Introduction to Islam

Why Should We Know About It?fastest growing faith in the world---1.2 billion followers

third largest faith in the United States and growing...

U.S. government is spending millions to fight wars in Islamic countries

Time to end stereotypes and misconceptions!

Key TermsIslam = submission or devotion to God

Muslim = one who submits to God (Allah)

jihad

Quran

sunnah

ummah

caliph

imam

What do they believe?Five Pillars = basic guidelines for followers

1. Shahadah = Profession of faith

2. Salat = Ritual Worship

3. Zakat = alms

4. Sawm = Fasting

5. Hajj = Pilgrimage

Different Branches of IslamSunni

Shia, Shii, Shi’ite Shiite (Wahhabi)

Sufi (whirling dervishes)

What they do NOT support• random violence or terrorism

•fundamentalists• Wahhabi Islam----------->

Qu’ran clearly states violence must be proportional to the threat

http://z.about.com/d/atheism/1/0/x/e/MuhammadTeaching.jpg

• “the praised one”•brief bio

•preaches around 613 C.E.•initial reaction

• unintentional revolutionary

Who Started It?Muhammad

The Qu’ran, Quran or Koran

means “to recite”

114 chapters or suras which are divided into verses

in Arabic = language of God

contests

What do they bel ieve about the af ter l i fe?

God judges *individuals* from the Book of Deeds

Heaven: mansion w/garden, rivers, and beautiful ppl

Hell: endless pain, suffering and torment

Where did it start?

Story of Abraham and Sarah

Old Testament and Quran

Islam and Judaism are cousins

Muhammad was born in Mecca

Where is it practiced?

Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and the United States

***the ummah***

Where do they worship?the mosque: religious center, school and sometimes a court

no pictures, statues or images on the walls

inscriptions

niche

sinks

separation of genders

2,000+ mosques in the U.S.

Similarities to Christianitymonotheism

believe in Abraham,J.C.*, Mary, Moses and Adam

different branches

eternal Heaven and Hell

angels (2 per person!)

some Muslims support saints

judgement day

weekly holy day

“people of the book”

God’s #1 attention

extremists