Understanding Islam

What is Islam?

• “The religion of Islam is the acceptance of and obedience to the teachings of God which He revealed to His last prophet, Muhammad.”

• “Islam” and “Muslim” are derived from the Arabic word for “submission,” not the similar word for “peace.”

Some Basic Islamic Beliefs

• Belief in God

• Belief in the Angels

• Belief in God’s Revealed Books

• Belief in the Prophets & Messengers of God

• Belief in the Day of Judgment

• Belief in Divine Predestination

Belief in God

• “Muslims believe in one unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone.”

• Thus the deity of Jesus is rejected. Most Muslims believe the Christian Trinity consists of God, Mary & Jesus.

Belief in the Angels

• “Muslims believe in the existence of the angels, and that they are honored creatures. The angels worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command.

• “Among the angels is Gabriel, who brought down the Qur’an to Muhammad.”

Belief in God’sRevealed Books

• “Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them. Among these books is the Qur’an, which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. God has guaranteed the Qur’an’s protection from any corruption or distortion.”

• The Bible is viewed as revealed by God but subsequently corrupted.

Belief in the Prophets& Messengers of God

• “Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them).

• “But God’s final message, a reconfirmation of the eternal message, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad … the last prophet sent by God.”

Belief in the Day of Judgment

• “Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) when all people will be resurrected for God’s judgment according to their beliefs and deeds.”

• Muslims do not (in general) have assurance that their sins will be forgiven.

Belief inDivine Predestination

• “Muslims believe in Divine Predestination, but this belief … does not mean that human beings do not have freewill … This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they are responsible for their choices.”

Belief inDivine Predestination

• “The belief … includes … four things:– God knows everything.– God has recorded all that has happened and will

happen.– Whatever God wills to happen happens…– God is the Creator of everything.”

Abraham’s GenealogyAbraham’s Genealogy

ABRAHAMABRAHAM SARAHSARAHHAGARHAGAR

IsaacIsaac

EsauEsauJacobJacob

12 Tribes of Israel

12 Tribes of Israel

Ishmael

Ishmael

12 Arabian Tribes

12 Arabian Tribes

The Prophetic Tradition

The Prophetic TraditionAdam

Noah

Abraham

Moses

Jesus

Muhammad

The Origins of the Qur’an

The Origins of the Qur’an Muhammad received his first

revelation from the angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610.

622 Hijrah Muhammed flees Mecca for Medina. * The beginning of the Muslim calendar (1 A.H.)

Muhammad’s revelations were compiled into the Qur’an after his death.

The Qur’anThe Qur’an Muslims believe it contains the word of God.

114 suras (chapters).

In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful. Written in Arabic.

1. The Shahada1. The Shahada

11

The testimony.

The declaration of faith:There is no god worthy of There is no god worthy of worship except God, andworship except God, andMuhammad is HisMuhammad is HisMessenger [or Prophet].Messenger [or Prophet].

There is no god worthy of There is no god worthy of worship except God, andworship except God, andMuhammad is HisMuhammad is HisMessenger [or Prophet].Messenger [or Prophet].

2. The Salat2. The Salat

22

The mandatory prayers performed 5 times a day: * dawn * noon * late afternoon * sunset * before going to bed

Wash before praying.

Face Mecca and use a prayer rug.

2. The Salat2. The Salat

22

The call to prayer by the muezzin in the minaret.

Pray in the mosque on Friday.

3. The Zakat3. The Zakat

33

Almsgiving (charitable donations).

Muslims believe that all things belong to God.

Zakat means both “purification” and “growth.”

About 2.5% of your income.

4. The Sawm4. The Sawm

44

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

Considered a method of self- purification.

No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.

Eid MubarakEid Mubarak

End of the Ramadan holiday.

5. The Hajj5. The Hajj

55

The pilgrimage to Mecca.

Must be done at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime.

2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year.

5. The Hajj5. The Hajj

55

Those who complete the pilgrimage can add the title hajji to their name.

The Dar al-Islam

The Dar al-Islam

11 22 33 44 55

The WorldThe Worldof Islamof Islam

The WorldThe Worldof Islamof Islam

The MosqueThe Mosque The Muslim place of worship.

The Dome of the Rock Mosque in

Jerusalem

The Dome of the Rock Mosque in

Jerusalem

Mount Moriah Rockwhere Muhammad ascended into heaven.

Other Islamic Religious Practices

Other Islamic Religious Practices

Up to four wives allowed at once.

No alcohol or pork.

No gambling.

Sharia body of Islamic law to regulate daily living.

Three holiest cities in Islam: * Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.

Essential Question:Essential Question:

Why was Islam able to spread so quickly and

convert so many to the new religion?

The Spread of IslamThe Spread of Islam Easy to learn and practice.

No priesthood.

Teaches equality.

Non-Muslims, who were “Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes.

Easily “portable” nomads & trade routes.

Jihad (“Holy War”) against pagans and other non-believers (“infidels”).

Muslims in the WorldToday

Muslims in the WorldToday

Countries with the Largest Muslim

Population

Countries with the Largest Muslim

Population1. Indonesia 183,000,00

06. Iran 62,000,000

2. Pakistan 134,000,000

7. Egypt 59,000,000

3. India 121,000,000

8. Nigeria 53,000,000

4. Bangladesh

114,000,000

9. Algeria 31,000,000

5. Turkey 66,000,000 10. Morocco 29,000,000

* Arabs make up only 20% of the total Muslim population of the

world.

Muslims in AmericaMuslims in America

Muslim Culture in NYC

Muslim Culture in NYC

The Islamic Center, New York City