What is Islam?

• Islam - surrender or submission to God

• Muslim - one who surrenders to God

  • Note that NOT ALL ARABS ARE MUSLIMS

Who started Islamism and Where?

• Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael - started Muslim

  • Isaac and Ishmael - are brothers

• Ishmael - started Islam

• Mecca - this is where Islam started

What are the books in Islam?

Primary Book

• Qur’an - consists of the doctrines of Islam

• Uthman - this is where the Qur’an came from

Secondary Book

1. Hadith

2. Shari’ah

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

• Tahwid - another term for the five pillars; means “the oneness of God”

1. Shahadah - testimony of faith

2. Salat - prayers; happens 5 times a day

3. Zakat - charity for the poor

4. Sawn - fasting during Ramadan

5. Hajj - pilgrimage to Makkah

What are the differences of Jannah and Jahannah?

• Jannah - heaven

• Jahannah - hell

What are the rituals of Islam?

• Circumcision - a ritual that is applicable to both genders

  • For females, circumcision is done via genital mutation

• Food - this ritual prohibits Muslims to eat pork and drink alcohol

What are Caliphs and who are Caliphs?

• Caliphs - successors/religious leaders

The four Caliphs

1. Abu Bakr

2. Umar

3. Uthman

4. Ali

What are the three denominations of Islam?

1. Sunnis - largest denomination of Islam; Caliphs are chosen by election

2. Shiites - smallest denomination of Islam; next successor of Caliphs is based on bloodline

3. Sufis - mystical ver. of Islam; believes in magical forms; influences the literature of Islam

What are the challenges of Islam?

1. Israeli - Arab wars

2. Internal wars - conflicts happen between Sunnis at Shiites and between Sunnis and Sufis

3. Challenges how women are threated in Islam

4. Islam is associated with terrorists