Post on 26-Dec-2015
Understanding Islam
What is Islam?
• “The religion of Islam is the acceptance of and obedience to the teachings of God which He revealed to His last prophet, Muhammad.”
• “Islam” and “Muslim” are derived from the Arabic word for “submission,” not the similar word for “peace.”
Some Basic Islamic Beliefs
• Belief in God
• Belief in the Angels
• Belief in God’s Revealed Books
• Belief in the Prophets & Messengers of God
• Belief in the Day of Judgment
• Belief in Divine Predestination
Belief in God
• “Muslims believe in one unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone.”
• Thus the deity of Jesus is rejected. Most Muslims believe the Christian Trinity consists of God, Mary & Jesus.
Belief in the Angels
• “Muslims believe in the existence of the angels, and that they are honored creatures. The angels worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command.
• “Among the angels is Gabriel, who brought down the Qur’an to Muhammad.”
Belief in God’sRevealed Books
• “Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them. Among these books is the Qur’an, which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. God has guaranteed the Qur’an’s protection from any corruption or distortion.”
• The Bible is viewed as revealed by God but subsequently corrupted.
Belief in the Prophets& Messengers of God
• “Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them).
• “But God’s final message, a reconfirmation of the eternal message, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad … the last prophet sent by God.”
Belief in the Day of Judgment
• “Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) when all people will be resurrected for God’s judgment according to their beliefs and deeds.”
• Muslims do not (in general) have assurance that their sins will be forgiven.
Belief inDivine Predestination
• “Muslims believe in Divine Predestination, but this belief … does not mean that human beings do not have freewill … This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they are responsible for their choices.”
Belief inDivine Predestination
• “The belief … includes … four things:– God knows everything.– God has recorded all that has happened and will
happen.– Whatever God wills to happen happens…– God is the Creator of everything.”
Abraham’s GenealogyAbraham’s Genealogy
ABRAHAMABRAHAM SARAHSARAHHAGARHAGAR
IsaacIsaac
EsauEsauJacobJacob
12 Tribes of Israel
12 Tribes of Israel
Ishmael
Ishmael
12 Arabian Tribes
12 Arabian Tribes
The Prophetic Tradition
The Prophetic TraditionAdam
Noah
Abraham
Moses
Jesus
Muhammad
The Origins of the Qur’an
The Origins of the Qur’an Muhammad received his first
revelation from the angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610.
622 Hijrah Muhammed flees Mecca for Medina. * The beginning of the Muslim calendar (1 A.H.)
Muhammad’s revelations were compiled into the Qur’an after his death.
The Qur’anThe Qur’an Muslims believe it contains the word of God.
114 suras (chapters).
In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful. Written in Arabic.
1. The Shahada1. The Shahada
11
The testimony.
The declaration of faith:There is no god worthy of There is no god worthy of worship except God, andworship except God, andMuhammad is HisMuhammad is HisMessenger [or Prophet].Messenger [or Prophet].
There is no god worthy of There is no god worthy of worship except God, andworship except God, andMuhammad is HisMuhammad is HisMessenger [or Prophet].Messenger [or Prophet].
2. The Salat2. The Salat
22
The mandatory prayers performed 5 times a day: * dawn * noon * late afternoon * sunset * before going to bed
Wash before praying.
Face Mecca and use a prayer rug.
2. The Salat2. The Salat
22
The call to prayer by the muezzin in the minaret.
Pray in the mosque on Friday.
3. The Zakat3. The Zakat
33
Almsgiving (charitable donations).
Muslims believe that all things belong to God.
Zakat means both “purification” and “growth.”
About 2.5% of your income.
4. The Sawm4. The Sawm
44
Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
Considered a method of self- purification.
No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.
Eid MubarakEid Mubarak
End of the Ramadan holiday.
5. The Hajj5. The Hajj
55
The pilgrimage to Mecca.
Must be done at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime.
2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year.
5. The Hajj5. The Hajj
55
Those who complete the pilgrimage can add the title hajji to their name.
The Dar al-Islam
The Dar al-Islam
11 22 33 44 55
The WorldThe Worldof Islamof Islam
The WorldThe Worldof Islamof Islam
The MosqueThe Mosque The Muslim place of worship.
The Dome of the Rock Mosque in
Jerusalem
The Dome of the Rock Mosque in
Jerusalem
Mount Moriah Rockwhere Muhammad ascended into heaven.
Other Islamic Religious Practices
Other Islamic Religious Practices
Up to four wives allowed at once.
No alcohol or pork.
No gambling.
Sharia body of Islamic law to regulate daily living.
Three holiest cities in Islam: * Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.
Essential Question:Essential Question:
Why was Islam able to spread so quickly and
convert so many to the new religion?
The Spread of IslamThe Spread of Islam Easy to learn and practice.
No priesthood.
Teaches equality.
Non-Muslims, who were “Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes.
Easily “portable” nomads & trade routes.
Jihad (“Holy War”) against pagans and other non-believers (“infidels”).
Muslims in the WorldToday
Muslims in the WorldToday
Countries with the Largest Muslim
Population
Countries with the Largest Muslim
Population1. Indonesia 183,000,00
06. Iran 62,000,000
2. Pakistan 134,000,000
7. Egypt 59,000,000
3. India 121,000,000
8. Nigeria 53,000,000
4. Bangladesh
114,000,000
9. Algeria 31,000,000
5. Turkey 66,000,000 10. Morocco 29,000,000
* Arabs make up only 20% of the total Muslim population of the
world.
Muslims in AmericaMuslims in America
Muslim Culture in NYC
Muslim Culture in NYC
The Islamic Center, New York City