Story:
Islam began with the prophet Muhammad. Although Muhammad (his name means “the praised one”) is not the first Islamic prophet, he is believed by Muslims to be the last. The Quran cites Adam as the first prophet, with thousands falling between Adam and Muhammad. Muhammad was aware of Hebrew and Christian traditions and believed that God had already revealed himself in part through Moses and Jesus. However, Muhammad believed he was chosen to be God’s messenger to deliver the final revelations of God to the people. Muhammad was born in the Arabian city of Mecca, near the coast of the Red Sea in about 570. Muhammad’s parents died when he was young, so he was raised by his uncle.As a young man, Muhammad worked as a trade agent for a wealthy widow.At the age of twenty-five, he married this woman and had several children with her. Muhammad was a successful caravan merchant. He began to meditate in a cave on the mountain, Hira, outside the city. There, one night, at age 40, in about 610, Muhammad is said to have received the first of his revelations from God.The angel Gabriel appeared to him and commanded him to recite words that later became part of the Quran. Muhammad came to accept the revelations which were from then on frequently imparted to him. In 613, Muhammad began preaching the message of monotheism—a belief in the one true God. He also taught that idolatry was wrong. At first, Islam was merely a local religion led by Muhammad, and Meccans tolerated his preaching. Some laughed at Muhammad and thought his teachings odd. Muhammad was increasingly seen as a danger to the existing way of life and a threat to the Meccan economy. Merchants,in particular, feared that if Arabs became followers of Muhammad and stopped making pilgrimages to Mecca to worship idols at the Kaaba, they would stop spending money there, and the merchants would no longer prosper. So, Muhammad and his followers were persecuted for their beliefs and for their disruption of Meccan life. Muhammad organized an exodus out of Mecca in 622. He and his small band of followers moved to the nearby city of Medina, 250 miles north, where they were welcomed. While Muhammad was in Medina, he attempted to form alliances with Jews and Christians there on the basis of what he believed to be strong common elements in these three monotheistic religions. Muhammad resisted attacks on Medina by forces from Mecca and successfully led his own attack on Mecca with an army of 10,000 men in 630. Muhammad realized his quest for an Arab Islamic state—he ruled almost the entire Arabian peninsula —he died in Medina unexpectedly of fever on June 8, 632. His tomb in Medina is known as the Prophet’s Tomb and it,too, is one of Islam’s holy sites.
Classification:
Islam is monotheistic because they only believe in one god who created the whole universe.
Key Figures:
In the Islamic faith they believed Adam, he was the first man, and the first human being. God created Adam from a handful of soil containing portions from all its varieties on Earth. Angels were sent to earth to collect the soil that was to become Adam. The descendants of Adam were destined to be as diverse as the handful of soil from which their ancestor was created; all have different appearances, attributes and qualities. Muhammad and his followers were persecuted for their beliefs and for their disruption of Meccan life. Muhammad organized an exodus out of Mecca in 622. He and his small band of followers moved to the nearby city of Medina, 250 miles north, where they were welcomed. While Muhammad was in Medina, he attempted to form alliances with Jews and Christians there on the basis of what he believed to be strong common elements in these three monotheistic religions. Muhammad resisted attacks on Medina by forces from Mecca and successfully led his own attack on Mecca with an army of 10,000 men in 630.
Religious Authority:
The Quran is the most important holy book for Muslims. It is one of the greatest and most widely read books in the world. Its teachings are the heart of Islamic belief, and its basic message is that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet. Muslims believe the Quran contains the actual words of God. These revelations are believed to have been sent from God through the angel Gabriel to the prophet, Muhammad. Muhammad then passed them on to his followers who became known as Muslims. The final form of the Quran was determined by the third caliph (the third successor to Muhammad), Uthman. The Quran is considered perfect and is written in Arabic. Muslims believe translations are uninspired and not the true word of God.Therefore, Muslims have always studied the Quran in its original form. Students are encouraged to memorize as much of the Quran as they can. It teaches about many things—God, prophets, values, morals, virtues, life, and death. The central teaching of the Quran is that there is only one God (Allah). God created all things and demands that people submit to him.
Core Beliefs
Goals:
The primary goal of Islam is to enjoy eternal life, both physical and spiritual in heaven with Allah (God)
beliefs about after life:
The Quran teaches that life is a test, and we will either be rewarded or punished for our actions after we die. It promises that all who live according to God's word will go to paradise. Muslims believe that those who choose not to follow god's word end up in fiery hell.
Rules/Guidelines for Daily Life:
Some of the main rules Muslims have to follow are the five pillars of Islam. They are named the five pillars because they are likened to the pillars in a mosque that support the building. Like pillars of a building, the Pillars of Islam support Islam’s teachings and practices. Anyone who does not fulfill these obligations may be punished by God or by the Islamic state. The Five Pillars of Islam are 1. the shahada (declaration of faith), 2. salat (daily worship), 3. zakat (charitable giving), 4. sawm (fasting) and 5. hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Shahada is a declaration of faith and means “act of bearing witness.” It is the pillar on which the other four pillars are based. This declaration has two parts: 1.The belief that there is no god but Allah; and 2. Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Salat is prayer. Daily prayer by Muslims is the most important way they can show their devotion to God. Muslims must pray five times a day—at dawn, at midday, in the afternoon, just after sunset, and at night. It is believed that he was taken from Mecca to Jerusalem, where he prayed with such earlier prophets as Abraham and Jesus.After praying, Muhammad ascended to heaven where God told him to implement the recitation of prayers five times a day.
Concepts of a higher power:
In Islam there is only one God. God is the Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, God is everywhere. God created the universe, knows everything and keeps the universe going. God loves everyone without question. Human beings can get to know God through prayer, worship mystical experiences and love. God is perfect and makes no mistakes.
Key Holidays:
In Islam they many important holidays such as Ramasdan, Lailat ul-Qadr, Id al-Fitr, Id ul-Adba, and Al-Isra Wal Miraj. To star one of the most important Islamic holidays is Ramadan. Ramadan is a time in the Islamic calendar where it is about religious observations. The holy festival of Ramadan lasts an entire month. In Ramadan Muslims strictly adhere religious practices that include fasting, reflection, and even purification. Adults are not allowed to eat or drink during daylight hours of Ramadan , and are encouraged to read the Quran from start to finish during the celebration of Ramadan. You have to spend as much time as you can worshiping in a mosque during the celebration as well. In Ramadan you reflect on their shortcoming and thank God for his guidance. Lailat ul-Qadr includes the last ten days of Ramadan. It celebrates Muhammad's first divine revelation, which the Muslims believe he recieved one night in the last 10 days of Ramadan. In Id al-Fitr Muslims celbrate three long feast right after Ramadan is over it is a time of gifting as well. In Id ul-Adba is a time of observance after Ramadan, they celebrate their faithfulness to the prophet Abraham. Last ther is Al-Isra Wal Miraj which take place on the 27th day of the Islamic month. It commemorates Muhammad's Night Journey and the institution of praying 5 times a day.
Sites and Symbols:
The mosque plays an important role in the life of a Muslim. It is a place where Muslims gather to worship God (Allah). Mosques can vary in style, depending on the country in which they are located. Some mosques are simply plain assembly halls where Muslims gather to pray. Most mosques have a courtyard that is surrounded by four halls.These halls are called iwams. Usually, a fountain is located in the courtyard where Muslims ritually cleanse themselves before prayer. One of the most distinguishable features of the mosque is the minaret. When Muslims gaze up at this tall, slender tower, they are symbolically looking up to heaven where God is the ultimate ruler. The walls of the mosque usually feature elaborate decorations.These decorations are always abstract and geometrical, representing divine harmony. Since Muslims are careful to avoid worshipping other gods, there are no distracting pictures of people or animals in mosques.This helps Muslims focus on worshipping only God. The large inner area of the mosque is usually adorned only with carpets and rugs, and two other objects called the mihrab, and the minbar. The carpets and rugs are used as prayer mats.This area is considered holy ground. Worshippers kneel and bow down with their faces to the ground on these mats when in prayer. When Muslims pray, they always face Mecca. The minbar is a pulpit. From the minbar, the imam (religious leader) delivers a khutba (sermon) to the people.These sermons are given on Fridays. Fridays are important days of Muslim worship. Every Friday at midday, Muslims gather together at a mosque to honor and worship God. Mosques are sacred places to Muslims, just as churches and temples are to people of other religions.They must be respected by all who visit, regardless of a person’s religious background.
Sects and/or branches:
Muhammad had named no one to succeed him and had not established a method for choosing a new leader of the Islamic state.The majority of Muslims, called Sunnites, (meaning “traditionalists” from the Arab word sunnah,“tradition”) united behind one of Muhammad’s principle disciples— Abu Bakr. A smaller group, called Shiites (meaning literally “party of Ali”) believed that Muhammad had wanted his cousin and son-in-law Ali (the husband of his daughter, Fatima) as leader, and that Abu Bakr and the two leaders who followed him had wrongly seized power from Ali. The Shiites believe that only members of Muhammad’s family and their descendants are his legitimate successors. Ali was the fourth caliph. The assassination of Husayn in 680 marked the decisive split between the Sunnis and the Shiites. .An imam is a religious leader who is without sin and has a direct lineage to Ali. Imamites believe that there have been 12 imams. The first was Ali and the last was Muhammad a-Muntazar. They believe their authority comes from being representatives of the 12th imam. Shiite Muslims regard the clerics as having complete knowledge of the Quran and its application. Shiites are clustered in and around Iran and Iraq, and Sunnis are found in the Middle East, Turkey,Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Shiites differ little in their basic beliefs about God, prophecy, revelation, and the Last Judgment. Although the name Sunni suggests a faith more deeply tied to tradition, both sects recognize the same primary sources of guidance: the Quran and the sunna (the example) of Muhammad.