Islam 101- An Introduction to
Islam/Beyond the Middle East
This session will discuss the basic
tenets of Islam the religion and its
origin. We will also introduce who the
diverse cultural groups are from around
the world that practice Islam.
Some Basic Facts:
“Islam” is an Arabic word. It means peace or
submission – peace with God, or submission.
“Salaam alaykum” The same Arabic root word
meaning “peace be with you” is the universal
Muslim greeting.
“Muslim” is also Arabic in origin; meaning
one who believes in and consciously follows
Islam.
ALLAH
Islam begins with God (Allah). The
word “Allah” is formed by joining the
definite Arabic article “al” which means
“the” with the Arabic “llah”, which
means God.
“La ilaha illa Allah” means “There is no
god but Allah (God)”
Muhammad, The Messenger of
God
Born in Mecca
Christian calendar
year 570 A.D.
Name means “highly
praised”
Considered the final
prophet
The Night of Power
610 A.D. when Allah
spoke to
Muhammad
In a cave on Mount
Hira ( on the
outskirts of Mecca)
Hijra – The Flight to Medina
622 A.D. (Christian Calendar)
Muhammad fled Mecca to Yathrib
A new era and beginning of the Muslim
Calendar
Medinat al-nabi “The City of the
Prophet” Medina= “The City”
10 A.H. (after the Hijra)
THE QUR’AN
“al-quran” in Arabic means a recitation
The word of God revealed to
Muhammad over a time frame of 23
years through the voice of the angel
Gabriel
114 surahs (or chapters)
Slightly shorter in length than the
Christian New Testament
How Many Are Muslims?
1 billion followers
(1/5 of the world
population)
Less than 10
percent of Muslims
are Arab
Majority Muslims are
found throughout the
Middle East, North
Africa, East Asia and the
Pacific Islands ex.
Indonesia, Malaysia,
southern Philippines
Large numbers include
Western Europe, the
former Soviet Union,
and North America.
The Five Pillars of Faith
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Shahada (affirmation)
Salat (prayer)
Zakat (almsgiving)
Siyam (fasting)
Hajj (pilgrimage)
The Fast of Ramadhan
The ninth month of the Muslim
Calendar
When Muslims fast during the entire
month to concentrate on their faith and
spend less time on the concerns of
everyday life
A time of worship and contemplation
Ramadhan
restrictions/expectations
No eating or
drinking during the
daylight hours (from
dawn to sunset)
Smoking and sexual
relations are also
forbidden





The good from fasting
is nullified by
The telling of a lie
Slander
Denouncing someone
behind his back
A false oath
Greed or covetousness
Recommended books:
What Every Christian Should Know About Islam by
Ruqaiyya Waris
More In Common Than You Think – The Bridge
Between Islam and Christianity by Bill Baker
The Autobiography of Malcolm X- as told to Alex
Haley
Muslim on the Americanization Path by Yvonne
Haddad and John Esposito
For God and Country: Faith and Patriotism Under Fire
by Chaplain James Yee
Recommended On Line Resources
www.MuslimBridges.org
http://www.al-islam.com/eng/
http://www.islamselect.com/english/ind
ex.php
http://www.islaam.ca/
http://islam.about.com/