Review for Islam Test

• Know Basic Facts on Study Guide• Be able to explain major concepts on Study Guide• Essay Option #1: How has Islam impacted the Middle

East?• Essay Option #2: How does the media impact our

view of the Middle East?• Mind Map of Terms: Making Connections

Background• Founded by the Prophet Muhammad• Muhammad was born 570 AD in Mecca, Saudi Arabia• Muslims believe that the archangel Gabriel appeared to

Muhammad in his adult life and revealed truths to him about how to live

• Monotheism (the belief in one god)• Islam grew out of Judaism and Christianity and shares many of

the beliefs of these religions • Two sects-the Sunni and the Shiite/Sh’ia-split after his death over

questions of leadership• The word “Islam” is an Arabic word that means both “surrender”

and “peace”• The word “Muslim” means “one who submits to Allah (God)”

Basic Facts about Islam• God is called Allah• A person who submits to Allah and follows the teachings of

Islam is called a Muslim • Islam is the world's second largest religion (behind Christianity)• Over 1.3 billion people follow Islam• More than half of world's Muslims live in South and Southeast

Asia• The countries with the largest Muslim populations are

Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. • About one-fourth of all Muslims live in the Middle East. • Several million Muslims live in the United States. 2nd largest

religion in US.

Judo-Christian-Islamic Tradition

• Similarities– Monotheisim– Belief in prophets– Believe in a lineage

from Adam and Eve– Belief in the Day of

Judgement

• Differences – Jews do NOT believe

Jesus was the son of God

– Christians do NOT believe Muhammad was the final prophet sent by God

% of Muslim population1.6 billion people are Muslim23.4% of world’s population20% live in the Middle East and North Africa

5 pillars

• Duties of Muslims– Shahadah (profession of faith)– Salat (prayer)– Zakat (charity)– Ramadan (holy month)– Hajj (pilgrimage)

Sources of Authority

• Quran: God’s word• Hadith: Sayings of Muhammad• Sunna: Behaviors of Muhammad• Sharia: Islamic law based on interpretations of

the Quran, Hadith and Sunna

Hadith

• Sayings of the Prophet• Examples:• “Whoever suppresseth his anger, when he hath in his power to show it,

God will give him a great reward.”• “The exercise of religious duties will not atone for the fault of an abusive

tongue.”• “Trust in God, but tether your camel”• “The acquisition of knowledge is a duty incumbent on every Muslim, male

and female.”• “The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr.”

Sunna

• Examples of the Prophet• Examples:• Dress: wear clean, neat clothing – not brightly colored.• The specific method of prayer.• Don’t eat garlic (or other pungent food) when you know you’ll be in a

closed space – mosque for example.• Look people in the eyes when you talk to them.• Cover for people’s flaws

Jihad• Definition: struggle; a sincere and noticeable

effort for righteousness; achieving a higher moral standard

• Levels of Jihad:1. Personal Jihad – varying a bad habit, trying to be a better

person in some specific way (90+%)2. Social Justice – resisting an injustice without fighting like MLK,

Gandhi (4%)3. Just War – to struggle or fight against an injustice (1%) – a last

resort

Sunni - Shii

• Sunnis are the majority in most Muslim communities.

• Indonesia has the largest number of Sunnis.• Shii are the majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain.• Iran has the largest number of Shii.

Sunni – Shii populations

Women

• Traditions often based on geography• Burqas, hijabs, and other clothing

requirements in some areas and chosen by some Islamic women in other areas

• Human rights violations are not approved of by Islam

• The Quran supports the equality of men and women