MELC:

Examine the brief history, core teachings,

fundamental beliefs, practices, and related issues
of Islam.
 INTRODUCTION
• ISLAM is a significant Arabic
word which means
“obedience,” “surrender,”
“submission” or “resignation”
• A MUSLIM is one who practices
Islam – one who surrenders to
God.
• It is the name of the religion
revealed by God to Muhammad
that began in the year 610 CE.
 ISLAM
• It is the youngest and world’s
fastest-growing religion, and
it is second largest in
terms of numbers of
adherents.
• It has around 1.5 billion
believers (one-
fourth)
• Approximate 12.5 million
people converted to Islam by
the end of 20th century.
• 80% of Muslim population
History and Development
• The birthplace of ISLAM is the
Arabian peninsula, a region in the
Middle East
• The history of Islam is closely
bound with the life story of
Muhammad who is recognized by
Muslim as the last of the prophets
 Muhammad ibn
Abdullah
• Recognized as the founder of Islam
• The Prophet of Allah and the greatest
messenger of God
• Born in 570 CE to the clan of Hashim
of the Quraysh tribe in Mecca.
• A generous, honest, truthful, and
sincere man
• Dubbed El Amin or “The
Truthful”
• Died in 632 CE.
 Life of Muhammad
•His father died before he was born while his mother
died before he was six years old.
•Reared by the Bedouins as part of their tradition
•He was raised by his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib after
his mother died and later on by his influential paternal
uncle Abu Talib, chief of the Quraysh tribe
•With no formal schooling, he worked as a caravan
worker travelling across the Arabian peninsula as a camel
driver
 Life of Muhammad
•Later married an older wealthier widow named Khadija, fifteen years
his senior, who later became his staunch supporter and one of his first
converts to the new religion he founded. He married only once in
his life.
•Muhammad may have met and conversed with Christians, Jews and
Zoroastrians alike.
• Soon he learned the various ways and means of their belief system
that may have led him to question the faith of his own people,
especially with regard to their animistic practices and reverence given
him to numerous gods and idols.
 The Revelation
• He first disclosed these
revelations only to his wife
since revealing these messages
to his tribe could disturb the
social order that was primarily
anchored on clan and kinship.
• Beginning 613 CE, Muhammad
began to impart these sacred
messages to his closest
relatives and friends.
 The Revelation
• Worship the one supreme God, Allah,
and that there are no other gods aside
from Allah
• The radical teaching of Muhammad
angered the local tribes and soon became
hostile to Muhammad’s emerging faction.
• He and his followers faced persecution
from the other tribes in Mecca. So he
migrated from Mecca to the city of
Yathrib or Medina in 622 CE.
• The journey was called the Hegira
(Hijrah).
 The Revelation
• In 610 CE, Muhammad began
hearing the voice of God in a cave
on the summit of Mt. Hira
• God was speaking to Muhammad in
the Arabic language
• He has visions of heaven and God. A
number of times, the angel of
Gabriel appeared and revealed to
him the faith.
• The angel Gabriel imparted to him
the first revelation of the Qur’an and
to him that he is a prophet of God.
THE RIGHTLY GUIDED CALIPHS (Rashidun)
•Caliph = “successor”
•After the death of
Muhammad, the leadership
of the Islamic community
was passed to the first four
successors of the Prophet.
•They governed for about
30 years
•Period of growth,
expansion, and prosperity
for Islam
 Abu Bakr
• The First Caliph (r.632-634 CE)
• Father-in-law of Prophet
Muhammad
• Under his rule, the words of the
Prophet Muhammad which
comprised the Qur’an were put
into writing which ensured
not only continuity of tradition
and belief but also removed
any risk of misinterpretation
or contradictions in doctrine.
 Umar I
• The Second Caliph (r. 634-644 CE)
• Began a campaign of expansion
and brought Islam outside of
the Arabian Peninsula
• The Arabs conquered and
controlled territories in the
Levant and Sassanian
Persian Empire and
Byzantine lands of Syria,
Palestine, and Egypt
 UTHMAN
• The Third Caliph (r. 644-656
CE)
• Expanded Islamic influence
into Libya, Armenia,
Afghanistan, and Cyprus.
• His murder in 656 CE led to a
great crisis and civil war in
Islamic community.
 ALI ibn ABI TALIB
• The Fourth Caliph (r. 656-661 CE)
• The cousin of the Prophet
Muhammad and husband of the
Prophet’s daughter Fatima;
first male convert to Islam
• Regarded by the Shiite Muslims as
the only legitimate successor of
the Prophet Muhammad
• Murdered by a schismatic group of
his own followers, the Kharijites
(“seceders”)
 Islamic Civil War
•There was a struggle for leadership after the death of
Uthman.
•Muawiyah, a member of the influential Umayyad
family, usurped power after the murder of Ali ibn Abi
Talib
•The civil war brought about a division within Islam, as
supporters of Ali believed that their leader was dealt a great
injustice. They rejected Muawiyyah and established a
separate sect – the Shia Islam.
•
 MUAWIYA
H
• Secretary to the Prophet
Muhammad and governor of
Syria for 20 years
• Proclaimed 6TH caliph after Ali
ibn Abi Talib was killed.
• Upon taking the leadership in
661 CE, he reorganized the
caliphate and transferred to
the city of Damascus in Syria.
• Founded the Umayyad
 The Umayyads
(661-750 CE)
• The caliphate expanded into an
empire which controlled vast
regions of West Asia and North
Africa
• Arabic became the official
language of the empire
• Several schools were established
which further developed
Islamic theology and law
• Muslim forces occupied Spain and
attempted to enter Western
Europe
 The Abbasids
(750-1258 CE)
• Brought about the Golden Age of
Islam under the rule of Harun
al- Rashid from 786 to 809 CE
• During this period, Islamic scientists
and thinkers made great strides in
knowledge in fields such as
medicine, optics, chemistry,
astronomy, mathematics, and
philosophy.
• Consolidation of Islamic law of
Shariah
• Emergence of an ascetic and mystical
branch of Sunni Islam called of
 OTTOMAN TURKISH
DYNASTY (1300-1924)
• Founded by Osman I, leader of
the Seljuk Turks
• defeated the Byzantine Empire
(Eastern half of the Roman
Empire) in 1453 led by
Ottoman sultan Mehmed II.
• Constantinople became an
Islamic city and the capital of
the Ottoman empire.
Changed its name to
Istanbul in 1453 CE
Osman I & Mehmed II
Central Doctrines and Beliefs
 Belief in One God -- ALLAH
• Islam is a monotheistic religion
• Allah is the supreme God and
has no partners or equals.
• He is the recognized Creator
and Sustainer of the universe
• Allah is unique, incomparable
God, and is the one that should
be worshipped solely by
believers.
 ALLAH
• Created all human beings to be equals and no group
of people, race, or individuals is more favored by
Allah.
• Islam also refrains from representing Allah in any
human form, as he is similar to nothing and nothing
is comparable to Him.
“In the name of God, the Merciful, the
Compassionate.
Say (O Muhammad) He is God the One God, the
everlasting Refuge,
Who has not begotten, not has been begotten, and
equal to him is not anyone.” (Chapter 112)
 THE HOLY QURAN
(KORAN)
• Literally means “recitation” or “reading”
• The word of God (kalam) revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
• Muhammad received the first revelation in 610 CE and succeeding
revelations were given to him over a period of twenty-two (22) years.
 The QURAN
•It is the supreme authority in all matters of
faith, theology and law
•All Muslims believe that the Quran is a copy of the
eternal scripture written in heaven but made known to
Muhammad chapter by chapter
•The Quran in Arabic, the only language in which it is
revealed, is considered the perfect word of God. Any
translation, either in English or in any other language, is
neither a Quran nor a version of the Quran
 The HADITH
•The collection of the
deeds and sayings of the
Prophet Muhammad
•Is considered to be an
important guide in
understanding the revelations
in the Quran and has a
significant influence on Islamic
law (shari’a), second only to
the Quran
 Kaaba or Ka’ba
• Considered as the holiest
shrine in Islam.
• According to the Koran, the
Kaaba was originally built
by Abraham and Ishmael
for the worship of God
• The Kaaba represents the end
of a journey because it is the
symbolic point of origin of all
creation wherein all things
turn around it and from it all
things radiate. (Renard
 Kaaba or
Ka’ba
•It houses the Black Stone, a relic which was revered even
in pre-Islamic times.
•The Black Stone, 12 inches in diameter, is a fragmented
dark rock often described as meteorite
•The stone is believed to have come down from heaven
and one of the stones of paradise. It was white in color,
but has become dark and has been polished smooth
from being wept upon and touched by millions of
pilgrims through time
 Al- Masjid al-Haram or Great Mosque
• Holiest place of Islam
• located in the city of
Mecca in Saudi
Arabia
• Contains the Kaaba
which is situated
within the
courtyard of the
 The Five Pillars
•Refer to the five
duties that every
Muslim must perform
to live out their
Islamic faith and
bring themselves
closer to salvation.
 SHAHADA (“witness”)
(DECLARATION OF FAITH)

• The most important pillar of Islam

because it is the testament of
faith and the foundation of all
other beliefs and practices of
Islam.
• It affirms the oneness of God and
acceptance of Muhammad as
God prophet.
“The is no god but God.
Lā ‘ ilāha ‘ illā-llāh,
Muhammad is the messenger
mu’ammadur-rasūlu-llāh
of God.”
 SALAT (PRAYER)
• Prayer in the Islamic faith is a
direct link between the
believer and God.
• Muslims must pray five times a
day – at dawn, noon, mid-
afternoon, sunset, and midnight.
• Defined by rituals such as
ablution or a ritual washing
(wudu) which is done before
prayer, and the performance of
prescribed actions, postures,
and word during the conduct
of prayer.
 The Salat (Obligatory Prayer)
•Prayers are done for spiritual development
so that a Muslim’s character and conduct
remain sound and healthy
•Face the direction of Mecca or qiblah
•Pray as a congregation inside a mosque
(masjid = “place of prostration”) but men and
women pray separately
 ZAKAT (CHARITY)
• means “purification” and “growth”
• All things belong to God and that
wealth is held in trust by
human beings.
• Charitable giving purifies wealth
by setting aside portion for those in
need.
• A Muslim may also donate more as
an act of sadaqah (voluntary
charity) in order to achieve
additional rewards from Allah.
 SAWM (FASTING)
• Abstain from food, drink, and
sensual pleasure from dawn to dusk
during the month of Ramadan
• Refrain from anger, bad language,
envy, gossip, greed,
inappropriate thoughts and
actions, lust, and violence.
• Meant to embolden intimacy with
Allah, to be patient, and learn
to appreciate the hardships
faced by the poor and needy
 SAWM
•Any Muslim (FASTING)
who has reached puberty and is healthy
must undertake sawm
•Exempted from performing sawn are:
- Small children,
- those who are on a journey
- sick persons
- mothers nursing infants
•those who are permanently unable to fast, such as very old
or persons with those long term illness, can give charity to
poor Muslims instead
 HAJJ (PILGRIMAGE)
• a pilgrimage to the holy city of
Mecca which must be performed by
Muslims at least once in their
lifetime.
• Only the physically and financially
able are obligated
• Done every year during the month
of Dhu’l-Hijjah, the 12th month
of the lunar calendar.
• The lesson is to remind that all
human beings are equal before God.
 The FIVE PILLARS
•The performance of the five pillars fall under the
overarching principle of jihad.
•Jihad means “to struggle,” “to strive” or “to exert effort”
•Muslim are enjoined to engage in jihad in all aspects of
their lives
•On the personal level, a Muslim must struggle against
evil inclinations or temptations and vices.
•On a much larger scale, all Muslims must undertake the
struggle to improve the quality of life in society, defend their
nation, and resist tyranny and oppression.
 ISLAMIC ETHICS AND VALUES
• Belief and faith in the one God is the central tenet in Islamic ethics.
• Faith defines the thought and actions of the believers and it is
through speech and action that a Muslim is able to express his faith
and live a virtuous life.
• It is centered on following the commandments of the Quran and
observing the Shariah law.
• Great emphasis on solidarity and community and thus the rule of
law and respect for fellowmen should be upheld by all
Muslims.
• Benevolence (ihsan), compassion (rahmah), forgiveness, and
wisdom (hikmah) are the virtues of a true believer of Islam
Holy Days and Celebrations
 Eid al Adha (Day of Sacrifices)
• Most important festival in the Muslim
calendar marking the end of the pilgrimage
season
• A four-day festival starting on the 10th day of
the month of Dhul Hijja to commemorate
the event of Allah appearing to Ibraham in
a dream, commanding to sacrifice his son
Ishmael to show his devotion to Allah.
• All believers of Islam are obliged to offer a
sacrifice on this day. A family may eat the
meat they sacrifice, but a substantial
portion must be given to the poor and
needy.
Ramadan (Month of Great Heat)
•The ninth month of the Islamic calendar
•For 30 days, Muslims are expected to
observe the sawm wherein Muslims may not
eat, drink, or have sex during daylight hours
•Believed to be the month when
Muhammad received the first revelation
 Eid al Fitr
(Festival of the Breaking of the Fast)
• Is the first day of the
Islamic month of Shawwal,
the tenth month of the lunar
Islamic calendar.
• It marks the end of
Ramadan, which is the
month of fasting and prayer.
• A three-day
celebration beginning
at sunset on the last
day of Ramadan.
• Begins each year with
the sighting of the new
moon, indicating the
end of a month of
fasting and reflection.
 Muharram (“the Sacred Month)
• Marks the first month of the
Islamic liturgical calendar.
• The first day of the Muharram
is the beginning of the Islamic
year, and is counted from the
year of the Hegira – the year
Muhammad traveled from
Mecca to Medina.
 Mawlid al-Nabi (Rabi al-Awai)
• Celebrates Muhammad’s birthday
• It is fixed as the 12th day of the 3rd
month of the Islamic calendar
• Mawlid means birthday of a holy
figure and al-Nabi means prophet
• The day is commemorated with
recollections of Muhammad’s life
and significance
 Dhu al-Hijja (The Month of Hajj)
•Month of pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca
•Happens during the 12th month of the Islamic calendar
•Muslim men must be sound, physically sound, and able to provide for
their dependents while they are on pilgrimage to Mecca
•Muslim women must be accompanied by a male chaperon, such
as their father or brother
•Before travelling, pilgrims pray incessantly and perform extended
washing rituals, shave and cut their hair and nails
•Men wear special ihram outfit while women wear simple
white dresses.
Major Branches of Islam
 SH’IA Islam
• They believe that legitimate Islamic
leadership is vested in a line of descent
starting with Muhammad’s cousin and son-
in-law Ali, through Ali’s sons, Hasan and
Husayn, and then through Husayn’s
descendants.
• These were the 12 imams, or leaders of the
Shia Muslim community. Shia Muslims
believe that Muhammad designated all 12
successors by name and that they inherited
a special knowledge of the true meaning of
the scripture that was passed from father
to son, beginning with the prophet himself.
Shia Muslims
 SUNNI Islam
• The Sunni believe that the
Muslim community can elect
their leaders and Muhammad
did not designate a successor.
• Subscribe to the view that
Islamic law should be interpreted
based on reason as well as
tradition
• Religious issues are decided by
the community at large and not
solely by religious scholars.
SUNNI MUSLIMS
 SUFISM
• A mystic and ascetic tradition that
emphasizes personal piety and
spirituality.
• Believe that they can establish
direct communion with God and
that they can understand the
hidden meanings regarding the
nature of God and the world.
• Give emphasis on intuitive
knowledge and
devotions
Major Issues Confronting Islam
•Islam and Women
•The Holy War (Jihad)
•Militancy and
Terrorism
Women (Gender
Equality)
Women in Islam vary
greatly in terms of their
roles in society
They must remain
obedient to their fathers
and husband. The Quran
depicts a woman’s father
or husband as his master
and portrays superiority
of men on women
 Women (Gender
Equality)
All Muslims are required to
observe the Five pillars of Islam
but congregational prayers
remains optional for women.
They are prohibited to lead
prayers
A woman in her menstrual
period must not enter any
mosque
Muslim women are required to
cover their face and bodies
when in company with men
other than their immediate kin
Islam and Women
(Gender Equality)
However, Islam also has a
pro-equality stance on
many issues. Traditional
Islamic laws holds that
women cannot be denied
of education, cannot be
forced into marriage, can
divorce their husbands,
can vote and hold office
(some societies only)
The Quran assures
women the right to own,
dispose, and inherit
properties and earnings,
to participate in political
exercise and to sue for
divorce. Husbands are
also encouraged to treat
their wives well and
mothers must be treated
in the best way possible
The Quran views
women as spiritually
equal to men so
both are required to
perform good deeds
Nevertheless, the
status of women in
most Muslim
societies remain
seemingly inferior to
men.
ISLAMIC JIHAD
 The Holy War
(Jihad)
•A frequently mistranslated word, Jihad means “to struggle,”
“to strive” or “to exert effort”
•Muslim are enjoined to engage in jihad in all aspects of
their lives
•On the personal level, a Muslim must struggle against
evil inclinations or temptations and vices.
•On a much larger scale, all Muslims must undertake the
struggle to improve the quality of life in society, defend their
nation, and resist tyranny and oppression.
 Militancy and Terrorism
•Muslims who promote terrorism do not
embody Islamic ideals and distorts the very
essence of Islam as a peaceful religion
•The presence of violence in Islamic society can
be attributed to the failing of human adherents
and not to the teachings of Islam
 The Holy War
(Jihad)
•Strictly speaking, it
could mean a
Muslim going to war
to wipe out the
infidels in the name
of Allah (views of
some radical Islamist
groups like Isis and
Al-Qaeda)
 The Holy War (Jihad)
•However, the method of the
jihadist can be peaceful
one, such living a pious life
or observing the required
obligations to his faith
•Likewise, Islamic law opposes all
violent means except in cases of
war or legally sanctioned
punishment of criminals
 The Holy War (Jihad)
•“Fight in the cause of Allah
those who fight you, but do
not
transgress limits; for Allah loves
not transgressors.”
 Militancy and Terrorism
•Islam is a religion of peace and mercy
• Terrorism in all its forms are
abhorred by Muslims and destruction of
human lives, shrines and properties are
despicable in the light of various Islamic
texts
 Migration
The Muslim
population in the US
and Europe
continues to rise in
the present century
In Europe, there
were 44 million
Muslims in
2010
 MUSLIM
MIGRATION

In the US, Islam

has become an
American religion
with around six
million Muslims in
population,
Activity #1.6: What are the significant beliefs
and traditions of Islam? Complete the table
below.
Beliefs Traditions
Activity #1.7: Write T if the statement is true
and F if the statement is false.
1.Muhammad ibn Abdullah worked as a camel driver
across the Arabian Peninsula.
2. The longest surah has 268 ayahs.
3. Zayd ibn Thabit wrote on leather scraps, stone
pieces, ribs of palm leaves, shoulder blades of
animals, and paper.
4. The zakat must be 2.5% of a person’s entire asset.
5. Ritual washing or wudu is required before prayer.
Activity #1.7: Write T if the statement is true
and F if the statement is false.
6. The Quran is binding, continuous and supreme.
7. Muslims whose concern mainly dwell for a mystical
union with God belong to Sunni Islam.
8. According to figh, “human behavior may be
classified into four categories.”.
9. Jihad means “effort” or “struggle” to convince
unbelievers to pursue the Muslim way of life.
10. Salat is done before sunset, noon, mid-afternoon,
after sunset, and after midnight.