2. Did you know? At least 42 nations are almost completely Islamic.

3. There are 1 billion Muslims in the world.

4. Only 20% of the world’s Muslims are Arabs.

5. Muhammad Born in Mecca in 570 AD, orphaned at age 6, taken in by grandfather and uncle, both in the caravan business.

6. Married Khadijah, a wealthy widow, in 595 AD, and was freed from the life of a traveling merchant. Arabs were traders; it became profitable for non- Muslims to convert for business purposes.

7. Qur’an Called the “book of heaven,” supposedly dictated to Muhammad by angel Gabriel.

8. The Qur’an refers to the Torah, Psalms, and “Gospel” (only the sayings of Jesus) as “Scripture.” but retells some biblical stories inaccurately.

9. The Qur’an mentions Jesus many times, but declares that Jesus is only a prophet and that he was not crucified.

10. “People of the Book, go not beyond the bounds in your religion, and say not as to God but the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God, and His Word that He committed to Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers, and say not, ‘Three.’ Refrain; better is it for you. God is only One God.” Qur’an, chapter 4:168

11. It was composed throughout Muhammad’s life, sometimes at convenient moments for him personally.

12. Muslims consider the Hadith, the words and deeds of Muhammad, to be authoritative also.

13. What are the main concepts in the Qur’an? Submission. The word “Islam” means “submission”; a “Muslim” is “one who submits.” The greatness of God. Allah-hu-akbar means God is great!

14. The oneness of God. Muslims confess throughout the day, “There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is His prophet.” (The confession is called the Shahada.)

15. What are the main practices? They are called the “five pillars of Islam”.

16. 1.Say the Shahada(KALMA) throughout the day.

17. 2. Pray five times daily, facing Mecca. Each prayer begins with a recitation of the opening chapter from the Qur’an.

18. “In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate Praise belongs to God, the Lord of all Being, the All-merciful, the All-compassionate, the Master of the Day of Doom. Thee only we serve; to Thee alone we pray for succour. Guide us in the straight path, the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray.”

19. Prayers must wash in the prescribed way before they pray.

20. Prayers are formal and memorized and prayed in various postures, from bowing to kneeling. The word mosque means “place of prostration.”

21. Muslim communities gather for collective prayer mostly on Fridays.

22. 3.Alms: Muslims are required to give 2.5% of their income to the poor.

23. 4.Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) Every able bodied Muslim must make this pilgrimage once.

24. Activities during hajj re-enact important events in life of Muhammad

25. Focal point of the pilgrimage is the Ka’aba, recast as an Islamic, not a pagan shrine. (Muslims believe the Ka’aba houses the stone Allah gave Ibrahim when he almost sacrificed Ishmael.)

26. Fasting in the daylight hours during Ramadan, the month the Qur’an “came down.”

27. The Qur'an: Written Muhammad memorized individual revelations –He "recited" them to his followers. –They wrote them down, during his lifetime Qur'an not compiled until 640s CE –Under third Caliph, Uthman ibn Arran –All other versions destroyed

28. Content Qur'an contains: –Moral guidelines –Laws of God –Rules of Islamic Faith In form of: –moral directives –legal prescriptions –exhortations –admonitions –condemnations –warnings –good tidings –words of consolation

29. Language & Genre Written in Arabic –Any translations are considered "interpretations" Only one genre: Prophecy –Speaker is God, through angel Gabriel

30. Contents & Arrangement 114 Surahs –With 3-285 Ayas each Arranged by length –Decreasing length –Except Intro Surah 1 Same heading: –"In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful" –All except Surah 9 Divided into 30 Juz (blocks) –Muslims read whole Qur'an during Ramadan

31. Themes in the Qur'an Earlier Surahs (1, 6-7, 10-21, 23, 25-32, 34-46, 50-56, 67-114) –Makkah period Social justice, conversion, final judgment, monotheism Later Surahs (2-5, 8-9, 22, 24, 33, 47-49, 57- 66, 98, 110, [55, 76, 99?]) –Madinan Period Relationships within Muslim Community Relationships with Jews and Christians

32. Other Foundational Literature Hadiths –Sayings & actions of Muhammad –Sunna ("custom") become guidelines for Muslim life after death of Muhammad –Compiled 9 th cent. CE Biographies of Muhammad –Various editions

33. Summary Islamic Scripture: Qur'an Believed to be revelations of God, through Gabriel, to Muhammad Respect for other monotheistic faiths, but Qur'an is most accurate revelation 114 Surahs, longer to shorter (except 1) Divided into Ayahs Originally in Arabic; Prophetic Genre Makkah Surahs: establish Islam Madinah Surahs: build community Other core writings: Hadiths, Sira

34. THANK YOU VERY MUCH