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Islam |
Overview
- Traces its beginnings back to Adam
- Humanity strayed from original monotheism
- Prophets were sent to call people back to original
monotheistic faith. Abraham
- One of the most important prophets was Abraham
- With his son, Ishmael, built Ka’bah in Mecca as a place of
worship for the one God (Allah)
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| Pivotal Belief: Summed up
in the shahadah: "There is no God but God (Allah) and Muhammad
is his messenger." |
Muhammad
- Muhammad was the last prophet
- Born in Mecca around 570
- Beginning in 610 he received revelations that are recorded
in the Qur’an Qur’an is the “final word” and serves a the
culmination and correction of scriptures of Judaism and
Christianity
- Left Mecca for Yathrib (Medina) where he established the
first Islamic state in Medina in 622. Thie exodus to Median
became known as the hegira or hijrah.
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The Qur’an
- Literally “reading” or “reciting”
- About the length of the Christian New Testament arranged in
114 sections
- Qur'an is the direct Word of Allah (God) to humanity through
the prophet Muhammad. It is the uncreated (eternal) speech of
God
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Major Teachings of Qur’an
- Oneness of Allah
- Humanity should submit/accept Allah’s will.
- At the last judgment each person will be held accountable
for his/her deeds
- Worst sin: equating anything to Allah
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| Duties Duties required of
all Muslims are known as the Five Pillars of Islam
- Confession of faith (shahadah): “There is no god but Allah
and Muhammad is His prophet.”
- Daily Prayers (Five times each day)
- Zakat: giving 2.5% of one’s goods to those in need.
- Fasting during Ramadan
- Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)
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| Branches of Islam |
Fairly early in its history, Islam divided into two main
branches. This division was largely the result of disagreement
over the selection and nature of Muhammad's successor.
- Sunnis (constitute majority of Muslims (80%),
- Shiites (a minority centered in present day Iran and
parts of Iraq).
The Sufis are a third group within Islam may overlap both
Sunnis and Shiites. This movement focuses on mysticism and a direct
experience of God. |