ISLAM The Faith

1. WHAT IS THIS & WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

2. WHAT IS THIS & WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

3. WHAT IS THIS AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

ANSWERS  1. A cross, a symbol of Christianity and of Jesus’s crucifixion.  2. A Star of David, a symbol of Judaism and of the Jewish people.  3. Allah, the word God written in Arabic and a symbol of Islam.

QUESTION 4  Why do we easily recognize symbols of Judaism and Christianity, while we do not so easily recognize symbols of Islam?

ISLAM-BACKGROUND  The Arabian Peninsula was sandwiched between the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires  Inhabited by Bedouins, nomadic herders who traversed the Arabian Desert  The Bedouins were mainly polytheistic, but were aware of monotheists like Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians

ISLAM-BACKGROUND  Each year, Bedouins made a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, home of the Black Stone-a shrine to their gods in the Kaaba (cube)  The Quraysh tribe, descendants of Ishmael, were wealthy merchants who controlled the pilgrimage trade

MUHAMMAD  Muhammad ibn Abdallah, born 570 BCE in Mecca  Father died before he was born, his mother shortly after, his grandfather when he was a young child-raised by an uncle  Born into the Quraysh tribe, met Jews, Christians, and Hanifs-another monotheistic group

REVELATION  Muhammad would spend time praying in a cave in Mt. Hira  The angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad  Revealed that there is one God, the God of Abraham, and Muhammad was to be his greatest and final prophet

MUHAMMAD AS PROPHET  Muslims see Muhammad as the last in a line of “reformers” of Abrahamic religion  Moses  Jesus (not God or son of God)  Muhammad

ISLAM  Muhammad’s new religion would be called “Islam”-submission to God  Followers of Islam would be called Muslims-servants of God  The first Muslim was Khadija, Muhammad’s wife

THE HIJRA  Muhammad’s revelation angered the leaders of Mecca, including his own family members  He left Mecca in 622-The Hijra, or journey  Muhammad was welcomed in the city of Yathrib, which was renamed Medina-the city of the prophet

BATTLE OF BADR  Muslims began attacking the caravans of Mecca  In the ensuing battle, the Muslims were victorious and many of Mecca’s leaders were killed  Legitimized Muhammad as both a spiritual and political leader  An attack by Mecca on Medina called the Battle of the Trench was unsuccessful

RETURN TO MECCA  In 629, Muhammad returns to Mecca with 10,000 followers, peacefully takes over the city  Removes the idols from the Kaaba and prays there  Islam begins to spread, Muhammad is looked at as a leader

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM  To become a Muslim, one must accept the Five Pillars of Islam  Shahada-The Testimony  Salat-Prayer  Sawm-Fasting  Zakat-Almsgiving  Hajj-Pilgramage

SHAHADA  A declaration of the faith of Islam  “There is no God but God (Allah) and Muhammad is His prophet.”

SALAT  Muslims perform five prayers daily  They face Mecca while they pray

SAWM  Muslims fast during daylight hours during the holy month of Ramadan

ZAKAT  Muslims are expected to give 2.5% of their income to the needy

HAJJ  If possible, Muslims are expected to visit the Kaaba in Mecca once during their lifetimes

DIVISIONS IN ISLAM  After Muhammad’s death, controversy arose over who should become caliph (successor)  The caliph was both a political and religious leader  Shi’ites (10-15% of Muslims) believe only descendants of Muhammad’s cousin Ali can be caliph  Sunnis (85-90% of Muslims) believe any devout Muslim can become caliph

HOLY TEXTS  The Quran-The sacred text of Islam, contains the revelations God made to Muhammad  The Quran is written in Arabic  The Hadith-The reports of the teachings, beliefs, and actions of Muhammad-some more reliable than others

WORSHIP  A Muslim house of worship is called a mosque  Muezzin-a mosque official who leads prayers  Many mosques are led by imams- community/religious leaders

OTHER KEY BELIEFS  There is one God. His wishes are carried out by angels  All are equal within the ummah, or community of believers  God has spoken through prophets and handed down holy books-Muhammad and the Quran are the last  A day of judgment will come  Many Muslims do not drink alcohol, use drugs, or eat pork  Sharia-A body of religious law used to govern  Jihad-Struggle

HOLY PLACES IN ISLAM  1. Mecca-Home of Masjid al-Haram (the sacred mosque) and the Kaaba  2. Medina-Where Muhammad took refuge  3. Jerusalem-Where Muhammad ascended to heaven