Islam -...
Transcript of Islam -...
Islam
What is a stereotype?
Example: Muslims are from the Middle East, and are Arabic.
Wrong! 80% of Muslims are not of Arabic decent, and live outside of the Middle East in places like Asia and Africa
Example: “Those people who wear those things on on their heads, those “turbans” are Muslims
Wrong! Turbans are NOT required by Islam, but they are required by another religion… many of the people you might see in the U.S.
wearing a turban are actually a religion called Sihk. A totally different religion.
However, “turbans” are worn frequently in the Middle East. Mostly due to the hot desert geography. The
turban or head wrap, protects the face and the head from scalding desert sun.
But what about Muslim women who are forced to cover their faces – isn’t that like prejudice against
women?
Actually, women in Islam choose how much “coverage” they want. It’s done to be modest and respectful of their body.
Its is not a requirement of the religion.
But, I’ve seen pictures and heard stuff in the news about how “Muslims” hate America! And look at this
picture – they are burning the American flag!
Plus, Osama Bin Laden was Muslim…
…And Osama Bin Laden organized 9/11! He was Muslim and he was a terrorist…
And what about “ISIS” – they are Muslims and Terrorists and they say they are acting in
the name of their religion…
So all Muslims are terrorists…Right?
WRONG! 1.5 Billion people in the world are NOT terrorists.
Do you really think 1 in 5 people in the world is an Osama Bin Laden – a Terrorist?
Muslims in Iraq protesting “ISIS”
Muslims are normal people like you and me. In fact, many Muslims in the U.S. look and live no differently from anyone else. They don’t even cover their heads at all.
Is Terrorism real? YES. Definitely.
And are there Muslims terrorists? Yes.
Maybe we all need a little more information about each other…
Islam: ☪“Submission to Allah (God)”
☪ MUSLIM: “One who submits to Allah”
Fundamental & Basic Beliefs
Muslims of the World
☪ 1.5 billion, Muslims represent between 20% and 25% of the world's population.
☪ Second largest religion in the world
Fundamental & Basic Beliefs
World Distribution of Muslims
Africa 432,660,000 28.8%
Asia 1,005,000,000 66.8%
Europe 50,900,000 3.4%
Latin America 8,266,000 0.5%
North America 6,530,000 0.3%
World 1,503,956,000 100%
Oceania 600,000 .01%
☪80% of “Muslims” are not Arabic
The Prophet Muhammad ☪Born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the year 570 A.D. ☪Muslims believe that as an adult he received
direct revelation from Allah to create the religion of Islam (submission to Allah)
HISTORY
☪Eventually he made the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the center of Islam
☪In Mecca he
“purified” (cleared all idols from) the Kaa’ba, an ancient holy shrine believed to be built by Abraham.
HISTORY
☪Islam grew rapidly but Muhammad died in 632 BC ☪After his death Islam continued to spread through the
Middle East and North Africa
HISTORY
Fundamental & Basic Beliefs
THE FIVE PILLARS OF
ISLAM
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
“SHAHADAH” (Witnessing)
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪Muslims must witness (state) that: “There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his prophet.”
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
“SALAH” (Prayer)
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪There are 5 Daily Prayers starting at Dawn and ending in the Late Evening
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
Mu ☪While Praying Muslims must face the direction of Mecca, and the Kaba’a…the holiest places in Islam
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪1st step of Prayers is ABLUTION or cleaning (the head, mouth, hands and feet.)
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪Then Standing… Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪Bowing… Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪Sitting and Prostrating (laying forward) Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪In Islamic countries the “Call to Prayer” is announced from the minarets of all mosques in the cities, 5 times a day. (Train to Turkey)
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
“ZAKAH” (Charity)
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪Devout Muslims are expected to give to the poor. Some suggest 2% of your income, some feel its just whatever you can offer.
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
“SAWM” (Fasting during Ramadan)
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
Ramadan ☪Ramadan is 9th month in Islamic Lunar
☪Fasting takes place for 29/30 days
☪Begins at sunrise ends at sunset.
☪“Fasting” means no food or drink or Anything Romantic.
Holy Days & Holidays
☪Traditionally the fast is broken with a “date” – followed by a small meal including soup an egg a pastry sweetened with honey, and some juice.
Holy Days & Holidays
“HAJJ” (Pilgrimage)
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪ Hajj is a religious journey to Mecca made once in the lifetime of “able” Muslims
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪ About 2-3 million Muslims perform Hajj each year from all over the world.
Fundamental /Basic Beliefs
☪ Most popular time for Hajj is Eid Al-Adha: the Feast of the Sacrifice
(Families slaughter a ram to remember the submission of Abraham to sacrifice Ishmael)
Holy days & Holidays
Sects of Islam ☪SUNNI Muslims:
believe that any devout Muslim can lead and direct the people.
☪SHIA’ (SHIITE)
Muslims: believe that only a descendant Of Muhammad may lead the people.
SECTS Sects / Branches
☪Shia Muslims believe that Sunni Muslims killed the last descendant of Muhammad at the battle of Karballah.
☪To this day, Sunnis and Shias in general , DO NOT get along... and even kill each other
SECTS Sects / Branches
☪Places of
worship & learning
☪Shoes must be removed & women must cover head
☪Men & women
have separate areas to pray
Mosques Sacred Spaces & Places of Worship
☪Inside an Islamic place of worship (Mosque) you will see beautiful geometric shapes – but no pictures of people, or living things. No Idol worship!
Sacred Spaces & Places of Worship
“Sacred Spaces” of Islam
Mecca ☪The most Holy & most sacred city for Islamic followers ☪ The gathering place for the sacred “Hajj” ☪ Must be Muslim to enter
Sacred Spaces & Places of Worship
The Ka’ba ☪ The most Holy location that all Muslims pray towards ☪ The center of the earth, where creation began ☪ Holds black stone, and was built by Abraham
Sacred Spaces & Places of Worship
Medina ☪Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
Mosque (the Prophets Mosque)
☪The Green
Dome is the the location of Muhammad’s
tomb
Sacred Spaces & Places of Worship
Jerusalem ☪ The location where Mohammed ascended in to heaven to speak to Allah ☪The Location where “Ishmael” was to be sacrificed
Sacred Spaces & Places of Worship
Quran: The Holy Book
☪ Written in Arabic - Original, intact, as given by
the Prophet
☪ 23 Years of Revelations from Allah (610 - 632
C.E.)
Sacred Books or Texts
Dietary Laws
of Islam Forbidden Foods: ☪ NO Pork ☪ NO Blood ☪ NO Meat of animals found dead ☪ NO Alcoholic beverages & NO Drugs
Meat Must be“Halal”: ☪ Halal = Meat which has been killed in the name of
God
Dietary Laws or Guidelines
Marriage ☪ Devout Muslims MUST
marry within the faith
☪ Technically a Muslim man may marry a Christian or
Jewish woman (because of shared religious history in the Bible)…but it
is still considered a “great sin” if the children are not raised
Muslim.
Marriage & Family Roles & Traditions
☪Muslims believe in chastity before marriage ☪Polygamy allowed in Quran – up to 4 wives. ☪ Still practiced by some but not all Muslims – and
is illegal in many Muslim countries
Marriage & Family Roles & Traditions
Imam ☪Religious leader of a given Mosque ☪Gives sermons and council to Muslims ☪ THERE IS NO CENTRAL AUTHORITY IN ISLAM
Important Figures & Leaders
Friday = Holy Day This is the Islamic “Holy Day” – many
Muslims go to “Mosque” on this day, but it is not required.
Holidays & Holy Days
The Hijab ☪“Hijab” Means “To Cover” ☪It is the mix of religion and cultural tradition, intended to protect the virtue & modesty of women.
Religious Culture
☪The Quran teaches women AND men should be modest ☪It does not require a specific amount of coverage
Religious Culture
☪However some countries, like Saudi Arabia, require all women (including visitors) to wear the Hijab in Public
Religious Culture
☪And by some extremists, like the Taliban in Afghanistan, the “Burqa” was required and misused as a form of oppression of women
Religious Culture
☪For most Muslim women its no different than other religions or places that encourage “modesty”. Its about respecting yourself.
Religious Culture