ISLAM

ISLAM FACTS

• 1.6 billion adherents

• 2nd largest

• Fastest growing

• Monotheistic

• God is called Allah—99 beautiful names for Allah like The Mighty, The Strong, The Merciful, The Everlasting, The Beginning, The Last, the Avenger of Evil, and The Bringer of Peace

MISBAH

MUHAMMAD FOUNDED ISLAM.

• In 622 CE/AD

• In Saudi Arabia

• Islam means “surrender” or “submission”

• Adherents called Muslims

• Worldwide community called Umma

• Indonesia, North Africa, India, SE Asia and USA

MOSQUE: PAHANG, MALAYSIA

MOSQUES:GERMANY AND BAGHDAD

MUEZZIN OR “CRIER”

PRAY 5X DAILY FACING MECCA

IMAM LEADS JUMA, FRIDAY NOON PRAYER

FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAM

•Muhammad

(PBUH)

QUR’AN• “recitation” or “reading”

• Written in Arabic—right to left, back to front, like Hebrew

• 114 Suras/chapters

• It is the sacred presence in the world…like Jesus for Christians.

• Direct words of Allah through a series of revelations spanning 22 years

• Revered as a miracle because Muhammad was illiterate.

HADITH

•A collection of teachings thought to derive from the prophet and his companions

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD

• Born 570 CE

• In Mecca, Saudi Arabia

• Orphaned

• Married Khadija—1st convert to Islam

• 6 children

• Religious man, often praying and meditating alone on Mt. Hira

MUHAMMAD AS PROPHET

• Angel Gabriel commanded, “Recite!”

• Huh?? What shall I recite?

• 610 CE: Night of Power and Excellence

• 22 years—series of revelations from God/Allah

• Not well received in polytheistic Arabia

• Taught the “Oneness” of God—pure monotheism

• Stressed social and economic justice

• 622 emigrated to Yathrib (Medina)--Hijra

SEAL (LAST) OF THE PROPHETS

•Sunna: the practical example of Muhammad through his actions and teachings

•Muslims look to the Qur’an/Hadith and the Sunna or “custom” of the prophet.

CALLIGRAPHY IN ISLAMIC ART

OTHER PROPHETS IN ISLAM

Abraham Father of the Arab people as well as the

Israelites

Son Ishmael moved to Mecca with his

mother Hagar

Moses Judaism’s greatest

prophet

Ten commandments from Mt. Sinai

Jesus Christ Delivered the Golden

Rule

Will usher in the Day of Judgment at the end of the world.

ISLAMIC BELIEFS ON HUMAN NATURE/DESTINY

• No original sin

• Forgetfulness was key to the Fall in the Garden of Eden.

• Day of Judgment—heaven or hell awaits us all.

• Preceded by coming of Mahdi—savior figure/Messiah

• Then Jesus Christ will return to Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem for the Day of Judgment.

SHARI’A LAW:BASED ON QUR’AN AND HADITH

5 PILLARS OF ISLAM

1ST PILLAR: SHAHADA

“There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”

2ND PILLAR--SALAT

3RD PILLAR--SAWM

• “fasting” during daylight hours…sun up to sun down during 9th month of the year

• Ramadan (“parched”)

• Reminds Muslims of the suffering of the poor

•Give up bad habits (Lent)

4TH PILLAR--ZAKAT

5TH PILLAR--HAJJ

BRANCHES OF ISLAM:SUNNI AND SHI’A

HALAL

EID AL FITRFESTIVAL OF THE BREAKING OF THE FAST

DAY OF ARAFAT

MUHARRAM: ISLAMIC NEW YEAR

AKIKAH CEREMONY

HIJAB

NIQAB

BURQA

KUFI

THOBE GHUTRA

ALLAHU AKBAR!

“God is great!”

AS-SALAMU ALAYKUM!

“Peace be upon you!”

WA ALAYKUMU SALAM!

“And peace to you!”