Muslim+Beginnings+-+Abby,+Phil,+Jeff

= Muslim Beginnings = by Abby Samples, Phil Burstein, Jeff Sheldon

__How it All Began__ -7th century -Arabian Peninsula

-Ibrahim (Abraham): "God-seeker" -forefather of Jews (son Isaac) - same message as Muhammed - journey in Koran - said to have built Ka'ba (most holy structure in Islam - in Mecca) - direction of Salat - men & animals safe & never turned away



-Abraham's wife unable to give birth - lets Ibrahim have a child (Ishmael) with servant, Hagar - wife becomes pregnant with Isaac - casts out Hagar and Ishmael who eventually settle in Mecca
 * Relation to //The Kite Runner//: Amir & Hassan**

-"islam" meaning submission to God (who would be a "muslim" meaning follower of Islamic faith) -decline of Great Islamic Empires in 1600 -Muhammad and his followers recieved verbal messages that were collected and formed the Koran (Muslim Scripture). -successors took over neighboring lands -"No god but God (Allah); Muhammed is the Messenger of God." (Shahada) 1. Shahada** - Declaration of Muslim Faith
 * __Five Pillars of Islam__
 * 2. Salat (Salah)** - Muslims must perform these prayers five times a day in the direction of Mecca directed by the Quran
 * 3. Sawm -** daily fast during month of Ramadan
 * 4. Zakat** - Muslims must give a fixed portion of annual income to poor and charitable causes
 * 5. The Hajj -** All Muslims should try to make this pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life

__**Islamic Holidays**__
 * **Ramadan**
 * The ninth month of the Islamic Calender
 * Islamic month of fasting for the sake of God
 * **Laylat al - Qadr**
 * Falls on the last 10 days of Ramadan
 * Most holy night of the yar
 * The Quar'an was revealed to Muhammad
 * **Eid al - Fitr**
 * Marks the end of Ramadan and the start of the next month, Shawwal
 * Feasting and peace-giving takes place
 * **Day of Arafat**
 * Falls on second day of Hajj
 * Pilgrims gather at the plain of Arafat to seek God's Mercy
 * **Eid al-Adha**
 * Marks the end of Majj
 * Commemoration of Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah

Sunni Muslims** - power & sovereignty of Allah; right to do whatever with his creation
 * __Divisions__
 * Shi'ite Muslims** - disagree about successor of Muhammed (split with Sunni)
 * Sufi Muslim** - "mystical knowledge of Allah"; complete trust in God's will

Bibliography Slick, M. J. (1995-2010). //Divisions Within Islam//. Retrieved from []//The Islamic World to 1600//. (1998). Retrieved from []//Religion - Middle East -Islam: Beginnings and Basic Teachings//. (2010). Retrieved from []//Five Pillars of Islam//. (2001, September 25). Retrieved from [] Kjeilen, T. (1996 - 2009). Abraham/Ibrahim. //LookLex Encyclopedia//. Retrieved (2010, February 18) from []