Transcript Slide 1
Introduction to Islam
Desert and Town Life
Inhabited by Arab nomads called
BEDOUINS
Organized into clans
Provided security and support
Bedouin ideals included courage,
loyalty to family, and warrior skills
The city of Mecca was a center of
trade
Also important for religious pilgrims
The Ka’aba (a shrine with hundreds of
idols to the tribal gods) was located in
the city
Muhammad, the Prophet
Born into a powerful
Meccan family
Married to Khadijah,
wealthy business woman
The angel Gabriel
appeared to him and said
he was a messenger of
Allah
From then on,
Muhammad began to
preach the word of Allah
Flight from Mecca
Muhammad began to gather followers
Muhammad and his followers migrated north to a city
called Medina (originally named Yathrib)
This is called the Hijrah, which means “flight”
During this time, Islam gained many followers
Return to Mecca
In 630 C.E. Muhammad and
his followers returned to
Mecca
They destroyed the
polytheistic idols in the Ka’aba
and called the people to prayer
from the roof
Many Meccans then converted
to Islam
After Muhammad’s death,
Islam continued to spread
Beliefs of Islam
Main teaching is that there is one God, called Allah
Islam does NOT have a central religious authority
Does have a religious scholar class (Ulama)
Holy text is called the Qur’an
Contains the revelations Gabriel gave to Muhammad
Written in Arabic
Follow Sunna, which is Muhammad’s example
Sunna and Qur’an assembled into body of law
(Shari’a)
The Five Pillars of Islam
Five duties that Muslims must complete
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The Five Pillars
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There is one God,
who is Allah
The Five Pillars
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Pray 5 times a day,
facing Mecca
The Five Pillars
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They must
fast during
the month
of Ramadan,
from dawn
until dusk
The Five Pillars
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They must make a trip to
Mecca, if healthy enough
and have enough money to
do so
The Five Pillars
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They must give
money to the poor
The Mosque
• The mosque is the center of the Islamic community
• While daily prayers can be performed anywhere, it is
required to attend Friday prayers at the mosque
• In most mosques men and women are separated
• The minaret is the tower-like structure used to call
Muslims to prayer
The Mosque of the Prophet
The Blue Mosque
Minaret
Call to Prayer
Islam Quick Facts
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Place of Worship: Mosque
Holy Day: Friday
Direct Worship – no clergy
Pork is forbidden (considered unclean)
Alcohol is not allowed
Men & women are segregated at Mosque
Jerusalem (Masjid Al Aqsa) is a sacred site
Largest Muslim populated country is Indonesia
ISLAM Today
Countries with more than 10% Muslim population
Green=Sunni
Red=Shiite
Foldable Instructions
You will be creating a foldable of the beliefs of Islam
You will be graded on neatness, content, and creativity
Fold your paper in almost in half (leaving an inch-
wide section on the bottom) and cut five flaps
On each of the flaps you will write one of the five
pillars and illustrate it
On the inside of the flap, include a description of the
pillar
You will also title your foldable “The Five Pillars of
Islam”