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

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

4. an OKC mosque

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

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

7. Why don’t I show a picture of Muhammad here?
For Muslims, Muhammad is NOT a God, or God’s son. He is viewed as the greatest prophet of God.
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.
Why don’t I show a picture of Muhammad here?

8. 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.
What do you notice about the book itself? It is face-up. Does that tell you anything about how Arabic is written? (It is right-to-left and the “back” of the book is the cover in Arabic.)
Is anything about this Qur’an cover surprising to you?

9. All Muslims are required to read the Qur’an, and it must be read in its original language – Arabic.
Why would Islam require this? The answer is found in the issue of meaning being lost in translation. Translation is always tricky, and often translators have to make decisions based on what just seems correct to them after studying the options. In the Hebrew Scriptures, in the creation story, the common translations talk about how God created the earth in 6 days, then rested on the third day. However, the Hebrew word translated as “day” (yom) can be translated a variety of ways: for anywhere from 12 hours up to a year, and even a vague "time period" of unspecified length.    (See more at: ) If you tell students this, it will make it easier for them to understand why the tradition began very early that the Qur’an must be read in the original language. Apparently there was also an assumption that all Muslims would understand Arabic well enough to fully appreciate the meaning(s) of the original wording. This was, of course, at a time when Europe, the Middle East, and Africa were the only parts of earth of which they were aware.

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

11. Many Qur’ans are bilingual – two languages.
Arabic
English
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.)
explanations

12. 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.

13. However, Muslims do not believe that Jesus was God.
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.

14. 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

15. each day. Prayer: 2 1 - before sunrise 2 - mid-day 3 - late afternoon
Pray at five specific times
each day. 2
1 - before sunrise
2 - mid-day
3 - late afternoon
4 - sunset
5 - bedtime
Prayer:
Facing Jerusalem (Alquds or Beit-elmaqdis) till 629, then facing Mecca
Ablution or wash: One should wash and clean his/her body before prayer
No priesthood or mass service. Imam serves no function during prayer. Direct link between the person who pray and God

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

17. Shiites pray 3 times a day instead of 5
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.

18. But all Muslims – Sunni and Shiite – face Mecca (Makkah) when they pray.

19. Why two branches of Islam?
Background note:
Why two branches of Islam?
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.

20. 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…

21. 3 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. 3

22. 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)

23. Ramadan evening meal, Iraq
Fasting: Do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. 4
Ramadan evening meal, Iraq

24. Ramadan commemorates the giving of the Qur'an (Koran) to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel.
Ramadan’s exact start date each year is determined by the Islamic calendar, not by the Gregorian calendar commonly used throughout the world. This means Ramadan falls about 10 days earlier each year.
Children begin observing Ramadan when they reach puberty, although many attempt to do a few days of fasting prior to then.
Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, people who are ill, and people traveling are not expected to fast.

25. 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.

26. In countries where there are mainly Muslims, life is adjusted for Ramadan’s schedule.
BUT
Students will generally suggest complications such as eating late at night and early in the morning (before sunrise) but still having to go to work or school at the regular time, being around others at work or school who are snacking or drinking and not being able to do so, and having to explain to teachers or coaches if they are unable to participate in after-school activities (such as sports if they are physically unable to do so). Remind students that different Muslim families may have different ways of handling these challenges.
How could Ramadan get a bit complicated for Muslims who live in countries where there are not many Muslims?

27. 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

28. 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

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

30. If at all possible, make the
The final pillar is
The Hajj:
If at all possible, make the
pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia, at least once during your lifetime. 5

31. Muslims go on the Hajj to Mecca every year
Muslims go on the Hajj to Mecca every year. The Ka’bah, the holiest site in Islam, is visited.
the Ka’bah
the mosque
This photo is from the Hajj of fall The yellow arrow points to the Ka’bah.

33. 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.

34. Historians confirm that it has been a site of worship for thousands of years – long before Muhammad was born.

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

36. Where will they use the restroom?
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 eat?
What if they get sick?
Where will they sleep?
Where will they use the restroom?

37. Hundreds of busses take pilgrims there from the airport.
The government of Saudi Arabia sets up a tent-city 4 miles from Mekkah.
Hundreds of busses take pilgrims there from the airport.

38. 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.

39. The tent city is big!

40. REALLY big!

41. The Ka’bah in Makkah is the first and last site visited.
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.

42. Reasons Muslims go on the Hajj: - to feel closer to God by walking where Mohammad, Abraham, and even Adam lived and walked

43. - to feel unity with Muslims from around the world

44. - to ask forgiveness in a sacred place
- to fulfill the command of the Fifth Pillar of Islam

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