Last Word: Chapter 26.1 Reading Guide due Wed.; QR reader

1. FrontPage: What comes to mind when you hear the word, “Islam”? Spice up Goodwill paintings by adding monsters Last Word: Chapter 26.1 Reading Guide due Wed.; QR reader

2. The Beliefs and Teachings of…

4. Historical Background to Islam • Pre-Islamic Arabia – • Home to nomadic herders, small towns (Mecca and Yathrib) • Each tribe had own god, worshipped at the Kaaba in Mecca • Mohammed born in Mecca around 570 CE (AD) • Became an orphan, raised by his uncle; married Khadija • Revelation of Mohammed in cave outside Mecca (around 610) • Begins preaching; few people listen at first; eventually more begin to follow and this angers local leaders • The “Hejira” • In 622 Forced to flee to Yathrib (Medina) • Year 1 of the Muslim calendar • Builds a following in Medina; returns to Mecca and conquers the city in 630 • At the time of his death in 632, Islam had become the dominant religion across the Arabian peninsula

5. Major Beliefs of Islam • The Basics • Holy Books • The “5 Pillars”

6. The Basics • Islam means “submission” or “surrender”, to God • Muslims believe in only one God; • Named “Allah” • “Same” God as the Christians and Jews • For this reason, Mohammed gave them a special, protected status • Called them “People of the Book” because of their similar beliefs • **But also believe in angels, demons, life after death

7. Muhammed • Considered a direct descendent of Abraham, original leader of the Hebrews • Muslims believe he received divine revelations for 23 years after 610CE • Muslims also believe he is the last prophet • Moses, Jesus, Abraham, others

8. Holy Books • The Koran (Quran, Q’ran) • The “holy book” of Islam • Contains the word of God as spoken through Mohammed • Contains 114 suras, or chapters • Most parts are commandments or warnings, with very few stories • Hadiths (a.k.a. “Sunna”) – collections of the sayings and actions of Mohammed • Used to bring clarification to certain ideas

10. 5 Pillars of Islam • Muslims are required to follow these 5 “pillars” (activities which are central to Islam) • Shahadah (“witnessing”) • Salat (“prayer”) • Zakat (“charity”) • Sawm (“fasting”) • Hajj (“pilgrimage”)

11. Shahadah (“witnessing”) • Muslims are required to recite the following: • "I bear witness that there is no God other than Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammed is His messenger." • (“Ashadu alla ilaha illa Allah, wa ashadu anna Muhammed ar-rasool Allah“.) **Most Muslims recite this daily; required simply to recite once in a lifetime

12. Salat (“prayer”) • 5 times a day, Muslims are required to face the Kaaba (Mecca) and pray •  Before sunrise (Fajr), after the noon hour (Zuhr), mid-afternoon (Asr),after sunset (Magrib) andnight (Isha) • Involves several steps/procedures • Wuudu – cleansing before the prayer • Reciting your intentions, bowing, standing

13. The Mosque • Islamic house of worship • No set design; must contain certain parts • Mihrab – indicates the direction of Mecca • Must have a roofed area in front of the mihrab • Usually have minarets • Towers where the muezzin call Muslims to pray The prayer call is named “athan” or “adhan”

17. Charity (“zakat”) • Also called “alms-giving” • Muslims are required to give 2.5% of their yearly savings • Muslims must have a certain amount to be able to give

18. Fasting (“sawm”) • During the lunar month of Ramadan • Believed to be the month when Gabriel appeared to Mohammed • Dawn to sunset fast for 29/30 days (no food or drink) • Required for all Muslims above the age of 13 (girls) and 14 (boys) • Exemptions for aged, sick and pregnant women

19. Fasting - Benefits • Piety: Help believers to become more holy and increases their faith. • Learn self-control: • Helpful to control bad habits like smoking, excessive eating • Experience/sympathize with the pain of poor starving people. • Feel the weakness of one’s body and the continuous need for God’s support.

20. Hajj (Pilgrimage) • Pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime for able Muslims • About 2-3 million Muslims perform Hajj each year from all over the world. • Perform acts related to historical events in the history of Islam • Limits have been placed on how many people can enter Saudi Arabia for the hajj

21. The Kabaa (“the cube”) • Most sacred site in all of Islam • Muslims must face it during prayer no matter where they are • Located inside of the most sacred mosque in all of Islam – Haram mosque • Built first by Abraham • Essentially a large stone building with a marble floor

22. Inside the Kabaa

23. TheHajj

24. Jihad - A Sixth Pillar of Islam? • Some Muslims consider jihad, (“struggle”) to be a sixth pillar of Islam • There are actually several different types of jihad • Personal – “inner struggle” to cleanse the spirit of sin • Verbal – to strive for justice with right speech and non-violent actions • Physical – use of force in defense of Islam **This last type of jihad has been the source of much controversy…

25. Review: • What happened after Mohammed built a following in Medina? • What is one basic belief of Islam? • What is the holy book in Islam called? • What are the 5 Pillars of Islam? • Which Muslim belief is considered by some to be a 6th pillar of Islam?