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RELIGIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
ISLAM
ISLAM - GOD
 ALLAH
 It is just the Arabic word for
God
 Literally translated, Islam
means “to submit”
 Followers of Islam are
called Muslims
 Muslims too, believe in the
same God of the Jews and
Christians, Abraham
HOLY BOOK
 THE QU’RAN/KORAN
 Much of it is taken from Jewish
and Christian beliefs
 This was written after the death
of Muhammad in 632 AD, the
founder of Islam
 The words of God were spoken
to Muhammad by the angel
Gabriel for over 23 years
 Muhammad would go fast in a
cave while Gabriel spoke the
word of God to Muhammad
 He had to memorize everything
Gabriel told him
KEY BELIEFS
 Muslims believe in the prophets of the Hebrews,
Jesus and Moses
 The difference is that Muslims believe that
Muhammad was the last prophet of God
 Jesus was a prophet but he was not divine
 Mecca, where Muhammad was born became the
holiest city for Muslims (Medina)
 Live life according to God’s guidance, then you will
find yourself in paradise
KEY BELIEFS CONTINUED…
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Jihad – the holy war called on by Muslims today to
justify terrorism
Chapter 2 Verse 191
– “Fight in the cause of Allah against those who
fight against you, but transgress not. Surely,
Allah loves not the transgressors. Once they
start fighting, kill them wherever you meet them,
and drive them out from where they have driven
you out; for aggression is more heinous than
killing…if they desist, surely Allah is Most
Forgiving…no retaliation is permissible except
against the aggressors.”
Chapter 4 Verses 73 – 77
– “Let those then fight in the cause of Allah who
would exchange the present life with the
Hereafter. Whoso fights in the cause of Allah,
be he slain or be he victorious, We shall soon
give him a great reward…Fight ye then against
the friends of Satan.”
Context and interpretation
– What is actually being said here?
– What context is this used in?
– Islamic fundamentalists use it to get followers to
martyr themselves for Allah
PRACTICES AND RITUALS
 There are 5 pillars in Islam
1. Shahada – There is no other God but Allah
2. Salat – prayer, this is done 5 times a day and
must always face towards Mecca (story)
3. Zakat – give alms or a portion of your wealth to
those less fortunate (tithe)
4. Siyam – fasting, this goes on during Ramadan,
where Muslims do not eat, drink or get it on from
sunrise to sunset for 30 days
5. Hajj – this is the pilgrimage every Muslim must
make once in their lifetime
WORSHIP SERVICES
 Muslims worship in a
mosque
 The spiritual leader of
Islam is called imam
 Imam is not any closer
to God than any other
Muslim
 Jerusalem it the home
to the holiest mosque
in Islam, Dome of the
Rock
SECTS
 Muslims were split more along political than
religious lines
 Who would lead the religion after the death
of the prophet?
 Sunni – they believe that the person should
be selected among an elite group
 Shi’a – believe that the imam/caliph of Islam
should be a descendant of Muhammad