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. 10/14/07 Beth Berry

What percent of the population of the Middle East practice Islam?

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100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

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Islam Christianity Judaism

Followers

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Islam

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True Meaning: Means submission to the will of God

• Followers are called Muslims.

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True meaning:

Person who submits.

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Holy Book

• Holy Book is called the

Koran- Qur'an

– Contains revelations God made to Muhammad.

– The Koran contains both Old and New Testaments – Written in Arabic, the sacred language. 10/14/07 Beth Berry

Religious Figures

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Muhammad is the key figure.

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Abraham, Jesus, and Moses were prophets (messengers of God’s word).

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• • • • • Belief in one god, God of Abraham.

Arabic is the Sacred language Men can have up to four wives. Do not drink alcohol or eat pork Main goal is to live a good moral life.

Beliefs

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Role of Women

• The role of women varies depending on the country.

• • • Israel, Egypt, and Jordan: women are well educated and hold positions in business, politics, and military.

Other countries have extreme restrictions for women including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Afghanistan In Saudi Arabia, women have fewer rights than men • • • • • • • Can’t drive Four wives Can’t attend events with men Male family members must escort in public Can’t work outside the home Women must wear chadors Clothing requirements are LAW. 10/14/07 Beth Berry

Worship Services

• • Place of worship is a mosque Services are held on Fridays and lead by an imam • Imams are selected according to good character and religious knowledge • The most important worship service is held Friday at noon 10/14/07 Beth Berry

Five Pillars

Click to hear the call to prayer

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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, Noon, 3 pm, sunset, 9 pm •

Giving of alms, or charity.

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2.5% of wealth

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Fast during the holy month of Ramadan

– – – You are not allowed to eat anything from sunrise to sunset Ends with Eid-al-Fitr Once in a life time, any Muslim who could afford the journey was expected to make pilgrimages •

Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca

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Holy Cities

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Mecca: the birthplace of Muhammad

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Jerusalem: Dome of the Rock

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Medina: Burial place of Muhammad

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After Death

• Goal is to live with God’s guidance which will be rewarded with salvation. • The opposite is damnation, or eternal suffering in hell.

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Number of Members today

• 1.3 billion people out of the world populations of 6.1 billion practices the religion of Islam. 10/14/07 Beth Berry

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The Spread of Islam

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The Ottoman Empire

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Muslim empire that conquered many areas

and spread Islam. They 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. 10/14/07 Beth Berry

Caliph

• • • The caliphate empire created a vast trading system.

Islam was spread through books that were exchanged along trade routes during the caliph empire.

The caliphs conquered Spain and spread Islam throughout. 10/14/07 Beth Berry

Sects

• • • Sunni- majority Shi’ite- minority These two groups share most beliefs, but differ over the issue of leadership.

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Sunni

• The Sunni branch believes that the first four caliphs--Mohammed's successors--rightfully took his place as the leaders of Muslims. They recognize the heirs of the four caliphs as legitimate religious leaders. These heirs ruled continuously in the Arab world until the break-up of the Ottoman Empire following the end of the First World War.

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Shi’ites

• Shiites, in contrast, believe that only the heirs of the fourth caliph, Ali, are the legitimate successors of Mohammed. "Shiite Muslims, who are concentrated in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon, [believe they] had suffered the loss of divinely guided political leadership" Not "until the ascendancy of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1978" did they believe that they had once again begun to live under the authority of a legitimate religious figure. 10/14/07 Beth Berry