The Kite RunnerBackground Information:

Geography, Ethnicity, Religion

Afghanistan: Where is it?

Basic Afghanistan Timeline

• 300s Afghanistan is a trading center along the Silk Roads that connect China in the East with the Mediterranean in the West

• 500s The giant Bamiyan Buddha statues were built, later to be destroyed by the Taliban

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6Uv5LJ0Gb4

• 700s Afghanistan is conquered by Muslims from Arabia

• 1300s Afghanistan is conquered and made a part of Genghis Khan’s Mongol Empire

• 1700s Afghanistan begins to form as an independent nation, after freeing itself from rule by Persia

• 1800s Afghans win several wars against Russians and British trying to imperialize the area

• 1960s Afghanistan influenced by USSR during the Cold War Communists overthrow the King

• 1979 Soviet Union invades to keep Communists in power

• 1980s Mujahedeen (Islamic militants) fight off Soviet power with the help of the USA

• 1990s Taliban (extreme Islamic militants) take over Afghanistan’s government and horribly oppress the people

• 2001 USA invades to kick out the Taliban – we feared they were helping Bin Laden to hide

• …instability still exists today

The Five Pillars of The Five Pillars of IslamIslam

1. The Shahada1. The Shahada

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The declaration of faith:

There is no god except God, There is no god except God, and Muhammad is Hisand Muhammad is HisMessenger.Messenger.

There is no god except God, There is no god except God, and Muhammad is Hisand Muhammad is HisMessenger.Messenger.

2. The Salat2. The Salat

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Prayers performed 5 times a day: * dawn * noon * late afternoon * sunset * before going to bed

Wash before praying.

Face Mecca and use a prayer rug.

2. The Salat (continued)2. The Salat (continued)

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The call to prayer by the muezzin in the minaret.

Pray in the mosque on Friday.

3. The Zakat3. The Zakat

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Almsgiving (charitable donations).

About 2.5% of your wealth.

4. The Sawm4. The Sawm

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Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.

5. The Hajj5. The Hajj

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The pilgrimage to Mecca.

Must be done at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime.

2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year.

Pil

Pilgrims On The Road toAnd Camped

Outside of Mecca