Transcript Islam

Islam
Origins
of
Islam
• Abraham had son with
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Hagar—Ishmael
Sarah was jealous-Hagar
& Ishmael sent into the
desert
Hagar searches for water
between two rocks seven
times
Angel tells her not to
fear—well appears at
Ishmael’s feet
Mecca built there
• Before Abraham dies
he visits Ishmael
• God tells him to build
a holy shrine
• Ka’bah—large cube
structure
• Inside is a small black
stone believed to be
given to Abraham
from an angel
• Was white—black
from kisses
Muhammad’s Early Years
• Born 570 in Mecca
• Parents died early,
raised by other
family
• Job as a camel
driver-contact w/
other cultures
• Worked for widowKhadijah and
marries her—
became rich
Muhammad’s Revelation
• Around age 40, starts
spending time alonecave near Mecca
• Angel Gabriel
appears to him—he
thought he was going
insane
• He slowly accepts
role as a prophet in
the line of Moses and
Jesus
• He declares that there
is one God and
rejects idols
Mecca to Medina
• Muhammad gains followers,
also enemies
• Wife and uncle die—bad
times, attempts to kill M.
• M. journeys to Heaven with
Gabriel, meets Moses,
Jesus and Allah
• M. tells Muslims to settle in
Medina, escapes there
himself—journey known as
the Hijrah and start of
Islamic calendar (622)
Muslims take Mecca
• M. able to unite some tribes
(Muslims and Jews prayed
together) in Medina
• M. tells to pray to Mecca not
Jerusalem—groups split and
violence breaks out
• Raids on caravans, full battles
begin
• Muslims win and take Mecca
• M. circles Ka’bah 7 times and
smashes idols
Last Years of Muhammad
• By age 60, Islam was all over Arabian Peninsula
• His last trip to Mecca-says only Muslim may pray there
and asks for Islamic unity
• Gets ill and dies at 61, no son—who is successor?
Sunni and Shiite
• Sunni Characteristics
• 90% of Muslims
• Considered more
mainstream
• Believe in leadership
of caliphs
• Believe total Muslim
community will be
judged on judgment
day
• Shiite Characteristics
• 10% of Muslims
• Considered more
extreme in beliefs
• Only descendents of
Ali (a caliph related to
Muhammad) should
lead
• Judgment through
imams
The Five Pillars of Islam
• 1st Pillar—Shahada
– Brief prayer proclaiming Allah is the one and
only god
– Many Muslims believe it should be in Arabic
because that is how Muhammad received it
2nd Pillar--Salat
• Pray five times a day:
dawn, noon, afternoon,
sunset and evening
• Muslim countries a call to
pray is announced from
Mosque tower—minaret
• Women pray behind men
or in separate area, imam
leads prayer in mosques
• Involves several bowing
positions
• Giving of a
percentage of income
to the poor and needy
(often 2.5%)
• Belief this is a
requirement to
Heaven
3rd Pillar-Zakat
th
4
Pillar--Sawm
• Fasting during month of
Ramadan
• No food or drink from
sunrise to sunset
• Religious purification
and devotion
• Children and elder do
not have to follow
• Festival of Eid-Al-Fitr—
celebrates end of
Ramadan, feast, parties,
guests, gifts, off of work
5th Pillar--Hajj
• Pilgrimage to
Mecca—required if
possible
• Men wear same
simple clothes
• Week and a half
• Circle Ka’bah,
touch stone, run
the hills 7 times,
quiet prayer,
stones at pillars,
animal sacrifices
The Mosque
• Most important
prayers on Fridays
• Most are small,
larger/central
mosques called jami’
• Dome with minaret
• Rugs on floors, no
artwork except
calligraphy
• Part of one wallmihrab-where imam
stands, also direction
of Mecca
Rites of Passage
• Aqiqa—naming of
child, 7 days after
birth
• Marriage-unites both
families, Koran says
man can have up to 4
wives
• Death—release from
suffering of life, quick
and simple burial, no
coffin or gravestone,
face Mecca