~T. ccceeceeceeeccccccccccceece ISLAM ! slam means obedience, God speaks to Muhammad I T or peace through s submission to the will of Muhammad used to retreat into Allah (God). Followers of the mountains to pray and Islam are called Muslims, contemplate. Around the time of which means obedient ones. his fortieth birthday, while he There are about 1000 million was in a cave on Mount Hira, Muslims in the world, mainly in near Mecca, he received his first the Middle East, North Africa revelation: God spoke to him and parts of Asia. Islam is the through the angel Jibril (Gabriel). second largest religion after Muhammad continued to receive Christianity and is the fastest- revelations throughout his life. growing religion in the world. Muslims share some beliefs The migration about God and about history Muhammad began to preach his with Jews and Christians. The central message in Mecca, that most important event in Muslim "there is no god but Allah". history, however, was the People soon became interested revelation of God's word to a in what he had to say and, afraid man called Muhammad in of his popularity and power, the the early 7th century AD. political leaders began a hostile mlm Muhammad became campaign against him. known as the Eventually, in 622, Muhammad Messenger of had to move God, or the his community Prophet. of followers to a city now editerranean Sea known as Medina, the Muslims at City of the Medina prayer Prophet. v -:;:;;;. A story tells /\r ABIA how Allah Muhammad's following grew was with AFRICA very strong. In 629 the Muslims Muhammad's early life Muhammad were able to conquer Mecca and Muhammad was born in during the journey. He and his Muhammad was finally accepted Mecca, in what is now Saudi friend, Abu Bakr, were hiding in there as the Prophet of God. He Arabia, in about 570AD. As a a cave when they heard soldiers won respect both as a great child he was orphaned and was approaching. Abu Bakr was religious leader and as a brought up by a generous uncle. afraid but Muhammad reassured statesman. He grew up to be a camel driver, him that they would be saved. trader, husband and father; he Just as one of the soldiers was The death of Muhammad was well respected in the about to enter and search the After the death of Muhammad in community and was known as cave, he stopped, saying 632, Abu Bakr made a n the Trusted One. that there was no point. announcement to those who However, Muhammad's life was Right across the could not believe that he had not completely happy. He entrance was a really died. He said: "Those disapproved of the lawlessness massive spider's of you who worship of his fellow countrypeople and web. How could A ^ |£ Muhammad must accept was troubled because they Muhammad and " that Muhammad is dead. worshiped many gods. his friend have entered the As for those of you who worship Abraham's belief in one God (see cave without breaking the web? Allah, Allah is living and will page 18) had previously spread The journey to Medina is known never die." This shows the to Arabia but had been lost again. as the Hijrah, or migration, and Muslim attitude to Muhammad. Arabia in Muhammad's is such an important event that He is not to be worshiped. time. Muslims date their calendar However, as Allah's messenger, from it. According to the he deserves the greatest respect. ^>-— Islamic calendar, For this reason, whenever ^ ^fefafe^ it is now the Muslims say Muhammad's 15th century. name, they also say "Peace be In Medina, upon him". 38 cccececcececceceececeecceeceee i

This photograph shows part of a mosque (see page 41), built in the early 17th century, at Isfahan in Persia (now Iran). Muslim countries were skilled in tile making and many mosques are decorated with mosaics.

Islamic art The Koran forbids images of any kind to be made of Allah, Muhammad or the other prophets, or indeed of any person or animal. This is partly because the worship of images is forbidden in Islam, and partly because no artistic representation could possibly be good enough to reflect adequately the magnificence of Allan's creation. For these reasons, Islamic artists have concentrated on developing beautiful geometric patterns and on calligraphy, because writing is so important, especially in the Koran. ,

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As the Koran is seen as the Sacred writings word of Allah, most Muslims try The Koran, also known as the to learn to read it in its original Qur'an, is the holy book of the Arabic, even if this is not their The beliefs of Islam (see next page) can be own language. Only about one written in calligraphy to form the shape of Muslims. It is believed to be the this boat, which is known to Muslims as the word of Allah revealed to sixth of the Muslims in the world Ship of Life. Muhammad during the last 22 are Arab. years of his life, so Allah, not Muslims learn several surahs,or A Koran which was copied by hand in India Muhammad, is its author. At chapters, of the Koran by heart in the 18th century. first the revelations were passed and some try to memorize on by word of mouth, but it was the whole book. They read not long before they 0i)s:,.A some part of it every day and were written down, fifa usually wash as a sign of although they were not \ respect before touching it. collected into one A set of writings called volume until after the Sunnah are reports Muhammad's of the words and deeds of death. Muhammad. They help to H f The Koran interpret the Koran and speaks of Allah's \ give additional oneness and guidance on belief, power, and about worship and what Muslims //.- ibehavior. H should believe. Reading the It also gives^ Koran. The detailed-.^ book is often r placed on a guidance on how stand. they should live. 39 9 ccccccccccccceccccecccceceeccce Muslim beliefs The Five Pillars Many Muslims divide their The Five Pillars of I s l a m show iST Zakah. This is the beliefs into six categories: how Muslim beliefs should be 3| Muslim obligation, put into action in daily life. -t=L for those who can 1 Belief in Allah. afford it, t o give at FT The Shahadah. least 2 Vi percent of 2 Belief in angels. 1 This is the their savings and A box for LL declaration other valuables every collecting 3 Belief in the holy books. of faith, which year to the poor. zakah money. Muslims believe that other is repeated prophets (see below) besides several times a Sawm. This means fasting. Muhammad were given written day: "There is During the ninth Muslim revelations by G od but that no God but S month, Ramadan, Muslims these no longer exist in their Allah, and eat and drink nothing during the original form. They call Jews and Muhammad is hours of daylight. This reminds Christians "People of the Book" His messenger." them that the good things in life out of respect for their belief in are to b e enjoyed but not over- the Tenakh and Bible. The Shahadah indulged in. It also shows^ iB§ written on a vase. equality with the poor. 4 Belief in the prophets of the Ramadan is a time for Tenakh and Bible, such as Salah. These are the five studying the Koran Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa daily prayers which are said, and for practicing (Moses) and Dawud (David). in Arabic, at dawn, just after self-discipline and S charity. Muslims respect Isa (Jesus) as noon, mid-afternoon, just after a n important prophet, though sunset and after dark. The not the son of God. Muhammad prayers may be said in any clean Hajj. This means was the last of the prophets. place and extra prayers may be pilgrimage. offered at any time. They consist Muslims hope to mainly of verses from the B 5 Belief in the Day of make a pilgrimage to Judgment and life after Koran, praising Allah and asking Mecca once in their death. On the Day of for His guidance. life, to visit the Judgment, the deeds of Muslims wash and often take Ka'bah. This is a every human being will off their shoes before praying, place of worship ^ \ be weighed. Those for cleanliness. believed to have whose good deeds weigh Men have to wear Women must cover their head for prayer. been built by white sheets to heavy will be able to cross a Men do not have to, although many do. Ibrahim and one enter Mecca at narrow pathway across hellfire of his sons, Isma'il Hajj. This is to and safely reach paradise. Muslims always face the holy (Ishmael). It had show equality. city of Mecca when praying. Women sometimes fallen into misuse wear them too. 6 Belief in predestination. This is They perform a set of but Muhammad the belief that God controls ritual movements, restored it to the everything that happens. It is including standing, worship of Allah. linked to the idea of obedience. bowing and kneeling, The Hajj takes Muslims try to d o t h e will of to show their submission to the place during the Allah rather than following an will of Allah. twelfth Muslim individual path through life month, when Prayer beads may millions of The Muslim code of be used to help pilgrims travel to behavior is b a s e d on concentration. Mecca. They visit the belief that all life is Unless they are other important created by Allah and in a mosque, sites nearby too. should therefore be Muslims pray on Nobody is respected. The code a prayer mat for allowed to go on involves many social f cleanliness. Some modern Hajj without first responsibilities such as prayer mats making sure that respecting parents, have a built-in their family is neighbors and the compass for provided for in community, and being finding the direction of their absence. The honest, patient and Mecca. poor, old, sick trustworthy. It is and disabled do forbidden in Islam to kill not have to go. animals for sport. The Ka'bah in Mecca. 40

\. * eeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeceoeeeeeeeeec Mosques Mosques are for communal prayer and serve as centers for the community. Besides the In mosques main prayer room, there are without sound rooms for washing, for studying systems, the and for teaching children. There The towers of a muezzin climbs are often fountains outside. mosque are the minaret to called minarets. give the call At the set times for the five The call to to prayer. daily prayers, verses from the prayer goes out Sunnah are relayed, often by from here. loudspeaker, from one of the towers of the mosque. This acts as a call to prayer. The person who recites the verses is called the muezzin (mu'adhin).

All male Muslims are expected Crescent Many mosques have to attend the mosque on Fridays Geometric dome-shaped roofs. for noon prayers. Women who go patterns are to the mosque usually sit often a feature separately from men. The of mosque direction of Mecca is indicated architecture. by an arched alcove or a if, decorated panel in the wall. The prayer leader is called the imam, which means man of knowledge. Imams are appointed by the mosque. Star and crescent Some mosques have crescents or crescents and stars on them. These have no real religious significance but came to be associated with Islam: the crescent because of Islam's lunar calendar; stars because the Koran speaks of stars as Festivals being among Allah's signs. Id-ul-Fitr is a festival which different versions, in the Torah takes place at the end of the fast and in the Old Testament. n of Ramadan. People attend Ibrahim was asked by God to special prayers at the mosque sacrifice his beloved son, Ismail, and give food to the poor. They to show his obedience. Just as eat celebratory meals, visit Ibrahim was about to kill Isma'il, friends and relations, and God provided a ram to take exchange presents and cards. Isma'il's place. The festival This is a time of celebrates both Ibrahim's thankfulness for faith and God's mercy. Allah's many blessings and for The Jihad his help during A person's inner struggle the fast. to live a good life is Id-ul-Adha is known as the Jihad. For celebrated by many Muslims, the Muslims who Jihad also includes the are at home holy duty to try to win while others are others over to Islam by on Hajj. It setting a good example in commemorates M ldulAdha an their lives. They believe that , , , animal is the solution to world problems • an event reported slaughtered and would be a worldwide Islamic in the Koran and the meat shared state. also, in slightly with the poor. 41 eeoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeec Muslim dress The spread of Islam Both men and women should After Muhammad's death, but had to pay extra taxes, as dress modestly and not try to Islam was led by a succession they were excused from zakah appear attractive to the opposite of caliphs (caliph means (see page 40) and from military sex by displaying their bodies. successor). The first of these service. Women should cover their head, was Muhammad's friend, Abu This map shows how far Islam arms and legs. In some places it Bakr, and the fourth was his spread in just over 100 years has become the custom for cousin and son-in-law, Ali. following Muhammad's death. In women to cover their faces, too, The caliphs waged many 661 the center of Islam moved when outside the home, wars with the aim both of from Mecca to Damascus in although no hard and fast rules defending Islam and spreading Syria and in 750 it moved from about this are laid down in it. People in conquered Damascus to Baghdad in Iraq, Islamic scriptures. countries were supposed to be where it remained for the next Anything which threatens allowed to keep their religion 500 years. family life, such as the possibility of affairs outside marriage, is to be avoided, and men and women are not usually SPAIN

allowed to mix freely. Damascus Mediterranean Sea Dress rules are interpreted differently :TfrAFj;icA in different places and by different people. Mecca Spread of Islam during IIM.'iA. — Muhammad's lifetime. ARABIA I | Area conquered under the first four caliphs (632-661). Arabian Sea | I Area conquered between 661 and 750,

Muslim scholarship The Muslims in Spain Mathematics and science, The Muslims conquered much of including medicine and Spain and Portugal in the 8th astronomy, as well as art, all century and ruled there right up flourished in t until the late 15th century, when Muslim world, Spain and Portugal joined forces especially t to overthrow them. between Muslim, Jewish and Christian about 900 scholars were all active in and 1200. Spain at this time. As early as In Baghdad the 10th century, the town of Women wear veils a "house of g^ Cordoba had 70 libraries. in some countries. wisdom" was ^ A courtyard in the Alhambra, a Muslim built; this was palace, at Granada in Spain. a great library in Muslim diet which the caliph A perpetual-motion machine described In Islam, all meat must be halal (see above) in a book on (permitted), which means it has wanted to collect waterwheels, to have been prepared in a copies of all the which was written certain way. The name of Allah books in the in the heyday of must be mentioned while the world. Muslim scholarship. animal is slaughtered, and the It was Muslim scholars who blood, which is considered introduced many of the works unclean, must be allowed to and ideas of the Ancient Greeks drain away. Muslims do not eat and Persians to Europeans. They pork, because they believe that also adopted and it is unclean. established the Alcohol is forbidden, because 7=VII decimal system of Arabic numeral numbers and the drunkenness makes people (left) and Roman forget that they have duties to numerals used concept of zero Allah, such as prayer. previously. from India. 42 ceececeeeccceeecceeeeeeeeec Later Islamic empires In the 16th and 17th centuries three powerful Islamic empires were at their height. They were all renowned for the splendor of their rulers' courts. Mediterranean Sea The Ottoman Empire lasted PERSIA (now

the longest of the three, from the Isfahan 14th century right up until 1923. NORTH AFRICA It first spread outward from Vtedlna what is now Turkey. By the end of the 15th century, the Muslims m'Mecca had conquered most of the ] Ottoman Empire A!'AM A Christian Byzantine world including Constantinople, which ] Safavid Empire they renamed Istanbul. I | Mogul Empire

This map shows the three Islamic empires.

The Shari'ah Sunni and Shi'ah Islam the Sunni and Shi'ah traditions The religious laws of Islam are About 90 percent of the world's is that Shi'ism does not called the Shari'ah, which Muslims are known as Sunni recognize the first three caliphs means the clear, straight path. Muslims. Sunni means "the path and sees the fourth, Ali, a s The sources for the Shari'ah are shown by Muhammad". Muhammad's first true the Koran and the Sunnah. The successor. Shari'ah gives comprehensive Leaders of Shi'ism in Iran are guidelines on matters ranging called ayatollahs, which means from personal behavior to "a sign of Allah". conducting matters of state. ms-v In strongly Muslim countries Sufism such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, Sufi Islam stresses more the there is little difference between idea of a personal relationship religious laws and the laws of with God and less the laws of the country. In general, Islam Shi'ah religious leaders holding a meeting. Islam. Sufi worship includes has strict prohibitions and Although a much smaller music, chanting and dancing. penalties for crimes which movement than the Sunni, Sufi dancers are sometimes are seen to threaten Shi'ah or Shi'ite Islam is known as whirling dervishes. society. The Shari'ah dominant in Iran and exists in Dervish means wandering beggar: calls for the death many other Muslim countries, the first Sufis were holy men penalty for crimes including southern Iraq, who lived without possessions. such as murder. Lebanon and Bahrain. Muslims living in The main difference between Whirling dervishes in Turkey. V non-Muslim countries are V sometimes torn between the need to conform to the laws and customs of the country and the desire to follow the rules of Islam as the Koran dictates. For example, school sports uniforms of shorts or leotards Muslim girls can threaten the sometimes Islamic dress code wear tracksuit trousers under and the publication their sports of books considered skirts. blasphemous (which treat Allah with disrespect) can cause offense. 43