ISLAM FACT FILE
ISLAM
➢ Islam is one of the major world faiths today. Believers of the Islamic faith
are known as MUSLIMS. There is said to be over one thousand million
Muslims in the World today.
➢ The word ISLAM comes from an Arabic word meaning to submit of
surrender.
➢ Like Christianity and Judaism, Islam is a MONOTHESITIC faith, which means
they believe in ONE God whom they call ALLAH.
➢ Began over 15000 years ago with the prophet Muhammad (610AD)
➢ Muslims believe Muhammad was the last prophet of God.
➢ When Muslims say Muhammad’s name they follow it with “peace be upon
him” and it is often written as Muhammad (pbuh)
QUR’AN
•
The Qur’an is the sacred text of Islam
•
It is about the size of the Christian New Testament
•
It is divided into 114 chapters (suras)
•
It is written in Arabic and Muslims are encouraged to read and recite the
Qur’an in its original language
•
Faithful Muslims read the Qur’an everyday
•
Muslims also use the Sunna and the Hadith to help them achieve a better
understanding of life and of the Qur’an
•
Muslims keep Sharia Law or “Allah’s Law
CORE BELIEFS OF THE ISLAMIC
FAITH
♦ There is no God but Allah
♦ No one has a future without Allah
CRED
Fact File New-Bridge Integrated College
Islam | 2015
♦ Angels are messengers of Allah
♦ God has communicated with
people
♦ through sacred texts
♦ The prophets are sent to speak
for Allah
♦ There will be a final judgement
and life after death
FIVE PILLARS OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH
Muslims use the five pillars as ways of actively submitting to Allah
•
Declaration of FAITH (Shahada)
•
PRAYER (Salat)
•
ALMSGIVING (Zakat)
•
FASTING (Sawm)
•
PILGRIMAGE (Hajj)
SHARIA LAW
Sharia Law or “Allah’s Law” is a body of laws and recommendations.
Muslims first look towards the Qur’an and then life and teachings of
Muhammad. Through a process of argument and agreement these huge
range of laws and recommendations has emerged.
Sharia is the ultimate authority in Islam
Teachers continue to play a most important role because they work out how
to apply the Sharia Law to new situations….but these teachers are NOT as
important as the Sharia itself.
CRED
Fact File New-Bridge Integrated College
Islam | 2015
Sincere Muslims strive (or go all-out) to follow Allah’s Law in absolutely
every area of their lives. The word for this all-out “striving” in Islam is
JIHAD
ISLAMIC LAWS
➢ Except in extreme circumstances all meat must be HALAL or permitted
(slaughtered according to rules of Islam)
➢ They must not eat PORK and Muslims are not permitted to take alcohol or
any other intoxicant.
➢ Dress Code: Muslims believe in dressing modestly in public, so as not to draw
attention to their bodies
➢ Men must cover themselves from waist to knee
➢ Women are encouraged not to show bare skin in public, for this reason,
wear a scarf (hijab) and cover arms and legs when they go out. Although not
strictly required by Islamic law, some women choose to wear the Burka
(loose flowing garment covering their body from head to toe, small opening
for the eyes)
CRED
Fact File New-Bridge Integrated College
Islam | 2015