When you think of Islam today, what comes to mind? When you think of Islam today, what comes to mind?

Islam

What do you think?

• When you think of Islam today, what comes to mind?

Mecca

• Capital City of Islam– Oasis– Trade– Religion

• Kaaba

• Muhammad

Muhammad

• Mecca, 570 AD

• Shepherd and Trader

• Wife – Khadija

• Religious Depictions?

“One Who Submits”

• Religious life at this time?– Polytheistic – Idol Worship

• Meditation– The Angel Gabriel?

• “Be a messenger of God”

• Calming Influence– Khadija – “Trust me, you want to take this

call”

The Beginnings of Islam

• Islam – Arabic word for submission–Muslim – “one who submits”

• Predictions– How do you think the beginning of

Muhammad’s work will go?

Turning Point

• Initial reactions are “meh”

• 622 A.D. – under threat of murder, he leaves Mecca for Medina (Yathrib)– Hijra–Medina means “City of the Prophet”– Becomes a local celebrity

Finally, Muhammad has come back…

• TO MECCA, 630 A.D.

• Destroys the Kaaba

• Unites the people under Islam

• Dies in 632 A.D.

Religions Christianity Muslim

Book?

How many gods?

After-Life?

Rules?

Religion or Way of Life?

Holy City?

The 5 Pillars of Faith

• First Pillar (Shahada)– “There is no God but God, and

Muhammad is his prophet”

• Sound like anything we know?

• Second Pillar (Salat)– Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca–Muslim place of prayer?

The 5 Pillars of Faith Cont’d

• Third Pillar (Za’kat)– Give charity to the poor

• Fourth Pillar– Fast from sunrise until sunset during the

holy month of Ramadan

• Fifth Pillar–Make a hajj

The Jihad

• Many take this on as a duty…what do you think this is?

• Book Definition – struggle in God’s service– Do you think that there are different

types of a Jihad?

The Quran

• Islam’s Version of the Bible– The Sacred Word of God as revealed to

Muhammad– A way of life self help book?

– Language unites the people (Arabic)

Unity with Other Religions

• Do they hate us?

• Bible and Torah both add to the truth of the Quran Religious Tolerance

Sharia

• DOES NOT SEPARATE CHURCH AND STATE (Mosque and State?)

• The law of the Quran is applied to the State and all legal and state matters

Women in Islam

• Greater protection under the law

• BUT

• Still have traditional female roles

Hajj

• Pilgrimage to Mecca

• Muslims MUST make it at least once in their lifetime

• Hajj 1

• Hajj 2