Islam NotesThese will go on page 25 of you IN

Muslims pray at a MosqueMosque

Religious leaders are called Caliphs, or ImamsReligious leaders are called Caliphs, or Imams

Holy text is the Qur’an, or KoranHoly text is the Qur’an, or Koran

Symbol is the Crescent MoonSymbol is the Crescent Moon

Islamic Beliefs and Practices

Page 174-177

Origins of Islam

The Prophet MuhammadMuhammad was an Arab born in 570 CE, in MeccaMecca, which is in present-day Saudi Arabia. He was a merchant known as “al-Amin,” the trustworthy one.

According to Islamic tradition, in 610 CE, while he was praying in a cave, he had a vision of the angle GabrielGabriel, a figure in the Hebrew Bible.

The angle gave him messages from God, called AllahAllah in Arabic.

Muhammad taught that Abraham, Moses, andJesus were each prophets, but that Jews and Christians had misunderstood their

teachings.Many of the poor who heard Muhammad’s message accepted it because he called for social justice and equality.A great number of powerful leaders and rich

merchants, however, rejected Muhammad's message.They saw him has a threat to their economic security.

Before 700 CE, Muhammad’s followers were fighting over his successor.

The fight split Muslims into the Shi’a and the Sunni. The Shi’a comprise 10% - 15% of Islamic followers today and

Sunni comprise close to 90%. SunniSunni – Orthodox Muslim who accepts the traditional teachings of

the Koran and the authority of the descendants of Caliph Ali. They believe that the Caliph (leader of Islam) does not does not have to be

a blood relative of Muhammad.

Shi’aShi’a (Shiite) – A Muslim who rejects the

authority of the religious leaders who succeeded Muhammad’s

son-in-law Ali & the Caliph must be a

blood relative.

Qu’ran• Muhammad’s followers

memorized his messages and his words and deeds.

• After his death, Muhammad’s followers collected his teachings and wrote them down in a book called the Qu’ran.

• What are the holy books of the other two major religions?

Beliefs

• The central teaching of Islam is that there is only one god named Allah and that Muhammad is his prophet. (What is a prophet?)

• Islam teaches that the world has a definite beginning and will end one day and on that final day God will judge all people.

• Muslims believe that the people who have obeyed orders will live a life in paradise, which is a place full of fine food and drink.

• People who have not obeyed will suffer.

Crazy Fact

• “A rat can last longer without water then a camel!”

Guidelines for Behavior

• The Qu’ran guides worship, moral behavior and rules for social life. (What are some examples of social life?)

• The Qur’an has EXPLICIT rules: (what does this mean?)

• How must Muslim people worship?• What can’t Muslims eat?• The Qur’an also has IMPLICIT rules (what does

this mean?)

Jihad

• What is Jihad?• Jihad is an interal struggle that people must go

through while trying to obey God and behaving in Islamic ways.

Joke time…

• Where do you find a turtle with no legs?• Right where you left him!!!

Sunnah

• Muslims also study the hadith, which is the written record of Muhammad’s words and actions.

• The hadith is also the basis of the Sunnah.• The Sunnah refers to the way Muhammad

lived, which provides a model for the duties and the way of life expected of Muslims.

• This guides Muslim behavior.

Five Pillars

• The Five Pillars are five acts of worship that are required of all Muslims.

• 1.• 2.• 3.• 4.• 5.

How many legs does this elephant have?

Islamic Law

• The Qur’an and the Sunnah are important guides for how Muslims live.

• These guides form the basis of Islamic law, or Shariah.

• The Shariah judges the rightness of a persons actions. All of these actions fall on a scale ranging from required to forbidden.

What colors are the dots?