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Muhammad was born in 570 CE and became
an orphan when he was very young. HE was a
very honest man who was in the trading
business. He married Khadijah who was his
employer and in 610 CE, he received a
revelation. The Angel Gabriel came to him and
told him to recite the word of God. He stated
there is only one God and Allah is His name
(Allah means God).
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The Sacred text of Islam is called the Qur’an
which means recitation. The only way to truly
know God is to be able to read the Qur’an in
Arabic. Qur’an is often spelt, KORAN as well.
It is made up of Surahs or chapters.
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Shari’ah is defined as Islamic law. It is based
on the Qur’an and on the Sunnah (or teachings
and examples of the prophet).
Muslim countries base the whole legal system
on Shari’ah, meaning, when in a Muslim
country you need to follow their Religious
laws.
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Mecca: The city where Muhammad was born and
also the home of the sacred shrine of the Ka’ba
(“cube”)
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Medina (originally called Yathrib): The city that
Muhammad immigrated to after being forced to
leave Mecca. This event is called the hijra
(“migration”) which took place in 622 CE.
Medina means “city of the prophet”. Muslims
date their calendar based on the hijra.
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Jerusalem: It is here that Muslims believe
Muhammad rose to Heaven on a winged horse.
A very important Mosque stands in the spot
where he ascended. That mosque is called the
Dome of the Rock.
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Muslims believe that Muhammad went with
the Angel Gabriel on a winged horse to
Jerusalem. Once there, the Angel Gabriel and
Muhammad went up to heaven where they
saw; Adam, John and Jesus, Joseph, Moses,
Abraham and then Allah Himself.
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Sunnis: Muslims who believe in following the “person best suited to
lead the Muslim community”. This is the largest group of Muslims.
Shi’ahs (sometimes called Shi’ites): This group believed that the leader
of the community should be a relation of Muhammad.
Sufis: This is the mystical type of Muslim. The word means “wool
wearer”. The most famous type of Sufi are the “Whirling Dervishes”.
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1. Creed: The Muslim creed is the shahada and it
states: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is
the messenger of Allah”.
2. Prayer (salat): Muslims must pray five times a day
and they face Mecca when they do so. Men and
women pray separately. Can you figure out why?
“La ilaha ill’Llah. Muhammadun rasulu’Llah.”
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3. Almsgiving (Zaka(t)): Muslims are required
to help those in their community who are less
fortunate than they are by giving a certain
percentage of what they earn.
4. Fasting during the month of Ramadan
(Sawm): During the Muslim month of Ramadan
Muslims are to abstain from food, water, evil
thoughts, drinking, smoking and sex during the
daylight hours.
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5. Pilgrimage (Hajj): At least once in a life time, all Muslims
are required to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca where they were
to perform a number of different rituals including circling the
Ka’ba (7 times, counter clockwise). As well as circling the
Ka’ba, on the last day, pilgirms throw seven pebbles at three
tall stone pillars that represent Satan and Idolatry.
Tents in Mecca during the Hajj
Two Festivals of importance:
1. Eid al-Fitr (the little feast): A feast celebrating the end of
Ramadan
2. Eid ul-Adha (the major or big feast): This feast takes place
during the month of the
hajj and it recalls the testing of Abraham by God to
sacrifice his son.
Meal to end the fast
Eid greeting card
A place of worship in Islam is called a
Mosque
The community of Muslims is called the
Umma
The person who leads people in prayer
is called an imam
1. Adam: “The Chosen of God”
2. Noah: The Preacher of God
3. Abraham: The Friend of God
4. Moses: The Converser with God
Jesus: The Spirit of God
Regarding Jesus, Muslims
believe He was born of the
virgin, Mary. They also believe
He will come back to Earth to
judge the living and the dead.
They do not believe He died on a
cross nor do they believe He rose
from the dead
MuhaMMad: “The Seal of The
ProPheT”
“Read! In the name of thy Lord and
Cherisher; Who Created man out of
a mere clot of congealed blood:
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most
Bountiful. He Who taught the use
of the Pen taught man that which
he knew not.”
Qur’an: 96:1-5
Traditionally, the umma gather together to worship in the Mosque on Friday. After
Prayer, the imam gives a sermon that shows how the Qur’an can be applied to everyday
life.
On the whole, the Qur’an itself, and the ideals of Islam, regard men and women as equals, but
with different roles. For example, men usually have predominant roles in economic and public
life and women have greater influence within the family.
The Qur’an states, “You may marry other women who seem good to you: two, three, or four of
them. But if you fear that you cannot maintain equality among them, marry one only. (Qur’an
4:3)
Because Muhammad wanted women to be treated better, he said they should wear modest
clothing that hid their shape so they would be respected for their inner beauty and not just their
outer beauty, that they would be seen for who they are not what they are.
The Qur’an also states, “If you ask the prophet’s wife (wives) for anything, speak to them from
behind a curtain.” (Qur’an 33:53)
Some Muslims require that women cover every part of their body, and hide their face behind a
veil. Others define veiling simply as covering the hair while in public.
Information taken fromWorld Religions a voyage of Discovery by Jeffrey Brodd
Jihad literally means exertion or struggle. On the
personal level, it refers to the individual’s spiritual
struggle against anything that detract from being a
good Muslim.
In a narrow context, it refers to armed struggle and is
sometimes thought of as meaning “holy war.”
The Qur’an only supports armed struggle for the
sake of Islam only if it is done in self-defense.
Muslims also believe in fate or Kismet.
Calligraphy comes from two
Greek words meaning Beauty and
Writing. Therefore Calligraphy
means: Beautiful Writing.
Malcolm Little was man who had a tough childhood, his dad died when he was
very young and his mother was put in a mental institution. He became a drug
addict and petty thief.
In 1946, at age 20, he went to prison for larceny and breaking and entering. While
in prison he became a member of the Nation of Islam, and quickly rose to become
one of its most important and influential leaders.
By March 1964 Malcolm X had grown disillusioned with the Nation of Islam and its
head Elijah Muhammad, and broke away starting his own group based more on
true Muslim teachings. He stated that the teachings of racism of the Nation of
Islam was wrong at said
"I did many things as a [Black] Muslim that I'm sorry for now. I was a zombie then
... pointed in a certain direction and told to march".[2]
In February 1965, shortly after repudiating the Nation of Islam, he was
assassinated by three of its members.