Islam

Quick Facts:

• root word means “surrender” or “submission”; the idea or core belief of Islam is submitting to God

• rooted or founded in biblical tradition → reveres Jesus and Prophets of Judaism

2nd largest world religion (AND growing)

FOUR FOUNDATIONS

1. Qur’an (sacred text)

2. Prophet Muhammad

3. Primary Teachings

4. Umma

QUR’AN

• Qur’an = reading, or recitation

• Qur’an is to Muslims as Jesus is to Christians

• Arabic;

  • no translation

  • direct words of Allah (God)

  • most beautiful work

• considered a miracle

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD

• considered by Muslims to be the most perfect HUMAN (not God!)

• Born 570 AD

• Marries Khadija

• Religious Revelation: Important Facts

  • What? “Night of Power and Excellence”

  • Where? Mount Hira

  • When? 610 AD (40 y/o)

  • Who? Archangel Gabriel

  • How? Dream told Muhammad to “recite:

• Began his career as a prophet

• Completely changed his life and told him to share it with others and convert them to Islam

• The first person he converted was his wife

SEAL OF THE PROPHETS

Many Prophets (like Prophets of Judaism and Jesus)

• revealed Allah’s will partially

Muhammad = “Seal of the Prophets”

• last prophet

Muhammad believed that people already practiced Islam but he helped them stray back to Islam.

DOME OF THE ROCK

• Muhammad was transported from Mecca (Saudi Arabia) → Jerusalem

Archangel Gabriel ascended through seven Heavens with him

REQUIRERMENTS:

1. the confession of faith

2. prayer

3. fasting

4. almsgiving/wealth sharing

5. pilgrimage (hajj)

1. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH

• shahada: “there is no God except Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of God”

2. PRAYER

• when? Dawn/Sunrise, Midday, Late afternoon/Sunset, Sunset/End of Daylight, and Night

• Where? Anywhere, but one must ensure cleanliness

• How? Facing Ka’bah (Mecca), proper dress, ritual washing

• Who? All Muslims

3. FASTING

• All Muslims, who have reaches puberty (and are not ill or traveling) must fast

• Sawm; the month long fast

• When? dawn to sundown

• Abstain from food, drink, and marital relations

4. ALMSGIVING/WEALTH SHARING

• Donate 2.5% of income and give to charity

• If the average family makes $50,000 a year they would have to donate $1250 within the year

5. PILGRIMAGE (HAJJ)

PRIMARY TEACHINGS

1. ALLAH

• THE God of Islam

• genderless

• personal

• 99 names