The Muslim WorldThe Muslim WorldThe Muslim WorldThe Muslim World

Chapter 10Chapter 10

I. Rise of Islam

•1.6 billion followers•Around 1/6th of the world’s

population•Fastest growing of today’s

major religions

A. Prophet Muhammad

• Born into a powerful family in Mecca

• Worked as a trader during his early life

• Lives a normal life until he was 40

• While meditating in a cave outside of Mecca, he received a message from the Angel Gabriel

• Told him there is only one God• Also told Muhammad that he was

the last of the great prophets

The Prophet

Angel Gabriel Visiting Muhammad

B. Basic Beliefs

•Allah – The one and only God according to Muslims

• Islam – Religion that means “submission to the will of God”

•Muslim – Followers of Islam, means “one who submits”

C. Hijrah • Muhammad found little support for his new

beliefs in Mecca• 622 – Muhammad flees to Medina – known as

the Hijrah• Also marks the beginning of the Muslim

calendar• In Medina, Muhammad gains fame and

support• Becomes a religious, political, and military

leader

D. Return to Mecca•630 – Muhammad returns to

Mecca with 10,000 followers• People of Mecca are forced to

submit to his rule• Most people also convert to

Islam

E. Five Pillars• 1) “There is no God but Allah, and

Muhammad is the last messenger of Allah”

• 2) Prayer five times a day facing Mecca– Mosque – Islamic house of worship

• 3) All Muslims must pay a special religious tax

Prayer Facing Mecca

Islamic Mosque

Another Mosque

• 4) Ramadan – Muslim holy month in which followers may not eat or drink from dawn to dusk– Done to prove that their spiritual needs are

greater than their physical needs.

• 5) Hajj – All Muslims who can afford it must make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime

HajjMecca, Saudi Arabia

F. Source of Authority•Qur’an – Muslim holy book•Muslims are forbidden to eat pork and drink alcohol

•There are no priest all worshipers are to directly worship Allah

What Islam Teaches

G. Links to Judaism and Christianity

• Muslims believe that Allah is the same God worshipped by Jews and Christians

• All three religions trace their roots back to the prophet Abraham

• Muslims view Jesus as one of the great prophets, but not God

• All three religions believe in a final judgment with a heaven and a hell

• People of the Book – What Muslims call Jews and Christians because they all have similar holy books

• All three religions have the Old Testaments in their holy books

"Our nation must be mindful that there are thousands of Arab-Americans who live in New York City, who love their flag just as much as [we] do.  And we must be mindful that as we seek to win the war, that we treat Arab-Americans and Muslims with the respect they deserve.  I know that is your attitudes as well. Certainly the attitude of this government, that we should not hold one who is a Muslim responsible for an act of terror.  We will hold those who are responsible for the terrorist acts accountable and those who harbor them."President George W. Bush, September 13, 2001

“America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.”

- President Obama - 2009