Name: ________________________________________ Class Period: _______ Date: _____________ Directions: Annotate the reading and answer the questions. Unit 9: Culture Packet: Islam Muhammad never expected to change the world. He was born in 570 A.D. in Saudi Arabia. He was kind, and his nickname was "the truthful one." The boy was orphaned, and his uncle raised him. Muhammad tended sheep on the dry hills like many young Arabians. Later, he became a successful merchant and married a wealthy widow. However, he felt as though something was missing in his life, so he went on a retreat. Muhammad went up to Mount Hira to pray in a small cave. He knew about Judaism and Christianity, and he wanted to find a deeper meaning for his life. He was also upset about the cruelty of his people. They killed baby girls to control the number of women, and they treated their slaves unkindly. Muhammad had a strong sense of right and wrong. He wanted change, but he had no idea that his prayers would lead to a new religion. Islam began in 610 A.D. when Muhammad claimed that the Archangel Gabriel appeared in the cave. Muhammad was amazed at the angel's first command: 'Read, in the name of Allah!' He wanted to obey, but he tried to explain that he didn't know how to read. Muhammad suddenly could read! The messages from the archangel over the next twenty-two years became the Koran. The Koran is the holy book of Islam. Archangel Gabriel told Muhammad to preach about Allah. Muhammad began to preach three years after his vision. Mecca had 360 shrines to different gods, and the people didn't like the idea of just one god. They may have thought that more gods gave them a better chance of getting answers to their prayers. So the first Muslims became outcasts, and they moved to the city of Medina in 622 A.D. The Islamic calendar begins at this date instead of from the birth of Christ. Medina later became the center of Islamic civilization. By the time Muhammad died, he had united many people in the Arabian Peninsula. It is said that Muhammad met Archangel Gabriel again at the end of his life. The angel led the Prophet to a mysterious animal called the burag. This animal had a human face, angel wings, and a horse's body. Muhammad ascended to heaven on its back. Muslims call this event the Night Journey. Muslims all over the world celebrate this event. A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam. A Muslim believes in Allah as the one god. The word "Muslim" means "someone who surrenders to God." Muslims believe in the Arkan-ul- Islam, the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims must do these five things. The first is Shahadah, or a declaration of faith. A Muslim says, "There is no god except Allah, and I declare that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." The second pillar, Salaat, means that Muslims must pray five times a day. Zakaat is the third pillar, and it means to give to the poor. Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, which is the fourth pillar. The last pillar is Haj, a pilgrimage to Mecca. All Muslims want to go to Mecca. It was Muhammad's birthplace. Pilgrims wear white robes in Mecca to show equality in Allah's eyes. They circle the Ka'bah, a small building made from bricks covered with a black cloth. The Ka'bah represents monotheism. Millions of pilgrims visit many holy sites each year. Many shops close during prayer time. Meetings are arranged around prayers. Businessmen may say to each other, "Let's meet after evening prayers!" Muslims say their prayers in mosques, but some carry a prayer rug with them so they can pray anywhere. Mosques are beautiful buildings that serve as the spiritual centers of their communities. They can be simple or elaborate. Muslims follow certain rules when they are inside their mosques. Everyone takes off their shoes and covers their heads. Often a special area in the mosque is reserved for women. Everyone also washes before praying. Muslims face Mecca when they pray. A niche in the wall shows the direction of Mecca. Prayers are important, but Islam is a complete way of life for Muslims around the world. Muslims believe that manners are important. They teach their children to respect others. The Muslim way of life begins moments after a baby is born. The father whispers the name of God, Allah, into his child's ear. Muslims raise their children to have high standards. Muslims are taught to not kill, lie, steal, cheat, or betray their country. They don't gamble, commit adultery, or drink alcohol. Muslims also have fun. They enjoy wonderful festivals that celebrate historical events. Other holidays honor the Five Pillars of Islam. Births and marriages are marked by great celebrations. During Ramadan, Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset. Muslims prepare delicious foods for these celebrations. Sharing food is an important part of Muslim life (after all, food was hard to find in the desert.) Yummy pastries called hama are covered with honey. Cookies called kuch are made with palm sugar. Lamb kebobs are also popular. Muslims do not eat pork as they follow certain dietary rules. Questions 1. Which angel is reported to have appeared to Mohammad? A. Michael B. Gabriel C. Raphael D. Rufus 2. Why did Muhammad go to Mount Hira? A. He enjoyed hiking. B. He needed more rocks for his collection. C. He felt something was missing in his life. D. He was persecuted by his neighbors. 3. Which of the following is NOT one of the Five Pillars of Islam? A. living in Mecca B. declaring the faith C. giving to the poor D. praying five times a day 4. What is the name of the building where Muslims pray? A. a temple B. a cathedral C. a synagogue D. a mosque 5. Why do Muslims wear white robes when they visit Mecca? A. White represents purity. B. White is cooler in the heat. C. White symbolizes that all Muslims are equal in Allah's sight. D. White cloth is easy to obtain. 6. What is the name of the holy book of Islam? A. the Koran B. the Bible C. the Torah D. the Diamond Sutra 7. What was the overall effect of Islam upon the Arabian Peninsula? A. It divided the area into many countries. B. It confused people. C. It made people smarter. D. It united people. 8. What is the name of the Muslim month of fasting? A. Divali B. Ramadan C. Gatorade Month D. Festival of Lamb Kebobs Which pillar of Islam would you relate to most, and why? (Write a minimum of 3 complete sentences.) ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ The history of Islam is colorful, at times violent, and always complex. It began in 610 A.D. when it is believed that Archangel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad on Mount Hira. The angel revealed the words of Allah to Muhammad, and this later became the holy Qur'an. Muhammad was a quiet man, but three years after his vision, he boldly preached about Allah. His message would change the world! Islam spread all over the world by military conquest, through peaceful nomads and Sufi mystics, and through merchants on their trade routes. Trying to summarize its history in a few words is like trying to pour a steaming vat of Arabian coffee for Ali Baba and the forty thieves into a single teacup! Muslims began their vast military conquests during Muhammad's life. Their first battles were against locals who were angry with Muhammad because he spoke against their many gods. In 624 A.D., several hundred poorly armed Muslims defeated 1,000 well-equipped Meccan soldiers! The Meccans tried to get rid of Muhammad again in 625 A.D. with 3,000 soldiers, but the battle was a draw. A movie made in 1976 called The Message chronicles these dramatic episodes in Islamic history. Islam faced other challenges after the death of Muhammad. Muslims had trouble deciding upon a leader when their founder died, and they split into two groups. One group elected one of Muhammad's closest friends, Abu Bakr, and gave him the title of caliph, which means "successor." This group became the Sunni Muslims. A second group thought that the Prophet's cousin should be the leader. This group became the Shi'i Muslims. These two groups still exist today. The caliph had many responsibilities, including becoming the leader of the army. The first caliphs led their people with wisdom and strength, but later caliphs had an elaborate lifestyle that belied their spirituality. The first caliphs after Muhammad's death had been the Prophet's closest friends, so they were called the Rightly Guided Caliphs. They led military conquests to expand their territory into a large empire that stretched from the Arabian Peninsula to Spain. The first three caliphs were great conquerors. Their empire expanded to include Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, and much of modern-day Iran. They conquered Spain in 710 A.D., and ruled there until the 15th century. By 750 A.D., Islam had also spread across North Africa, and today, all countries of northern Africa are Muslim. The Muslim Mughal dynasty ruled India from 1526 to 1858. The well- disciplined, efficient Muslim soldiers were feared in many lands. Many battles were fought to gain this much territory, but in other areas, the caliphs made peaceful alliances with local rulers.