Founding Story:
Islam began with the prophet Muhammad. Muhammad means "the praised one." Muhammad believed he was chosen to be God's messenger to deliver the final revelations of God to the people. He was aware of Hebrew and Christian traditions and believed that God had already revealed himself in part through Moses and Jesus. Muhammad was born in the Arabian city of Mecca. His parents died when he was young so he was raised by his uncle. He worked as a trade agent for a wealthy widow. When he was 25 years old he married this woman who was 15 years older than him. He later had several children with her. He was a very successful caravan merchant. At age 40, Muhammad is said to have received the first of his revelations from God. Angel Gabriel appeared and told him "In the name of the Lord who created man from clots of blood. Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One, who by the pen taught man what he did not know." Muhammad then began preaching the message of Monotheism. Then he and his small band of followers moved to the city of Medina. This event is important because it signifies the beginning of the Islamic calendar, and it recognizes the beginning of Islam as an organized religion. While Muhammad was in Medina he attempted to form alliances with Jews and Christians there o the basis of what he believed to be strong common elements in these three monotheistic religions. He died in Medina unexpectedly of fever on June 8, 632.
Classification:
Muslims are Monotheistic (only believe in one God) which is Allah
Key Figures:
Muhammad:
He was born in Mecca in 570. Muslims believe he received his first revelation in 610 from God. It is believed that the angel Gabriel told Muhammad to "recite." After he died in 632, Muhammad's followers compiled the revelations into scared book (The Quran). Muhammad either dictated the words to scribes, they wrote down, or memorized the revelations. The final form of the Quran was determined by the third caliph (Muhammad).
He was born in Mecca in 570. Muslims believe he received his first revelation in 610 from God. It is believed that the angel Gabriel told Muhammad to "recite." After he died in 632, Muhammad's followers compiled the revelations into scared book (The Quran). Muhammad either dictated the words to scribes, they wrote down, or memorized the revelations. The final form of the Quran was determined by the third caliph (Muhammad).
Religious Authority:
The Quran: The holy book for Muslims. Its teachings are the heart of Islamic belief, and its basic message is that there is no other god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet. Quranic revelations are regarded by Muslims as the sacred word of God, intended to correct any errors in previous holy books such as the Old and New Testaments.
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Goal of Religion:
Enjoy eternal life both physical and spiritual.
Belief about the afterlife:
Islam teaches that there will be a day of judgment when all humans will be divided between the eternal destinations of Heaven and Hell.
Concept of a Higher Power:
Muslim like Christians and Jews believe in one God. For Christian he is known as God for Jews he is known as Yahweh and for Muslims he is known as Allah.
Rules/Guidelines for daily life:
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Five Pillars of Islam:
Good Deeds:
- Shahada- declaration of faith and means "act of bearing witness"
- Salat- A daily prayer by Muslims is the most important way to show their devotion to God. Must pray 5 times a day (Dawn, Midday, afternoon, after sunset, and at night)
- Zakat- Means to "purify oneself." Requires Muslims to "purify their wealth once a year by sharing a certain percentage of their assets with the needy.
- Sawm- It applies to Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan. Muslims are forbidden to eat and drink during daylight hours. Help Muslims reflect spiritually.
- Hajj- A pilgrimage (journey) to Mecca that takes place two months after Ramadan. Every Muslim who is physically able, who is of sound mind, and who can afford the journey is required to make this pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime.
Good Deeds:
- Being truthful
- Feeding the poor
- Returning borrowed items
- Studying and learning
- Showing kindness to family/animals
- Respecting parents
- Giving to others in need
- Lying about others
- Gossiping
- Adultery
- Worshiping idols
- Killing others or committing suicide
- Enslaving others
- Stealing from orphans
Key Holidays:
Ramadan - Lasts an entire month and is a period of religious observance. Muslims aren't allowed to eat or drink during the day. This is called fasting and it is one of the five pillars. Ramadan also includes reflections and purification. Muslims are encouraged to read the Quran from start to finish during the celebration and to spend as much time as possible in a mosque worshiping and thanking God.
Lailat ul-Qadr - Celebration of Muhammad's first divine revelation which he received one night during the last 10 days of Ramadan. Spend their time in a mosque praying and worshiping. Eid ul-Fitr - A three day feast celebrating the end of Ramadan. During this time banquets are held and gifts are exchanged between one another. Id ul-Adha - the observance of the months after Ramadan. It shows worship to Abraham. Al-isra Wal Miraj - Celebrates Muhammad's Night Journey and lands on the 27th day of the month Rajab. |
Holy Sites and Symbols:
The Mosque: A place where Muslims gather to worship gather to worship God (Allah). Occasionally, Mosques may be used for religious education, for social work, as tombs, or as temporary homes fro traveling scholars. Most Mosques have a courtyard by four halls (iwams), and a fountain where Muslims ritually cleanse themselves before prayer. One of the most distinguishable features of the Mosque is the minaret.
The Star and Crescent: is the best-known symbol used to represent Islam. The symbol is not Muslim in origin, it was a polytheistic icon adopted during the spread of Islam, and its use today is sometimes controversial in the Muslim world. The crescent and star are often said to be Islamic symbols, but historians say that they were the insignia of the Ottoman Empire, not of Islam as a whole. |
Sects and Branches:
Sunnis: Untied behind one Muhammad's principle disciples Abu Bakr
Shittes: Believed that Muhammad had wanted his cousin and on-in-law Ali as leader and that Abu Bakr and the two leaders who followed him had wrongly seized power form Ali
Shittes: Believed that Muhammad had wanted his cousin and on-in-law Ali as leader and that Abu Bakr and the two leaders who followed him had wrongly seized power form Ali