Look up the word Region and write the definition.
Make a list of five things that you think make the Middle East a region.
BELL RINGER
MIDDLE EAST
History




Formed around the Tigris Euphrates Rivers
Includes South West Asia and Africa North of the Sahara Desert.
Many different Empires
United Because of Climate, Religion, Language, Economics…
Find 10 facts about Islam
ISLAM
HISTORY
Abraham and his son Ishmael built the Kaaba (literally "House of God") in Mecca, the center of
Muslim worship
Mohammad was born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) around 570 CE
Night of Power: the 26th-27th in the moth of Ramadan when Mohammad first received the words of
the Archangel Gabriel in caves on Mount Hira.
Ramadan is also sacred and is a time in which the powers of evil are diminished by the sacred
event of the original revelation.
In 622, the Muslim community emigrated from Mecca, where they were persecuted, to Medina,
where they were welcomed. This started their new Calendar.
All Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha, whether they are on pilgrimage or not. It is Islam's most
important annual festival, commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his own son.
THE QUR`AN
'God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.'
'None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.'
'He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a believer. '
'The truthful and trusty businessman is associated with the prophets the saints, and the
martyrs.'
'Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who controls
himself in a fit of anger. '
'God does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He scans your
hearts and looks into your deeds.'
BELIEFS
Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God
In the Angels created by Him
In the Day of Judgment and individual accountability for actions
In God's complete authority over human destiny and in life after death.
In the prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind (starting with Adam and
including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias,
Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus)
God's final message to man was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through Gabriel.
5 PILLARS OF ISLAM
1.Shahadah: declaring there is no god except God, and Muhammad is God's Messenger
2.Salat: ritual prayer five times a day
3.Sawm: fasting and self-control during the blessed month of Ramadan
4.Zakat: giving 2.5% of one’s savings to the poor and needy
5.Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime if he/she is able to do
 Sharia deals with many topics addressed by secular law, including crime, politics, and economics, as well
as personal matters such as sexual intercourse, hygiene, diet, prayer, everyday etiquette and fasting. It is
interpreted by:
 Imam: leader of worship in a mosque.
 Quadi: Islamic Judge
 There are two primary sources of sharia law:
 Quran: written account of the words given to the Prophet Mohammad by the Archangel Gabriel.
 Hadith: written account of the deeds, actions and words of the Prophet Mohammad.
 Sharia Law is enforced by:
 Caliph: head of the Islamic community (Ummah). Successors to Muhammad
 Examples:







Theft is punishable by amputation of the right hand (above).
Criticizing or denying any part of the Quran is punishable by death.
Criticizing or denying Muhammad is a prophet is punishable by death.
Criticizing or denying Allah, the moon god of Islam is punishable by death.
A Muslim who becomes a non-Muslim is punishable by death.
A non-Muslim who leads a Muslim away from Islam is punishable by death.
A non-Muslim man who marries a Muslim woman is punishable by death.
SHARIA LAW
SUNNI VS SHI'A
•Mohammad died unexpectedly in 632.
•Split over who would succeed him
• His cousin and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib
• Allowing the elders to choose
•Sunnis
• 85% of Muslims
• Allowed the elders to choose
• First Caliph: Abu Bakr
•Shi’a
• 15% of Muslims
• Believe Ali was next leader