ISLAM

Presented by:
Deanbella Paldez
Lance Castillo
Islam is the youngest major religion,
established in the 7th century C.E. It has over
1.5 billion followers, making up one-fourth of
the world's population. Most Muslims live in
Asia and Africa, with 49 Muslim-majority
countries. Indonesia has the largest Muslim
population, and significant Muslim
communities are found in Egypt and Nigeria in
Africa.
SYMBOLS
The star and crescent has become the
acknowledged representation of the Islamic faith. The
symbol can be seen in the national flags of states that
came about following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire
in the 20th century. Around the 1970s, it was adopted by
movements that advocated Arab nationalism.
Traditionally, the crescent moon or the hilal has early
connections with royalty. It is also closely linked to the
lunar calendar that orders the religious life of the Muslims
(Bowker 1997).
Star and cresent moon
The crescent
moon was often
associated with
moon gods, while
the star
symbolized Venus,
a bright celestial
body.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Islam began with the Arabian desert

people around early seventh century
C.E. These people had developed their
own set of beliefs prior to the formal
establishment of Islam and had been
influenced by other religions for a long
period of time, including Byzantine
Christianity, Judaism, and
Zoroastrianism.
Pre-Islamic people worshipped a
variety of gods. While they
recognize the existence of one
supreme god, local and tribal gods
were mostly venerated by the
people. Carved images were done
to represent these gods that were
often revered and given blood
sacrifices (Hopfe 1983).
 Pre-Islamic religion in the region
included the worship of a pantheon of
gods, animistic beliefs, and reverence for
spirits in nature such as rocks, trees, and
wells. Mecca became a sacred shrine due
to these animistic associations, with
pilgrims venerating a meteoric stone that
fell there, leading to the construction of the
Kaaba. Over time, various images and
relics, including a painting of Jesus and
Mary, were placed in the Kaaba. The
Black Stone, an object of veneration, held
significant importance during power
struggles among different clans controlling
the shrine. Mecca's strategic location on a
major caravan route further enhanced its
religious significance.
Kabaa
The black stone
The Life of Muhammad
Around the year 570 C.E., Muhammad ibn
Abdullah was born in the oasis town of
Mecca just off the western coast of the
Arabian Peninsula (Karabell 2007).
Muhammad’s father died before he was
born while his mother died before he was
six years old. He belonged to the clan of
Hashim of the Quraysh tribe that controlled
the Kaaba and the camel trade that passed
through Mecca. Following the tradition, he
was sent to be reared among the Bedouins.
When his mother died, Muhammad was
raised by his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib
(Renard 1992).
Muslims consider Muhammad was the
last prophet sent by God, visited by the
angel Gabriel. Despite gaining loyal
followers, he faced hostility from the
Meccan tribes (a powerful and
influential group of Arab clans who
played a crucial role in the early history
of Islam) due to his radical teachings,
leading to persecution of him and his
followers.
 The term “Islam” originated from an Arabic word meaning
“submit.” which means to “surrender or submit oneself for
obedience to God” or to “enter into a condition of peace
and security with God through allegiance and surrender
to him”. On the other hand, the word “Muslim” is the Arabic
word for a person who submits. A Muslim, therefore, is a
“person who surrenders or submits himself to obey God”.
In Arabic, the word “Allah” is a compound of al (the definite
article, the) and ilah (god or deity). Joined together, the
words signify “god” (Renard 1993). Henceforth, he is called
Allah or “the one who is God.” Muhammad was preaching
that there can only be one God.
SACRED SCRIPTURES
The Q'uran
The sacred writing of the Muslims is called Quran
(or Koran in English) that literally means “recitation”
or “reading.” The Quran is the revelation from God of
his speech (kalam) and is the foundation of the Islam
religion (Bowker 1997). It is the supreme authority in
all matters of faith, theology, and law (Parrinder
1971).
Q'uran
 “In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of

the Worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
Master of the Day of Judgement.
You do we worship and Your aid we seek.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those on whom You have bestowed
Your Grace, those whose (portion)
is not wrath, and who go not astray.”
Source: The Quran, translated by
Abdullah Yusuf Ali, p. 1
 A person who is able to
memorize the Quran in its
entirety is called hafiz
(“guardian”). The female
counterpart is called hafiza.
Whatever denomination
Muslims may belong to,
they always have the same
Quran written in Arabic
similar to the early days of
Islam’s founding. No two
copies of the Quran
anywhere in the world differ
in any way (Aziz 1993).
The Hadith
The Hadith is a collection of the deeds and sayings of
Muhammad and his followers, considered the second
source of shari’a law after the Quran. Compiled
generations after Muhammad's death, the Hadith holds
authority in Islamic teachings. In the ninth century, Muslim
scholars undertook systematic collections known as
Kutub al-Sittah or the Six Sahih Books, with the most
respected being authored by Muhammad al-Bukhari and
Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj. These collections, Sahih al-Bukhari
and Sahih Muslim, are the most authentic. The word
"sahih" in the titles indicates that the authors sifted
authentic reports about Muhammad from others. The
Hadith is the source of various rituals and obligations in
Islam, including the "Five Pillars of Islam" and many
criminal laws.
BELIEFS/DOCTRINES

Islam began as a way of life (din)

for its followers which God intended for
his creation from the very beginning
(Bowker 1997). In time, God had to
send several prophets, including Musa
(Moses) and ‘Isa (Jesus), to summon
people back to the din as a result of
human rebellion and transgression.
Ultimately, all prophets were rejected,
persecuted, or killed except for
Muhammad.
 While some religions may have room for subjective or
personal discernment regarding matters of conduct,
Islamic beliefs are more dominantly social in character.
Islamic religious laws cover the daily life of all Muslims—
from education, dress, marriage, sexual relations, justice,
punishments, economics, diet, and even rules of
hospitality. While Islam’s approach to life and death,
origins of the universe, and the nature of mankind is
simple, it is also rigid and uncompromising (Horrie &
Chippindale 2003).
FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
The basic obligations of Muslims are called
the Five Pillars of Islam or arkan al-din. While
differences may occur in the interpretation of
Islamic law, all Muslims believe and accept the
entirety of these obligations that must be strictly
observed to avoid being sent to hell on the “Day
of Judgment.” The Five Pillars give structure
and unity to all believers of Islam.
 Foremost among all Muslims’ obligations is
the declaration of their statement of belief
called shahada (“witness”) that is recited
during prayers and rituals. Apart from
shahada, the four other duties that must be
performed by all Muslims are collectively
called as ibadah (“state of submission”). The
ibadah aims to discipline the adherents and
eliminate impostors to the Islamic faith. The
ibadah is composed of praying five times a
day, fasting during the time of Ramadan,
giving of annual charity, and undertaking a
pilgrimage to Mecca once in a Muslim’s
The Creed (Shahada)
The basic creed of Islam that “there is no God but Allah;
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah” is known as shahada.
In Arabic, the shahada is recited as “La ilaha illa Allah;
Muhammadon rasul Allah.” These are the very first words
uttered into an infant’s ear and perhaps the last words given
to a dying Muslim. The shahada asserts that Allah is the only
divinity and that he has relayed his will through Muhammad
(Bowker 1997).
To be accepted into the Islam fold, one must recite the
kalima or phrase with two witnesses. The first half of the
kalima is known as tawheed (“the unity”) which is the most
important statement of Muslim faith. The second half is
called risallah (“acceptance of prophethood”) which implies
acceptance of prophets as messengers of god (Horrie &
Chippindale 2003). For a Muslim to deny any part of the
shahada is tantamount to the crime of reversion to Islam that
is punishable under Quranic law.
Obligatory Prayer (Salat)
Just as the body requires food for its daily
sustenance, prayers are done for spiritual
development so that a Muslim’s character and
conduct remain sound and healthy (Aziz 1993).
Facing in the direction of Mecca or qiblah, Muslims
must offer prayers or salat five times each and every
day—before sunrise (as-subh), noon (az-zuhr), mid-
afternoon (al-asr), immediately after sunset (al-
maghreb), and before midnight (al-isha) (Horrie &
Chippindale 2003). In a mosque or masjid (“place of
prostration”) where Muslims offer prayers in
congregation, men and women pray separately. A
structure of masjid can range from a simple desert
prayer ground (musalla) or just any space whereby
rules of ritual purity are properly observed.
 Each prayer session begins when the strong-
voiced muezzin or caller recites the call to prayer
(adhan) from the tallest point of a mosque, often
a minaret. A minaret is a tall structure or thin
tower that is used to call the people to prayer.
The adhan, composed of rhythmic Arabic
phrases devised by Muhammad himself, is often
recorded and broadcast through speakers (Horrie
& Chippindale 2003). Quite regrettably, muezzins
have been slowly replaced by amplified voices
and tape recordings (Jomier 1999).
Minaret
Poor Tax (Zakat)
Zakat, or the poor tax, is a mandatory annual
wealth tax for Muslims who have accumulated
sufficient resources. It amounts to 2.5% of a
person's total assets, including savings, jewels,
and land. This tax is intended to support the
needy and promote solidarity within the
Muslim community. Paying zakat is viewed as a
religious duty, an act of obedience to Allah,
and a way to purify one's wealth. It also helps
to curb greed and promote compassion for the
less fortunate.
Fasting (Sawm)
Fasting or sawm during the entire 30 days of
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, must
be performed by all Muslims every year. The Ramadan
is believed to be the month when Muhammad received
the first surah of the Quran. During this time, a Muslim
must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and
engaging in any sexual intimacy from dusk until daylight.
By resisting the demands of the body during sawm, the
Muslims strengthen their will. Muslims are reminded that
they have the capacity to ignore the longing of the body
or material gratification (Frager 2002).
Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)
All Muslims must attempt to undertake a pilgrimage
to the holy city of Mecca or hajj (“visitation of Holy
Places”) at least once in their lifetime during the twelfth
Islamic month. The “Grand Mosque” (Al-Masjid al-
Haram) in Mecca houses the most sacred site of Islam,
the Kaaba (“House of Allah”). The Kaaba is a cube-
shaped ancient stone building that dates back to the time
of Adam and Eve according to Muslim tradition. Muslims
believe that the Kaaba was originally built for the worship
of God by Abraham and his son Ishmael (Belt 2001). 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
1992).
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
The Islamic calendar is
composed of 12 lunar months of
between 29 and 30 days. A year in
the Islamic calendar constitutes a
total of 354 days. The difference
between the solar and lunar calendar
is adjusted by adding one day to the
last month of the year 11 times each
30 years. Nonetheless, 103 Islamic
years are the equivalent of 100 solar
years despite the periodic
modifications done on the calendar
(Hopfe 1983).
Upon entering the Grand Mosque, the hajji performs the
tawaf which involves circling the Kaaba seven times in a
counter-clockwise direction. Most pilgrims attempt to
touch or kiss the sacred Black Stone. However, the
sheer number of pilgrims inside the mosque prevents
them from touching the relic. They may instead raise
their arm and point in its direction. These rites are known
as umrah. Once the tawaf is completed, most pilgrims
drink from the well of Zamzam that was established by
Hagar and Ishmael. With its rich mineral water, Ishmael
and Muhammad quenched their thirst here as the
tradition goes (Belt 2001). The stream flows through the
basement of the Grand Mosque (Horrie & Chippindale
2003).
 ‘Id al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is the
most important festival in the Muslim calendar
marking the end of the pilgrimage season. On
the tenth day of the hajj, Muslims are required
to slaughter a live animal (a sheep or goat) to
commemorate Abraham’s willingness to
sacrifice his son Ishmael and his obedience to
God.
 Friday is the special day of worship
for the Muslims as commanded by
Muhammad. In mosques, Muslims are
required to pray with his fellows and
prayers are led by an imam. An imam is
a member of the community selected to
lead the congregation due to the
devoutness and religiosity he manifests
to the people (Hopfe 1983).
Islamic Law
The concept of law and justice in Islam, or the
shari’a (“the road to the watering place”), is based
upon the Quranic verses as revealed by God to
Muhammad. The universal laws passed down by God
govern both the affairs of human and laws of nature
(Horrie & Chippindale 2003). Apart from the Quran,
the teachings of Muhammad or the hadiths form the
basis of Islamic legal system.
The shari’a is a path of conduct that must be
followed by all Muslims. It concerns almost the totality
of a Muslim’s life – from home life, business interests,
marital relations, inheritance, and various duties to the
state and community (Brown 1975).
Islamic Jurisprudence
Islamic jurisprudence or the science of
Islamic law is called fiqh. All aspects of Muslim
way of life and actions are covered through
fiqh. Human behavior may be classified into
five categories: forbidden (haram),
discouraged (makruh), neutral (mubah),
recommended (mandub), and obligatory
(fard).
Forbidden actions (haram) are considered both
sinful and criminal, subject to punishment.
Examples include consuming animals that were
not ritually slaughtered, pork, blood, and
alcohol.

Obligatory actions (fard) are compulsory for all

Muslims, such as daily prayers, fasting during
Ramadan, and giving alms. Failure to fulfill these
obligations is considered sinful and punishable.
Reprehensible actions (makruh) are
discouraged but not punishable.

Recommended actions (mandub) are

meritorious but not obligatory.

Permissible actions (mubah) are neither

good nor bad, and are neutral.
SUBDIVISIONS
Similar to most major religions, Islam
also has sects, which vary primarily as
to how these sects interpret some
aspects of the Islamic faith and of the
Quran. Inasmuch as Muslims agree on
the fundamental tenets of the Islam
religion, variations do occur in many of
their beliefs and practices (Hopfe
1983).
Sunni Muslims (The Sunnis)
Majority of Muslims, around 87% to 90% of the
entirety of Islam believers, belong to the Sunni
denomination. The Sunnis (“Followers of the
Smooth Path”) are traditionalists and are
considered the orthodox of Islam as they endeavor
to follow the original religion established by
Muhammad and guided by the first four righteous
caliphs. These Muslims follow the sunnah
(“customary practice”) of Muhammad from which
their name originated. Sunnah pertains to the orally
transmitted record of wisdom, conduct, and sayings
attributed to Muhammad and his earliest
companions as recorded in hadith.
They adhere to the sunnah of
Muhammad and believe in the
importance of community approval for
rulers, who can be elected or hereditary.
Sunni sects may differ in views, often
influenced by national or social factors,
with most Muslim countries having a
Sunni majority except for a few like Iran,
Iraq, Azerbaijan, Yemen, and some Gulf
States.
hi’a (The Shi’ites)
Shi'a Muslims are a significant faction within Islam,
originating from the belief that Ali ibn Abi Talib,
Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, should have
succeeded him directly. This belief led to the split
from the majority Sunnis. The Shi'ites follow a line
of imams starting with Ali, believing them to be the
rightful spiritual and political successors of
Muhammad. The main Shi'a sects include the
Seveners, Twelvers, and 'Ibadis, each with distinct
beliefs about the number of imams and their roles.
The martyrdom of Husayn at the battle of Karbala
in 680 C.E. remains a central event in Shi'a history,
commemorated annually on Ashura.
 Sufi
Sufis are Muslims who seek a mystical connection
with God, symbolized by their simple lifestyle and
focus on spiritual practices. They can be Sunni or
Shi'a Muslims and aim to attain union with the
divine through discipline, poverty, and abstinence.
The Sufi movement emerged in response to the
opulence of the Abbasid Dynasty in the ninth
century, leading to the establishment of monastic
orders in the twelfth century. Followers, known as
fakirs or dervishes, study under a master to deepen
their spirituality and seek mystical experiences as a
pathway to God.
SELECTED ISSUES
Islam has gone through two principal
periods of growth in its relatively young
history: first, at the onset of its founding,
and second, during the twentieth century.
As one of the fastest growing religions in
the world, Islam has affected every facet
of human society.
 Islam and Women
The role of women in Islam varies across
different societies, with some facing
restrictions in legal rights and employment
opportunities. While women are expected
to be obedient to their fathers and
husbands according to Quranic teachings,
they are also guaranteed rights to own
property, inherit, participate in politics,
and seek divorce.
Congregational prayers are often dominated by men,
and leading prayers is prohibited for women. Some
Muslim women are required to cover their bodies in
the presence of men outside their immediate family.
Despite Western perceptions, Islam upholds
principles of gender equality, granting women rights
to education, divorce, and political participation,
though societal practices may not always align with
these Islamic ideals.
 The Quran mentions the following with regard to
the position of women:
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women,
because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the
other, and because they support them from their means.
Therefore, the righteous women are devoutly obedient,
and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would
have them guard. As to those women on whose part you
fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first),
(next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) chastise them
(lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against
them means (of annoyance): for Allah is Most High, Great
(above you all) (Quran 4:34).”
Source: The Quran, translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, p. 53
The Holy War (Jihad)

Jihad, often misinterpreted as "holy war,"

means "effort" or "struggle" in Islam. It can
involve peaceful means like living a pious life or
violent means, such as war, in defense of Islam.
While Islamic law opposes violence except in
cases of war or legal punishment, the concept
of jihad remains complex and debated,
particularly in the context of contemporary
conflicts.
 The Quran contains the following
verse in reference to Islam’s
opposition to violence:
“Fight in the cause of Allah
those who fight you, but do not
transgress limits; for Allah loves
not transgressors. (Quran
2:190)”
Source: The Quran, translated
by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, p. 18.
Militancy and Terrorism
Islam, a religion of mercy, strictly prohibits
terrorism. The Prophet Muhammad forbade
killing women and children, and considered
murder a grave sin. Islamic teachings discipline
the destruction of human life and property,
making terrorism abhorrent to true Muslims. Acts
of violence by individuals or groups cannot be
attributed to Islam itself, but rather to the failings
of those who misinterpret or disregard its
teachings.
Migration
In the late 19th century, Muslims from Syria,
Lebanon, and Jordan migrated to the US. Post-
World War II, European countries welcomed
migrants from former colonies, leading to
significant Muslim populations in the UK,
France, and Germany. By 2010, Europe had
around 44 million Muslims, excluding Turkey. In
the US, there are approximately six million
Muslims, including immigrants, American-born
children, and about two million American
converts, primarily African American.