INTRODUCTION TO

ISLAM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DK9avjgduM

Basic Islam Facts

Over 1.6 billion followers 2nd largest religion in the world behind

Christianity Fastest growing religion in the world Someone who practices Islam is a

Muslim A monotheistic religion Followers worship Allah

Majority Muslim Nations

Muslim Percentage by Country

Top 5 Nations With Most Muslims (By Population)

1. Indonesia

2. Pakistan

3. India

4. Bangladesh

5. Egypt

Important Thing to Remember

Being Arab is not the same as being Muslim

Less than 20% of Muslims are Arabs

5 Pillars Declaration of faith

There is no God other than Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

Daily Prayer Pray 5 times a day

○ Usually at Mosque○ Face Mecca

Fasting During Ramadan (9th month of Islamic calendar)

Cannot eat from dawn until dusk

5 Pillars (continued) Giving to charity

personal responsibility for Muslims to ease economic hardship for others and eliminate inequality

Pilgrimage (or Hajj) Travel to Mecca An obligation only for

those who are physically and financially able to perform it

Muhammad

Founder of Islam Born in Mecca in 570 AD Messenger and Prophet of God Considered to be last prophet of God

Muslim consider Abraham, Moses, Jesus to be prophets

Would unite Arabia under Islam Died in 632 AD

Qur’an Holy text of Islam Teaches about God and how to live life Written in Arabic Considered the direct, unchangeable word of

God Qur’an teaches that Islam is God’s final and

complete revelationTorah and Bible are only partially God’s revelation

Coverts learn Arabic in order to read Qur’anShared language unites people

Holy Cities

MeccaWhere Muhammad was born

Medina Where Muhammad fled to and where he

was buried Jerusalem

Dome of the Rock○ Where Muhammad was taken up to Heaven

and speaks with God

Divisions Inside Islam

Sunni vs ShiaDifferent beliefs over who was to be

Muhammad’s successor

Why Are We Learning About This? Islam is fastest growing religion Middle East is an important region in the

world Age of globalization

To Be Continued

Rise of Islam and life of Muhammad Spread of Islam Islamic Empires Islamic culture and society (past and

present) Islam in modern world Radical Islam