1. Topic 8.1

2.  Bedouin - A desert-dwelling Arab nomad.  Muhammad - (c. 570-632) He introduced the religion of Islam to Southwestern Asia. According to Muslim belief, Muhammad heard the voice of the angel Gabriel instructing him to serve as a messenger for God. Muhammad spent the rest of his life spreading Islam; today, Muslims honor Muhammad as God’s final prophet.  Mecca - A city in western Saudi Arabia; birthplace of Muhammad and the most holy city for Islamic people.  Caravan - A group of people traveling together for mutual protection, often with pack animals (ex. camels).

3.  Kaaba – The most sacred temple of Islam, located at Mecca. When praying, Muslims are expected to face the Kaaba.  Yathrib – The final destination of Muhammad’s hijra and the home of the first community of Muslims; later renamed Medina; located in the northwest of present-day Saudi Arabia.  hijra – Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina in 622.  Medina – A city in western Saudi Arabia; a city where Muhammad preached. Kabba Medina (Medieval Drawing) hijra

4.  Muhammad had been a merchant, and after he had his vision, he dedicated his life to God and encouraged others to do so.  Muhammad was described as an honest businessman and a devoted husband and father. He was troubled by the moral ills of society in Mecca, particularly greed.  He often meditated in nearby caves, but one day he heard the voice of the angel Gabriel.  Gabriel’s message was telling Muhammad he was the messenger of God (prophet). This idea terrified Muhammad, but his wife (Khadija) encouraged and supported him.  Muhammad devoted the rest of his life to spreading Islam and urged Arabs to worship God (Allah in Arabic) instead of pagan gods.

5.  Mecca is Muhammad’s birthplace. It is where he destroyed the Kaaba (where Meccans used to worship idols).  Medina is where he fled after bring driven out of Mecca and where he created the rules of Islam.  Only a few people followed Muhammad’s teachings. His belief in only one God angered merchants, who feared the gods would disrupt business and trade.  Muhammad and his followers left Mecca on a journey (hijra) for Yathrib (Medina), the “city of the Prophet.”  After battling with Meccans, Muhammad would return in 630 to destroy the Arab icons in the Kabba and rededicate it to Allah. This made the Kabba to most holy place for Muslims. Mecca Medina

6.  First, Muhammad meditated about problems in Meccan society.  He heard the angel Gabriel asking him to serve as a messenger to God.  Then he embarked on the hijra from Mecca to Yathreb, or Medina.  People followed Muhammad’s teachings in Medina and became a loyal community (umma). Muhammad created rules to govern, unite, and bring peace to Muslims.  Tension between Muslims in Medina and people in Mecca grew. Meccans seized Muslim property, then Muslims attacked Meccan caravans. Meccans prepared for war.  Muhammad spent the rest of his life spreading the word of Islam.

7.  Quran - The holy book of Islam.  mosque - A Muslim house of worship.  hajj - One of the Five Pillars of Islam; the pilgrimage that all Muslims are expected to make at least once in their lifetime. Ancient Quran mosque

8. 5 – I’ve got this! 4 – Pretty well, I’m feeling confident. 3 – Alright, so so. 2 – Okay…I’m not totally sure. 1 – I’m still happy, but feeling confused.

10. Pillar of IslamWhy this is important to Muslims? 1. Declaration of Faith (Shahada) Identifies a person as a Muslim; God is declared “one true God,” as opposed to many gods; Muhammad is declared as Prophet. 2. Daily Prayer (Salah) Daily contact with God through prayer; being washed and “pure” when praying to God. 3. Charity (Zakat) Caring for those less fortunate through charity, another way of being submissive (complying, accepting) to God. 4. Fast During Ramadan (Sawm) Fasts also show submission to God; not eating is a way to show you are Godly. 5. Pilgrimage (Hajj) Simple garments do away with class distinctions; it’s long and can be difficult; a way of proving you are Godly.

12.  Muslims believe that the individual duties of the Five Pillars are the most important requirements for practicing the Islamic faith.  Observant Muslims perform five individual duties known as the Five Pillars of Islam. These are based on Muhammad’s example.  Declaration of Faith  Daily Prayer  Charity  Fast during Ramadan  Hajj  By performing these duties, Muslims express their devotion and connect with others in a strong community of faith.

13.  Many Muslims learn Arabic so that they can read the Quran in its original language.  The Quran contains the sacred word of God, as it was explained to Muhammad (God’s Prophet).  This means the Quran is the final authority on all of the topics outlined in the text.  For Muslims, the Quran teaches what believe to be God’s will and provides a guide to life.  According to Muslim belief, Muslims, Christians, and Jews worship the same God; however, the Quran teaches that Islam is God’s final and complete revelation.  Christian and Jewish holy books are believed to contain earlier revelations.

14.  Sharia - The body of Islamic law that includes interpretation of the Quran and applies Islamic principals to everyday life.  The Quran is the final word on all matters and explains proper behavior. Sharia applies the teachings of the Quran to daily life and regulates Muslim society.  The Sharia regulates moral conduct, family life, business practices, government, and all other aspects of individual and community life.  Applies religious principals to all legal situations.

15.  Islam extended various rights and protections to include women. Before, women’s positions in Arab society varied.  The Quran explains that both women and men are spiritually equal. Also,…  It outlawed the killing of daughters  Encouraged women’s education  Allowed women to reject marriage offers  The Quran explains that women should dress modestly; however, the practice of veiling upper-class women is an adopted Persian custom.  Women's dress varied from region and class status.

16.  The Quran provides Muslims a guide to good ethical and moral standards. Since these qualities applied to all, the poor, enslaved, and isolated were included in ways they were not before.  Some of the qualities outlined and practiced by Muslims included:  Equality of all believers  Importance of charity  Being able to communicate directly with God

17.  The Quran is the sacred text, or holy book, of Islam.  The writings in the Quran are believed to be the word of God, directly.  Sharia is a body of law that provides the legal understanding of the Quran.