Muslim+Faith

Stacy Kreston - Team Leader Tim Heider Brian Pierce Andrew Mason

Muslim Faith


 * __ Muhammad __**

__**﻿Before the birth of Muhammad **__ -over 360 idols
 * the Arabians were nomadic people who believed in many different gods.
 * Did not have government or laws (the rich had all the power)
 * Tribal wars were mostly over resourses (water, horses)[[image:Muhammad.jpg align="right"]]

__**Early life of Muhammad **__
 * born in Mecca, Arabia in 570
 * a part of the Quraish tribe
 * Father died before he was born
 * mother sent Muhammad to the dessert as a infant because the Quraish believed the air was healthier in the dessert.
 * she thought Muhammad was demon possessed
 * mother died at age four, was raised by his grandfather for two years
 * then raised by his uncle at age six after his grandfather dies
 * during his childhood he worked as a shepherd and also worked on the trade routes
 * he was illiterate
 * married at age 25, had 4 daughters and 2 sons

__**<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">The Prophet Muhammad **__
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">spent most of his life meditating in caves around Mecca trying to find “one true region”
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">at 40 years of age the angel, Gabriel visited him in the caves giving him the words to write the Quran
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">proposed the Quran to the people of Mecca (ONE GOD)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">the Meccan people did not like the new religion of ONE GOD so they went against muhammad and wanted to kill him.
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">Muhammad migrats to Medina, gains many followers in Medina
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">many battles accured between the Meccan and the followers of Muhammad.
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">treaty of hudaybiyyah was a peace treaty held for 10 years
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 175%;">Muhammad died at the age of 64


 * __ 5 Pilars of Islam __**

1) Shahada (Declaration of Faith) - "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his messenger." This belief is the most important piece to the Muslim Faith.

2) Salat (5 Times Daily Prayer) - 5 times a day Islamic people are required to pray toward Mecca, the holy city of Islam. They also have to pray knelt down.

3) Zakat (Alms Giving) - They are required to give 2.5% of total wealth away. Unlike Christianity, they give it to charity, instead of to the church. If they cannot afford it that is ok.

4) Ramadan (Month of Fasting) - They fast during daylight hours. No food or water.

5) Hajj (Once a Lifetime Pilgrimage to Mecca) - If they are able to, they must make at leaste one religious trip to Mecca. Mecca is the holiest city in the Muslim Faith.


 * __ ﻿Kaaba __**



*6) __Jihad__ (Holy War) - There are two types of Jihad, greater Jihad, and lesser Jihad. Greater Jihad - This is the most important for of Jihad. It is fighting evil inside one's self, such as temptation.  Lesser Jihad - This is fighting threats to the Muslim faith. Actual Holy war.

__** The Story of Abraham and ... Ishmael...? **__


In short: Abraham had only one son named Isaac whom he loved very much. God asked him to sacrifice his son, so he prepared Isaac and set off into the wilderness to do so. Just as he was about to slit his own son's throat, God sent an angel to stop Abraham. The angel replaced Isaac with a ram to be sacrificed. Abraham had proved himself a loyal follower to the will of God.
 * __ Abraham and Isaac __**
 * The well known story used in both Judaism and Christianity

Despite the passage's emphasis on Isaac being Abraham's one and only son, there is mention in the Bible of another son, Ishmael. But, he was born to a 'handmaiden,' Hagar, while Isaac was born to a 'free woman' and Abraham's wife, Sarah. This made Isaac the 'child of promise,' not Ishmael, according to the bible.


 * Hence, Isaac became the 'father' of the Jewish and Christian people.
 * It is believed that Moses and Jesus descended from Isaac.


 * __ Abraham and Ishmael __**

In short: Abraham had an elder son before Isaac. His name was Ishmael. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his most beloved eldest son, Ishmael. Abraham told Ishmael who calmly agreed to fulfill God's command. Just as Abraham was about to slit Ishmael's throat, God sent an angel to stop Abraham. The angel replaced Ishmael with a ram to be sacrificed. Abraham passed God's trust 'test.' And then Isaac was born.
 * The well known Muslim story used in the Quran


 * Hence, Ishmael became the 'father' of Muslim people.
 * It is believed that Muhammad descended from Ishmael.
 * Because they are all the sons of Abraham, though, Muhammad, Moses, and Jesus are considered three prophets of Islam.

Despite all the disagreements on the 'true story', it is interesting to recognize that the Jewish leader/father figure, Moses, the Christian Savior, Jesus, and the Muslims' father, Muhammad, all descended from common ancestry, Abraham.


 * __ Sunni and Shi'a __**



84% of the people of Afghanistan are Sunni, while 15% are Shi’a.

__** The Divide **__
 * The basis of the divide between the two groups was started soon after Muhammad's death.
 * The Shi'a people believed that the rightful successor to Muhammad should come from the blood line of Muhammad.
 * The Sunni believed that the successor should be determined by the community of Muslims.
 * __ Tensions Start Out Early __**
 * Sunni idealism won out by the majority of Muslims, but the first two Caliphs of the Muslim faith were murdered, and the fourth was Ali, who was Muhammad's son in law.
 * War then broke out between the two groups when Ali became Caliph, and Ali was killed in fighting.
 * Hussein (Ali's son) continued the war and denied the rule of the Caliph.
 * Hussein was massacred in a battle against the Caliph's massive army and his body was left on the battlefield while his head was carried in tribute to the Caliph.
 * The martyrdom of Hussein is what fuels the Shi'a's anger against the Sunni.
 * The martyrdom of Hussein is what fuels the Shi'a's anger against the Sunni.

Resources: Department of Islamic Affairs. (1989). Understanding Islam and the Muslims. Washington, D.C: The Embassy of Saudi Arabia. http://www.submission.org/suras/sura37.html http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b1abraham.htm www.Mr.Labarbera.com/MuslimReligion