1. Islam By: Ben, Hadi, and Hasani

2. Important Facts  Founded ca. 622 CE  Two forms: Sunni/Shia  5 pillars – foundation of Muslim life  Found extensively throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia, India, the Horn of Africa, and also in Southeast Europe.  Founder: Muhammad  People accepted on their own, were not forced to accept.  Caliph – successor to prophet Mohammed

3. Spread  Mecca  Medina  Middle East  North Africa  South Eastern Europe (Turkey, Balkans, Russia)  Asia (India, China, Mongolia, Indonesia)  Spain

4. Expansion of Islam Black Arrows represent original spread of Islam

5. Quran/Literature  Their holy book is the Quran  Took 23 years to complete the revelation.  Sacred texts sent by God to the Prophet and people wrote them on their walls and memorized it.  Written in Arabic – Even today.  Quran is about how you should act and has stories.  Art of the prophet is forbidden.  Muslims compiled and saved lots of important literature - Odyssey

6. Shahadah  This is the pledge of faith a Muslim makes.  Pledge of faith to Allah and his prophet Muhammad

7. Salat  This means prayer.  Muslims pray 5 major prayers a day. This is obligatory.

8. Sawm  This is the required fasting during the month of Ramadan.  Ramadan is not a holiday, it is a month used to thank God and be good.  They must fast everyday for one month from dawn to dusk.

9. Zakat  This is the required charity. (Donations to the poor.)  They must donate at least 2.5% of the money they own to help the less fortunate.

10. Hajj  This is a pilgrimage a Muslim must make ones in his/her lifetime.  They travel to Mecca and pray towards the Kabah.  They only need to do this if they have enough money, and are healthy enough.

11. Holidays/Celebrations  Muharram – The new year  Mawlid an Nabi – This is the birth of the Prophet Muhammad  The two main Holidays are Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha.  These are the equivalent to Christmas for Christians.

12. Main Teachings  There is one God (same God that Jew and Christians worship  Muhammad is the Messenger  Be Peaceful  They believe in Jesus as a prophet  There is an afterlife (Heaven/Hell)

13. Symbols/Books  The main symbol is the crescent and star.  Their version of the Red Cross is the Red Crescent  The main city is Mecca.

14. Women’s Role  Own/Inherit Property  Education  Divorce  Radical political movements have limited these but these are what the actual religion allows.

15. Influence  State Religion of the Caliphate, Ottomans, Moors, Mughal Empire, many modern Arabic countries  Important religion of Mongol Empire  Helped start the European Renaissance  Arabic numerals (1,2,3 …)  Preserved Classical Greek Literature

16. Sources  Clark, Charles. Religions of the World Islam. San Diego; Lucent, 2002  Lunde, Paul. Islam Faith Culture History. NY; DK, 2002  Williams Julie. Islam Understanding the History, Beliefs and Culture. Berkeley Heights, Enslow Inc. 2008  Beyer, Lisa. “The Women of Islam.” Time.com. 25 Nov. 2001. TIME Magazine. 6 Dec 2011..http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,185647,00.html  Caswell, Thomas. “Islam.” Regentstestprep.org. 2003. Oswego City School District. 6 Dec 2011..http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/global/themes/beliefsystems/isla m.cfm