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Islam = the religion Muslim = the person who follows that religion

The star and crescent moon (or just the crescent) is the most common symbol of Islam.

an OKC mosque

The Arabic word “Islam” translates two ways: "surrender" and "peace” – surrender to the will of God and the peace that comes with that surrender.

Islam was started by Muhammad. He was born in 570 A.D. in Mecca (Saudi Arabia). Mecca is also written Makkah.

For Muslims, Muhammad is NOT a God, or God’s son. He is viewed as the greatest prophet of God. Why don’t I show a picture of Muhammad here? After Islam was about 800 years old, it became accepted that no one should make statues, paintings, or any other images of Muhammad – or of any other Muslim religious leaders. Leaders of Islam came to this agreement because they didn’t want Muslims to worship Muhammad instead of worshipping God.

The Qur’an (also written “Koran”) is the holy book of Islam. According to Muslim belief, the Qur’an is the word of God and was revealed to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. Is anything about this Qur’an cover surprising to you?

All Muslims are required to read the Qur’an, and it must be read in its original language – Arabic.

But obviously, not all Muslims grow up speaking Arabic. So how are they supposed to read the Qur’an in Arabic?

Many Qur’ans are bilingual – two languages. But even then, the Qur’an never translates God’s name out of Arabic. It stays “Allah” in any language of the Qur’an. (Muslims, however, often translate it in regular conversation.)

Many stories from the Old and New Testaments are included in the Qur’an. Moses and Jesus are both accepted as Muslim prophets. PBUH = “Peace be upon him” is typically added after a major prophet’s name.

They also do not believe that the Romans were allowed to kill Jesus. They believe that God saved Jesus from death and took him to heaven before he died on the cross. However, Muslims do not believe that Jesus was God.

The 'Five Pillars' of Islam The declaration of faith: "There is no god but the one God, and Muhammad is his messenger.” “Allah” is the Arabic word for “God.”

1 - before sunrise 2 - mid-day 3 - late afternoon 4 - sunset 5 - bedtime Prayer: Pray at five specific times each day.

BUT – there are two branches of Islam: Sunni (majority) and Shiite.

Shiites pray 3 times a day instead of 5. They combine some prayer times: 1 - before sunrise 2 - mid-day/late afternoon 3 - sunset/bedtime Many Iranians have stayed in the United States since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. So if you know a Muslim from Iran, you probably know a Shiite Muslim.

MAP - But all Muslims – Sunni and Shiite – face Mecca (Makkah) when they pray. prayers-in-a-mosque-chosen-best-picture-of-the-week.jpg

Shiite Muslims believe that after the Prophet Muhammad's death, leadership should have passed directly to a blood relative, to his son-in-law. Sunni Muslims believed the new leader should be elected – chosen from the best leaders. Background note: Why two branches of Islam?

This all came up after Muhammad’s death in 632 C.E. (A.D.). Sunni and Shiite Muslims have been the two branches ever since. Now, back to the Pillars…

Compassion: Give to help the needy. Islam teaches that everything we have comes from God. Every year, Muslims are to give 2.5% of their total wealth to help those in need. 3gnHmotLyUo/TzzcZGsnn5I/AAAAAAAAAps/XfAopUydA10/s400/zakat1.png

That money is to be used for causes such as helping the poor (with food, clothing, medical care), freeing people held in slavery (remember, the Qur’an was written about 1400 years ago), and helping travelers who need help to return home. (Qur’an 9:60)

Fasting: Do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan evening meal, Iraq

Ramadan commemorates the giving of the Qur'an (Koran) to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel.

A meal is eaten before sunrise and another meal is eaten after sundown. How this looks depends very much on the family and the culture where that family lives.

Ho w could Ramadan get a bit complicated for Muslims who live in countries where there are not many Muslims? In countries where there are mainly Muslims, life is adjusted for Ramadan’s schedule. BUT

Why make fasting so important? -as a reminder to focus on things that are important for your spirit instead of just things that are important to your body -as a reminder that some people go without much of the time – simply because they are poor – and that we should help them out - to practice self-control

4. Fast during Ramadan 3. Give to help people in need. 2. Pray at specific times each day. 1. Believe in one God and that Muhammad is his prophet. So, the first 4 pillars are:

The Hajj: If at all possible, make the pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia, at least once during your lifetime. The final pillar is

Muslims go on the Hajj to Mecca every year. The Ka’bah, the holiest site in Islam, is visited.

The Qu’ran teaches that Adam (the first man) built the first Ka’bah and that Abraham and his son Ishmail rebuilt the Ka’bah. Historians confirm that it has been a site of worship for thousands of years – long before Muhammad was born.

The inside is a covered in marble stone with verses from the Qur'an carved into the walls. Only certain Muslim leaders are allowed inside.

Almost 2 million Muslims come to Makkah during the hajj each year. They are there for about two weeks. What challenges does this present to Saudi Arabia? Where will they sleep? Where will they eat? Where will they use the restroom? What if they get sick?

The government of Saudi Arabia sets up a tent-city 4 miles from Mekkah. o/s1600/ jpg Hundreds of busses take pilgrims there from the airport. ng_to_Mina_at_the_start_of_Hajj_-_Flickr_-_Al_Jazeera_English.jpg

Tents are crowded, but are air- conditioned. There are separate tents for men and women. Bathrooms and kitchens are also set up throughout the tent city.

The tent city is big!

REALLY big!

The Hajj is not just going to Makkah. Pilgrims visit five sacred sites. Different rituals are performed at each site. The Ka’bah in Makkah is the first and last site visited.

Reasons Muslims go on the Hajj: - to feel closer to God by walking where Mohammad, Abraham, and even Adam lived and walked - to feel unity with Muslims from around the world - to ask forgiveness in a sacred place - to fulfill the command of the Fifth Pillar of Islam

4. Fast during Ramadan 3. Give to help people in need. 2. Pray at specific times each day. 1. Believe in one God and that Muhammad is his prophet. The Five Pillars summarize the most important beliefs shared by all Muslims. 5. Go on the Hajj