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Islam The second largestworld religion...and growing.
"Those who believe (in the Quran), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians...and (all) who believe in God and the last day and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." The Qur'an, 2:62
- Monotheistic religion • - Islam means: “Submission to Allah” • - Prophets: Abraham, Moses, Jesus • - Muhammad was the • “Seal of the Prophets”
Muhammad • Born 570 A.D. • Revelation from God (Allah) at age 40. • The angel Gabriel told Muhammad the words from Allah. • Muhammad then recited the Koran. • Died at age 62.
Koran/Qur’an • Word of Allah – foundation of Islamic life. • Believed to be perfect – not “corrupted” like the Torah or New Testament. • Cannot be translated from Arabic. • Celebrated during holy month of Ramadan.
Branches of Islam • After Muhammad died, a series of Caliphs governed the Islamic State. • 1st Caliph was Abu Bakr, his father-in law and friend. • 4th Caliph (656 C.E.) was Ali his son-in law who had married Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah. • Islam split after this: – Shiite- his relatives – Sunni- Elected Leaders
Islamic Golden Age • While Western Europe was experiencing the “Dark Ages,” Islamic culture prospered. • During this period, artists, engineers, scholars, poets, philosophers, geographers and traders in the Islamic world contributed to the arts, agriculture, economics, industry, law, literature, navigation, philosophy, sciences, sociology, and technology, both by preserving and building upon earlier traditions and by adding inventions and innovations of their own.
The Crusades • Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked Christian states of Europe (Pope Urban II) for help against Turks. • Europeans agreed and a series of Crusades began in 1096. • Crusaders put Muslims on defensive first • 1169, Saladin took control of Egypt and took offensive against Christians. • 1187, Saladin’s army destroyed the Christian forces in the kingdom of Jerusalem.
Mongols • Invasion of the Mongols in the 13th century introduced new cultures to Islam. • Mongol leaders began to convert to Islam and intermarried with local peoples. • In the 14th century, the Mongol empire split into separate kingdoms. • Islamic empire ended. • Because Mongols had destroyed Baghdad, Cairo became the center of Islamic civilization.
Middle Ages • In the 15th and 16th centuries three major Muslim empires were created: • The Ottoman Empire in much of the Middle East, the Balkans and Northern Africa; • The Safavid Empire in Greater Iran; • And the Mughul Empire in South Asia.
Five Pillars of Islam • 1st Pillar: Shahadah • Public Proclamation of Faith: “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God” • Its words are chanted daily in the Adhan, the call to prayer.
Five Pillars of Islam 2nd Pillar: Salah • Prayer: the set prayers Muslims must perform 5 times a day while facing the Ka’ba in Mecca – Dawn, mid-day, afternoon, at sunset, and in the evening • They repeat a set ritual of bowing, kneeling, and prostrating, accompanied by calls to god and recitations of parts of the Koran. • A prayer mat may be used to help a Muslim perform prayers in a clean space
Five Pillars of Islam 3rd Pillar: Zakah • Almsgiving- gifts to the poor or charitable causes • Often this accounts to 1/40th of your wealth
Five Pillars of Islam 4th Pillar: Sawm • Fasting: During the Daylight hours during the holy month of Ramadan. • Some believe it helps experience discipline and the deprivation of the poor. • Ramadan ends with “Id al-Fitr,” the festival of the breaking of the fast. A feast and festival when gifts are exchanged.
Five Pillars of Islam 5th Pillar: Hajj • Pilgrimage to Mecca in the 12th Islamic month • All healthy Muslims should try to do it once in their lifetime. • All men are dressed in white robe • There are many different ceremonies to perform during the Hajj.
• During the Hajj pilgrims will make 7 counter-clockwise circuits of the Ka’ba • Sacred black stone is built into the southeastern most corner of the shrine near the door. • Muslims believe the stone was given to Adam by the Angel Gabriel and then later Abraham put it into the rebuilt Ka’ba. Some believe it was originally pure white but has been turned black by humanities sins.
Ramadan • A religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar; the month in which the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. • It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims do not eat or drink anything from true dawn until sunset. • Fasting is meant to teach the person patience, sacrifice and humility. • Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.
Eidul-Fitr • Marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. • Is a three day celebration of festive meals and gift giving. • Muslims are commanded by the Qur'an to complete their fast on the last day of Ramadan and then recite the Takbir all throughout the period of Eid.
Eid al-Adha • Is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God. However, God provided a ram in place once Abraham demonstrated his willingness to follow God's commands. • The festivities last for three days after the pilgrims conducting the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.
Mawlid • The observance of the birthday of the prophet Muhammad which occurs in Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. • It is celebrated in a carnival manner, large street processions are held and homes or mosques are decorated. Charity and food is distributed, and stories about the life of Muhammad are narrated with recitation of poetry by children.
Isra and Mi'raj • Commemorating the two parts of a journey that Muhammad took in one night, around the year 621. • The event is celebrated each year via a festival for families, the Lailat al Miraj, one of the most important events in the Islamic calendar. • Muslims bring their children to the mosques, where the children are told the story, pray with the adults, and then afterwards food and treats are served.
This Quran guides to the best path, and brings good news to the believers who lead a righteous life, that they have deserved a great recompense. 17:9.
