M5 RRS

• Islam


  Submission to the will of God
• Muslims


  • Monotheistic
  • Worship one, all-knowing God, known as Allah
  • Believe Allah's word is revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel
• Prophet Muhammad


  • Born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 570 A.D.
  • Muslims believe he was the final prophet sent by God to reveal their faith to mankind
• Mosques


  • Kaaba Shrine in Mecca
  • Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem
  • Prophet Muhammad's Mosque in Medina
• Quran (Koran)


  • Major holy text of Islam
  • Hadith is another important book
• The word Islam means "SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD" and Islam was started in Mecca
• Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide
• Hijra


  1. In 622, Muhammad traveled from Mecca to Medina with his supporters

  2. This journey marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar
• As-Salaam Alaikum


  The Arabic term for "Peace be upon you"
• Wa-Alaikum As-Salaam


  The Arabic term for "Peace be upon you too"
• Fundamentals and Beliefs of Islam

  • In Allah
  • In the will of Allah
  • In the angels of Allah
  • In the book of Allah
  • In the messenger of Allah
  • In the day of Judgement
  • In the Life after Death
• Caliphate System


  1. Abu Bakr was the first caliph

  2. Abu Bakr was succeeded by Caliph Umar

  3. Uthman, Muhammad's son-in-law, took the role after Umar

  4. Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was selected as the next caliph
• Sunnis


  • They accept that the first four caliphs were the true successors to Muhammad
  • They recognize books of Hadith
  • They accept four schools of Islamic law: Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki, and Shafi'i
• Shiites


  • They believe that only the caliph Ali and his descendants are the real successors to Muhammad
  • They deny the legitimacy of the first three caliphs
  • They have a considerable presence in Iran, Iraq and Syria
  • Karbala in Iraq is a pilgrimage site for Shiite Muslims
• Other Types of Islam

  • Wahhabi
  • Alawite
  • Nation of Islam
  • Kharijites
• Islamic Calendar


  • Lunar calendar used in Islamic religious worship
  • Began in the year 622 A.D., celebrating the journey of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina
  • Ramadan occurs during the ninth month of the calendar
• Five Pillars of Islam

  • Shahada (to declare one's faith in God and belief in Muhammad)
  • Salat (to pray five times a day)
  • Zakat (to give to those in need)
  • Sawm (to fast during Ramadan)
  • Hajj (to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during a person's lifetime)
• Islamic Symbol


  • A red crescent indicates that followers of Islam are respected and treated accordingly
  • The color green is also sometimes associated with Islam, as it was reportedly a favorite color of Muhammad's and is often featured prominently in the flags of predominantly Muslim countries
• Sharia Law


  • Islam's legal system that directs Muslims on how they should live in nearly every aspect of their lives
  • Requires men and women to dress modestly
  • Outlines marriage guidelines and other moral principles for Muslims
• Major Muslim Holidays


  • Eid al-Adha (celebrates the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah)
  • Eid al-Fitr (marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting)
  • Islamic New Year
  • Birth of Muhammad
• Issues about Islam


  • Criticism of Islam
  • Division of Islam
• Other Islamic Terms


  • Ummah (Islamic Holy Community)
  • Al-Amin (The Trusted One)
  • Kaaba (Cube)
  • Subha (Rosary of Islam)
  • Shia or Shiites (Second Largest branch of Islam after Sunni Islam)
  • Imam (Lead for Praying)