ISLAM

Islam Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the Qur'an. Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable and the purpose of existence is to love and serve God.

The word Islam in arabic means „surrend to God”. Apologists and Muslim missionaries often deduce the word Islam from the word salām - peace. The purpose of Islam and the teachings done by the prophet Mahomet was to join all Arabic people into one large Muslim family. The faith, however, spread onto the entire world. Nowadays, Arabs are 15% up to 20% adherents of Islam.

Arabs (original meaning: "nomads") – are the group of people of the Semitic origin, inhabiting the Arabian Peninsula from the ancient times. A majority of Arabs are white people, but Negroid- look Arabs can also be met in Africa. Arabs in traditional dresses (1910)

Beginnings and the development of Islam In the 7 th century AD on the area of the Arabian Peninsula a new monotheistic religion came into existence - Islam. Muhammad was its founder – he was one of the most important religious reformers in the history of the world. He was born in 570 and was an orphan. When he married the rich widow - Khadijah, he could start his philosophical contemplations, and then according to the traditional legends Archangel Gabriel appeared before Mahomet and portrayed him the Allah who from now on was supposed to be the only God for all Arabs.

A shahadah written in black letters on the white background, or with white letters on the black background is an appropriate symbol of the Islam. However, the crescent (hilal) is more often treated as the symbol of the Islam. Fundamentally, from a historical point of view it is wrong, because the crescent was not a symbol of the religion, but symbol of the caliphate only. In the social awareness however, also in Muslim countries, the hilal was the main symbol of this religion, and in this shape appears in most of the heraldry of Islamic states (e.g. in emblems and on flags of Maldives, Pakistan, Algeria, Turkey, Tunisia and other), as well as the analogy to the symbol of the Red Cross – the international Christian movement. Symbols of the Islam

Symbols of Islam

The Islam has shared its roots with the Judaism and the Christianity. According to Mahomet's revelations presented to Jews and Christians by Abraham, Moses and Jesus should be repeated and supplemented. Muslims believe that verses of the Koran were gradually shown to Mahomet by Archangel Gabriel between 610 AD, and his death on 8th June, 632. The base of Islam are the five principles: o One and only God, o praying five times a day, o fast in the Ramadan, o charity for poor o pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

Beginning of the Ramadan

A separate group of clergymen doesn't exist in the Sunni Islam. Imam (guide, the boss) isn't a priest, but a member of the community of believers which is leading prayers. The imam does not have to be a theologian, but should have the extensive knowledge of principles of Islam and the Koran; must be clever as well. Muezzin isn't also a clergyman. Experts of the Islam posses a huge respect as they are treated as „the successors of prophets". Clergymen

1. Is the Islam monotheistic religion? 2. How is the scripture of the Islam called? 3. How are the adherents of Islam called? 4. What does the word „Islam” mean in Arabic? 5. How much % of Islam adherents are of Arab origin? 6.What five principles are the base of Islam? 7. Is there a separate group of clergymen appearing in the Sunni Islam? 8. Must the Imam be a theologian? 9. What skills are needed to become an imam? 10. Were Arabs originally called nomads?

NataliaBaczewska