1. WARM UP – March 2
Using your notes on Buddhism, answer the following review questions on the post it:
What religion was Siddhartha as a child? What was the prophecy that was given to him?
What four things did Siddhartha see when he left the palace on his 4 voyages?
What are the four noble truths?
What is nirvana?

2. Islam

3. Islam Basics *World’s 2nd largest religion ~1.5 Billion
*Dominant in Middle East, Northern Africa

4. Islam Basics *Followers called Muslims *Worship in mosques
*Founder = Muhammad

5. Life of Muhammad From Mecca, Saudi Arabia Lived in 600’s AD
*Had a revelation
*Went to a cave to pray
*Angel Gabriel spoke to him
*Started sharing what he heard

6. Life of Muhammad *Gained followers
*Mecca’s leaders didn’t like him getting powerful
*They tried to kill him
*Muhammad fled to Medina

7. Life of Muhammad *Became leader of Medina *Enemies from Mecca attacked
*Defeated them, conquered most of Arabia
*Died in 632; followers fought over who should become leader

9. Beliefs *Monotheistic *God sent Moses, Jesus as messengers
*Same god as Jews, Christians
*Allah = Arabic for God
*God sent Moses, Jesus as messengers
*Muhammad is his final messenger

10. Beliefs *Mecca = Muhammad’s hometown; most sacred city in Islam
*Quran = holy text of Islam; what Angel Gabriel said to Muhammad in the cave
*Ramadan = month Muhammad spent in cave; most holy time in Islam, spent fasting and praying

11. Beliefs *5 pillars of Islam
1. Proclaim belief in God, Muhammad as his messenger
2. Pray facing Mecca 5 times per day
3. Fast during Ramadan
4. Give to the poor
5. Go on pilgrimage to Mecca

12. The Message The Quran rejected: The Quran demanded:
Hoarding of wealth and materialism
Exploitation of the poor
Corrupt business practices
Neglecting widows and orphans
Abuse of women
The Quran demanded:
Social justice
Equality
Aid to the poor

13. Islamic Law No distinction between religious law and civil law
ONE LAW = the sharia
Regulated every aspect of life

14. The Islamic Community
Muhammad = both religious and political leader; also led the military
Islamic community expanded throughout Arabia by:
Military conquest
Marriage alliances with leading tribes
Voluntary conversion
By 632 (time of Muhammad’s death), most of Arabia had come under Islamic control

15. Denominations
*Based on who they think inherited leadership from Muhammad
*Sunni – believe leadership went to best scholar of Islam
~75 % of Muslims
*Shia – believe leadership stayed in Muhammad’s family
~25 %; mostly in Iran