• Has over ONE BILLION followers• Where? – mostly in MIDDLE EAST, Africa, SE Asia• MONOTHEISTIC – one god • Arabic word for god – ALLAH• The word Islam means “submission to the will of God”• Followers of Islam are called MUSLIMS {“ones who have submitted”} • House of worship – MOSQUE• Religious leaders known as IMAMS

ISLAM

• Muslims believe in the prophets of JUDAISM and CHRISTIANITY – accept the teachings of ABRAHAM, MOSES, and JESUS

• However view those leaders as preparing the way for the final prophet - MUHAMMAD

ISLAM

• 570-632 AD born in city MECCA {located today in Saudi Arabia}

• Age of 40 claimed to have revelations from God• Began preaching MONOTHEISTIC beliefs {most in

the area were polytheistic}• Revelations later collected and written – QURAN• QURAN is the holy book of Muslims

MUHAMMAD

• Muhammad greeted with HOSTILITY by some• 622 – avoids persecution by escaping to

MEDINA (city 200 miles to the north of Mecca)

• Journey is called the HIJRAH• Considered a very holy event by Muslims (kept religion alive)• 622 is the first year of the Muslim CALENDAR

HIJRAH

• While in MEDINA Muhammad attracted more followers• He became a political and military leader as well as a

religious leader• 630 – led by 10,000 troops Muhammad captures MECCA• Mecca and the surrounding Arab world converts to

Islam• 632 Muhammad dies

Muhammad’s Conquest

• 1. FAITH – believe in one god (ALLAH) and the final prophet (MUHAMMAD)

• 2. PRAYER- FIVE times a day facing city of MECCA• 3. ALMS (Charity) – supporting less fortunate• 4. FASTING – Muslims do not eat or drink from sunrise

to sunset during the holy month of RAMADAN• 5. PILGRIMAGE – visit the holy city of MECCA at least

once in your lifetime (this visit is called the HAJJ)

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM