How it Began: The Arabian Peninsula Arabia was sparsely populated 1,500 years ago. Small bands of ______________ moved their herds between oases in the desert. ____________ limited in Arabia Commerce lively _______________ converged at Arabian Peninsula ___________ as well as merchandise exchanged Trade-dependent _________ rose near coasts _______, near Red Sea, most important of coastal towns The Setting The _________, cube-shaped structure, at heart of Mecca 500s, already ancient, considered ___________ Possible meteorite, “_______ from heaven” ________ of local gods inside Site drew religious _________ One god considered supreme: ____________ Religious Function

Muhammad the Messenger Muhammad ibn Abd Allah born ______ Parents died, Muhammad raised by uncle, powerful clan leader Grew up to have successful career in Mecca as ____________ Married to older woman at age 25, fathered ________ children, all but one of whom died young Met followers of Judaism, Christianity while ______________ ____________________________ Early Life Had always been _____________, but faiths of others probably also influenced Muhammad’s thinking Took frequent spiritual __________ __________ appeared to him during retreat, commanded him to speak messages from Allah Muhammad disturbed by visitation, unsure of meaning After more visits from angel, Muhammad concluded God _____ ____________________________ Muhammad’s Faith

The Revelations to Muhammad Messages Among many messages from angel, Muhammad reported Allah __________ __________________________________________________________. Other messages, instructions on how to live to please Allah, live in paradise Public Preaching Muhammad originally told only wife, few friends about experiences Began to preach in public after about ______ years, attracted many followers Some powerful _________________ did not accept teachings Safety Many disliked Muhammad’s criticism of ______________________________ Only protection of ______________ kept him safe After uncle’s death Muhammad knew he and followers not safe in Mecca

Sharing the Revelations Hegira ______, Muhammad moved to Yathrib, came to be called ___________, “the Prophet’s City”; journey from Mecca to Medina came to be known as hegira Later Muslims marked year of ___________ as first year of Islamic calendar Building Faith Muhammad spent a ______________ building community of fellow believers Called faith Islam, meaning “______________________________________” Followers known as ____________ Mecca People of ____________ who wanted Muhammad stopped did not give up Fought several battles with Muhammad, followers, ultimately lost ground 630, Muhammad ______________________ Mecca, influence unmatched

Basic Ideas of Islam Qur’an Five Pillars of Islam As Muhammad gained __________________, revelations continued Muhammad could not read, write; __________________ revelations Followers _____________________ words, some wrote them down Writings Muslims believe as direct revelations from God collected in ________________, sacred test of Islam Muslims read from Qur’an to hear Allah’s _____________________ Seek _______________________ in rhythm, beauty of words ______________________ known only in original Arabic language Qur’an Five ________________________ _________________ central to Islam Profession of ___________ Performance of _____ daily prayers Giving of alms to ______________ _______ during month of Ramadan Make _______________ to Mecca Five Pillars of Islam

Guidelines for Behavior Qur’an provides _________________________________________ Muslims may not eat _______, drink _______________, must wash before ___________________ Qur’an prohibits _________________________________________ Requires _______, to defend Muslim community Sunna and Sharia Record of Muhammad’s ______________, teachings known as Sunna, “______________,” provides guidance in personal relationships, business Muslim __________ system known as Sharia, reflects various rules by which Muslims should live, outlines reasoning, _____________ for legal cases; opinions, writings over several ________________

The Basics of Faith Belief in One God: _______________ All the __________________ Books as revealed by _________ to various prophets __________, Jinns(Demons), Life after Death and the Day of _________________, Heaven and Hell

Allah – the One God Allah is the Arabic name for God used by Muslims of the world as well as Arab Christians. Say: He is God, the One and Only;  God, the Eternal, Absolute;  He begets not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. (The Quran, Chapter 112)

Who is God, “Allah?” One God, the one _________________ by Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Noah, Josef, Jesus …etc __________________ God, i.e. does not need to rest, does not make mistakes, all knowing, in full control, and has all the attributes of beauty and greatness. FLAWLESS. Did not _________ nor was he ______________; infinite and eternal Not being able to see him ≠ does not exist, signs of _____________________________ are every where

Chain of the Prophets All Prophets came with same ________________ and taught the same guidance Adam Idris Noah Muslims believe in all the Prophets without making any _____________ among them. They are all equally loved and _____________. Lot Hud Abraham Jacob Joseph Moses David Solomon Isra John Prophets are sent as ___________ to human kind to lead them from ______________to light. Jesus Mohamed

Prophet Muhammad Descendant of _______________, the first son of Abraham. Born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the year _________ C.E. Received first revelation at the age 40 through angel __________________. Died in the year 632 C.E, after preaching Islam for ______ years.

Belief in the Holy Books (Scripture)‏ ___________________ sacred books revealed to the Prophets from the Lord brought down by the archangel, Jibraa’il (Gabriel). 1) The _______________(Biblical name) / ______________ (Qur’anic name) revealed to Prophet David‏ They were: 2) The ______________ (Biblical name) / __________________ (Qur’anic name) revealed to Prophet Moses 3) The _______________(Biblical name) / ________________ (Qur’anic name) revealed to Prophet Jesus. 4) The ______________(Biblical name) / __________________ (Qur’anic name) revealed to Prophet Muhammad.

Quran: The Holy Book ______________________ as given by the Prophet in Arabic _______ years of revelations (610 - 632 C.E.)‏ _____ Chapters; One chapter, ______________ revelations Historic ___________ matters Verses explain ____________ ___________________ needed in the light of Arabic, history, and Sunnah (tradition)‏

Angels of God and Demons (Jinn)‏ The Almighty Powerful King should have __________ to carry on his orders and commands: angels Created from _____________ Do not have a ________________ to obey or disobey; have only good will to obey. ___________ was not an angel, he was from the _________ (demons) created from _____. Demons do not have a free will to obey or disobey; have only __________ will to disobey.

Five Pillars of Worship and Obedience _________ (There is no God but Allah)‏ _________ (Salah)‏ ___________ (Zakat)‏ ___________ ( Ramadan)‏ ____________ (Hajj)‏ Optional 6th: Any act done according to Quran and Sunnah to_________________

Prayers (Salah)‏ ______ Daily Prayers from Dawn to Late Evening regulate a Muslim’s day Prayers involve _________, standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting ________ Face ___________, prayers in Arabic as taught by the Prophet. Additional Prayers optional

Charity (Zakat)‏ 024.056 So establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey the Apostle; that ye may receive mercy. (The Quran)‏ Required ________charity on yearly savings to assist the poor, widows, orphans, those in heavy debt, slaves, etc., and to further the spread of Islam. A Muslim must be a ______________ person, in actions as well as in tithing.

Fasting 002.183 O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint. (The Quran)‏ Ramadan is _____month in Islamic Lunar calendar Daily dawn to sunset fast for 29/30 days (no food or drink)‏ Spiritual exercise to train the spiritual muscle of _____________________

Hajj (Pilgrimage)‏ Pilgrimage to Mecca __________________ ______________for able Muslims. About 2-3 million Muslims perform ______ each year from all over the world. Eidul-Adha: the biggest Muslim Holiday

Purpose of Life All creation worships God without a ____________. They can not choose not to worship him with the exception of human and Jinn. God created us and gave us ___________________ to worship him with our choice. Worship, obey, sacrifice, fight evil, even though we have the choice to do otherwise. We were inspired with both ________________ and evil __________________, so we must have a free will to choose.

Meaning of Islam Islam is “________________ to the Will of Allah” (Deity). Islam is derived from the word ___________ (peace), so its literal meaning is PEACE. The people who practice Islam are called __________________ There is an estimate of 1.200 billion Muslims in the world!