islam

THE ORIGIN OF ISLAM

• The origins of Islam in the Arabian peninsula
are rooted in a harsh environment dominated
by nomadic Bedouin tribes. Tribes, led by a
shaykh, were crucial social units, and loyalty
was based on ancestry. Economic
interdependence existed between Bedouins
and settled cities, with Makkah gaining
significance due to its control over trade
caravans and the revered Ka'bah.
• Pre-Islamic Arabs likely practiced animist
religions, worshipping local deities alongside
a supreme god, Allah. The Ka'bah housed
numerous images representing celestial
beings. Pilgrimages to Makkah were
facilitated by truces, fostering trade and
religious activities.
• Exposure to Eastern Christianity and
Judaism influenced Arabian tribes, with
some being Jewish. Islam claims a unique
covenant with Abraham through Ishmael,
asserting the preservation of the undiluted
truth in the Qur'an revealed by Prophet
Muhammad. Born in 570, Muhammad's early
life involved trading caravans and marriage
to Khadija, providing stability for his
prophetic mission.
• Muhammad's upbringing, initially by a
Bedouin family, followed by his uncle,
exposed him to diverse cultures. His
marriage to Khadija brought stability, and
during their 25-year marriage, they had
children, including Fatimah, the only one to
outlive Muhammad. This period laid the
foundation for the unification of Arabian
tribes into a Muslim community under
Muhammad's leadership.
• Muhammad would often wonder the hills around Makkah
to fast , pray , and do religious meditation. In the year 610
C.E , the forty years old Muhammad was visited by an
angel name Gabriel ( mentioned in both Jewish and
Christian sacred text).
• sometimes Muhammad receive visions in dreams. That
Allah whom he encountered. Muhammad did his duty
and recited the message exactly as he received them. He
would memories the content of these divine message and
teach them to his companions , who would write them on
leaves , stones , bones , or parchment - what would later
become the Qur'an.
• After several of divine revelation , Muhammad become the first pillar of
Islam. That there is only one God , that called Allah. As the messenger of
Allah, he started to preach his new religious understanding.
• Khadija was Muhammad first convert , followed by his cousin Ali ibn , Abi
Talib , the adopted slave boy Zayd ibn Harithah , and his wealthy and
influential friend Abd allah ibin Abi Quhafah ( nicknamed Abu bakr). Khalid
ibn Sa id and Uthman ibn affan ( who would be the third successor of
Muhammad. Mainly from the young and the poorer classes in Makkah ,
joined him also.
• While they were not opposed to the idea of Muhammad being a prophet,
the people of Makkah immediately reacted with hostility to his preaching
that the idols of Arabs be destroyed. They ridiculed Muhammad to the
point that nobody would take him seriously. But not surprising, the older
and wealthier clan leader opposed him. Muhammad's clan , Muhammad's
uncle Abu Talib , with other clan members, sought to protect him. In the
infancy , Islam was maintained through strong family ties.
• In 615 C.E , around fifteen familiars who followed Muhammad first Makkah
to the safety of the christian kingdom of Abyssinia , while he and other
followers remained to continue preaching and face persecution.
• In 619 C.E , Muhammad suffered the death of his two greatest benefactors ,
his uncle Abu Talib and his first wife Khadija. He afterwards went on to
have as many as fourteen more wives - one , Aishah , his favorite wife and
daughter of his befriend Abu Bakr , as young as six years old and at least
four concubines.
• 620 C.E , six men from Yathrib went to visit Muhammad to ask him to
mediate as an impartial judge to settle the disputes between warring clans
of their city. A year later, twelve delegates from Yathrib visited him and
invited the prophet to become the city's ruler. Muhammad advised his
followers in Makkah to get their affairs in order and be ready to leave the
city for a new life in Yathrib.
• His enemies in Makkah felt threatened by this development, because they
were losing control over their rival. So , forty men from different Makkah
clans held a secret meeting and pledged themselves to act as one person to
murder Muhammad. Muhammad and Abu Bark slipped out of the city
under the cover of night to hide in a cave in the south.
• Due to this treat of assassination, Muhammad fied to Yathrib, arriving there
on 24 September 622. In Yathrib the city that was called Medina or
Madinah ( from the Arabic Al-madinah an-Nabawiyyah , the city of the
prophet. The leadership of Muhammad was not enthusiastically welcomed
by all. To identify with Muhammad in Islam is to give allegiance to a new
type of tribe. Without diminishing his spiritual leadership, he immediately
had to add an administrative, and even military.
• The war between the cities of Makkah and Madinah lasted far about a
decade. Followers Muhammad who followed to Yathrib began to raid Makkah
trading caravans.
• In the 624 C.E , Muslim ambush on a Makkah trading caravan. A large military
force from Makkah was sent to protect the caravan against the Muslims.
Muhammad and his followers saw an confirmation that Allah was on their
side.
• In 627 C.E , the enemies of Muhammad in Makkah made one last attempt to
defeat the Muslims by sending an overwhelming army of ten thousand to
attack Madinah.
• Islam expanded over the coming year. Muhammad sent messages to
surrounding cities and nations , inviting them to join the community of Islam.
• In 632 C.E , the sickly sixty-two-years old Muhammad died in the arms of his
favorite wife Aishah.
SACRED TEXT
• For a Muslim, the will of Allah, to which
he/she must submit, is spoken through
human messengers or prophets, particularly
the final one, Muhammad. Divine guidance to
humans is primarily a spoken proclamation
that must be heard. But the death of the
prophet does not deprive humanity of divine
guidance, because the word of God is
preserved in sacred texts such as the Qur'an
(Arabic "recitation"].
• For the most part, the content of the Qur'an, which
was originally oral tradition, was written down-not
by Muhammad-but by his followers, such as his
companion and secretary Zayd ibn Harithah. After
the loss of many reciting officials" or "memorizers
of the Qur'an in the battle of 632 C.E, Muhammad
himself had recently passed away. Abu Bakr, who
was the prophet's immediate successor or caliph
(Arabic khollfah), had all the existing texts
collected and repeatedly copied. In 650 CE,
'Uthman ibn 'Affan, the prophet's third caliph and
former secretary, ordered the compilation of a
standard version, from which originated the current
text of the Qur'an.
• Somewhat shorter than the Christian New
Testament, the Qur'an is divided into 114
portions called sürghs, arranged in
descending order of length, with the
exception of the first sürah, al-Fatihah.
These 114 sürahs contain approximately six
thousand verses called dyat (Arabic "signs,
proot, evidence"]. Being of unequal length,
the shortest sürah has only three äyät, while
the longest sürah contains 286 ayat.
• Muhammad's companions had transmitted a
mass of oral traditions (Arabic ahadith
"reports/accounts/narratives"] that
described his daily life but which are not
found in the Qur'an. These ahadith have been
compiled in an anthology known as the
Sunnah [Arabic "custom/tradition (as in a
clear and well-trodden path)"
• There are several kinds of Sunnah:
Muhammad's sayings or Sunnah Qawliyyah
(generally synonymous with hadith (singular
of ahadithil Muhammad's actions, religious
or otherwise (Sunnah of Filliyyah), and;
Muhammad's approval of the actions of his
companions (Sunnah Taqririyyah). either by
showing his pleasure or by not opposing it
through his silence
MAJOR DIVISION OF ISLAM
• After the death of Muhammad, Islam experienced a schism
over who should be the prophet's khalifah [Arabic
"successor"). A group of leaders from both Makkah and
Madinah quickly held an election, and the role of khalifah or
caliph was given to Abu Bakr, the prophet's best friend and
father of his favorite wife, 'A'lshah. Some disagreed,
however, and felt that the prophet's cousin Ali ibn AbiTalib,
who was also married to the prophet's daughter Fätimah,
was the rightful khalifah. Unlike Abu Bakr, Ali was related
to Muhammad by blood. Furthermore, Ali (and all members
of the prophet's immediate family) had been excluded from
the act of choosing the khalifah, Still, those who had
chosen and sworn allegiance to Abu Bakr coerced Ali to
endorse Abu Bakr as the rightful khalifah.
• In 656 C.E. after the death of the third
Khalifah, "Uthman ibn Affan of the powerful
Umayya clan, Ali was finally chosen as
caliph. But, disappointed that one among
them had not been chosen, the Umayya clan
refused to recognize Ali as the prophet's
fourth khalifah and established their own
caliphate. This disagreement over the right
of Ali as khalifah escalated until Islam broke
into two main sects: Sunni and Shi'a.
SUNNI
• The greatest majority of Muslims comprise
the Sunni tradition [Arabic ahl as-sunnahwa
l-jama'ah "of the tradition (of Muhammad)
and the community (of Islam)"), which is
currently the largest religious denomination
in the world. The term Sunni is derived from
Sunnah, the "custom/tradition" of the
prophet Muhammad as recorded in the
collections of ahadith.
• Sunni Muslims believe that, since
Muhammad died without explicitly
appointing a khalifah, his rightful successor
is elected by an electoral body of Muslim
clerics. This elected khalifäh, however, is not
infallible nor will he have divine right.
• Sunni Muslims are committed to following the
Qur'an and the ahädith, both of which are the
bases of all Sunni religious education and
jurisprudence. This tradition strongly highlights
the role of Islam in political life, with the sharia
[Islamic law] as the standard for a broad range
of social issues, such as business, marriage,
divorce, inheritance, and others.
SHI’A
• The Muslims who supported Ali ibn Abi Talib as the
rightful khalifah called themselves the Shratu 'Ali
(Arabic "partisans of Ali (ibn Abi Talib)"] founded by
the four companions who advocated the election of
Ali. After the Ummaya caliphate rejected and
expelled Ali, he was granted the equivalent title of
Imam (Arabic "leader, pattern"]. In Shia Islam,
these Imāms were highly respected scholars
chosen because of their descent from Ali and were
regarded as politico-religious community leaders.
• The younger son of Ali and Fatimah and the third Imam
of Shia Islam, Husayn ibn 'Ali, was highly regarded
because he, considering the rule of Umayya as unjust,
refused to swear allegiance to their second caliph Yazid
ibn Mu'awiya. The people of Kufa pledged allegiance to
him instead and asked for his help. Traveling towards
Kufa, his caravan was intercepted by Yazid's army at
Karbala, where Husayn, along with most of his family
and companions were killed and beheaded in the year
680 C.E. His death and that of his family and
companions are remembered by Shia Muslims every year
as a day of mourning. Husayn's death was perceived as
martyrdom and became a symbol that helped undermine
and ultimately overthrow the Umayya caliphate.
• A line of historical figures who were highly
respected scholars and later identified by
the Shi'a as Imams was put on hold when
one of them went into seclusion. The various
main Shi'a subsects [Imamis or "Twelvers,"
Zaydis or "Fivers," and Ismailis or
"Seveners"] disagree which Imam went into
hiding and when this took place. For many
Shia Muslims, the "Hidden Imam" is the
Mahdi who appears at the end of time and
restores justice; he is also referred to as al-
Qaim, "one who arises."
• Today, Shia Muslims are a minority that may
be found prevalent in Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, and
Yemen.
 Understanding of god

Allah (Arabic “God cannot be

properly represented by a graven
image as the deity cannot be
compared to anything that can be
perceived by the senses. Allah is the
one deity who is complete, eternal,
undivided, and unchanging.
 Understanding of god

In the Islamic tradition, Allah

created the universe out of nothing
sustains it, and will judge it. As the
summit of creation, human beings
where created by Allah to obey and
serve Him, and were endowed with the
capacity to understand reality and to
enter into a relationship with God and
other human beings.
 Understanding of god

In the Islamic tradition, Allah has

ninety-nine names, among them Ar
Rahman "the Exceedingly Gracious, Al
Malik "the King" Al Quddus "The Holy,
Al-Aziz "the Almighty, Al-Karim "the
Generous," Al Hakim the All Wise, and
Ar-Rashid "the Guide to the Right Path.
Similar to the Roman Catholic practice
of the Rosary, pious Muslims use prayer
beads called misbahah to recite these
 Understanding of god

While Allah alone is the Deity, just

like in Judaism, Islam recognizes other
celestial beings, such as angels, who
act as messengers [like Gabriel] and in
warriors who fight on the side of
believers, and the jinn (Arabic "hidden
from sight, who are creatures made of
fire halfway between angels and human
beings.
 Understanding of god

Unlike angels and more like

human beings, the jinn are physical in
nature lie they can interact in a tactile
manner with other creatures and can
be acted upon) and have free will
meaning they can be good or evil.
 Understanding of god

The leader of the evil jinn is

named Iblis (probably from Greek
diabolos "accuser" who acts as a
tempter, like a prosecuting attorney
against humanity. In Islamic
cosmology, angels, the jinn, and
human beings comprise the three
known creatures of Allah that are
capable of self-awareness and
judgment.
The five
pillars of
islam
 ShAHADAH
The main religious belief of
all Muslim people and it is
the declaration of their faith

“There is no God but

Allah: Muhammad is his
messenger”
 Salah
Pray five times a day facing
Mecca. They must pray at dawn,
at noon, in the afternoon, at
sunset, and before bed.
They gather to pray in the
mosque. Imam, who leads and
give sermons.
Muslims follow a ritual of
washing before prayer.
 zakah
Give to the poor and sick, look after
another.
Give up a share of one’s wealth to
become cleansed from selfishness and
greed. This money might be to provide
education, build mosques or help the needy.

This is regarded as a religious duty.

Work of Islam.
 sawm
Fasting during Ramadan. Most demanding of
the five pillars. Requires one to fast during the 9th
month of the Islamic calendar.

food and drinks are not permitted between

dawn and sunset. Only light snack are allowed.

Ramadan represent a time of purification and

religious devotion. Alcohol and tobacco are
prohibited during the entire month. The focus is
more on making strong family ties.
 hajj
Muslims have a duty to try to make a pilgrimage to
the Kabbah in Mecca at least once during their
lifetime. Very often whole families will save to send
one person at a time.
The man who make the pilgrimage wear an
Ihram which is made up of two sheets. They must
not be sewn. Also they wear special open shoes.
This clothing is a symbol of peace and obedience to
God.
The moon would provide The stars gave fixed
light through the points which people
darkness. could use to navigate the
desert.
The moon would provide The stars gave fixed
light through the points which people
darkness. could use to navigate the
desert.
 cult
The second pillar of the Islamic faith is prayer
(Arabic Salat or salah), done five times daily dawn,
midday afternoon evening and night . the primary
purpose of salah is to make time holy by
remembering Allah, The source of all well being to
whom one fully Entrusts oneself, and expressing
gratitude for all his blessings. taking precedence
over all other concerns, the pause for prayer is
obligatory wherever they may be for all adult Muslim
male and female excluding those who are ill.
Menstruating or experience bleeding within forty
days after giving birth .
 cult
Traditionally Muslim remove
footwear wash themselves ( feet
hands and face ears and hair) within
water ( or sand if there is no water )
and it outside a masjid or mosque
spread out a prayer rug before praying
.
 cult
The fifth pillar of Islam is the hajj
or pilgrimage to Makkah done yearly
during lunar month of Dhu al Hijjah .
Every Muslim who can physically and
financially afford to make a journey
should do it once in his /her lifetime .
to remove the distinction between
rich and poor .
 code
the term Jihad means struggle in
arabic, often interpreted as holy war.
according to tradition, prophet
Muhammad stated that after returning
from combat, the struggle shifted
from the physical lesser jihad to the
more significant greater jihad, which
is an internal, constant, and spiritual
struggle for good over evil, faced by
every muslims.
ISLAMIC DECALOGUE
1. Do not worship another GOD expect
ALLAH.
2.BE KIND TO YOUR PARENTS AND
CARE FOR THEM.
3. GIVE TO YOUR RELATIVES WHAT IS
THEIR DUE
4. DO NOT BE TIGHTFIESTED NOR
EXTRAVAGANT WITH YOUR
POSSESSIONS.
5. DO NOT ABANDON YOUR
CHILDREN OUT OF FEAR OF POVERTY
ISLAMIC DECALOGUE
6. DO NOT FORNICATE
7. DO NOT KILL ANYONE WHOM GOD
HAS FORBIDDEN EXCEPT FOR A JUST
CAUSE
8. DO NOT STEAL FROM ORPHANS
BUT DEAL WITH OTHERS HONESTLY
AND JUSTLY
9. DO NOR FOLLOW WHAT YOU DO
NOT KNOW
10. DO NOT ACT WITH ARROGANCE
 A muslims submits to the will of
Allah, trusting in divine guidance
for well being and ultimate union
with Allah. This trust in Allahs
wisdom supersedes reliance on
human knowledge. The Qur,an
serves as the primary source of
ethical teaching for Muslims,
emphasizing obedience to Allahs
words words for a fulfilling life and
spiritual fulfillment.
 The secondary source for Islamic
ethics is the Sunnah, the shining
example of the prophet Muhammad,
which serves as a living commentary
on the truth revealed in the Qur,an.
His words and deeds may be found in
the official collection of ahadith or
oral traditions. In the same way that
Siddhartha Gautama an the Christ
Jesus of Nazareth serves as paragons
for Buddhists and muslims.
 Islamic ethics find its most
explicit expression in Sharia, also
known as pathway in Arabic. Sharia
governs a muslims daily conduct,
shaping their life of submission to
Allah through legal prescriptions.
derived from the Qur,an and the
Sunnah. Sharia is derived into two
section, al ibadat, focusing on worship
and service to Allah. and al maumalat,
concerning interaction and
relationships with others.
 Islamic acts fall into five
categories, compulsory{e.g., daily
prayers, fasting, during ramadan,
paying sacred tax}, recomended{e.g.,
personal prayers, extra charity},
morally indifferent{e.g., choice of the
food}, disapporved but allowed{e.g.,
divorce}, and forbidden{haram}.
 Halal, meaning permissible in
Arabic, refersto Islamic dietary laws,
a kin to Jewish kosher rules. Muslims
consider all food from plans and
animals permissible unless explicitly
labeled as haram, such as pork, bloos,
dead animals, and alcohol. The Qur,an
warns againts intoxicants, stating
they lead to emnityand hinder spiritual
growth.
 Similar to Buddhisims,
Islamviews substance abuse as
detrimental to mental clarity, moral
responsibility, and spiritual well being.
Most of the five pillars
almsgiving{arabic zakat}, which for
muslims serves as a purification of
their wealth and a reminder that they
were merely stewards to Allah.
 The fourth pillar of Islam is
fasting called sawm in arabic.
Muslims obseve the longest and
strictest fasting during ramadan, the
month of Muhammads first divine
revelation. From sunrise to sunset,
muslims abstain from eating, drinking,
smoking and sexual activity. Even
swallowing saliva is prohibited.
Exceptions include children, nursing
mothers, travelers, and the sick.
Completion of the fast is believed to
absovle sins in the eyes of Allah.
 community
Community has been an integral
aspect of Muslim life and culture from
the onset of Islam. In fact, when
asked why the Prophet (S) loved his
first wife, Khadija so much, he
responded, "She believed in me when
no one else did." This points to the
human need for connection – and how
far it goes towards our emotional and
mental wellness.
 community
When Islam was still new to
Makkah, and Quraysh was hell-bent on
prosecuting anyone who believed or
followed Prophet Muhammad (saw),
Muslims used to meet in private in the
home of al-Arqam to read and learn
the Quran. The Prophet (saw) kept a
close circle of friends and confidantes
around him who played a key role in
preserving his life and his teachings.
 community
perhaps the most beautiful example of
community in our history is when the
Muslims migrated from Makkah to Madinah,
and the Ansar (the people of Madinah)
literally shared their homes, money and lives
with the Muhajiroon (the migrants who came
from Makkah). That is one of the most
selfless acts a group of people could do for
one another. This is all to say that
community and community support is held in
the highest regard in Islam and is something
we all should prioritize in our lives.
 community
One of the first things the Prophet
(S) did upon moving to Madinah was
building a masjid to become the center
of Muslim life and community. Salah –
the MOST crucial act a Muslim must do
– is a deeply personal one-on-one time
between a Muslim and his Lord.
However, it is strongly recommended to
be performed in congregation as well.
 community
Reflect on that for a minute; why
would Allah (S) ask this of us? What are
the repercussions on the believers for
doing so? Prayer, along with Hajj, is one
of the most beautiful displays of
humanity (and equality). A king is no
different than a servant, a poor man no
different than a rich one.
 community
To be clear, ANYONE who
embraces Islam is a member of the
Muslim ummah. It is, therefore,
incumbent on us to maintain spaces
that are welcoming and inclusive to
everyone, no matter what age, race,
gender or mental health.