JERUSALEM

MEDINA

MECCA

1. Declaration of Faith-Muslims must state that “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his prophet.”

2. Daily Prayer-Muslims must pray five times a day facing the Kaaba, in Mecca.

3. Charity-Muslims are supposed to help others and donate part of their income (alms) to charity.

4. Fasting-Muslims must fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan which celebrates the revelation of the Qur’an to Muhammad.

5. Pilgrimage/ “Hajj”-Once in a lifetime, if they are physically and financially able, Muslims are to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Once they’ve done this, they receive the honorific title of “Haji” (said “ha-jee”).

MORE FACTS ABOUT ISLAM:1-The holy cities of Islam are MECCA, MEDINA, and JERUSALEM.

Jerusalem has DOME of the ROCK (where Muhammad ascended to heaven). It is on the original site of the Jewish Temple of Solomon.

2-The holy day for Muslims is FRIDAY.

3- Muslims worship in MOSQUES (Muslim houses of worship). Mosques are unfurnished, and only have rugs to kneel on during prayer. They are decorated only with floral and geometric (“arabesque”) patterns in mosaics. They never use images of people or animals, as they consider these to be “graven images” forbidden by the 2nd Commandment.

4- Muslims face the direction of Mecca when praying.

5- Islam has no priests, only IMAMS (“im-amz”), men trained in the Qur’an and Islamic law, who lead worship.

6- Muslims called to prayer by a MUEZZIN (“Mweh-zin”), who calls from tall towers (MINARETS) of the mosque. Loud speakers can be used, but can only project a human voice.

PARKER

Dome of the Rock

KAABA