Download Three Religions of the Middle East

The Religion of Islam
Symbol of Islam
• The crescent moon is a
common symbol of
Islam. Muslims believe
that when Muhammad
received his first
revelation, the moon was
in its last stage,
appearing as a waning
crescent.
Islam
• Islam
– True Meaning: Means submission to the will of
God
• Muslim
– True meaning: Person who submits.
Islam
• Holy Book is called the KoranQur'an
–The Koran contains both Old and
New Testaments
–Based on the teachings of
Muhammad
Religious Figures
• Muhammad is the key figure.
• Abraham, Jesus, and Moses
were prophets.
Beliefs
•
•
•
•
•
Belief in one god, God of Abraham.
Arabic is the Sacred language
Place of worship is a mosque
Services are held on Fridays and lead by an imam
In some Muslim countries the role of women are
limited.
• Men can have up to four wives.
• Do not drink alcohol or eat pork
• Main goal is to live a good moral life.
Five Pillars
• The declaration of Faith:
– The statement of faith must be declared publicly “ That Allah is
one and Muhammad is his Messenger”
• Pray five times per day, always facing Mecca
– One at sunrise, mid afternoon, Afternoon, before sunset, before
you retire.
• Giving of alms, or charity
• Fast during the holy month of Ramadan
– You are not allowed to eat anything from sunrise to sunset
• Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca
– Once in a life time, any Muslim who could afford the journey was
expected to make pilgrimages
Holy Cities
• Mecca: the birthplace of
Muhammad
• Jerusalem: Dome of the Rock
• Medina: Burial place of
Muhammad
Number of Members today
• 1.3 billion people out of the world
populations of 6.1 billion practices the
religion of Islam.
The Spread of Islam
Caliph
• The caliphate empire created a vast trading
system. Islam was spread through books
that were exchanged along trade routes.
• The caliphs conquered Spain and spread
Islam throughout.
• By 1400’s, Muslims had succeeded in
conquering Parts of Europe.
The Ottoman Empire
• Muslim empire that controlled what is now
Turkey and parts of North Africa,
Southwest Asia, and Southeast Europe.
• Rulers of the Ottoman Empire were called
sultans, which is a term for Muslim leaders.
Suleiman I
• He turned Constantinople (present day
Istanbul) into the center of a vast Muslim
empire.
• The religion soon spread from Turkey to
Central Europe, North Africa, and Ancient
Persia (Iran)
Sects
• Sunni
• Shia