Five Beliefs (doctrines) of Islam Faith in the absolute unity of God Belief in Angels Belief in prophets and scriptures dhimmi (“protected”) Belief in a final judgment Belief in divine decree and predestination

Five (Six?) Pillars of Islam Importance of purification Shahada (Testimony) Salat (Prayer or “worship service”) Zakat (Almsgiving) Sawm (Fast during month of Ramadan) Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) Jihad (“striving,” “exertion” as a sixth pillar?) Greater and Lesser jihad

Dar al-Islam (“Realm of Islam”) vs. Dar al-Harb (“Realm of War”)

Mosque at Samarkand Image from: http://www.galenfrysinger.com/samarkand.htm

Sulayman Mosque Istanbul, Turkey http://people.cs.uchicago.edu/~behfar/pictures/architecture/islamic/islamic_architecture.html

Minaret, Rabat, Morocco, 14th Century Image on left from: http://www.neci.nec.com/homepages/sandiway/personal/photos/rabat/ Image on right and info below from: http://i-cias.com/e.o/minaret.htm Tower near to, or built into, the structures of a mosque, which is used by the muezzin to call out the adhan in order to make people to come to prayers in Islam. The earliest mosques were built without minarets, and the action of adhan could be performed in many other locations. The hadiths tell us that the Muslim community of Madina called out to prayers from the roof of the house of Muhammad, a house that doubled as a house for prayers. First around 80 years after Muhammad's death did the first minarets we know of appear. This happened in places as far between as Kairouan in Tunisia and Damascus in Syria. It is good reason to believe that the Great Mosque of Damascus, built in 705, was inspired by the churches of the city, yet the Muslim minaret served its own functions, continuing the old traditions from the house of Muhammad. Minaret are now very much symbols of Islam, even if they are not important in theology. Minarets are often adorned, high and striving to be as slim and elegant as possible. Modern minarets are often giving even more room for artistic achievements than in earlier times. The ground floor of minarets are always fitted into a square, with the higher parts of the minaret being everything from square to round — many are even octagonal. On top there is a tiny room from where the muezzin either is or where the loudspeakers are. This room is covered with a pointed roof. Minaret, Rabat, Morocco, 14th Century

Example: Mosque Minaret Image from: http://email.eva.mpg.de/~gil/priman/source/minaret.html (website didn’t give info on site)

Example: Mosque Minaret http://people.cs.uchicago.edu/~behfar/pictures/architecture/islamic/islamic_architecture.html

Image on right: http://mediatheek.thinkquest.nl/~kla023/moskee.htm Image on left: http://www.escobosa.com/image.asp?CollectionID=2&ImageID=68 (Istanbul, Turkey)

Niche in the Mosque at Samarkand (indicating direction of Mecca) Image from: http://www.galenfrysinger.com/samarkand.htm Mihrab, a decorative niche in the particular wall of a mosque that is in the direction of Mecca.

Minbar with Niche in Background, Mosque at Samarkand Image and info from: http://www.galenfrysinger.com/samarkand.htm Mimbar, a pulpit from which the Friday sermon is preached

Islamic Prayer Carpet with Stitched Niche Image from: http://philae.sas.upenn.edu/Arabic/Arab19.gif

Dome of the Rock Dome with Mt. of Olives The Mt. of Olives overlooks the Temple Mount from the east and gives a picture of Jesus' weeping over the city from the Mt. of Olives (Luke 19:41).  From the Temple Mount Jesus delivered the famous "7 Woes" against the Pharisees (Matt 23), probably pointing at tombs on the Mt. of Olives in his discourse (v. 27).  Jesus' ascension probably took place some distance behind the tower of the Russian Orthodox Church. 

Dome of the Rock Founding Inscription Image and info from: http://www.bibleplaces.com/domeofrock.htm Founding Inscription Inside the building in classical Arabic is inscribed,  "O you People of the Book, overstep not bounds in your religion, and of God speak only the truth.  The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, is only an apostle of God, and his Word which he conveyed unto Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from him.  Believe therefore in God and his apostles, and say not Three.  It will be better for you.  God is only one God.  Far be it from his glory that he should have a son."

Inside View, Dome of the Rock Image and info from: http://www.mideasti.org/library/islam/beginning.htm Interior of the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem. The uppermost inscription in the dome is a Qur'anic verse which begins, "God there is no god but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting Eternal...." The lower inscription, above the windows, records the restoration of the building by Saladin in the late 12th century. (Aramco World Magazine, September-October 1996; photo Peter Sanders).

The End El Fin Fin Ha-Sof Al-Had