Transcript File

Title slide graphics source: http://innovationcharter.pbworks.com/f/islam.jpg
Islam = the religion
Muslim = the person who
follows that religion
The star and
crescent moon (or
just the crescent)
is the most
common symbol
of Islam.
an OKC mosque
The Arabic
word “Islam”
translates two
ways:
"surrender"
and
"peace” –
surrender to the will of God and the
peace that comes with that surrender.
Islam was started
by Muhammad.
He was born in
570 A.D. in
Mecca (Saudi
Arabia).
Mecca is also written
Makkah.
For Muslims, Muhammad is NOT a
God, or God’s son. He is viewed
as the greatest prophet of God.
After Islam was about 800 years old, it
became accepted that no one should
make statues, paintings, or any other
images of Muhammad – or of any other
Muslim religious leaders.
Leaders of Islam came to this agreement
because they didn’t want Muslims to
worship Muhammad instead of
worshipping God.
Why don’t I
show a picture
of Muhammad
here?
The Qur’an (also written “Koran”) is the
holy book of Islam.
According to
Muslim belief, the
Qur’an is the word
of God and was
revealed to
Muhammad by
the angel Gabriel.
Is anything about this
Qur’an cover
surprising to you?
All Muslims are required to read the
Qur’an, and it must be read in its
original language – Arabic.
But obviously, not all Muslims grow up
speaking Arabic. So how are they
supposed to read the Qur’an in Arabic?
Many Qur’ans are bilingual – two languages.
But even then, the
Qur’an never
translates God’s
name out of Arabic.
It stays “Allah” in
any language of the
Qur’an. (Muslims,
however, often
translate it in regular
conversation.)
Many stories from the Old and New
Testaments are included in the
Qur’an.
Moses and Jesus are both accepted
as Muslim prophets.
PBUH = “Peace be upon him” is typically
added after a major prophet’s name.
However,
Muslims do
not believe
that Jesus
was God.
They also do not believe that the
Romans were allowed to kill Jesus.
They believe that God saved Jesus
from death and took him to heaven
before he died on the cross.
The 'Five Pillars' of Islam
The declaration of faith:
"There is no god but the one
God, and Muhammad is his
messenger.”
“Allah” is the Arabic word for “God.”
Prayer:
Pray at five specific times
each day.
1 - before sunrise
2 - mid-day
3 - late afternoon
4 - sunset
5 - bedtime
BUT – there are two
branches of Islam:
Sunni
(majority)
and
Shiite.
Shiites pray 3 times a day instead of 5.
They combine some prayer times:
1 - before sunrise
2 - mid-day/late afternoon
3 - sunset/bedtime
Many Iranians have
stayed in the United
States since the
1979 Iranian
Revolution. So if
you know a Muslim
from Iran, you
probably know a
Shiite Muslim.
But all Muslims – Sunni
and Shiite – face Mecca
(Makkah) when they pray.
Background note:
Why two branches of Islam?
Shiite Muslims believe that
after the Prophet Muhammad's
death, leadership should have
passed directly to a blood
relative, to his son-in-law.
Sunni Muslims believed the new leader
should be elected – chosen from the
best leaders.
This all came up after Muhammad’s
death in 632 C.E. (A.D.).
Sunni and Shiite Muslims have been
the two branches ever since.
Now, back to the Pillars…
Compassion: Give to
help the needy.
Islam teaches that everything
we have comes from God.
Every year, Muslims are to
give 2.5% of their total wealth
to help those in need.
That money is to be used for causes
such as helping the poor (with food, clothing,
medical care), freeing people held in
slavery (remember, the Qur’an was written about
1400 years ago), and helping travelers who
need help to return home.
(Qur’an 9:60)
Fasting:
Do not eat or drink from
sunrise to sunset during
the holy month of
Ramadan.
Ramadan evening meal, Iraq
Ramadan commemorates the giving
of the Qur'an (Koran) to Muhammad
by the angel Gabriel.
A meal is eaten before sunrise and
another meal is eaten after sundown.
How this looks depends very
much on the family and the
culture where that family lives.
In countries
where there
are mainly
Muslims, life
is adjusted for
Ramadan’s
schedule.
BUT
How could Ramadan get a bit complicated
for Muslims who live in countries where
there are not many Muslims?
Why make
fasting so
important?
- as a reminder to focus on things
that are important for your spirit
instead of just things that are
important to your body
- as a reminder that some people
go without much of the time –
simply because they are poor – and
that we should help them out
- to practice self-control
So, the first 4 pillars are:
1. Believe in one
God and that
Muhammad is his
prophet.
2. Pray at
specific times
each day.
3. Give to help
people in need.
4. Fast during
Ramadan
The final pillar is
The Hajj:
If at all possible, make the
pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah
(Mecca), Saudi Arabia, at
least once during your
lifetime.
Muslims go on the Hajj to Mecca every
year. The Ka’bah, the holiest site in
Islam, is visited.
http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/418748/hajj-2013.jpg
http://www.emirates247.com/news/region/stunning-pictures-of-grand-mosque-in-makkah-2013-07-31-1.516176
https://www.flickr.com/photos/55007890@N08/6323285430/
The Qu’ran teaches that Adam (the first
man) built the first Ka’bah and that
Abraham and his son Ishmail
rebuilt the Ka’bah.
Historians confirm that it has been a
site of worship for thousands of years –
long before Muhammad was born.
The inside is a covered in marble stone with
verses from the Qur'an carved into the walls.
Only certain Muslim leaders are allowed inside.
Almost 2 million Muslims come to
Makkah during the hajj each year.
They are there for about two weeks.
What challenges does this present to
Saudi Arabia?
The government of
Saudi Arabia sets
up a tent-city 4
miles from Mekkah.
Hundreds of
busses take
pilgrims there from
the airport.
Tents are
crowded, but
are airconditioned.
There are separate tents for men and
women.
Bathrooms and kitchens are also set up
throughout the tent city.
The tent city is big!
REALLY big!
The Hajj is not just going to Makkah.
Pilgrims visit five sacred sites. Different
rituals are performed at each site.
The Ka’bah in Makkah is the first and last site visited.
Reasons Muslims go on the Hajj:
- to feel closer to God by walking
where Mohammad, Abraham, and even
Adam lived and walked
- to feel unity with Muslims from
around the world
- to ask forgiveness in a sacred place
- to fulfill the command of the Fifth
Pillar of Islam
The Five Pillars summarize the most
important beliefs shared by all Muslims.
1. Believe in
one God and
that
Muhammad is
his prophet.
3. Give
to help
people in
need.
4. Fast
during
Ramadan
2. Pray at
specific
times each
day.
5. Go
on the
Hajj