1. Islam Means submission to Allah Started in Saudi Arabia
Definition: the monotheistic religion of the Muslims

2. Islam Means: “peace through submission to the will of Allah”
Those who follow Islam are called Muslim – “one who submits”

3. People of the Arabian Peninsula
Nomads: no settled home
Knowledge of desert, good guides for traders
Mecca: Important trading center
Goods traded: perfume, spices, incense, cloth, elephant tusks and gold

4. Muhammad the Prophet
Allah spoke to him through an angel and Mohamed experienced a revelation.
Muhammed recited “inspired” words
Recognized Moses and Jesus as prophets
Muhammad is from Mecca. Traveled to Medina to speak of his message.

5. More on Muhammad
Followers to Medina: called hijra. The year is 622. This is the first year on the Muslim calendar.
Although Muhammad is the leader, he is NOT divine
Images of Muhammad are forbidden

6. The Quran Final revelations of Allah given to Muhammad
Muhammad’s revelations make up the Quran
contains ethical guidelines

7. Teachings of the Quran
Only one God, Allah, and Muhammad was his prophet
Allah is omnipotent
Those who followed Allah’s commands would be rewarded, those who did not punished

8. The Kaaba Abraham and Ishmael built Kaaba (house of worship)
cornerstone sacred- Black Stone
supreme god Allah along with the tribal gods

9. Muslims, Mosques, Minarets

10. View on Christianity View Christians and Jews as people of the book
Recognize prophets. See Jesus as prophet. Muhammad was last prophet

11. Important Facts Monotheistic
Don’t see Jesus as Savior, but as a prophet
Holy Book- Quran

12. Hilal e Ehmer

13. The five pillars of Islam
Follow the Five Pillars to Islam and you will go to heaven
Proclamation of Faith, Prayer, Fasting, Pilgrimage, Alms

14. 1. Proclamation of Faith
Must affirm faith in 1 god- Allah and Muhammad is his last prophet
last in long line of human prophets
not a new religion but revival of true word that God revealed to Abraham and others

15. 2. Prayer Pray 5 times a day at intervals from dawn to sunset
face Kaaba and bow in submission
Friday is day of communal worship
Gather at noon in mosques

16. 3. Fasting Fast from dawn to dusk during month of Ramadan
This is month that Muhammad received revelation
time of atonement and reminder

17. 4. Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)
Make pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime
Reminder to Muslims of their shared faith
keep pilgrimage route safe

18. 5. Alms Annual wealth tax that Muslims must pay
developed in practice to 2.5% of wealth and assets

19. Divisions based on succession
Muhammad never named a successor
There is a division of Muslims based on who should be Muhammad’s successor

20. Sunni Muslims Sunni: accept the best person
caliphs are mortals with no divine powers
No man should interpret God’s message
Most Muslims: 85%

21. Shia Muslims
Only accept descendents of Muhammad as true rulers of Islam
Divine inspiration passed down from caliph to caliph
Explain messages from God

22. Most Muslims in the Middle East are Sunni, Majority in Iran /Iraq are Shia
Spread of Islam beyond Middle East to Africa, Asia, Europe and US