The Beliefs, Traditions and Customs of Islam

What do the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have in common?

•They are monotheistic•Abraham is the father of monotheism, his descendentsfounded Islam•They developed in roughly the same geographic region •They have a moral code•They have sacred texts establishing the principles of their religion

The revelations to Muhammad form the basis of the Islamic Religion

1. These revelations are written in the Qu’ran, the most sacred book for Muslims. It contains the word ofGod (Allah).

There are five rules that Muslims must follow to be faithful to their God. These are called the Five Pillars of Islam.1. Faith in one God (Allah)2. Prayer 5 times a day

facing Mecca 3. Fasting during

Ramadan 4. Giving to charity (alms)5. Making a pilgrimmage

to Mecca once in a lifetime.(Hajj)

•Muhammad was the founder of Islam.

•Muslims are worshipers of Islam. Muslim means one who has submitted to God.

•Muslims worship in a Mosque.

Muslims believe that Jesus, Abraham and Moses were prophetseven though they were Christian and Hebrew leaders. Prophetsare people whom God has spoken to. Muslims believethat God spoke to Jesus, Abraham and Moses but that Muhammad was the last person that God spoke to.

Language of Islam: ArabicMuslims do not believe in showing living things in art: they use Calligraphy

Before Muhammad, the religion of the Bedouin tribes was Idol worship, which was a formof polytheism. Clans would go to the Kaa’ba in Mecca and worship idols that had been left there.

Mecca was an important religious center even before Muhammad was born.

The Kaa’ba means cubed shaped building in Arabic. Muslims believe the Kaa’ba was originally built by Abraham.

It is believed that Abraham, the father of the Hebrews, wasalso the father of Ishmael of whom Muslims are descended.

Muhammad’s revelations were rejected in Mecca and he fled to Medina. He and his followers later returned to Mecca and destroyed the idols at the Kaa’ba. The Kaa’ba then became the most holy site for Muslims.

The three holiest cities for Muslims are Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.

1. In what way does Abraham connect the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam?

2. What is the Qu’ran (also spelled Koran)?

3. What is the name of God in Arabic?

5. Who was the founder of Islam?

6. Where do Muslims worship?

4. The Five Pillars of Islam are:

a.b.c.d.e.

The Beliefs, Customs and Traditions of Islam

What is the Kaa’ba?

What religion was practiced before Islam?

What three cities are most important for Muslims?