Mr. Gunnink

Survey of Literature

2011-2012

Islam is an Arabic word meaning “submission” or “peace”

Followers of Islam are called MuslimsMuslims are monotheistic, believing in one God

named Allah (Arabic word meaning “God”)Their sacred text is the Qur’anIslam is the second largest religion in the

world (24%)However, only 0.6% of Americans are Muslims

A merchant and poet named MuhammadLived in Saudi Arabia from 570-632 CESaudi Arabia at the time was populated by

Christians, Jews, and followers of native gods and goddesses

When he was forty, he claimed to have been visited by an angel, who told him he was the messenger of God, and he needed to speak what he was told

Over the next two decades, he would receive and recite revelations from God, which eventually were written down

Recite in the name of thy lord who created,

Created man from a clot;Recite in the name of thy lord,

Who taught by the pen,Taught man what he knew not.

Islam considered Jews and Christians “People of the Book,” since all religions have a holy text and believe in one God

In fact, all three religions see themselves as descended from Abraham (sometimes they are called “Abrahamic religions”)

The Qur’an tells slightly different versions of many Biblical stories

Islam sees the Qur’an as completing what the Judeo-Christian Bible started

Adam and EveCain and AbelAbraham, Isaac, IshmaelNoahLot; Sodom and GomorrahJosephMosesDavid and GoliathJonahMaryJesus

Muhammad considered himself a prophet of God, like many other prophets before him

Abraham, Moses, and Jesus were among themAccording to the Qur’an, Muhammad was

brought to Jerusalem to pray with Abraham, Jesus, and Moses

After that, he briefly ascended to heavenOn this spot, Muslims built the Dome of the

RockThis is also where the Jewish Temple once

stood

Using the revelations he received, Muhammad was able to create a new religion which slowly gained popularity both through free will and through military conquest

After his death, his recitations were written down from memory and recited orally

The poetic language of the Qur’an, while difficult to appreciate in English, has been memorized and revered by millions of Arabic speakers then and now

http://pewforum.org/Topics/Religious-affiliation/Muslim/

http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/index.htmlwww.quran.comhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

File:DomeOfTheRock053011.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/

commons/thumb/3/37/Iqra.jpg/230px-Iqra.jpg