Islam is a monotheistic religion articulated by the Qur'an. Muslims believe in one God and that the purpose of existence is to love and serve God. The word "Islam" means "submission to God" in Arabic. The religion was founded by the prophet Muhammad in the 7th century to unite the Arab people, but it spread worldwide with Arabs originally making up 15-20% of adherents. The five main principles of Islam are the shahadah, prayer, fasting, charity, and the hajj pilgrimage.

1. ISLAM

2. Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic
religion articulated by the Qur'an.
Muslims believe that God is one and
incomparable and the purpose of existence is
to love and serve God.

3. The word Islam in arabic means „surrend to
God”. Apologists and Muslim missionaries
often deduce the word Islam from the word
salām - peace. The purpose of Islam and the
teachings done by the prophet Mahomet was
to join all Arabic people into one large Muslim
family. The faith, however, spread onto the
entire world. Nowadays, Arabs are 15% up to
20% adherents of Islam.

4. Arabs (original
meaning: "nomads")
– are the group of
people of the Semitic
origin, inhabiting the
Arabian Peninsula
from the ancient
times. A majority of
Arabs are white
people, but Negroid-
look Arabs can also
be met in Africa.
Arabs in traditional dresses
(1910)

5. Beginnings and the
development of Islam
In the 7th century AD on the area of the Arabian Peninsula a
new monotheistic religion came into existence - Islam.
Muhammad was its founder – he was one of the most
important religious reformers in the history of the world. He
was born in 570 and was an orphan. When he married the rich
widow - Khadijah, he could start his philosophical
contemplations, and then according to the traditional legends
Archangel Gabriel appeared before Mahomet and portrayed
him the Allah who from now on was supposed to be the only
God for all Arabs.

6. Symbols of the Islam
A shahadah written in black letters on the white background, or with
white letters on the black background is an appropriate symbol of the
Islam. However, the crescent (hilal) is more often treated as the
symbol of the Islam. Fundamentally, from a historical point of view it
is wrong, because the crescent was not a symbol of the religion, but
symbol of the caliphate only. In the social awareness however, also
in Muslim countries, the hilal was the main symbol of this religion,
and in this shape appears in most of the heraldry of Islamic states
(e.g. in emblems and on flags of Maldives, Pakistan, Algeria, Turkey,
Tunisia and other), as well as the analogy to the symbol of the Red
Cross – the international Christian movement.

7. Symbols of
Islam

8. The Islam has shared its roots with the Judaism and
the Christianity. According to Mahomet's revelation s
presented to Jews and Christians by Abraham, Moses
and Jesus should be repeated and supplemented.
Muslims believe that verses of the Koran were
gradually shown to Mahomet by Archangel Gabriel
between 610 AD, and his death on 8th June, 632.
The base of Islam are the five principles:
oOne and only God,
o praying five times a day,
ofast in the Ramadan,
ocharity for poor
opilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

9. Beginning of the Ramadan

10. Clergymen
A separate group of clergymen doesn't exist in the Sunni
Islam. Imam (guide, the boss) isn't a priest, but a member of
the community of believers which is leading prayers. The
imam does not have to be a theologian, but should have the
extensive knowledge of principles of Islam and the Koran;
must be clever as well. Muezzin isn't also a clergyman.
Experts of the Islam posses a huge respect as they are
treated as „the successors of prophets".

11. 1. Is the Islam monotheistic religion?
2. How is the scripture of the Islam called?
3. How are the adherents of Islam called?
4. What does the word „Islam” mean in Arabic?
5. How much % of Islam adherents are of Arab origin?
6.What five principles are the base of Islam?
7. Is there a separate group of clergymen appearing in the Sunni Islam?
8. Must the Imam be a theologian?
9. What skills are needed to become an imam?
10. Were Arabs originally called nomads?

12. Natalia
Baczewska