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Basics of Sunni and Shia Islam

 BellProphet
The Story of the Work Muhammad
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Reflect onborn
!  He was in Mecca.

the process.
!  No one today knows what he
— What is different
looks like, about how you wrote this paper?
as representations
— of him did
What are not
youallowed
learn? (he
was worried
— What do youthat
needimages
to work on?
would be worshipped).
— What is working well?
!  His father died before he was
born, but he was supported by
an uncle who taught him how
to be a trader.
 Professional Life
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— He was a successful trader, renown for his

honesty.
— He married a woman 15 years his senior,
which was unusual for the time. He had six
children (which becomes important later on)
— Until the age of forty he lived a pretty
normal life.
 Visions
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— At the age of forty he was visited by the Angel Gabriel

while in a cave. Gabriel provided him with
revelations that later became the content of the
Qur'an.
— After this experience, Muhammad began to preach
about the lessons he learned from his visions. For
the next ten years he had minimal luck with his
preaching and gained only a small group of followers.
 Conflict
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— Muhammad’s preaching eventually angered many

Meccans, as it often criticized the polytheistic pilgrims
who came into town to visit the Kaaba.
— Eventually life became dangerous and he fled in the
middle of the night on what has since become known as
the Hegira or “flight” from Mecca to Medina.
— Despite his fleeing, conflict follows him. He soon became
the leader of Medina, which then gets into a war with the
Meccans.
— Eventually Muhammad and Medina win, but he does not
seek retribution against Mecca. This act of forgiveness
inspires many Meccans to convert to Islam.
 Expansion
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— After Muhammad’s victory in Mecca, Islam grows

rapidly.
— Within two years it is the dominant religion in the
Arabian Peninsula.
— Within a century, it is the dominant religion in an
area larger than Rome at its height.
 Islam: Key Details
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— It is the second biggest religion in the world with 1.6

billion Muslims.
— The central text is called the Qur’an. It is a collection
of what Muhammad learned from the Angel Gabriel
and it was written in Arabic
— It teaches that Moses and Jesus were divinely inspired,
but not God. In this way it is similar to Judaism.
— It is considered an Abrahamic religion, along with
Christianity and Judaism, because it traces its roots to
Abraham.
— At the heart of Islam are Five Pillars.
 Pillar #1
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The Shahada or Declaration of Faith: The first act

of worship is the declaration that "There is no deity
except God and Muhammad is the messenger of
God." Muslims repeat this statement many times a
day during their prayers. If someone wants to become
a Muslim, he or she makes this profession of faith as
an entry into Islam.

 Pillar #2
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Salat or Prayer: Islam prescribes a brief prayer or

ritual worship five times a day: at dawn, noon, late
afternoon, sunset and night. Muslims perform ablution
before prayer -- a brief prescribed washing of the
hands, mouth, nose, face, arms and feet. One may pray
alone or in a group in any clean location, including a
mosque. The Friday noon prayer is special to Muslims
and is done in a mosque if possible. Muslims face in the
direction of Mecca when they pray.
 Pillar #3
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Zakat or Charity: Muslims are required to give to the

poor and needy. Islam prescribes an obligatory charity,
known as zakat, based on two and a half percent of
one's income and wealth. In addition to this prescribed
charity, Muslims are encouraged to give as much as
they can in voluntary charity throughout the year.

 Pillar #4

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Fasting (sawm): Muslims are required to fast from dawn to sunset

during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar.
People gather in the evenings for a festive breaking of the fast. When
fasting, Muslims refrain from food, liquid, and sexual activity. During
Ramadan, Muslims are also supposed to abstain from negative
behaviors such as lying, gossip, petty arguments, and negative
thoughts or behaviors, including getting angry. The elderly and people
with disabilities are excused from fasting. 



Ramadan was the month in which the revelation of the Quran to
Muhammad began. Therefore Muslims are encouraged to read the
Quran during this month and often gather in the evenings in mosques
to listen to recitations from the Quran. 

 Pillar #5
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Hajj or Pilgrimage to Mecca: Every Muslim is required
to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia,
once in their lifetime if financially and physically able.
Mecca is home to the first house of worship of God, the
Kaaba, said to have been built by the prophet Abraham and
his son Ishmael. Muslims all over the world face towards
the Kaaba when they pray. All outward symbols of rank and
wealth are erased during the pilgrimage, as Muslim from
every part of the globe come together for the purpose of
worshipping God. Muslims who complete the pilgrimage
are referred to as "Hajji" and greeted with great celebration
and respect in their communities when they return.