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ISLAM
The Faith
1. WHAT IS THIS & WHAT DOES IT
MEAN?
2. WHAT IS THIS & WHAT DOES IT
MEAN?
3. WHAT IS THIS AND WHAT DOES IT
MEAN?

1. A cross, a symbol of Christianity and of Jesus’s crucifixion.

2. A Star of David, a symbol of Judaism and of the Jewish people.

3. Allah, the word God written in Arabic and a symbol of Islam.
ANSWERS
Why
do we easily recognize
symbols of Judaism and
Christianity, while we do not so
easily recognize symbols of
Islam?
QUESTION 4
ISLAM-BACKGROUND

The Arabian Peninsula was
sandwiched between the Byzantine
and Sassanid Empires

Inhabited by Bedouins, nomadic
herders who traversed the Arabian
Desert

The Bedouins were mainly
polytheistic, but were aware of
monotheists like Jews, Christians,
and Zoroastrians

Each year, Bedouins made a
pilgrimage to the city of Mecca,
home of the Black Stone-a shrine to
their gods in the Kaaba (cube)

The Quraysh tribe, descendants of
Ishmael, were wealthy merchants
who controlled the pilgrimage
trade
ISLAM-BACKGROUND
MUHAMMAD

Muhammad ibn Abdallah, born 570
BCE in Mecca

Father died before he was born, his
mother shortly after, his grandfather
when he was a young child-raised
by an uncle

Born into the Quraysh tribe, met
Jews, Christians, and Hanifs-another
monotheistic group

Muhammad would spend time
praying in a cave in Mt. Hira

The angel Gabriel appeared to
Muhammad

Revealed that there is one God, the
God of Abraham, and Muhammad
was to be his greatest and final
prophet
REVELATION

Muslims see Muhammad as the last
in a line of “reformers” of
Abrahamic religion

Moses

Jesus (not God or son of God)

Muhammad
MUHAMMAD AS PROPHET

Muhammad’s new religion would
be called “Islam”-submission to God

Followers of Islam would be called
Muslims-servants of God

The first Muslim was Khadija,
Muhammad’s wife
ISLAM
THE HIJRA

Muhammad’s revelation angered
the leaders of Mecca, including his
own family members

He left Mecca in 622-The Hijra, or
journey

Muhammad was welcomed in the
city of Yathrib, which was renamed
Medina-the city of the prophet

Muslims began attacking the
caravans of Mecca

In the ensuing battle, the Muslims
were victorious and many of
Mecca’s leaders were killed

Legitimized Muhammad as both a
spiritual and political leader

An attack by Mecca on Medina
called the Battle of the Trench was
unsuccessful
BATTLE OF BADR
RETURN TO MECCA

In 629, Muhammad returns to
Mecca with 10,000 followers,
peacefully takes over the city

Removes the idols from the Kaaba
and prays there

Islam begins to spread, Muhammad
is looked at as a leader

To become a Muslim, one must
accept the Five Pillars of Islam

Shahada-The Testimony

Salat-Prayer

Sawm-Fasting

Zakat-Almsgiving

Hajj-Pilgramage
THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
SHAHADA

A declaration of the faith of Islam

“There is no God but God (Allah)
and Muhammad is His prophet.”

Muslims perform five prayers daily

They face Mecca while they pray
SALAT

SAWM
Muslims fast during daylight hours
during the holy month of Ramadan

Muslims are expected to give 2.5%
of their income to the needy
ZAKAT

HAJJ
If possible, Muslims are expected to
visit the Kaaba in Mecca once
during their lifetimes

After Muhammad’s death,
controversy arose over who should
become caliph (successor)

The caliph was both a political and
religious leader

Shi’ites (10-15% of Muslims) believe
only descendants of Muhammad’s
cousin Ali can be caliph

Sunnis (85-90% of Muslims) believe
any devout Muslim can become
caliph
DIVISIONS IN ISLAM
HOLY TEXTS

The Quran-The sacred text of Islam,
contains the revelations God made
to Muhammad

The Quran is written in Arabic

The Hadith-The reports of the
teachings, beliefs, and actions of
Muhammad-some more reliable
than others

A Muslim house of worship is called
a mosque

Muezzin-a mosque official who
leads prayers

Many mosques are led by imamscommunity/religious leaders
WORSHIP
OTHER KEY BELIEFS

There is one God. His wishes are carried out
by angels

All are equal within the ummah, or
community of believers

God has spoken through prophets and
handed down holy books-Muhammad and
the Quran are the last

A day of judgment will come

Many Muslims do not drink alcohol, use
drugs, or eat pork

Sharia-A body of religious law used to govern

Jihad-Struggle

1. Mecca-Home of Masjid al-Haram
(the sacred mosque) and the
Kaaba

2. Medina-Where Muhammad took
refuge

3. Jerusalem-Where Muhammad
ascended to heaven
HOLY PLACES IN ISLAM