Transcript Islam
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