Islam Part Four of the World Religions Series Sponsored by

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Islam
Part Four of the World Religions
Series Sponsored by the A-B Tech Diversity
Committee
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History

• The founder and prophet of Islam is Muhammad.
  Born in 570 CE, Muhammad experienced a revelation
  when he was forty years old and began to teach
  the word of God.
• The first Islamic community was formed after
  Muhammad fled from persecution and migrated to
  Medina. Because of his work, a federation of
  Arab tribes were created, which resulted in the
  basis of Arab unity.
• The main principle of Islam is the submission to
  God. The word Islam literally means to submit.

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Medina, Saudi Arabia
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Fast Facts

• Mecca is the birthplace of Muhammad the Prophet.
• During daily prayers, all Muslims must face
  Mecca, where the Kaba is located. The Kaba or
  house of God contains a meteorite that is
  believed to have been put there by Abraham and
  Ismail. The Kaba symbolizes the first house of
  worship.
• Muslims follow a different calendar which does
  not keep in step with the solar year. This
  calendar year consists of 354 days.
• Figurative art of Muhammad is not acceptable and
  is actually considered offensive to Muslims.
  Muhammad instructed his followers not to draw his
  likeness for fear that they would worship him
  instead of God.

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Sufis (whirling dervishes)
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Major Sects

• Sunni This is the largest sect in Islam, with
  940 million adherents. Sunnis follow the
  sunnah, which means custom and tradition. This
  means that they follow the teachings of
  Muhammads successor, Abu Bakr, instead of
  Muhammads son-in-law, Ali.
• Shia Shiites follow Ali, who was the closest
  relative of Muhammad and is the main difference
  that separates them from Sunnis. Shiites also
  see Ali as the first Imam or spiritual leader
  one who can interpret the inner workings of the
  Quran in addition to being a political leader.
• Sufism This mystical aspect of the Islamic
  faith is based in orthodox Islam and the Quran.
  Sufis believe in the purity of life, strict
  obedience to Islamic Law and emulating Muhammad
  the Prophet.

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Belief

• To be considered a Muslim, you must follow the
  six articles of faith Belief of one God, angels
  of God, books of God, prophets of God, day of
  judgment, and the supremacy of Gods will.
• The most important belief is that there is only
  one God, Allah (which means the God).
• Prophets are messengers of God and are to be
  revered not worshiped.
• As in Christian faith, Muslims believe that the
  soul will continue on with the ultimate path
  being Paradise or Hell.

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Pilgrimage to Mecca
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Rituals Practices

• The Five Pillars of Islam are the focus of a
  Muslims faith.
• Confession of faith (shahada) There is no god
  but God and Muhammad is the prophet of God.
• Ritual Prayer (salat) Performed five times a
  day and always in the direction of the Kaba
  shrine in Mecca.
• Alms Tax (zakat) All adult Muslims of sufficient
  means are to pay this tax, which goes to the
  needy.
• Fasting During the Month of Ramadan (sawm)
  Muslims abstain from food, drink, and sex during
  daylight hours. There is also more praying and
  more acts of devotion.
• Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) During the last month
  of the Islamic year, every Muslim must make the
  journey to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

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The Quran
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Sacred Texts

• The two most important texts in the Islamic
  faith are the Quran and the Hadith.
• The Quran is Islams most sacred text because
  it is believed to be the actual word of God as
  told to Muhammad.
• (Although the Judeo-Christian bible is respected
  by Muslims, it is understood by Islam that it has
  been incorrectly translated).
• The Hadith (narrative or report) consists of
  words and deeds of Muhammad, his family and his
  followers. Muslims use the Hadith for moral
  guidance and religious law.

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Worship

• Muslims are summoned to worship/prayer by a man
  (muezzin) who calls out from rooftops. Sometimes
  a megaphone is used to reach long distances.
  These reminders help believers to remember God
  through all that happens during their daily work
  and family concerns. Prayers consist of
  recitations glorifying God, accompanied by
  several movements, including bowing, kneeling and
  touching ones forehead to the ground.
• Muslims may worship/pray wherever they happen to
  be when called. They can worship/pray by
  themselves or with others. It is preferred that
  this is practiced together in order to show
  brotherhood, equality, and solidarity.

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Symbolism

• Officially there are no Islamic symbols.
  However, the star and crescent is the most
  recognizable and is seen on many flags in the
  Islamic world. Scholars say this symbol was
  originally used by the Ottoman Empire, which
  lasted from 1299 1922 and covered three
  continents. Because of cultural diffusion and
  the spread of Islam among the Ottoman Turks, it
  became associated with Islam.
• The color green is used to represent vegetation
  and life. Some believe that Muhammad favored
  this color and wore green robes and a green
  turban. In the Quran it states that the
  inhabitants of paradise wear garments of green
  silk. Green is also one of the colors on Saudi
  Arabias flag.

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Iraqis Make Their Voices Heard at the Ballot Box
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Current Events

• Standing United Against Terrorism and al-Qaeda
• Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki already wooing allies to
  try to form governing coalition

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It is your own conduct which will lead you to
reward or punishment, as if you had been destined
therefor. -Muhammad
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Available for Checkout in Holly Library

• Human Rights and the Conflict of Cultures
  Western and Islamic Perspectives on Religious
  Liberty, by David Little, et al.
• Higher Learning in Islam The Classical Period,
  A.D. 700-1300, by Charles Michael Stanton
• Muhammad and the Origins of Islam, F.E. Peters
• Women In Muslim Societies Diversity Within
• Unity, Ed. Herbert L. Bodman et al.
• Video Islam, Empire of Faith
• DVD Malcolm X
• DVD Inside Islam (for the History Channel)

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Bibliography
Couliano, I Eliade, C. Wiesner, H. (1991). The
Harpercollins Concise Guide to World Religion.
Harpercollins Publications Pollock, Robert
(2002). The Everything Worlds Religions Book
Discover the Beliefs,Traditions,and Cultures of
Ancient and Modern Religions. F W
Publications, Inc. Esposito, John L. (2002).
What Everyone Needs To Know About Islam Answers
to Frequently Asked Questions, From One of
Americas Leading Experts. Oxford University
Press, Inc. Religionfacts website
(www.religionfacts.com)
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Image Resources
3 http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f
/f6/Masjid_Nabawi._Medina2C_Saudi_Arabia.jpg 5
http//media.photobucket.com/image/sufism/amonraey
es/whirlingdervishes.jpg 7 http//media.photobuc
ket.com/image/islamic20women/green_lover_4ever/Be
auty/ThepurityofIslam.jpg, http//farm1.static.fli
ckr.com/167/421158364_0c17ea7350.jpg 9
http//photos.upi.com/slideshow/lbox/65c11197a81bb
96ab91064f9c964aefd/Hajj-Muslim-pilgrimage.jpg 11
http//wmazmi.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/quranl
arge.jpg 13 http//islamzpeace.files.wordpress.c
om/2009/02/prayer-in-mosque.jpg 15
http//www.religionfacts.com/islam/symbols.htm 17
http//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/art
icle/2010/03/14/AR2010031402122.html 19
http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3
/Rub_al_khalid_sunset_nov_07.JPG
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JudaismComing soon in the next installment of
the World Religions series