Islam

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Islam
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Islam Today

• Islam is the second largest world religion
• Fastest growing
• 1.2 billion Muslims
• 20 of the worlds total population
• 43 countries with Muslim-majority populations
• Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East,
  North Africa, and Eastern Europe

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Largest Muslim Populations
6. Iran (62 million) 7. Egypt (59 million) 8.
Nigeria (53 million) 9. Algeria (31
million) 10.Morocco (29 million)

• 1. Indonesia (183 million)
• 2. Pakistan (134 million)
• 3. India (121 million)
• 4. Bangladesh (114 million)
• 5. Turkey (66 million)
• Arabs make up only 20 of the total
• Muslim population of the world

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Two Major Groups

• Sunni 80 in many locations throughout the world
• Traditionalists, accept Muawiyah as caliph
• Shia 15, mostly in Iran
• Believe Ali was to be the next caliph
• Difference is political, basic beliefs and
  practices are the same
• Sufis are Muslim mystics, come from both Sunni
  and Shiite backgrounds
• Most Muslims are not Arab and not all Arabs are
  Muslim

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Muslims in America

• 7 million Muslims in America
• Second largest religion in America
• Fastest growing religion in America
• The history of Islam in America dates back to the
  slave trade

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Basics of Islam

• Islam peace, submission
• Muslim submitter
• Abrahams two sons
• Isaac ? the Hebrews (Judaism ? Christianity)
• Ishmael ? the Arabs (Islam)

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Abrahamic Roots

• Muslims are strictly monotheistic
• Believe in the Judeo-Christian God
• Muslims believe that the Torah and the Bible,
  like the Quran, are the word of God
• Believe in all the prophets their stories
• Allah is the Arabic word for God
• Christian and Jewish Arabs use the same word to
  refer to God

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Life of Muhammad

• b. 570 CE, d. 632 CE
• Prophet founder
• Human, not divine
• Lived in Arabia, near Mecca
• Orphaned by age 6, raised by
• grandfather and uncle
• Age 25 married Khadija
• Later married Aishah

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Muhammads Revelations

• 610 in a cave on Mt. Hira, he received his first
  revelation from the angel Gabriel
• 622 he left Mecca for Medina
• Date marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar
• By his death in 632, Islam was a thriving
  religion
• These revelations were compiled into the Quran
  after his death (20 years later)

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The Quran

• Quran recite, recitation
• Holy book of Islam
• Comprised of 114 chapters (called surahs)

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Basic Beliefs

• One God (Allah)
• He is great and merciful
• Not to be worshiped or represented as idols
• The world is good
• Made for humans to enjoy
• Decrements (destiny) Inshallah (if God wills)
• Resurrection, Judgment day, Heaven Hell

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The Problem for Humans

• Sin
• Refusing to submit to the will of God through His
  prophets, especially Muhammad
• Salvationrecognizing one true God and following
  5 Pillars

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The Five Pillars

• Shahada Witness
• There is no God Allah and Muhammad is His
  messenger
• Salat Prayer, five times every day
• Zakat alms giving to the poor and needy
• Sawm fasting, sun-up to sun-down during month
  of Ramadan
• Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in a
  Muslims life, if able)
• 2-3 million each year

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The Kaaba

• Located in the center of Mecca
• Pre-dates Islam
• Believed to have been built by Abraham and
  Ishmael as an altar to God
• Used by pre-Muslim Arabs for worship of their
  many tribal gods (idols)
• Year 630 reclaimed by Muhammad, cleansed and
  rededicated to Allah
• Center of Islam to this day
• Place of annual pilgrimage and direction of
  prayer for Muslims from all corners of the globe

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Other Sacred Places
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Prohibitions

• Halal (permissible) and Haram (prohibited)
• No eating of pork (other dietary regulations
  halal)
• No gambling
• No intoxicants
• No fornication (homosexuality, adultery,
  prostitution, etc.)
• No usury (charging or paying interest on loans)
  (the rich shall not profit from helping the poor)

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Jihad

• Humans are to live in peace with one another
• Struggle not Holy War
• Inner spiritual and moral struggle between good
  and evil
• Outer struggle to maintain proper social setting
  according to Gods will
• Struggles in the Holy Land
• Palestinian vs. Israeli, not Muslim vs. Jew
  (political, not religious)

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Women in Islam

• Eve was considered a helped and companion to Adam
• Role today is to be dependent on men and be
  supportive of them
• Respected and protected by Men
• Modest dress for both men and women
• Hijab differs from culture to culture
• Heavy cover and veil not a religious requirement

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Resources

• Jannah.org http//www.jannah.org/
• World Assembly of Muslim Youth http//www.wamy.co.
  uk/
• Discover Islam Online http//www.discover-islam-on
  line.com/ (posters)
• PBS Documentaries
• Islam Empire of Faith http//www.pbs.org/empires/
  islam/
• Muhammad Legacy of a Prophet http//www.pbs.org/m
  uhammad/
• Muslims (Frontline) http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages
  /frontline/shows/muslims/