Islam

IISSLLAAMM

ISLAMISLAM ““Islam” means “peace through the Islam” means “peace through the

submission to God.”submission to God.” Followers of Islam are called “Muslims.”Followers of Islam are called “Muslims.” Its followers number over 1.5 billion Its followers number over 1.5 billion

worldwide.worldwide. Muslims call God “Allah.” It is the same Muslims call God “Allah.” It is the same

God Christians worship.God Christians worship. Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is a Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is a

monotheistic religion.monotheistic religion.

The 5 Pillars of IslamThe 5 Pillars of Islam

Pillars are the Pillars are the practices that every practices that every Muslim must follow Muslim must follow to be considered a to be considered a true Muslim:true Muslim:

Pillar 1: Shahadah – Pillar 1: Shahadah – declaration of faith declaration of faith in the one true God, in the one true God, Allah. This is similar Allah. This is similar to Christian to Christian baptism.baptism.

The 5 Pillars of IslamThe 5 Pillars of Islam

Pillar 2: Pillar 2: Formal prayer Formal prayer five times a five times a dayday

The 5 Pillars of IslamThe 5 Pillars of Islam

Pillar 3: Fasting during the Pillar 3: Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of daylight hours in the month of RamadanRamadan

The 5 Pillars of IslamThe 5 Pillars of Islam Pillar 4: Poor-Pillar 4: Poor-

due “tax” – 2.5% due “tax” – 2.5% of one’s savings of one’s savings given to the given to the needy at the end needy at the end of each year. of each year. This is similar to This is similar to tithing in the tithing in the Christian faith.Christian faith.

The 5 Pillars of IslamThe 5 Pillars of Islam Pillar 5: Pilgrimage Pillar 5: Pilgrimage

to Mecca, the holy to Mecca, the holy city of the Islamic city of the Islamic faith, at least once, faith, at least once, if physically and if physically and financially able. financially able. Mecca is the birth Mecca is the birth site of Mohammad, site of Mohammad, Islam’s founder and Islam’s founder and prophet.prophet.

IslamIslam

Islam is a complete way Islam is a complete way of life that governs all of life that governs all facets of life: moral, facets of life: moral, spiritual, social, political, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, economical, intellectual, etc.etc.

The Story of IslamThe Story of Islam

Muslims do not worship Mohammad Muslims do not worship Mohammad nor think of him as the son of Allah. nor think of him as the son of Allah. He was a holy man who received He was a holy man who received revelations in the form of dreams revelations in the form of dreams from Allah, who told him to from Allah, who told him to “resurrect” and spread Islam. “resurrect” and spread Islam.

Abraham (from the Christian Bible) is Abraham (from the Christian Bible) is seen as the father of Islam.seen as the father of Islam.

The Qur’an or KoranThe Qur’an or Koran The holy book of the The holy book of the

Muslim faith is called the Muslim faith is called the Qur’an. Qur’an.

The Qur’an was not The Qur’an was not authored by authored by Muhammad. It was Muhammad. It was authored by God, authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical and written into physical form by his companions.form by his companions.

MisconceptionsMisconceptions

““Terrorism, unjustified violence and the Terrorism, unjustified violence and the killing of innocent people are absolutely killing of innocent people are absolutely forbidden in Islam. Islam is a way of life forbidden in Islam. Islam is a way of life that is meant to bring peace to society. that is meant to bring peace to society. Extremism and fanaticism is a problem that Extremism and fanaticism is a problem that is common to all religious groups.”is common to all religious groups.”

MisconceptionsMisconceptions

The religion of Islam received a nasty The religion of Islam received a nasty reputation in the United States after reputation in the United States after 9/11, however, most Muslims are 9/11, however, most Muslims are peaceful religious people.peaceful religious people.

All Muslims are not Arab. Instead, All Muslims are not Arab. Instead, followers come from all races of followers come from all races of people and from virtually every people and from virtually every country in the world.country in the world.