Islam

Key Terms and People• Sand dunes• Oasis• Sedentary• Caravan• Souk• Muhammad• Islam• Muslim• Qur’an• Shrine• Pilgrimage• Mosque• Jihad• Sunnah• Five pillars of Islam• Features• influence

Origins of IslamChapter 3.2

• Muhammad continued to receive messages from God the rest of his life.

• These messages were collected in the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam.

Muhammad:• Born in 570• Both parents died before he was 6• He was raised by his uncle • Traveled in his uncle’s caravan

trading goods• He married Khadijah when he was

25• Trading made many people rich and

those rich began to ignore the poor.• Muhammad often meditated and

one time while meditating, an angel appeared to him – telling him to “Recite!” the message of God.

• A prophet is one who tells of messages from God

• This message became the basis of the religion of Islam.

• Islam means “to submit to God”.• A follower of Islam is called a

Muslim

Muhammad’s Teachings• Muhammad’s teachings were

similar to Judaism and Christianity.

• Monotheistic (Mono=1, theistic= belief in Gods)

• He taught that there was one God- Allah (the God in Arabic)

• This was different to the Arabic people- they were used to worshiping many Gods – Polytheism (Poly=many)

• His teachings upset many Arabs:• He told them to worship one God

– Allah• He told them that all that

believed in Allah would be equal - no power with wealth.

• He told them that people should give money to the poor.

• Many Arabs rejected his teachings – at first.

Spread of Islam• Mecca’s merchants were angry and refused to

follow the teachings of Muhammad. In fact, many threatened Muhammad with violence and wanted him dead.

• In 622 Muhammad and his followers traveled from Mecca to Medina for safety. This journey to Medina is known as the first hegira (hi-ji-ruh)

• The arrival in Medina holds an important place in Islamic history – the year 622 (the year of the hegira) and became known as the 1st year of the Islamic calendar

• Muhammad’s house in Medina became the 1st mosque: a Muslim place of worship.

• Even though Muhammad left Mecca for protection – The eventually accepted Islam and welcomed Muhammad back and accepted Islam as their religion.

• Muslims recognize Mecca as the home of the Kaaba – the house of worship that Abraham built and dedicated to the worship of one God.

Kaaba Located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Muslims all over the world face Mecca (and the Kaaba) while they pray in their

mosques

Characteristics of a Mosque

1. Minaret – Tall, slim tower that very in size, style, shape, and quantity.

2. Domes – No religious significance purely aesthetic. Inside of dome is usually covered in beautiful tile and mosaic.

3. Prayer Hall – Large deliberately bare prayer space. Worshippers kneel on ground in humility of God.

4. Midrib – an indentation in wall to show the worshippers the direction to pray.

5. Prayer rug – a rug that worshippers use during prayer. They are usually small and help keep worshippers clean as they pray.

6. Shoe shelves – Place to hold shoes of worshippers.

Chapter 3.3: Islamic Beliefs and Practices

Qur’an• Collection of Muhammad's

teachings• Says that there is one God-

Allah- and Muhammad is his prophet.

• Allah’s commands must be obeyed.

• It guides Muslim’s lives.• Muslims are to wash before

they pray to be pure for Allah.

• It encouraged the freedom of slaves and described rights of women.

• Jihad (ji-hahd) – “to make an effort or to struggle”

The Sunnah• This is a model for the duties and

expectations of a Muslim.

The Five Pillars of Islam:

1. There is no god but God, and

Muhammad is his prophet.

2. Daily prayer – 5 times a day

3. Yearly donation to charity.

4. Fasting – daily during Ramadan.

5. Hajj – a pilgrimage to Mecca at least

once in their lifetime.

5 Pillars of Islam

One God Muhammad

Is his prophet

DailyPrayer

Donate to Poor Fasting Hajj

Islamic Law

• Shariah (shuh-ree-uh)• Based on the Qur’an

and the Sunnah.• Was a system that

judged the rightness of actions.

• It was the basis for law in Muslim country until modern times.