ISLAM Rhianna Polson Lily Bishop Victoria Burrows

ISLAM
Rhianna Polson
Lily Bishop
Victoria Burrows
Leona Jest
THE ORIGIN OF ISLAM
•Islam began originally in Arabia where the religion was revealed to the world
through the Prophet Muhammad
•Those who follow Islam are called Muslims
•It is essential to Islam belief that Allah is the one and true God with no partner or
equal
•There are several branches to Islam which have much variety within them. The two
divisions within this tradition are the Sunni and Shi’a, both claiming different means of
carrying on religious authority
•One of the characteristics of Islam is the Five Pillars, the fundamental practices of
Islam. These are faith, a ritual prayer, the zakat, fasting and the hajj
Followers of Islam are
called, Muslims
BELIEFS AT A GLANCE
The word Islam means:
'submission to the will of
God'
There are 5 basic
pillars of Islam...
FACTS
ABOUT
ISLAM
Praying five times a day
Declaration of faith
Muslims believe there is
only one God. The Arabic
word for God is, Allah
It's the second largest
religion in the world with
over 1 billion followers!
The Qur'an and the Sunnah are the holy
books which Muslims base their laws on
Muslims believe Islam was
revealed in Mecca (Arabia)
over 1400 years ago!
Muslims believe the Sunnah is the practical
example of Prophet Muhammad
Taking part in a
pilgrimage to Mecca (at
least once)
Giving money to charity
Fasting
WUDU - RITUAL WASHING
PRAYER AND WORSHIP
MOSQUE
Mosque is the building in which Muslims
worship, at the entrance of most Mosques
there is an area where worshippers remove
there shoes. Before praying there is an
area where Muslims will carry out there
ritual washing. Everyone sits on the floor
and everywhere is of equal status, a niche
in one of the walls, called a mihrab, tells
the worshippers which way to face in order
to face Mecca. Men and women don't sit
together in the Mosque, this shows modesty
and prevents distraction. Women are often
known to pray at home.
PRAYER MOVEMENTS
Muslims can pray to God at any time, there are five
prayers they have to perform throughout the
day. The same pattern is used so everyone can follow,
prayers are always recited in Arabic.
Takbir - Muslims face towards Makkah and say 'Allahu
Akba' meaning God is great.
Qiyaam - Right hand is placed over the left on their
chest or navel while in the standing position. Verses from
the Qu'ran are recited throughout.
Ruku - Means bowing, this is done 3 times.
Sujud - Means to prostrate; palms, knees, toes,
forehead and nose must be on the ground.
Sitting - This gives Muslims a chance to pause and rest,
sometimes they say a short prayer.
Tashahhud - Now Muslims praise God, send peace on
the prophet and recite the declaration of faith. Finally,
they ask for forgiveness and mercy.
Peace to the right/left - Muslims look to the right first as
they believe this is where the angel records good
actions, the left angel records bad actions.
Muslims must be clean and wear
presentable clothes before they pray to
God.
Hands - they start by washing there right
hand, followed by there left.
Mouth - the mouth is then washed.
Nose - water is breathed in gently through
the nose.
Face /Ears- the face is an essential part of
wudu and must be washed atlesat once.
Arms - one of the four essential parts which
must be washed, includes hands and
elbows. Right arm first.
Hair - hair must be rinsed with water, only
once.
Feet - right foot then left foot up to the
ankle must be washed.
Everything must be washed three
times before presenting yourself to Allah.
PRACTICES IN ISLAM
There are many practices in Islam, Ramadan being the most well-known, all which have great depth
and meaning behind them.
However, there is one practice which all Muslims must follow in order to live a good and responsible
Islamic life. This practice is known as “The Five Pillars of Islam”.
Shahadah: the
statement of faith
Zakat: charity
Hajj:
pilgrimage
to Mecca
Salat: daily prayer
Sawm: fasting
HAJJ IN DEPTH
Hajj is the final pillar of Islam. It is a ritual
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v
=coZHaFpOCT4#t=42
that is carried out once a year by Muslims
all over the world, regardless of their colour,
social status, culture or ethnicity. It takes place
at Mecca – the place that is so holy to all Muslims, that no non-Muslim is allowed to enter.
The ritual takes place when everyone is gathered together, and they begin acts of
worship and the praising of Allah in unison. The aim of this ritual is to show that
everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah, and promotes bonds within the Muslim community.
During Hajj, everyone is dressed in Ihram. These are simple white clothes that, once again,
reaffirm that everybody is equal.
Hajj takes place during the month of Dhul Hijjah - the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. For many
Muslims, this is a rite of passage that each individual should take at least once in their life.
WEDDINGS
RITES AND RITUALS
BIRTH RITES
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The father of the baby recites prayers into his right ear,
these will be the first words he/she hears.
The baby’s first taste will be something sweet, the
parents will chew a date and rub the juice onto the
baby’s gums – this was carried out by the prophet
Muhammad.
After 7 days the baby’s head is shaved – this shows
that the child is a servant of Allah.
The hair is then weighed and the money it is worth is
given to charity.
The baby’s name is chosen on the 7th day.
Most Muslim boys get circumcised in the 7th day.
A sheep is sacrificed on the 7th day, the parts are to be
given to neighbours, relatives and the poor.
• Muslim weddings vary according to the culture and the
people involved.
• For many Muslims, the term ‘wedding’ is the Islamic
ceremony that counts as the actual wedding and not
the confirmation.
• Many Mosques in the UK have not been legally
registered for weddings and so any wedding that
takes place in a UK Mosque has to be confirmed with
the UK law in order to be valid.
• Usually arranged by the parents.
• Divorce is allowed however, it is said that it is the thing
Allah ‘likes least.’
• It is forbidden for Muslim parents to force their children
to marry.
• It is expected for the couple to be virgin’s before their
wedding day.
• Men give women money as a gift on their wedding
day (mahr), if the bride wants a divorce she is to return
the money.
• Sometimes Muslims weddings last for several days.
HOLY TEXTS
The holy text in Islam is the The Qur'an, which is revealed in stages to the Prophet Muhammad over 23 years. It
contains 114, which are written in the old Arabic dialect.
The revelations in The Qur’an are regarded by Muslims as the sacred word of God. They are intended to correct
any errors in previous holy books such as the Old and New Testaments.
All of the chapters within The Qur’an (except one) begin with the sentence Bismillahir rahmanir raheem, which is
translated as 'In the name of Allah the most merciful and the most kind'. This is the thought with which Muslims
should start every action.
The Qur'an is treated with enormous respect by Muslims because it is the sacred word of God.
While the Qur'an is recited aloud, Muslims should behave respectfully and refrain from speaking, eating or
drinking, or making any noises that could cause distraction.
Other than The Qur’an, there are holy texts known as the Sunnah and the Hadith. The Sunnah is the practise and
examples of the Prophet Muhammad's life, and the Hadith reports of what the prophet Muhammad said or
approved.
SUBDIVISIONS OF ISLAM
Sufism (or Tasawwuf as it is known to Muslims) is Islamic mysticism. People who are
non-Muslims often mistake Sufism as a sect of Islam. Sufism is more accurately
described as an aspect or dimension of Islam. Sufi orders (Tariqas) can be found
in Sunni, Shi’a and other Islamic groups.
Although Sufis are relatively small in number, they have greatly shaped Islamic thought
and history. Through the centuries Sufis contributed immensely to Islamic literature. For
example Rumi, Omar Khayyám and Al-Ghazali's influence extended beyond Muslim
lands to be quoted by Western philosophers, writers and theologians. Sufis were
influential in spreading Islam particularly to the furthest outposts of the Muslim world
in Africa, India and the Far East.
ISLAMIC ART AND CULTURE
Poetry
Al-burda- This is an Arabic poem which honours the Prophet
Muhammad. The name means ‘poem of the mantle’
The poem is seen by believers all across the world.
Jalaluddin Rumi- This poet is known as one of the most famous
Persian poets of all time and had big influence on Muslim Writing
and Culture. Until this poet was about 35, he spent his time
teaching and giving lectures to the public.
• Ghazals – are numerous lines of love poetry which Rumi wrote
Music
There are many types of Muslim devotional recitation and music to
express feelings and beliefs.
Here is an example of a piece of Islamic music;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR75mrVwUEA
Art
Islamic art is often very vibrant and distinctive
What does it include?
•Includes all Muslim art and not just religious art
•It portrays the significance and essence of things, rather
than just their physical form
•Crafts and expressive arts which have a very
significant art status
•Calligraphy and books are both very well used and
important art-forms
•Geometry and patterns are often used and considered
important
Architecture
• Architecture is one of the greatest Islamic art forms,
which is usually seen in Mosques but also gardens
and houses
• The buildings are often highly decorated and colour
is very often essential
• Religious buildings in will often use geometry to
symbolic effect
ISLAM ON ETHICS
Contraception
•Islam is very strongly pro family as they believe that children are a gift from God
•Muslim ethics believe that sex should be between husband and wife and so birth control should
be understood within this context
•There is no single rule to contraception with Islam, but eight of the nine classic schools of Islam
permit it
Euthanasia & Suicide
•Muslims are against Euthanasia, as they believe that all human life is sacred
• They believe that Allah is the one to choose how long someone should live, and humans
shouldn’t interfere with this
•Whilst they believe that turning off a life-support machine is allowed, hastening death using
medication is not allowed as this would lead to euthanasia
ISLAM ON ETHICS
Stem Cell Research
Unlike Roman Catholicism, Islam does not have a centralised authority. Also, Most Muslim countries have not yet
introduced laws on embryonic stem cell research and human cloning. Some Muslims are in favour of research,
arguing that the embryo does not have a soul until the later stages of its development. Others agree with the
Catholic Church which says that it is immoral to destroy embryos at any stage to harvest stem cells.
Abortion
Muslims regard abortion as wrong and haram (meaning forbidden), but many accept that it may be allowed in certain cases. All
schools of Muslim law accept that abortion is permitted if continuing the pregnancy would put the mother's life in real danger. This
is the only reason accepted for abortion after 120 days of the pregnancy.
Some schools of Muslim law consent to abortion in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, while others only allowit in the first 7 weeks.
However, even those scholars who would permit early abortion in certain cases still regard abortion as wrong, but do not regard it
as a punishable wrong. The more advanced the pregnancy is, the greater the wrong.
ISLAM ON ETHICS
War
In Islam, war is only permitted if it is in self-defence, if another nation has attacked an Islamic nation or if a nation is
oppressing its own Muslims.
“Those who believe fight in the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the Shaitan” - Qur'an 4:76
Muslims must follow this quote from the Qur’an and only fight by the principles of justice declared by Allah. They
favour peace and are against war and violence unless necessary.
Jihad
The word Jihad is used to describe 3 main different kinds of struggle that Muslims may face in their life. The first
struggle is internal, and it is the challenge to live out the Muslim faith as well as they can. The second struggle is to
try and build a good Muslim society. The third struggle is the struggle to defend Islam, with force, if necessary. This
is known as “Holy War”.
CONCLUSION
 "Islam" literally translates as "submission“  this reflects the way in which
Muslims submit to God
The Prophet Muhammad dedicated his life to spread the word of Allah; a message
of monotheism in a polytheistic world
His work is recorded in the Qur’an, the Islamic holy book
The 5 Pillars of Islam are of utmost importance to devout Muslims
Islam has been wrongly judged for being responsible for the terrorist attacks and
suicide-bombers in the Western world in recent years, by a small minority who claim
they are acting in the name of Allah. This prejudice is unfortunately still present in
modern society.
Despite this, Islam is currently the fastest growing religion in the world