The Religion of Islam

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Symbol of Islam

• The crescent moon is a common symbol of Islam. Muslims believe that when Muhammad received his first revelation, the moon was in its last stage, appearing as a waning crescent.

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IslamChristianityJudaism

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Followers

• Islam– True Meaning: Means submission to the will of

God

• Followers are called Muslims.– True meaning: Person who submits.

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Religious Figures

• Muhammad is the key figure.

• Abraham, Jesus, and Moses were prophets (messengers of God’s word).

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Holy Book

• Holy Book is called the Koran- Qur'an

– Contains revelations God made to Muhammad.

– The Koran contains both Old and New Testaments

– Written in Arabic, the sacred language.

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Beliefs

• Belief in one god, God of Abraham.• Arabic is the Sacred language• Men can have up to four wives. • Do not drink alcohol or eat pork• Main goal is to live a good moral life.

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Role of Women• The role of women varies depending on the country.• Israel, Egypt, and Jordan: women are well educated and

hold positions in business, politics, and military.• Other countries have extreme restrictions for women

including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Afghanistan• In Saudi Arabia, women have fewer rights than men

• Can’t drive• Four wives• Can’t attend events with men• Male family members must escort in public • Can’t work outside the home• Women must wear chadors• Clothing requirements are LAW.

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Worship Services

• Place of worship is a mosque

• Services are held on Fridays and lead by an imam

• Imams are selected according to good character and religious knowledge

• The most important worship service is held Friday at noon

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Practices and RitualsThe Five Pillars of Faith:

•The declaration of Faith:– The statement of faith must be declared publicly

“ That Allah is one and Muhammad is his Messenger”

•Pray five times per day, always facing Mecca

– One at sunrise, Noon, 3 pm, sunset, 9 pm

•Giving of alms, or charity.– 2.5% of wealth

Click to hear the call to prayer

Practices and Rituals continued

The Five Pillars continued:•Fast during the holy month of Ramadan

You are not allowed to eat anything from sunrise to sunsetEnds with Eid-al-Fitr– or Festival of Fast-BreakingOnce in a life time, any Muslim who can afford the journey is expected to make pilgrimages

•Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca

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Holy Cities

• Mecca: the birthplace of Muhammad

• Jerusalem: Dome of the Rock

• Medina: Burial place of Muhammad

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After Death

• Goal is to live with God’s guidance which will be rewarded with salvation.

• The opposite is damnation, or eternal

suffering in hell.

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Number of Members today

• 1.3 billion people out of the world population of 6.1 billion practice the religion of Islam.

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The Spread of Islam

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Caliph

• The caliphate empire created a vast trading system.

• Islam was spread through books that were exchanged along trade routes during the caliph empire.

• The caliphs conquered Spain and spread Islam throughout.

The Ottoman Empire

• The Ottoman empire was a large Muslim army that conquered many areas and spread Islam. They controlled what is now Turkey and parts of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southeast Europe.

• Rulers of the Ottoman Empire were called sultans, which is a term for Muslim leaders.

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Sects

• Sunni- majority

• Shi’ite- minority

• These two groups share most beliefs, but differ over the issue of leadership.

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