor. Ramadan is a time for study and self-discipline.
•Hajj (pilgrimage): Muslims believe in making a pilgrimage to Mecca to the
Ka'bah at least once in their lifetime. The kA'bah is believed to have been
built by Ibrahim (Abraham)and one of his sons. Muhammad restored it to
worship Allah. For this reason it is a very sacred place to Muslims.
What is the final revealed scripture (a sacred text) for Muslims?
Muslims believe that the last revealed scripture sent by God is the Qur'an or
Koran. It is the speech of God revealed in the Arabic language to
Muhammad during his mission of twenty-three years. The Qur'an was
written down by scribes and memorized during the lifetime of Muhammad.
The Qur'an emphasizes moral, ethical and spiritual values with the aim of
establishing justice for everyone. Many Muslims try to learn to read the
Koran in its original language, Arabic. It is not uncommon for Muslims to
memorize whole chapters of it. They read part of it every day. The Sunnah is
a record of Muhammads words and deeds. The Sunnah is used to help
interpret the Koran. There is also instruction in it on belief, worship and
behavior.