Teachings of Islam

The Prophet Muhammad

Muhammad was born in Mecca in about 570

When he was 40 years old he received a message from the angel Gabriel that he was to be a prophet of God

Muhammad: Birth of Islam

The Hejira

The migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina became known as hejira.

It was a turning point in Islam It marked the beginning of the expansion of Islam The year of hejira was chosen as the first year in

the Muslim calendar By Muhammad’s death in 632 he had carried

Islam across the Arabian Peninsula and controlled most of the region.

The basic message of Islam is summed up in

the following expression “No god but Allah: Muhammad is the prophet of

Allah.”’ The word Islam means “submission.” A Muslim is someone who submits to God

Teachings of Islam

The Koran

The Koran is the sacred book of Islam

Muslims believe it contains the exact word of God as revealed to Muhammad

It is the authority on all subjects, including religion, politics, law, economic and social life

Koran Video

In submitting to God, Muslims accept five

duties, known as the Five Pillars First Pillar

Muslims proclaim the belief in one God They accept that God revealed his message to

Muhammad Muhammad is the most important prophet, but

they do not worship him as a God

Five Pillars

Five Pillars

Second Pillar Five times a day, Muslims face the

holy city of Mecca and pray Third Pillar

Charity to the poor and the aged Fourth Pillar

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar

Muslims cannot drink or eat from dawn to sunset

Fifth Pillar Pilgrimage to Mecca, known as hajj

Five Pillars Video

Muslims believe that Allah is the same God of

the Christians and Jews Muslims also believe in a final day of judgment

for sinners and the faithful Muhammad called the Jews and Christians

“people of the book,” because they followed God’s teachings in the Bible They had special status as protected people

and were to be treated with tolerance

Similarities with Judaism and Christianity