Islam 101- An Introduction to Islam/Beyond the Middle East

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Islam 101- An Introduction to Islam/Beyond the
Middle East

• This session will discuss the basic tenets of
  Islam the religion and its origin. We will also
  introduce who the diverse cultural groups are
  from around the world that practice Islam.

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Some Basic Facts

• Islam is an Arabic word. It means peace or
  submission peace with God, or submission.
• Salaam alaykum The same Arabic root word
  meaning peace be with you is the universal
  Muslim greeting.
• Muslim is also Arabic in origin meaning one
  who believes in and consciously follows Islam.

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ALLAH

• Islam begins with God (Allah). The word Allah
  is formed by joining the definite Arabic article
  al which means the with the Arabic llah,
  which means God.
• La ilaha illa Allah means There is no god but
  Allah (God)

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Muhammad, The Messenger of God

• Born in Mecca
• Christian calendar year 570 A.D.
• Name means highly praised
• Considered the final prophet

• The Night of Power
• 610 A.D. when Allah spoke to Muhammad
• In a cave on Mount Hira ( on the outskirts of
  Mecca)

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Hijra The Flight to Medina

• 622 A.D. (Christian Calendar)
• Muhammad fled Mecca to Yathrib
• A new era and beginning of the Muslim Calendar
• Medinat al-nabi The City of the Prophet
  Medina The City
• 10 A.H. (after the Hijra)

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THE QURAN

• al-quran in Arabic means a recitation
• The word of God revealed to Muhammad over a time
  frame of 23 years through the voice of the angel
  Gabriel
• 114 surahs (or chapters)
• Slightly shorter in length than the Christian New
  Testament

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How Many Are Muslims?

• 1 billion followers (1/5 of the world population)
• Less than 10 percent of Muslims are Arab

• Majority Muslims are found throughout the Middle
  East, North Africa, East Asia and the Pacific
  Islands ex. Indonesia, Malaysia, southern
  Philippines
• Large numbers include Western Europe, the former
  Soviet Union, and North America.

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The Five Pillars of Faith

• 1. Shahada (affirmation)
• 2. Salat (prayer)
• 3. Zakat (almsgiving)
• 4. Siyam (fasting)
• 5. Hajj (pilgrimage)

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The Fast of Ramadhan

• The ninth month of the Muslim Calendar
• When Muslims fast during the entire month to
  concentrate on their faith and spend less time on
  the concerns of everyday life
• A time of worship and contemplation

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Ramadhan restrictions/expectations

• No eating or drinking during the daylight hours
  (from dawn to sunset)
• Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden

• The good from fasting is nullified by
• The telling of a lie
• Slander
• Denouncing someone behind his back
• A false oath
• Greed or covetousness

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Recommended books

• What Every Christian Should Know About Islam by
  Ruqaiyya Waris
• More In Common Than You Think The Bridge
  Between Islam and Christianity by Bill Baker
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X- as told to Alex
  Haley
• Muslim on the Americanization Path by Yvonne
  Haddad and John Esposito
• For God and Country Faith and Patriotism Under
  Fire by Chaplain James Yee

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Recommended On Line Resources

• www.MuslimBridges.org
• http//www.al-islam.com/eng/
• http//www.islamselect.com/english/index.php
• http//www.islaam.ca/
• http//islam.about.com/