1. Islam ©CSCOPE 2009

2. Who is a Muslim? A person who believes in and consciously follows Islam is called a Muslim. So, the religion is called "Islam," and a person who believes in and follows it is a "Muslim." Muslims worship Allah and recognize Muhammad as the last prophet.

3. ©CSCOPE 2009 How Many and Where?: Islam is a major world religion, with over 1 billion followers worldwide (1/5 of the world population). It is considered one of the Abrahamic, monotheistic faiths, along with Judaism and Christianity.

4. ©CSCOPE 2009 Although usually associated with the Arabs of the Middle East, less than 10% of Muslims are in fact Arab. Muslims are found all over the world, of every nation, color and race.

5. ©CSCOPE 2009 Who is Allah?: Allah is the proper name for Almighty God, and is often translated merely as "God." Allah has other names that are used to describe His characteristics: the Creator, the Sustainer, the Merciful, the Compassionate, etc. Muslims believe that since Allah alone is the Creator, it is He alone that deserves our devout love and worship. Monotheistic deity, also recognized as the God of Abraham. (Yahweh)

6. ©CSCOPE 2009 How strict is the religion? Islam holds to a strict monotheism. Any worship and prayers directed at saints, prophets, other human beings or nature is considered idolatry.

7. ©CSCOPE 2009 As part of the Islam religion, all true Muslims must perform 5 duties, called the Five Pillars of Faith.

8. ©CSCOPE 2009 The Five Pillars of Faith 1.Belief in Allah and in Muhammad as his prophet. “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”

9. 2.Prayer five times a day facing Mecca; Public prayer on Friday at the midday worship.

10. 3.Observation of the holy month of Ramadan, including fasting from dawn to sunset.

11. ©CSCOPE 2009 4.The giving of alms or charity to the needy or to your mosque. 5.Making the pilgrimage to Mecca in one’s lifetime, known as the Hajj.

12. ©CSCOPE 2009 Muhammad –Born in 570 (?) and is considered the founder of Islam. –Was becoming disillusioned with the corruption in the city and the growing gap between the urban dwellers and the Bedouins (nomadic herders)

13. ©CSCOPE 2009 –While meditating in the hills, the Angel Gabriel visited him and revealed to him that he was the next and final prophet. –Recited the revelations (later written down as the Qur’an)

14. ©CSCOPE 2009 –He began to preach but attracted few followers; many enemies feared he would upset the political and social order. –So in 622, Muhammad and his followers fled to Medina. (the Hegira)

15. ©CSCOPE 2009 Islamic Beliefs

16. ©CSCOPE 2009 –No separation between Church and State. –Belief that salvation and the afterlife will be obtained by submitting to the will of Allah.

17. ©CSCOPE 2009 –Qur’an (Koran): ethics and laws of the Islamic community Written in Arabic and cannot officially be translated to another language. To study the Qur’an you must learn Arabic. Book of the writings of the prophet Muhammad

18. ©CSCOPE 2009 Growth of Islam –Medina supported Muhammad and he attracted the support of the Bedouins. –In 630, Muhammad returned to Mecca (the Holy City of the Islamic Faith) with a force of 10,000 soldiers and quickly took the city. –As Islam began to spread through the Arabian Peninsula, Muhammad died in 632.

19. ©CSCOPE 2009 Why did Islam spread? Easy to learn and practice No priesthood Non-Muslims in conqueror territory are allowed religious freedom (for an additional tax) Spread through trade route Jihad (Holy Struggle): “Holy War” against infidels and it is the expansion of the Islamic state and control.