Grade 11 World Religion
Islam
Introduction to Islam and the Life of Muhammad
What Is Islam?
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Islam is a monotheistic religion that originated in the Middle East. Islam, one of the three major world religions,
along with Judaism and Christianity, that profess monotheism, or the belief in a single God.
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In the Arabic language, the word Islam means “surrender” or “submission”—submission to the will of God. As a
religion Islam calls for complete acceptance of and submission to the teachings and guidance of God
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A follower of Islam is called a Muslim, which in Arabic means “one who surrenders to God.” A Muslim is one
who freely and willingly accepts the supreme power of God and strives to live his or her life in accord with the
teachings of God
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Allah, is the Arabic language word for God. Allah refers to the same God worshiped by Jews and Christians.
Islam’s central teaching is that there is only one all-powerful, all-knowing God, and this God created the
universe.
Where is Islam Practiced?
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Within two centuries after its rise in the 7th century, Islam spread from its original home in Arabia into
Syria, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain to the west, and into Persia, India, and, by the end of the 10th
century, beyond to the east.
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In the following centuries, Islam also spread into Anatolia and the Balkans to the north, and subSaharan Africa to the south.
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The Muslim community comprises about 1 billion followers on all five continents, and Islam is the
fastest-growing religion in the world.
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The most populous Muslim country is Indonesia, followed by Pakistan and Bangladesh. Beyond the
Middle East, large numbers of Muslims live in India, Nigeria, the former republics of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR), and China.
What is it’s Scripture?
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Just as Christians have the Bible, Muslims have the Quran. Muslims believe that the Qur’an (or Koran)
is God’s word as revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
Grade 11 World Religion
Islam
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The Qur’an is the basis for Muslim beliefs regarding God, worship, morality, knowledge, wisdom, the
human relationship to God, and relationships among human beings.
Just as Christian believe that the person of Jesus was the Word or manifestation of God, Muslims
believe that it is the Qur’an itself which is that Word and manifestation.
Muslims are also told in the Quran to read three other holy books: the Torah (which are the first five
books of the Old Testament), the Zabur (which are the Psalms of David), and the Injeel (the gospel of
Christ).
The Hadith – the teachings, sayings and actions of Mohammed – were reported by his devoted
companions and collected. They explain and elaborate the Qur’anic verses and provide a model for the
conduct of Muslims.
What Do They Believe In?
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Islam has seven fundamental beliefs that every Muslim must accept as a part of his/her religion. Every
Muslim learns this formula as a part of his/her religious training.
1. Belief in God (who, in Arabic, is named "Allah")
2. Belief in the angels (both good and bad)
3. Belief in the revealed Books of God
4. Belief in God's many prophets (including Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, and other Christians and Jews
are familiar with)
5. Accepting that there will be a Last Day
6. Belief in the divine measurement of human affairs
7. Belief in life after death
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Muslims also believe in Satan and in a Day of Judgment on which God will send people to either
heaven or hell. They also believe that Ishmael (the father of the Arab world), not Isaac, received the
promise from God through Abraham; this helps to explain why Arab Muslims feel that their claim to
the Holy Land is a God-given right.
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Every action done with the awareness that it fulfills the will of God is considered an act of worship. The
specific acts termed the Five Pillars of Islam provide the framework of Muslim spiritual life and the
duties that all Muslims must do.
Grade 11 World Religion
Islam
Places of Worship
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Mosques are a place of worship for the Islamic faith. Muslims around the world gather on Fridays in
mosques. Mosques are buildings where men (and sometimes women, depending upon the country)
pray to God. In a mosque during prayer time, all Muslims face toward Mecca, the birthplace of Islam,
where Muhammad had his vision. Where men and women pray together, usually the men are in the
front and women in the back.
• Key structures for a mosque include:
1. An indication to the direction of Mecca (where the Ka’ba is), called a mihrab.
2. An minaret or a dome, which calls Muslims to prayer.
• Shoes are also taken off before entering a mosque, and the floors are carpeted. There is a prayer hall,
where the prayers are led by an imam (An imam is a Muslim teacher, or a leader of prayer).
• Muslims believe that the Ka’ba was the first place of worship on Earth, and that it was built by Adam.
The Beginning of Islam Starts with Muhammad
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Islam was founded in 610 CE. by a man named Muhammad.
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During Muhammad's time, polytheism reigned. His people were worshipping multiple gods.
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During one of Muhammad's trips as a trader, he had a vision from a being he perceived to be an angel
who said, "There is only one God, and His name is Allah. Worship Him.“
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In 622 CE he was exiled from Mecca and went to Medina with his followers to form a religious
community. (this is known as the Hijra and is the start date for the Muslim calendar)
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Muhammad is respected as a prophet.
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He is not regarded as the “founder” of Islam, but rather as one in a long line of prophets from Adam to
Abraham, Moses, Solomon, and Jesus. Islam therefore did not begin with Muhammad, whose role was
that of a “messenger” who received and passed on a revelation from God.
Grade 11 World Religion
Islam
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On the Night of Power and excellence the angel Gabriel appeared to him and disclosed to him the text
of the Qur’an.
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Muhammad made it clear that Muslims should “call me the servant of God and His messenger.” He is
regarded as a human being and in no way divine. He is seen as the Seal of the Prophets, the final
prophet who completed the revelation begun by the earlier prophets.