This document provides an overview of the key beliefs and practices of Islam. It discusses that Islam is a monotheistic religion founded on revelations received by the prophet Muhammad. The five pillars of Islam are the core duties required of Muslims: the shahadah (declaration of faith), salat (prayer), zakat (almsgiving), sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). The document also outlines Islamic rules for worship, society, and the roles and contributions of historic Islamic empires and leaders.

1. Islam
The Religion of Muslims

2. Basic Definition
 Religion based on the messages
received by Muhammad
 Muhammad: man born around 570 CE
in Mecca, believed by Muslims to be a
prophet

3. True or False?
1. Islam is a polytheistic faith.
2. Followers of Islam are called Arabics.
3. A building for Muslim prayer is called
a mosque.
4. Muslims are not allowed to drink
alcohol.
5. Muslim women are not allowed to
own property.

4. Muslim or not?
1. Shaq, basketball
player

5. Muslim or not?
2. Dave Chapelle,
comedian

6. Muslim or not?
3. Akon, musician

7. Muslim or not?
4. Janet Jackson

8. Muslim or not?
5. Everlast, musician

9. Muslim or not?
6. Mike Tyson, boxer

11. Two Ways of Life
 Nomads  Sedentary Folks
– Tribes – Farmers
– Caravans – Merchants
– Tents – Settled

12. Where did they meet?
 Bazaars
 Nomads traded animal
products and desert
herbs for goods like
cooking supplies &
clothing
 Merchants sold spices,
gold, leather, crops,
and other goods

13. Star of the Caravan

14. Muhammad

15. Muhammad’s Life
 Born in 570 CE in Mecca
 Caravan driver until age 30
 Muslims believe he was a prophet
 Angel appeared to Muhammad
 Teachings collected in Qur‟an
 Made hegira from Mecca to Medina
 Died at age 62

16. Arabia during his time

17. Biblical Lineage
 According to
Muslims, Muhammad is
related to Adam, Noah, and
Abraham
 Thus, Jesus would be
Muhammad‟s ancestor

18. What did he teach?
 One god, “Allah”
 Rich and poor should be equal
 World has definite beginning and will
end someday
 Paradise is a beautiful garden
 Allah will judge all people in the end
 Guidelines for behavior & worship

19. The Qur’an

20. Qur’an: Sacred Book
 There is only one God.
 God will judge all
people.
 The good will live in
paradise.
 The bad will suffer.

21. Rules for Worship
 Don‟t eat pork or drink alcohol.
 Do ritual washing before prayer.
 5 Pillars of Islam

22. Rules for Society
 Slaves should be freed.
 Women have the right to
– own property
– earn money
– receive an education

23. Why do Muslim women
wear the veil (hijab)?
 Sumayya Syed, 16, says that what parents
or men want have nothing to do with it…
 She says it is a form of liberation (freedom).
 When a woman is covered, men cannot
judge her by her appearance but are forced
to evaluate her by her
personality, character, and morals.
 "I tell them that the hijab is not a
responsibility, it's a right given to me by my
Creator who knows us best. It's a benefit to
me, so why not? It's something every
woman should strive to get and should
want."

24. Jihad: Holy struggle
 “To make an effort, to struggle”
 Inner struggle people go through in
trying to obey God & behave
according to Islamic ways
 Also, struggle to get people to convert
to Islam

25. Sunnah
 Way Muhammad lived
 Provides a model for
the duties & way of life
expected of Muslims
 Inspired 5 pillars of
Islam

26. Shariah
 Islamic law
 Based on interpretations of Qur‟an and
Sunnah, as well as human reason
 Rewards for good behavior
 Punishments for bad behavior

27. 5 Pillars of Islam
 5 acts of worship required of all
Muslims
– Statement of faith
– Prayer 5x a day
– Almsgiving
– Fasting
– Hajj

28. 1st Pillar
 Allah is the one true God
 Muhammad is Allah‟s prophet
– “There is no god but God, and
Muhammad is his prophet.”

29. 2nd Pillar
 Prayer 5 times
a day
– Sunrise
– Midday
– Late afternoon
– Right after
sunset
– Before bed

30. 3rd Pillar
 Yearly donation to charity
 Muslims pay part of salary to religious
official
 Money used to help poor, build
mosques, or pay debts

31. 4th Pillar
 Fasting: going without food or drink
 Daily fasting during holy month of
Ramadan, when Allah began
communicating with Muhammad
– No eating when sun is up
 Reminds Muslims of all those who go
hungry/thirsty in the world

32. 5th Pillar
 Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca
 All Muslims must make their hajj once
during lifetime
 Kaaba: Islam‟s most sacred place

33. Kaaba

34. Kaaba

35. Islamic Empires
 Controlled much of Europe, Asia, and
Africa
 1400s to 1800s
 Ottomans
 Safavids
 Mughals

36. Ottomans
 Muslim Turkish warriors
 Ruled land from Eastern Europe to
North Africa and Arabia
 Key to power: super army
 Janissaries: slave soldiers who
converted to Islam and became fierce
 Gunpowder weapons
 Mehmed II: built up Istanbul
 Suleyman I: pushed into Europe

37. Safavids
 Persian Muslims
 Shia (Safavids): Muslims who thought
only Muhammad‟s descendents should
become caliphs
 Sunnis (Ottomans): believed caliphs
didn‟t have to be related to
Muhammad
 Esma‟il: spread Shiism
 „Abba: strengthened military

38. Mughals
 Turkish Muslims from Central Asia
 Babur: established empire
 Akbar: religious tolerance
 Built beautiful structures like Taj Mahal
in India
 Hindus and Muslims could peacefully
coexist in India

39. Taj Mahal, by Akbar

40. Islamic Contributions
 Art
 Science
 Math
 Literature

41. Art

45. Calligraphy

46. Muslim and Christian
Images of the Creator

47. Architecture

48. Poetry influenced by
Sufism
Sufi poets often wrote about their loyalty
to God:
The mighty Mahmud, the victorious Lord,
That all the misbelieving and black Horde
Of Fears and Sorrows that infest the Soul
Scatters and slays
with his enchanted Sword.
-Omar Khayyam

49. Famous Stories

50. Astronomy
 Muslims greatly
improved Greek
astrolabe to figure out
directions, location, &
time of day
 Observatories to study
sun, moon, stars

51. Math
 Combined Indian & Greek ideas to
learn more about math
 “Arabic numerals” are what we use
today
–123456789

52. Geography
 Using knowledge of stars, explorers
traveled throughout world
 Ibn Battuta wrote about his travels to
Africa, India, China, Spain in 1320s
 Accurate maps were made

54. Medicine
 Combined Greek & Indian knowledge
with own discoveries
 First pharmacy school to teach how to
make medicine
 Medical encyclopedia written
 Treatment for smallpox

55. Philosophy
 Sufism: movement
that focuses on
spiritual issues
 Sufis believe they
can find God‟s love
by having a
personal
relationship with
him

56. Whirling Dervishes

57. Thank you, Islam!
 Write a thank-you note to Muslims for
their contributions to
– Art
– Science
– Math
– Literature
 At least ½ page
 You have until the end of class