Islam

Life of Muhammad The founder of Islam was a man named Muhammad Muhammad was born in a town called Mecca in A.D. 570 Muhammad worked for a tribe called the Bedouins. He worked as a shepherd who led caravans of people and animals across across the desert.

Life of Muhammad Muhammad was a successful merchant as he brought caravans across the desert Muhammad did not like the greediness of people in his city of Mecca One day, in his escape from the city to meditate, Muhammad was spoken to by the angel Gabriel who asked him to be a messenger for God He dedicated his life to worshipping and spreading the word of God, known as Allah

Spread of Islam Muhammad began teaching the word of God around Mecca and asked people to give up their polytheism, or many Gods to worship Allah Muhammad was threatened by merchants in Mecca that he would be killed if he continued to spread this message Muhammad and his followers left Mecca for the city of Yathrib The journey out of Mecca to Yathrib is known as the hijra The city of Yathrib is now known as Medina which means the “city of the Prophet”

Return to Mecca Muhammad gained many followers in Medina and eventually went to war with Mecca Muhammad returned to Mecca in 630 AD Muhammad rededicated the Kaaba or temple in Mecca to worship Allah Muhammad died in 632 AD while trying to unite the Arab peninsula under Islam

Islam & the Qu’ran Islam is another monotheistic religion like Judasim and Christianity Islam also believes in prophets like Abraham, Moses and Jesus, but believes Muhammad to be the last and greatest prophet The most sacred text of Islam is the Qu’ran which contains the words said to Muhammad by God Beliefs outlined in the Qu’ran are honesty, generosity and justice The Qu’ran also states that God is all powerful and compassionate The Qu’ran is written in the original texts so almost all Muslims learn Arabic

5 Pillars of Islam 1) Declare your faith in Allah and Islam 2) Pray five times daily while facing the city of Mecca. Many Muslims pray in their place of worship known as the mosque 3) Give charity to the poor

5 Pillars of Islam 4) Fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan Ramadan is when Muhammad first heard the word from God In 2013, Ramadan took place in July/August 5) Make a hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. People must go to Mecca, if possible financially, at least one time in their life

Jihad Jihad is a word for struggle in God’s service. Many Muslims treat this as a personal duty to overcome immorality in their own life Other, more extreme Muslims, take this to mean a Holy War to defend Islam