IslamCan anyone tell me what this is?

Islam is the religion of people called Muslims.

Muslims believe in one God, whom they call Allah and he is eternal.

(monotheism)

Which other religions are monotheistic?

Muslims believe Prophets spread the word of Allah.

This picture is of Muslim Children

The last and most important prophet was a man called Muhammad.

Muslims believe that Muhammad received messages from Allah, given to him by an angel.

Muslims believe that these messages were the words of Allah and can never be changed.

They were collected together to form the Muslims’ holy book which is called the Qur’an or Koran.

This is the symbol most often used for Islam.

There are over 1.2 billion Muslims in the world today, living in almost every country in the world.In most of the countries in northern Africa and the Middle East, over half of the population are Muslims.

In Europe, Islam is the second largest religion after Christianity.

The Mosque

Muslims pray in a place called a Mosque.

Muslims take off their shoes before they enter the mosque.

Muslims then perform wudu, washing to make themselves clean for prayer.

In the entrance of the mosque there is a row of clocks to inform them of the prayer times for the day.

The main room of the mosque

• There is no furniture• Decorated in Arabic text.• Never any images of people or animals• Usually covered in carpet• May have a large single dome on the roof

or one or more smaller ones

This is called the Prayer Hall

Muslims pray in this room at prayer times

Muslims pray facing in the direction of Mecca

Muslims may use prayer mats

Muslims prayers involve standing, bowing and kneeling

The Mihrab

Alcove or arch set into the wall facing the direction of Mecca (qibla)

Prayer leader usually stands in front of the mihrab

The MinbarRaised platform next to the mihrab

The imam stands on it when he preaches

Some minbars are very decorated, others may just be simple stairs

It raises the imam so that everyone can hear him clearly

The Five Pillars of Islam

• Shahadah – there is no other God but Allah & Muhammad is his prophet

• Salah – to pray five times a day

• Hajj – to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca

• Sawm – to fast during Ramadan

• Zakah – to give money (alms) to the poor

Allah. – The Muslims God

Qur’an (Koran) - Muslim holy book

Mosque.- Place of worship

Wudu – the wash before prayer

Mihrab – Alcove or arch in prayer hall

Minbar – platform or stairs where the prayer leader preaches

qibla – direction of Mekkah

Mekkah – can be known as Mecca. A place in Saudi Arabia where Mohammed was born

Imam – Muslin leader or teacher

Useful words