3 major religions in the middle east are: ChristianityIslamJudaism

Are these religions related to one another? Why or why not?

Judaism2000 BCE-covenant between God and

Abraham41% of Jewish people live in Israel. Jerusalem

is considered the holy city.13 Principles of faith:

God existsPrayer is to be directed to God and to no otherMoses was the greatest of the prophetsThe Messiah will comeThe dead will be resurrected

ChristianityBased on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth About 2.1 billion Christians worldwideMoral law summarized by the 10

Commandments:You shall have no other GodsHonor your father and motherYou shall not stealYou shall not kill

IslamBelieve Allah (God) sent his revelation, the

Quran, to Muhammad in the 7th century CE.The Quran contains verses in Arabic that tell

Muslims to worship one god and explains how they should treat others properly.

Also use the Hadith, which describes Muhammad’s life as an example of proper behavior for a Muslim and how certain rituals should be preformed.

Over 1 billion worldwide

5 Pillars of IslamOrally declaring their faith (shahadah)Praying 5 times a day (salat)Fasting during the daylights hours of Ramadan

(sawm)Giving a share of their income for charity

(zakat)Making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in

their lifetime if they can afford it (hajj)Also believe in not eating pork, drinking alcohol,

and how animals should be slaughtered for food.

Famous Muslim WomenKhadijah-first wife of Muhammad Aishah-second wife of MuhammadFatimah bint Muhammad-daughter of

Muhammad

Islam2 different branches of Islam exists: Sunni

and Shiite Sunni: Allah has a body but is not exactly

human and he can be seenShiites: Allah does not have a body and will

never be seen, put their head on a piece of hard clay when they pray, combine prayers so they may pray only 3 times a day.

Whirling DervishesThe whirling is an act of love and drama of

faith.The seekers turning toward God and truth

(revolving)Hat represents a tombstone and wide white

skirt representing the death shroud.Qur'an Sura Bakara , verse 115: “Unto God

belong the East and the West, and wherever you turn, there is God’s countenance. He is all-embracing, all knowing”

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