Islam

The original language of Islam is Arabic. Because Arabic uses a different alphabet than English, you will sometimes see words spelled differently.

Basic Facts

• Almost 25% of the world's population (1.2 billion) follows Islam.
• People who follow Islam are called Muslims.
• Islam means "submission" 
• Muslim means "one who submits"
• Islam started in Saudi Arabia and spread around the world

Basic Facts

• Muslims can be any race, nationality, or ethnicity.
• Some people are raised Muslim and others convert.
• Islam is a cousin of Christianity and Judaism.
• Islam was founded in the 6th century 
• The founder of Islam was the Prophet Mohammad

The majority of Muslims are not terrorists.

Untitled Slide

Saying "all Muslims are terrorists" because some attacked the World Trade Center is like saying "all Christians are terrorists" because some blow up abortion clinics.

Muslim Beliefs

• Muslims believe in God. 
• They use the word "Allah," which is Arabic for God.
• They believe Mohammad was God's final prophet. 
• Other prophets include Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.
• God revealed the Muslim holy book, the Koran

Muslim Beliefs

• The Angel Gabriel gave Mohammad the Koran
• Muslims also use the hadiths (sayings of Mohammad)
• Muslims do not believe in the Holy Trinity
• Muslims do not believe Jesus is the Son of God
• Muslims do not have priests- they have Imams

Articles of Muslim Faith

• Belief in one God & His supremacy
• Belief in the angels of God
• Belief in the Koran as God's word
• Belief in God's prophets, especially Mohammad
• Belief in Day of Judgement & afterlife

The Five Pillars

• Confession of faith
• Prayer 5 times a day 
• Paying alms to the poor
• Pilgrimage to the holy city, Mecca
• Fasting during Ramadan

The First Pillar

• Confession of faith
• "Shahada" in Arabic
• "There is no God but God and Mohammad is his prophet"
• Said in front of respectable Muslim witnesses
• Often said a a mosque- place of worship

The Second Pillar

• Prayer 5 times a day
• "Salat" in Arabic
• Must ritually wash first (wudu)
• Done facing Mecca
• There are apps to help with salat

The third Pillar

• Giving alms to the poor
• "Zakat" in Arabic
• Required of all who are not poor
• Must give 2.5% of the worth of all they own
• Alms go to widows & orphans in particular

The Fourth Pillar

• Pilgrimage to Mecca
• "Hajj" in Arabic
• Required of Muslims once in their life 
• The poor and sick do not have to go
• Those who go are highly respected

The Fifth Pillar

• Fasting during the month of Ramadan
• "Sawm" in Arabic
• Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset
• Ramadan is at a different time every year.
• Ramadan ends with Eid Al-Fitr

Symbols of islam

• Star and crescent moon
• The color green
• Name of Allah in Arabic

Major types of Islam

• Sunni- largest (90%)
• Found around the world
• Shia- smaller (10%)
• Found mainly in Iran, Iraq, and Yemen
• Sufi- a mystical spiritual form of Islam, can be Sunni or Shia

What do Muslims wear?

• Muslim men & women both should dress modestly
• Clothes should loose and cover the body
• Some Muslim women cover their hair- hijab
• They even make swimsuits for Muslims!
• We should respect people no matter how they dress

Muslims and Pictures

• "Thou shalt not make graven images"
• Some believe this means no pictures of any people or animals
• Others say animals yes, people no.
• Others say images of people are OK sometimes
• Others say pictures of anything are OK as long as they are not worshipped