SECTION 2: ORIGINS AND

BELIEFS

ORIGINS Muhammad, the Prophet Mecca and Medina on the Arabian

Peninsula

BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS Monotheism: Allah (Arabic word for God) Qur’an (Koran): The word of God Five Pillars of Islam Acceptance of Judeo-Christian prophets,

including Moses and Jesus Belief in good & evil Individuals responsible for actions in

their life

MECCA Western Arabia Site of religious pilgrimage

KA’ABA Ancient shrine Center of pilgrimage

RELIGIOUS TRADITION Allah – “god” in Arabic Belief in one god

MUHAMMAD Worked in caravans Became manager for Khadijah and

married her

REVELATION Age 40 Muslims believe that Angel Gabriel said

Muhammad was messenger of Allah

TEACHINGS People who follow Islam are called

Muslims Allah one and only god

FEARS Lead to neglect of Arab gods Mecca would lose trade

HIJRAH Migration of Muhammad from Mecca to

Medina (Yathrib) Muhammad left Mecca & settled in

Medina

LEADERSHIP Political & religious Formed single community and

converted many to Islam Led military

RETURN TO MECCA 630-Muhammad and followers marched

to Mecca Defeated Mecca in war Most Meccans converted to Islam Muhammad died two years later

THE FIVE PILLARSTo be a Muslim, all believers have to carry out five

duties

1. FAITH A declaration of faith that Muslims

recite:“There is no god but Allah & Muhammad is

the messenger of Allah”

2. PRAYER Five times daily Face towards Mecca to pray Mosque – Islamic house of worship

3. ALMS Money for the poor through religious

taxes Responsibility to support the less

fortunate

4. FASTING Ramadan – holy month of Islam Period where nothing is eaten between

sunrise & sunset

5. PILGRIMAGE Hajj Trip to Mecca at least once in life

WAY OF LIFE No pork or alcohol Friday day of worship Worship god directly (minister not

needed)Ulama – religious teachers applying Islam to

daily life

QUR’AN/KORAN Holy book of Islam Muhammad’s revelations collected and

written down Written in Arabic

SHARI'A Islamic law from the Qur'an Regulates all aspects of life Required tolerant treatment of Jews &

Christians

LINKS TO JUDAISM & CHRISTIANITY Abraham – first great prophet, trace

ancestry Moses and Jesus– viewed as prophets Muhammad – the final prophet

GEOGRAPHIC INFLUENCES Diffusion along trade routes from Mecca

and Medina Expansion despite great distances,

desert environments, and mountain barriers

Spread into the Fertile Crescent, Iran, and Central Asia facilitated by weak Byzantine and Persian empires

Write name of Pillar

why

CREATE A CHART On your own paper make a chart with

the headings Islam, Christianity, Judaism Compare the three religions using your

notes

Islam Christianity

Judaism

ON BACK1. Trace your hand.2. On the palm write Five Pillars of Islam3. On each finger write a Pillar