MEANING AND BASIS

ISLAM
The Arabic word “Islam” means submission and obedience. It was derived from
the word meaning “peace.” Islam is based on Muhammad’s ministry and the
words Allah gave the world through Muhammad. A person who follows the religion
of Islam is known as a Muslim.

ALLAH
Muslims use the name Allah for their one supreme and unique God,
who created everything and the rules. Muslims believe in having
obedience to Allah’s will.

FOUNDER
The prophet Muhammad was born in A.D. 570 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. He is often
regarded as the founder of Islam. Muslims believe Muhammad was the last in a
line of prophets including Moses, Abraham, and Isa (Jesus). Muhammad said the
Quran was the last Book of God. The Quran recorded the exact words revealed
by Allah through the Arch Angel Gabriel to Muhammad. Muhammad memorized
the words and wrote them down. Muhammad interpreted the words in his daily
life, so many of the things he did and said were remembered and carefully
recorded. His stories and sayings help Muslims understand the Quran and put its
teachings into practice in their daily lives.

BELIEFS
Muslims believe in only one God, who name in Arabic is Allah. He is the sole and
sovereign ruler of the universe. Muslims have six main beliefs:
1. Allah is the one and only God.
2. Belief in angels.
3. Belief in holy books.
4. Belief in prophets, special messengers.
5. Belief in the Day of Judgement- when each human will be assessed to
determine whether he or she goes to heaven or hell.
6. Belief in Predestination- Allah has already determined what will happen, but
Muslims believe this does not stop humans from making free choices.

HOLY TEXTS
The Holy Quran is the book of Muslim scripture. Muslims believe it is
“the word of God.” The beliefs and practices of Muslims are rooted in
their holy book. The Quran is treated with great respect and it is
believed to be from Allah, so every word and letter is sacred. It is typically
placed a special wooden stand to be read. The Quran is regarded as the unaltered
word of God by Muslims. The hadith are additional texts describing the actions
and sayings of Muhammad not recorded in the Quran. They were mainly
gathered by Islamic scholars after Muhammad’s death. ©Teaching to the Middle
PLACE OF WORSHIP
A mosque is a Muslim building for communal worship. Its
Arabic name is masjid, meaning “place of prostration.”
An “imam” usually leads prayers in a mosque. Mosques
often have domed roofs and tall towers, called minarets.
Muslims are called to prayer from the minaret. The
man who calls them to worship is known as a muezzin.
There are no pictures or statues in a mosque. They
are decorated with patterns and words
from the Quran. There is not a lot of
furniture because Muslims use prayer mats.
Shoes are removed when Muslims enter a
mosque to keep it clean for prayer. A
fountain or pool allows people to wash (wudu). Muslims wash their hands, mouth,
throat, nose, ears, feet, and arms up to their elbows. This wash symbolizes
spiritual cleansing and purity in preparation before
coming before God. A quibla wall faces Mecca in a
mosque. An empty arch signifies the direction, which is
important so Muslims know which way to pray. Women
do not pray in the same location as men so there is a
usually a screened off area for them.

SERVICES
Services are held daily at mosques. The most important
service at a mosque is Friday at noon. All Muslims go to
the mosque on Friday since it a special day for prayer.
PRAYER
Mecca is the birthplace of prophet Muhammad. The cube-shaped building called a
Kaaba is located in the center of the mosque in Mecca. All Muslims face in the
direction of Kaaba during their ritual prayer. Muslims believe the Kaaba is the
holiest place on earth. It is thought to have been built by the Prophet Abraham.
It is only used a focal point for prayer, not worshipped. It simply signifies
direction, imposed by God to maintain unity and uniformity among worshippers.
The Kaaba is draped with a black cloth covered with Koranic verses embroidered
in gold and silver thread. A Muslim walks around the Kaaba seven times during
the Hajj, then kisses and touches the Black Stone. Muslims always knows what
direction the Kaaba is from their home. Each period for prayer has a special
name and is separated by two hours.
1) Fajr- After first light and before sunrise
2) Dhuhr- Between the sun reaching its height and mid-afternoon
3) Asr- Between mid-afternoon and sunset
4) Maghrib- After the sun has finished setting
5) Isha- In the dark of night

TYPES
Around 90 percent of Muslims are Sunnis. Shiites are the second-largest group.
The Shiites split from the Sunnis when Muhammad died in 632. ©Teaching to the Middle
FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
There are five duties that a Muslim is supposed to perform. The
five pillars of Islam assist Muslim in putting their faith into action.
1. Shahadah- declaration of faith. To enter the Islamic faith one
recites: “I bear witness that there is no god, but God; I bear
witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God.”
2. Salat- prayer. Muslims are required to pray five time a day,
washing themselves prior to prayer and facing in the direction of
Mecca while praying.
3. Zakat- giving a fixed proportion to charity. Muslims are required
to give away a percentage of what they earn to those who are
less fortunate, no matter their denomination.
4. Saum- fasting during the month of Ramadan. Muslims fast for
one lunar month each year. This period, known as Ramadan, is a
time for Muslims to reflect on their behavior and purify their
thoughts.
5. Hajj- Pilgrimage to Mecca. If financially possible, Muslims are
required to travel to Mecca once in their lifetime.
FESTIVALS
A Muslim year is based on the Lunar (moon) calendar.
Ramadan- Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It
is a time when Muslims across the world fast (do not eat) during
daylight. There are some exclusions to those who must fast during
Ramadan including the sick, pregnant, and young children. Muslims
celebrate the time when the verses of the Quran were revealed to
Muhammad during Ramadan. It is a time of worship, contemplation,
family, and community ties. Muslims get up early before dawn and
have a light meal in a time known as Suhoor. Muslims traditionally
break their fast with a meal called the iftar at the end of each day.
Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid ul-Fitr.
Eid-ul-Fitr- The
, first day after Ramadan is called Eid-
ul-Fitr. It marks the breaking of the fast for
Muslims. It lasts three days and is a time for family
and friends to get together, celebrate with good food
and presents for children, and giving to charity.
Eid-ul-Adha- The Festival of Sacrifice occurs 70 days
after Eid-al-Fitr. It is the second most important festival in the Muslim calendar.
It remembers the time when Abraham was going to sacrifice his own son to prove
the obedience of God. It marks the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to
Mecca. Eid-ul-Adha takes place the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the
Islamic calendar.
Dhu Al-Hijja- This is the month of pilgrimage when all Muslims, at
least once in their life, should attempt to make the pilgrimage to
Mecca.
Al-Hijra- The Islamic New Year starts on the day Muhammad
left Mecca to travel to Medina.
©Teaching to the Middle
Name_________________________________________

ISLAM
MATCHING: Match each term with its description.
1. _____ Mohammad A. Islamic holy city

2. _____ Allah B. Each Muslim must try to make this at least once

3. _____ Mosque C. Founder of Islam

4. _____ Muslim D. Muslims are required to do this five times a day

5. _____ Mecca E. Supreme God in Islam

6. _____ Quran F. Five major duties of a Muslim

7. _____ Pilgrimage G. Islamic place of worship

8. _____ pray H. Leads prayer at a mosque

9. _____ pillars I. One who practices the religion of Islam

10. _____ imam J. Islamic holy book

TRUE OR FALSE?: Identify each statement as true or false.

STATEMENT T F
11. Mosques are elaborately decorated with statues and pictures.

12. Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca five times a day.

13. During Ramadan, Muslims fast during the hours of daylight.

14. Muslims should give a percentage of their wages to the needy.

15. Shoes are worn inside mosques.

16. Moses is the last prophet of Islam.

17. The Quran is thought to be “the word of God.”

18. Muslims do not believe in angels.

19. Muslims believe in Predestination.

20. Muslims wash much of their body prior to praying.

©Teaching to the Middle
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.

21. Which of the following best completes the analogy?

Saum : fasting :: Salat : ___________________________
A. pilgrimage B. prayer C. worship D. giving

22. What is the main reason Muslims pray toward the Kaaba?
A. It is thought to be the holiest place on earth.
B. It was thought to be built by the Prophet Muhammad.
C. It is in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Muhmmad.
D. It is thought to be the center of the world.

23. Who is believed to have written the Quran?

A. Allah B. Gabriel C. Jesus D. Mohmmad

24. What is the purpose of Eid-ul-Fitr?

A. The first day of fasting.
B. The last day of the fasting.
C. The first day after Ramadan.
D. The first day of a new year.

25. Why is there very little furniture found in a mosque?

A. They believe in giving all they have to the unfortunate.
B. Most people pray on prayer mats.
C. They do not believe in material possessions.
D. They do not believe in sitting down in a mosque.

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM: Describe each Pillar of Islam in your own words.
Shahadah Salat Zakat Saum Hajj

©Teaching to the Middle