1. Islam – 10 min

2. Understanding Islam

3. Understanding Islam

4. Islam Identifications
Muslim: person who follows Islam
Ka’aba: Islam’s holiest shrine – located in Mecca – Arabic for cube
Qu’ran: secret text, holy book of Islam
Mecca: birth place of Islam, holiest city, Saudi Arabia
Mosque: Muslim house of worship

5. Islam Identifications
Allah: Arabic for God same as J and C
Medina: first Islamic community, 2nd Holy city, Muhammad gains political and religious power
Hejira: 622 – Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina; marks first expansion of Islam
Jerusalem: 3rd Holiest city to Islam – Dome of the Rock

6. Islam Identifications
2. What does Islam mean?
Islam means to “submission.” In this case, to God
Identify and explain the Five Pillars of Islam.
1. Declaration of Faith
2. Prayer: 5 times per day: must face Mecca
3. Charity: must help the poor and the old
4. Fasting: during the month of Ramadan: sun-up to sun- down:
5. Pilgrimage (Hajj): must visit Mecca once in their life

7. The Rise and Spread of Islam
Today 1.3 billion people consider themselves Muslims, making it one of the most influential religions in the modern world. This presentation introduces the early development of Islam as a religious belief system and Muslim civilization as it developed from the 7th to the 10th centuries of the common era.
Ideally, with a better understanding of the origins and development of Islam, students will have a better grasp of factors that underlie both differences between Muslim communities today (for example, Sunni versus Shi’a) and what some have labeled the “clash of civilizations” between Islam and the “West.”

8. Arabia
These Arab people were pagans, meaning they worshipped many gods. All Muslims are Arabs? The center of Arabic pagan worship was in a town called Mecca. Pilgrims would travel to Mecca to worship the Kaaba The Kaaba: sacred shine that housed images of all the Arab gods. Also contained a black stone- probably a meteorite, which the Arabs thought was sent from heaven

9. The ancient Ka’aba (3:30 min) in Mecca

10. Muhammad (9:54 min): Founder of Islam
Muhammad was born in Mecca about 570. His parents died when he was very young, but he was sent to live with his uncle, who was a Bedouin tribesman, even before they died. Muhammad became a merchant. When he was 25, he met a wealthy widow named Khadija, and married her. 4

11. Muhammad: Founder of Islam
Muhammad was always a very religious person. When he was around 40 years old, the Angel Gabriel spoke to him, saying that God had chosen him as his Prophet. Muhammad’s duty was to proclaim that God, or Allah, was the one and only God.

12. The Quran
Muhammad memorized, word for word, everything the Angel Gabriel spoke to him. It was eventually written down by scribes.
These writings are known as the Quran.
Quran means “recitation.”
it is the holy book for Muslims, containing guidance in all matters

13. The Hejira
Muhammad began to speak about this new religion to the Arab tribespeople around Mecca. Some began to follow him. Others did not like his message, and plotted to kill both him and his followers. In 622, Muhammad and his followers fled from Mecca to Yathrib, a town to the north. This journey was known as the hejira. Yathrib was later renamed Medina, which means “City of the Prophet.”

14. The New Religion
In 630, Muhammad returned to Mecca with a large army, and defeated his enemies. Muhammad smashed all of the pagan statues around the Kaaba. Islam became the new religion, and Mecca was its birthplace. Islam literally means “submission,” in this case, to God.

15. The New Religion
Muhammad = founder of Islam Muslim = one who is a follower of Islam

16. Five Pillars of Islam Declaration of Faith (Shahada)
Most important duty of all Muslims: KNOW IT!!!
Declaration of Faith (Shahada)
“There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet.”
Prayers (Salah) 5 X/day: face Mecca
Charity (Sawm): give to the old & poor
Fasting (Zakat): during Ramadan
Pilgrimage (Hajj): must complete a pilgrimage to Mecca
The practice of Islam is built around the following five fundamental pillars (requirements):
Affirmation of faith: all Muslims express that “there is no God but God and Muhammad is his last messenger.”
Prayers: Muslims pray towards Mecca five times a day. (Shi’a Muslims combine some of the prayers and, therefore, pray only three times a day.)
Alms (charity): Muslims who have the means give alms to the poor on a yearly basis.
Fasting: beginning at the first crescent moon in the month of Ramadan (when Muhammad received his first revelation from God) Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, or having sexual relations between sunup and sundown.
Pilgrimage (Hajj): Once in a lifetime, Muslims make a trip to Mecca. According to the tradition, this trip commemorates Abraham’s example. Muslims who are physically or financially unable to make the journey are released from this duty. 3

17. RAMADAN
Muslims observe the month of Ramadan, which is either 29 or 30 days, by fasting from sun-up to sundown. This means no food OR water until dark! Muslims mark the end of Ramadan with a holiday called Eid ul-Fitr, during which they end their fast. Yeah, but what is it?
The practice of Islam is built around the following five fundamental pillars (requirements):
Affirmation of faith: all Muslims express that “there is no God but God and Muhammad is his last messenger.”
Prayers: Muslims pray towards Mecca five times a day. (Shi’a Muslims combine some of the prayers and, therefore, pray only three times a day.)
Alms (charity): Muslims who have the means give alms to the poor on a yearly basis.
Fasting: beginning at the first crescent moon in the month of Ramadan (when Muhammad received his first revelation from God) Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, or having sexual relations between sunup and sundown.
Pilgrimage (Hajj): Once in a lifetime, Muslims make a trip to Mecca. According to the tradition, this trip commemorates Abraham’s example. Muslims who are physically or financially unable to make the journey are released from this duty.

18. Islam, Judaism, & Christianity
Muhammad recognized Jews and Christians as “People of the Book.”
Hebrew Bible and Christian New Testament were sacred
Believed that they had been “corrupted” over time, however
The practice of Islam is built around the following five fundamental pillars (requirements):
Affirmation of faith: all Muslims express that “there is no God but God and Muhammad is his last messenger.”
Prayers: Muslims pray towards Mecca five times a day. (Shi’a Muslims combine some of the prayers and, therefore, pray only three times a day.)
Alms (charity): Muslims who have the means give alms to the poor on a yearly basis.
Fasting: beginning at the first crescent moon in the month of Ramadan (when Muhammad received his first revelation from God) Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, or having sexual relations between sunup and sundown.
Pilgrimage (Hajj): Once in a lifetime, Muslims make a trip to Mecca. According to the tradition, this trip commemorates Abraham’s example. Muslims who are physically or financially unable to make the journey are released from this duty.

19. Similarities with Christianity and Judaism
Universality of Humankind
Along with Judaism and Christianity, Islam emphasizes the dignity and equality of humankind:
“No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab…Nor does a white man have any superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay.”
Similarities - One God – 8:30 min

20. Similarities with Christianity and Judaism
Belief in an Afterlife
Along with Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that we will be held accountable for our actions in the next life:
“We shall set up scales of justice for the day of Judgment, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least.”

21. Islamic Law
All of the teachings and sayings of Muhammad which did not come directly from God are recorded in the Hadith Together with the Quran, these two texts form the basis of Islamic law, known as Shariah 7

22. Two Key Beliefs of Islam
There is only one God, Allah
Muhammad is His final Prophet 8

23. Concept of Jihad – 3 min
The term jihad appears in the Quran 41 times
Its main meaning refers to an inner struggle by the individual Muslim to fulfill his/her religious duties, and live their lives according to God’s plan
Another meaning of jihad is an outward, physical, violent struggle against the enemies of Islam
This second meaning is misunderstood by both Muslims and Christians 10

24. Concept of Jihad According the the Quran:
”You may fight “in the cause of God” against those who attack you, but do not aggress. God does not love the aggressors.” 2:190
This directive has often been misinterpreted as sanctioning “Holy War.”

25. Halal
Halal Any meat which is slaughtered for consumption must be done so in the correct way, invoking the name of God. The eating of pork is strictly forbidden by Muslims. The Quran also outlaws alcohol.

26. Early Islam This split occurs during the Umayyad Dynasty!!!!!!!! Islam
Shiite
Sunni
This split occurs during the Umayyad Dynasty!!!!!!!!

27. Sunni and Shi’ite Populations Today

28. Comparison of Statistics and Basics
Islam
Judaism
Christianity
adherents called
Muslims
Jews
Christians
current adherents
1.3 billion
14 million
2 billion
current size rank
2nd largest
12th largest
largest
major concentration
Middle East, Southeast Asia
Israel, Europe, USA
Europe, North and South America, rapid growth in Africa
sacred text
Qur'an (Koran)
Bible
Bible (Jewish Bible + New Testament)
other written authority
Hadith
Talmud, Midrash, Responsa
church fathers, church councils, papal decrees (Catholic only)
religious law
Sharia
Halakhah
Canon Law
clergy
imams
rabbis
priests, ministers, pastors, bishops
house of worship
mosque
synagogue
church, chapel, cathedral
main day of worship
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

29. Comparison of Origins and History
Islam
Judaism
Christianity
date founded
622 CE
unknown
c. 33 CE
place founded
Saudi Arabia
Palestine (def)
Palestine
founder
Muhammad
Moses or Abraham
Jesus
original language(s)
Arabic
Hebrew
Aramaic, Greek
early expansion
within 12 years, entire Arabian peninsula; within 100 years, Muslim world stretched from the Atlantic to China
little expansion; mostly confined to Palestine
within 60 years, churches in major cities in Palestine, Turkey, Greece and Rome (map); entire Roman Empire by end of 4th cent.
major splits
Shia/Sunni, c. 650 CE
Reform/Orthodox, 1800s CE
Catholic/Orthodox, 1054 CE; Catholic/Protestant, 1500s CE

30. Comparison of Religious Beliefs
Islam
Judaism
Christianity
type of theism
strict monotheism
Trinitarian monotheism
ultimate reality
one God
names of God
Allah (Arabic for God)
Yahweh, Elohim
Yahweh, the Holy Trinity
other spiritual beings
angels, demons, jinn
angels and demons
revered humans
prophets, imams (especially in Shia)
prophets
saints, church fathers
identity of Jesus
true prophet of God, whose message has been corrupted
not prophet
Son of God, God incarnate, savior of the world
resurrection of Jesus
Not part of beliefs
affirmed
divine revelation
through Muhammad, recorded in Qur'an
through Prophets, recorded in Bible
through Prophets and Jesus (as God Himself), recorded in Bible
means of salvation
correct belief, good deeds, Five Pillars
belief in God, good deeds
correct belief, faith, good deeds, sacraments (some Protestants emphasize faith alone)
good afterlife
eternal paradise: heaven
views vary: heaven
eternal heaven
view of fellow Abrahamic religions
Jews and Christians are respected as "People of the Book," but they have wrong beliefs and only partial revelation.
Islam and Christianity are false interpretations and extensions of Judaism.
Judaism is a true religion, but with incomplete revelation.