THE ORIGINS OF WORLD RELIGIONS: ISLAM

History of Islam A page from the Quran dating from the 8th-9th century A.D. Considered by Muslims to be the direct revelation from Allah as given to Muh. Between 610-632 A.D. the Quran or Koran is the holy scripture, the source of law and educational centerpiece of Islamic society. Consisting of 114 chpaters of suras written in rhymed arabic, the Quran has remain unchanged since 652 A.D., when the Muslim caliph Uthman, established the definitive version. Its immutability and its role as the clasic expression of the Arabic language help to account for the remarkable continuity of Arabic since the 7th century. Calligraphy became highly develped art form, as seen in this text.

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD CONSIDERED LAST AND GREATEST PROPHET BORN IN 570 IN MECCA ORPHANED AT AN EARLY AGE A Western artist’s portrayal of Muhammad, founder of Islam. Muh. Lived from about 570-632, establishing a new community in western Arabia which became the basis of an enormous empire and a world civilization. Combining spiritual power with political and military skills, Muh. United the Arabic speaking peoples of western Arabia. Muslims consider him the last and greatest prophet, bearing the message (Quran) from Allah to humankind. Although venerated, Muh. Was regarded as mortal. Careful to avoid ido worship, Muslim artists generally refrained from representing Muh. pictorially

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD CAMEL DRIVER AND CARAVAN TRADER MARRIED A WEALTHY WIDOW WOMAN – KHADIJAH HE WAS 25 AND SHE WAS 40

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD WHILE PRAYING IN THE DESERT, AN ANGEL (GABRIEL) APPEARED TOLD TO PROCLAIM ALLAH TO THE ARAB PEOPLE

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD HE TAUGHT THAT ALLAH WAS THE ONE TRUE GOD *ISLAM – “SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF ALLAH” *MUSLIM - “ONE WHO HAS SUBMITTED” *MONOTHEISTIC OR POLYETHESTIC?

CROSSROADS AND TRADE STARTED PREACHING IN MECCA IN 613 PILGRIMS CAME TO WORSHIP AT THE KA’ABA MANY IN MECCA THOUGHT HE WOULD END THE PILGRIMMAGES TO THE KA’ABA

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD FEARING FOR HIS LIFE HE LEFT MECCA IN 622 HIJRAH – “FLIGHT” WENT TO “MEDINA” CITY OF THE PROPHET” BECAME RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, & MILITARY LEADER The mosque at Medina, in western Arabia, showing the Green Dome where Muhammad, is buried. Medina is considered the 2nd holiest city by Muslims. It was to Medina, known at that time as Yathrib that Muh. And his follower fled ( called the Hijra) from Mecca in 622 A.D. This even heralded the establishment of an autonomous Muslim community under Muh’s leadership and is the beginning of the Islam calendar. Following two key battles with Meccan forces, Muh and his followers returned to Mecca, establishing it as the Muslim capital.

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD RETURNED TO MECCA AND CAPTURED THE CITY WITH 10,000 FOLLOWERS DESTROYED IDOLS AT KA’ABA CALLED TO PRAYER FROM ROOF OF KA’ABA

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD HE DIED 2 YEARS LATER IN 632 AT THE AGE OF 62 MANY ON ARABIAN PENINSULA HAD CONVERTED

*ISLAM

THE FAITH ISLAM QUR’AN/KORAN IS THEIR HOLY BOOK WRITTEN ONLY IN ARABIC SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS LAW MOSQUE – ISLAMIC HOUSE OF WORSHIP

Practices of Islam The Great Mosque at Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Muslims consider this mosque to be the center of the world, for Mecca was the birthplace of Muh, Five times a aday Muslims turn toward Mecca in pray. At least once in his lifetime, a Muslim tries to make the picgrimage (hajj) to Mecca., Annually, the city is inundated with pilgrims from all over the world. During the pilgramage, Muslim reenact certain events of Muh.’s life

*THE FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH # 1 FAITH – “THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH, AND MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH”

*THE FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH # 2 PRAYER – *5 TIMES A DAY FACING TOWARDS MECCA

*THE FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH #3 – ALMS- GIVING *TO THE LESS FORTUNATE IT IS A RELIGIOUS TAX

*THE FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH #4 FASTING NO FOOD OR DRINK FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET DURING MONTH OF RAMADAN

*THE FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH #5- HAJJ OR PILGRIMAGE – AT LEAST ONCE IN A LIFETIME A JOURNEY TO MECCA Pilgrims arriving from the hajj. Dress in white graments testifying to the equality of each believer before Allah

ISLAMIC WAY OF LIFE FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH – HELP FOCUS ON ALLAH, MUHAMMAD, & POOR MUSLIMS DO NOT SEPARATE RELIGIOUS FROM PERSONAL LIFE

SUNNA – MODEL FOR PROPER LIVING ISLAMIC WAY OF LIFE SUNNA – MODEL FOR PROPER LIVING COMES FROM EXAMPLE SET BY MUHAMMAD

ISLAMIC WAY OF LIFE *SHARIAH LAW – REGULATES FAMILY LIFE, MORAL CONDUCT, BUSINESS & COMMUNITY LIFE COMES FROM QUR’AN AND SUNNA

LINKS TO JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY ALLAH IS SAME AS GOD WORSHIPPED BY JEWS & CHRISTIANS JESUS IS A PROPHET

LINKS TO JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY ALL THREE BELIEVE IN HEAVEN, HELL, & JUDGEMENT DAY SHAR’IA REQUIRES TOLERANCE OF JEWS & CHRISTIANS *ALL THREE FOLLOW A CODE OF BEHAVIOR

LINKS TO JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY ISLAMIC DIFFERENCES: JESUS IS NOT SON OF GOD QUR’AN IS COMPLETION OF TORAH AND BIBLE

LINKS TO JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY *JEWS & CHRISTIANS ARE KNOWN AS “PEOPLE OF THE BOOK” TO THE MUSLIMS

Quick Review What does “Islam” mean in Arabic? What do Muslims believe Muhammad was? Towards what city do Muslims pray? List the 5 Pillars of Islam What system of law regulates the family life, moral conduct, business and community life of Muslims? Why was the Hijrah important?

7. What is the best Muslim model for proper living? 8. Who do Muslims consider the “People of the Book” 9. How do the 5 Pillars help Muslims submit to Allah’s will? 10. The Qur’an and what other work form the shari’a, or body of Islamic law? 11. Define Muslim 12. How are Judaism, Christianity and Islam similar?

Quick Review What does “Islam” mean in Arabic? Submission to the will of Allah What do Muslims believe Muhammad was? Last of the prophets Towards what city to Muslims pray? Mecca List the 5 Pillars of Islam-Faith, Alms, Fasting, Prayers, Hajj What system of law regulates the family life, moral conduct, business and community life of Muslims? Shari’a Why was the Hijrah important? Muhammad was accepted as a political leader in Medina

7. What is the best Muslim model for proper living? The Sunna 8. Who do Muslims consider the “People of the Book”? Jews and Christians 9. How do the 5 Pillars help Muslims submit to Allah’s will? Helping them focus on Allah, Muhammad and the poor 10. The Qur’an and what other work form the shari’a, or body of Islamic law? Sunna 11. Define Muslim-one who has submitted 12. How are Judaism, Christianity and Islam similar? Believe in the same God, all three believe in Heaven, Hell and judgment day, and all 3 follow a code of behavior