Download Islam - Vista Middle School

Islam
The Middle East
Arabia is
mostly desert.
The city of
Mecca was a
trading center
and is the
place where
Islam began.
The founder of Islam is
Muhammad.



He lived in Mecca and had a vision where an
angel appeared and told him that he was a
prophet.
He wrote down the messages he received
and this became the Qur’an, the holy book of
Islam.
Islam spread in Arabia after being rejected at
first.
Islamic Beliefs
Muslims believe in two sacred books.
 The Qur’an guides Muslims’ lives.
 The Sunnah tells Muslims of important duties
expected of them.

Did you know?
Islam is a monotheistic religion, just like
Judaism and Christianity. That means it is
based on a belief in only one God.
Muslims follow the Five Pillars
of Islam. They follow these five
rules as they live their daily lives.
day.
Expansion of Islam
After Muhammad’s death, other Muslim
leaders worked to spread Islam.
 When their armies conquered lands, Islam
slowly spread
through the Middle
East and into
Africa, Asia, and
Spain.

Muslim Cultural Achievements
Scholars translated many ancient writings in astronomy, geography, math,
and science from Greeks and Romans into Arabic. Then they improved upon
what they learned.
Astronomy
Astrolabe
Arab scholars
improved upon
this invention to
figure out their
location on the
earth.
Muslim scientists made
remarkable advances in
astronomy.
Medicine
Muslim doctors
developed
better ways to
prevent,
diagnose, and
treat many
diseases.
Geography
Muslim geographers
made more accurate
maps than were
available before. They
also developed better
ways of calculating
distances.
Literature
Math
Muslim scholars
laid the foundation
for Algebra by
combining two
systems of
mathematics from
Indian and Greek
systems.
Poetry and short
stories influenced by
Islam were popular in
the Muslim world.
Art
Muslim artists did not include
people or animals in art, so they
turned calligraphy, or decorative
writing, into an art form. They used
calligraphy to make sayings from
the Qur’an into great works of art
that they could use to decorate
mosques.
Philosophy
More
Muslim
Contributions
Muslim philosophy led
to the development of
Sufism. Sufis
celebrated their love
of God through music
and dance.
Practice Test Question
Muslim scholars and artists did all of the
following except
a. Preserve ancient Greek writings.
b. Create unique Islamic works of art.
c.
Preserve written Roman laws.
d. Make important advances in
astronomy and geography.
The correct answer is C.
Practice Test Question
What is one way Islam is like Judaism
and Christianity?
a. It is also a monotheistic religion.
b. It was also founded by Muhammad.
c. It also arose in the desert country of
Arabia.
d. It also uses the New and Old
Testaments.
The correct answer is A.
Practice Test Question
Which statement does NOT describe
the geography of Arabia?
a. There is little water or rainfall.
b. It is mostly a hot, dry, desert.
c. Mountains border the coasts.
d. Rivers and lakes exist in the north.
The correct answer is D.
Practice Test Question
Which of the following is NOT one of
Muhammad’s teachings?
a. There is only one God, Allah.
b. The rich should help the poor.
c. All people are equal.
d. It is right to worship many gods.
The correct answer is D.
Practice Test Question
Fertile areas in deserts are called
a. Trade centers.
b. Dunes.
c. Oases.
d. Sand lakes.
The correct answer is C.