1. Society

2. Early gods Most Arab tribes were polytheistic before 600 A.D.
Polytheistic: believe in many gods
They used idols (small statues) to represent them.
Each tribe had their own gods.
Islam: Empire of Faith

3. Mecca and the (Ka’bah) Kaaba
Mecca was a small trading town built around the Kaaba
Tribes kept idols to their gods in the Kaaba

4. Muhammad He was a merchant.
He claims he received a message from the angel Gabriel explaining that there is only one god.
Islam: Empire of Faith

5. Muhammad’s Reaction
Muhammad doubts the angel’s command because he doesn’t know how to read!
»Gabriel tells him that if God can create the world he can help Muhammad read. 6

6. Qu’ran- believed by Muslim’s to be the written record of God’s words revealed to Muhammad.

7. The Qur’an (Koran) “The Word of Allah”
Islam: Empire of Faith
The Sunna “The Words and deeds of Muhammad” (includes the Five Pillars)

8. Five Pillars of Islam Set of 5 rules all Muslims must live by.
Given by Muhammad in the Sunna.

9. The Five Pillars Prayer: Pray 5 times a day
Fasting: Don’t eat or drink during Ramadan
Charity: Give 2.5% of your income to charity
Declaration: Daily statement about beliefs
Pilgrimage (the Hajj): Travel to Mecca

11. Christianity
Church
Bible
God
Savior? Jesus
Monotheistic
Food prep? No
Prayer? Yes
Moses, Abraham, Gabriel, Jesus
Islam
Mosque
Qu’ran
Allah
Savior? Muhammad
Monotheistic
Food prep? Yes
Prayer? Yes…5x a day
Moses, Abraham, Gabriel, Jesus, Muhammad
Judaism
Temple
Torah
Jehovah
Savior? Yes…not yet!
Monotheistic
Food prep: Yes
Prayer? Yes
Moses, Abraham, Gabriel

12. Shahada Salah Zakat Saum Hajj
Religion
The Qu’ran
Muhammad
Shahada
Salah
Zakat
Saum
Hajj

13. Language

14. Language Arabic has its own alphabet and is read from right to left.
It spread around the world as Arab merchants traded.
Spreading the language helped spread Islam.