Introduction to Islam

and the Life of Muhammad

What do we know? What do we want

to know?What did we learn?

K.W.L Chart

The Crescent Moon 

The crescent moon and star is an internationally-recognized symbol of the faith of Islam. The symbol is featured on the flags of several Muslim countries.

The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years. Information on the origins of the symbol are difficult to ascertain, but most sources agree that these ancient celestial symbols were in use by the peoples of Central Asia and Siberia in their worship of sun, moon, and sky gods.

The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islamic armies and caravans flew simple solid-colored flags (generally black, green, or white) for identification purposes. In later generations, the Muslim leaders continued to use a simple black, white, or green flag with no markings, writing, or symbolism on it. 

It wasn't until the Ottoman Empire that the crescent moon and star became affiliated with the Muslim world.

For hundreds of years, the Ottoman Empire ruled over the Muslim world. After centuries of battle with Christian Europe, it is understandable how the symbols of this empire became linked in people's minds with the faith of Islam as a whole. Based on this history, many Muslims reject using the crescent moon as a symbol of Islam. The faith of Islam has historically had no symbol, and many refuse to accept what is essentially an ancient pagan icon. It is certainly not in uniform use among Muslims.

The Ka'aba (literally "the cube" in Arabic) is an ancient stone structure that was built and re-built by prophets as a house of monotheistic worship. It is located inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The Ka'aba is considered the center of the Muslim world, and is a unifying focal point for Islamic worship.

According to the Quran, the Ka'aba was built by the prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael as a house of monotheistic worship. However, by the time of Muhammad, the Ka'aba had been taken over by pagan Arabs to house their numerous tribal gods. In 630 A.D., Muhammad and his followers took over leadership of Mecca after years of persecution. Muhammad destroyed the idols inside the Ka'aba and re-dedicated it as a house of monotheistic worship.

Muslims do not worship the Ka'aba. Rather, it serves as a focal and unifying point among the Muslim people. During daily prayers, Muslims face toward the Ka'aba from wherever they are in the world (this is known as "facing the qiblah"). During the annual pilgrimage ("Hajj"), Muslims walk around around the Ka'aba in a counter-clockwise direction (a ritual known as "tawaf").

Prayer (Salat) is prescribed five times a day by all Muslims over the age of 10 as a duty towards God. Prayer strengthens and enlivens belief in God and inspires one to a higher morality.

Salat is very different from praying on the inspiration of the moment. A precise ritual is followed at 5 separate times of day which are set aside for devotion:  Between first light and sunrise After the sun has passed the middle of the sky Between mid-afternoon and sunset Between sunset and the last light of the day Between darkness and dawn

Muslims prefer to perform Salat with others, as this demonstrates the unity of all Muslims.

What Is Islam?

• Islam is a monotheistic religion that originated in the Middle East. Islam is one of the three major world religions, along with Judaism and Christianity, that profess monotheism, or the belief in a single God.

• In the Arabic language, the word Islam means “surrender” or “submission”—submission to the will of God. As a religion Islam calls for complete acceptance of and submission to the teachings and guidance of God.

• A follower of Islam is called a Muslim, which in Arabic means “one who surrenders to God.” A Muslim is one who freely and willingly accepts the supreme power of God and strives to live his or her life in accord with the teachings of God.

• Allah, is the Arabic language word for God. Allah refers to the same God worshiped by Jews and Christians. Islam’s central teaching is that there is only one all-powerful, all-knowing God, and this God created the universe.

Where is Islam Practiced?

• Within two centuries after its rise in the 7th century, Islam spread from its original home in Arabia into Syria, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain to the west, and into Persia, India, and, by the end of the 10th century, beyond to the east.

• In the following centuries, Islam also spread into Anatolia and the Balkans to the north, and sub-Saharan Africa to the south.

• The Muslim community comprises about 1.2 billion followers on all five continents, and Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world.

• The most populous Muslim country is Indonesia, followed by Pakistan and Bangladesh. Beyond the Middle East, large numbers of Muslims live in India, Nigeria, the former republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and China.

What is it’s Scripture?

• Just as Christians have the Bible, Muslims have the Qur’an. Muslims believe that the Qur’an (or Koran) is God’s word as revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.

• The Qur’an is the basis for Muslim beliefs regarding God, worship, morality, knowledge, wisdom, the human relationship to God, and relationships among human beings.

• Just as Christians believe that the person of Jesus was the Word or manifestation of God, Muslims believe that it is the Qur’an itself which is that Word and manifestation.  

What is it’s Scripture?

• Muslims are also told in the Qur’an to read three other holy books: the Torah (which are the first five books of the Old Testament), the Zabur (which are the Psalms of David), and the Injeel (the gospel of Christ).

• The Hadith – the teachings, sayings and actions of Muhammad – were reported by his devoted companions and collected. They explain and elaborate the Qur’anic verses and provide a model for the conduct of Muslims.

What Do They Believe In?

What Do They Believe In?

• Islam has seven fundamental beliefs that every Muslim must accept as a part of his/her religion. Every Muslim learns this formula as a part of his/her religious training.

1. Belief in God (who, in Arabic, is named "Allah") 2. Belief in the angels (both good and bad) 3. Belief in the revealed Books of God 4. Belief in God's many prophets (including Adam, Abraham, Moses,

David, and other Christians and Jews are familiar with) 5. Accepting that there will be a Last Day 6. Belief in the divine measurement of human affairs 7. Belief in life after death• Muslims also believe in Satan and in a Day of Judgment on which

God will send people to either heaven or hell. They also believe that Ishmael (the father of the Arab world), not Isaac, received the promise from God through Abraham; this helps to explain why Arab Muslims feel that their claim to the Holy Land is a God-given right.

Every action done with the awareness that it fulfills the will of God is considered an act of worship. The specific acts termed the Five Pillars of Islam provide the framework of Muslim spiritual life and the duties that all Muslims must do.

Places of Worship

Mosques are a place of worship for the Islamic faith. Muslims around the world gather on Fridays in mosques. Mosques are buildings where men (and sometimes women, depending upon the country) pray to God. In a mosque during prayer time, all Muslims face toward Mecca, the birthplace of Islam, where Muhammad had his vision. Mosques are where men and women pray together, usually the men are in the front and women in the back.

Key structures for a mosque include: 1. An indication to the direction of Mecca (where the Ka’ba is), called a mihrab.2. An minaret or a dome, which calls Muslims to prayer.

Places of Worship

Shoes are also taken off before entering a mosque, and the floors are carpeted. There is a prayer hall, where the prayers are led by an imam (An imam is a Muslim teacher, or a leader of prayer).

Muslims believe that the Ka’bah was the first place of worship on Earth, and that it was built by Adam.

Places of Worship

The Beginning of Islam Starts with

Muhammad• Islam was founded in 610 CE. by a

man named Muhammad. • During Muhammad's time,

polytheism reigned. His people were worshipping multiple gods.

• During one of Muhammad's trips as a trader, he had a vision from a being he perceived to be an angel who said, "There is only one God, and His name is Allah. Worship Him.“

• In 622 CE he was exiled from Mecca and went to Medina with his followers to form a religious community. (this is known as the Hijra and is the start date for the Muslim calendar)

The Beginning of Islam Starts with

Muhammad• Muhammad is respected as a prophet.

• He is not regarded as the “founder” of Islam, but rather as one in a long line of prophets from Adam to Abraham, Moses, Solomon, and Jesus. Islam therefore did not begin with Muhammad, whose role was that of a “messenger” who received and passed on a revelation from God.

• On the Night of Power and excellence the angel Gabriel appeared to him and disclosed to him the text of the Qur’an.

• Muhammad made it clear that Muslims should “call me the servant of God and His messenger.” He is regarded as a human being and in no way divine. He is seen as the Seal of the Prophets, the final prophet who completed the revelation begun by the earlier prophets.

Activity Time: Become an Expert on

Muhammad and the Beginning of Islam

Using the biographies provided about the prophet

Muhammad, complete a Facebook profile page time line with events, statues, and descriptions of the life of Muhammad and the beginnings of the faith.

Include important points that are significant to his life and the history of the Islamic faith. Include important points from each paragraph. Posts can very in length depending on the point. Include more detail when necessary.

These points will be your guidelines, and notes for studying. Have fun, be creative! Make his life exciting through

interesting and creative posts. This will be marked ! If it is completed properly and with effort

you will receive full marks, if it is not you will receive no marks.

Activity Time