Cassell’ Intermediate Graded Readers More than one in 10 of the world’s population are Muslims, ‘What do these people believe and how do they worship? This book discusses the Muslim people ~ their history, the ‘way they live and their religion. “This series aims to meet students’ needs for graded reading material thats linguistically controlled as well 2s, interesting and informative in subject, The traditional format of lexical and structural grading into a system of six levels is maintained. Each book contains a glossary as well asa wide range of exercises and follow-up activities to give depth and purpose to the students’ reading, but ‘without interrupting his enjoyment ofthe tory ‘The series covers non-fiction topics including spor, technology, history, biography, the arts ec. [Teacher's Gude tothe series is available on request ‘All the authors are practising teachers with wide experience of students’ needs Cover PhotograptvTony Stone Motors ISBN 0304 30821 8 2 C Spenebr on Aslam )- Valerie Quinlivan General Editor: Michael Carrier Cassell EFL‘CASSELL LTD 1S¢ Anne's Read, Eastbourne East Susex BN21 SUN, (© Casall Led, 1984 llrightsreserved. No patof this publication may be reproduced, ‘zored in any retrieval system or ransmiteed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or ‘otherwise, without the prior permission of the Publishes. First published 1984 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Dasa Quintivan, Valerie Spotlight on Islam.—(Cassell’s Spotlight readers) 1 English language — Text-books for foreign, speakers 2 Readers—Islm L Tide 864 PENDS ISBN 0-304-30821-8 ‘Typeset by Inforum Led, Portsmouth Printed in Hungary Grateful thanks t» Hassan Mustapha, PRD and Suhaib Hasan, MA (Punjab); Licentiate (Medina). Grateful acknowledgement for permission to use photographs reprodced inthis book is made wo the following (aumbers refer to the pages in the book on which they occur) ‘Tony Stone Associates (cover) ‘The Turkish Tourism and Information Olfice (17,28, 29, 32,33, 58) Bridsh Tourist Authority (46) High Commissioner for Indi (31) Seorearia General de Turismo de Espaia (24,30) Contents Preface Introduction ‘Mohammed pave and the beginning of Islam Pilgrimage and the holy cities “The teachings of the Fly Qur'an Islamicculture Customs and differences within the Muslim brotherhood ‘Women in Islam Islamin the world today Chronological Table of Islam Exercises GlossaryCASSELL GRADED READERS ELEMENTARY Spotlight on Lewd Level2 (so bexderdy 0 eadeord) Basen Bey ‘he Begnng of Redo theses Trees Mad Al sh Food Knaiiadn Toa The Wold Cop How 2 Record it Made The Beta pd nly Gen yer "Nord Sr Toneins Fatanem The Spe Race INTERMEDIATE Level 3 ee Level 4 1os0 festa) (sto aod) Moe Rein Sipe of Nae Focal Wil Stakepene The Remedy Ses: Sek The Commo Maker essex Rock Mee The Soper ‘irons Er trey a Tomertows Word The Simic ADVANCED Level 5 es Level 6 gps beierty rn ade) ‘fe op ide Engict Revloton Pica Thee ‘Winston Chore Soc Gt Brin Wows isSocey Cinema Darwin and Evolution Preface “This is a new series of readers for foreign students of English. It is new in several ways. Firstly, it has been designed as a series rather than an arbitrary group of, titles. Secondly, the series provides reading material that is representative of the students’ interests and corresponds as far as possible to the books that stu- dents would read in their own language. Thus it con- sists only of informative, entertaining, non-fiction topics. Thirdly, the language used in the readers has been carefully chosen and controlled so as to be easily understandable for students without being childish or patronising in its tone. At the same time each reader introduces a sizeable amount of subject-specific voca- bulary which would not normally be included in a simple grading system. This subject-specific vocabul- ary is carefully explained through text, illustration or glossary so that the student can deal with topics in a more serious and informative way. Michael Carrier General Editor‘TeFonyesottchanmed Introduction Every child is born 2 Muslim®. This is what the followers of the sixth century* Arab*, Mohammed aun, believe. A Muslim isa person who gives up his will to God. When a person gives himself to God like this, his way of life is called Islam. All over the world, at five times of day and night, there is a movement ‘towards a certain city; there is a direction of attention* from north, south, east and west, towards the Arabian city of Holy Makkah (Mecca). In the marketplace, the shopkeeper* may put down his mat* and kneel* and pray* among the things he sells; in the office, the businessman may kneel beside his desk; the schoolgirl or housewife may hurry home to say the evening prayer before having tea; in foreign universties*, students may ask for a special room for prayer. All these people kneel facing in the direction of Holy Makkah. They are followers of Mohammed ‘aunt; they are Muslims; they belong to Islam. “The special building for prayer in Islam is called * See Glonery. [New words ate aseisked(*) dhe fis time they ocur ony.mosques look in towards the centre. From this city ‘came the man who had a special message from God. His message made and broke nations. It was the cause of wars and of works of art®. For many non-believers Islam the word ‘Makkah’ means something wished for, the place where one would most like to go. For Molims this is what Holy Makhal really is. Iesaw the beginning of a new religion®, now itis the centre of an ‘old one. This book looks at the story of Mohammed aunt and the religion of Islam. 1 face Makkah only for love (Of Your face, or I would turn ‘To neither prayer nor that Holy Place. By Rumi A thirteenth century poet. 2 han mosque*. The Grand Mosque in the city of Hol Makkah slike the centre of acircle. Around the world } | ir Mohammed psu and the beginning of Islam Mohammed pauxt was born in 570AD, in Holy M: kkab, in southern Arabia. Holy Makkah was rch city, busy with trade. Roads which joined the east and west, ran through it. Fine things arrived from all over the ‘world and were bought and sold in its markets. They were carried by caravans" of camels*, ‘Mohammed's pave family were poor and he was left without father or mother when he was very young. ‘Then he was sent out of the city to the desert® wherehe lived with a desert tribe* and looked after sheep and goats. Mohammed rau loved the desert with its long, hot days and peaceful nights. He watched the stars in the beautiful night sky and liked to be quiet and still. But he was good at his work too. He learned not only about animals but also about the ways of trade. As he grew up people thought well of him. He was called ‘the Trustworthy"* because they could trust him to be honest and fair. ‘Asa youngman Mohammed pau worked for a rich woman whose husband had died. She lived in Holy4 sen Makkah and he looked after her caravans, sometimes travelling long distances with them. Her name was Khadija, When he was twenty -fivehe married Khadija, who was fifteen years older than him. They were very happily married. In spite of* the usual customs of the people, Mohammed rauxt had no other wives until after Khadija had died. ‘After he was married, Mohammed rau lived in Holy Makkah with Khadija. He looked after her busi- ress, sending the caravans on their long journeys. But now he did not have to work so hard. He had more time to himself. He was interested in religion and he ‘was not satisfied with the ideas of the people of Mak- kah who, like most people in Arabia at that time, believed in many gods and thought gods lived in trees and stones and water. He often returned to the peace of the desert or climbed the sides of lonely mountains to wonder about life and death. ‘Then came the night which changed his life and the lives of millions* of people after him. Mohammed roux was forty years old. He went up to a mountain called Hira’a to watch the stars and think. While he was thinking, the angel* Gabriel appeared to him. ‘Read’, he said. ‘I cannot read,’ said Mohammed rst times the angel repeated the order, telling Read in the name of the God, who has made man. Read; for your God is the most kind, It is he who has taught man to use the pen; He has taught man what he did not know.” +} For wealation from he vgn tet, ee page 8. Monanmed PEUM and te bagmnng of eS It seemed to Mohammed raurt as if the angel had told him everything in the book, word by word. It was terrible. He ran down the mountain, filled with fear. ‘When Mohammed rau told Khadija what had happened she trie to calm his fears and give him help and strength. She believed in him and his call to be God's messenger. ‘At first Mohammed roux taught God's words secretly to his family and a few friends. But the small group which prayed so often was noticed by the people ‘of Makkah. They laughed at Mohammed rsuxt and his followers and they did not like them. Then Moham- med PauH was ordered by God to teach openly. This made the people of Makkah angry. He taught things ‘which were against their old beliefs* and against their business interests, He taught that there was only one, true God and that after death® there was another life ‘with Gods he taughe that to give tothe poor was better than getting rich and that people must be honest with each other. "The people of Makkah were really afraid that Mohammed rauxt would become powerful, although ‘most of the people who first believed his teaching were poor and unimportant. The rich townspeople made life very difficult for these first Muslims. Mohammed PBUH was protected* by his own tribe, although they did not believe his teaching. However, things became so difficult that some of the Muslims with no one to protect them had to run away. They went to Ethiopia. ‘The Christians® there also believed in one true God.© ben Both Christians and Muslims believed in the teaching, of the prophets® mentioned in the Bible, like Moses and Abraham. The Muslims were safe in Ethiopia. ‘The year 622 was sad one for Mohammed PBUH but. {twas the year ofthe real beginning of the M Mohammed's Pau great helper, his wife Khadija, di and his uncle, his protector* and the head of his tribe, died also. It became dangerous for Mohammed Pautt to stay in Holy Makkah. He and his followers” went north to Medina. They had to leave their belongings® behind, hide in rocky places and travel by strange roads, but when they arrived in Medina they were welcomed by many people. Mohammed PBUH was listened to asa prophet of God and also asa wise man in the problems of everyday life. ‘Now Mohammed PBUH was safe but his aim was to bring his own tribe and the people of Holy Makkah to believe in Islam. And he had another aim, In Holy ‘Makkah there was a holy* place built by the prophet, ‘Abraham, called the Ka’bah. For a long time this had ‘been used by the people of Makkah and other Arabs as, place for their gods. Mohammed pavxt wanted to free the Ka’bah so that it could once more be a holy place for the One God. ‘Even the people of Medina who did not believe in Islam felt angry against the people of Makkah. ‘Mohammed aux and his followers had left all their belongings in a rich city. Now the Medinans had to feed and clothe them. Medina was nota rich city like Holy Makkah. Moparmad PBLM and be bapering of am 7 Small groups of Muslims began to go out to fight. parties of people of Makkah and take their caravans. ‘Mohammed pauxt himself led three hundred Muslims, seventy on horses, to fight some of his own tribe. They heard that the Muslims were coming and sent for help. Nearly a thousand men on horses decided to fight Mohammed pauxt and his people and to finish them. Both sides took their positions and first there was a ducl*, then a combat with three people from each side. Before the fight against the thousand tribesmen, ‘Mohammed pnvs told his men that they were fighting, for God. The Muslims won the fight with very few dead on their side. The dead, and any Muslims killed in future fighting, were called martyrs* who had given their lives for God. However, Mohammed rus, taught that this should not be the most important idea ina Muslim's mind, although it was fine thing to die for God. When he was coming back from one action he said, We return from the less important jibad (struggle) to fight the more important bad struggle)’. He meant that the fight against one’s own bad character was the most difficult and serious thing. The fighting went on for a long time and many Muslims and their enemies were killed. Sometimes different groups of peoplé from Medina, such as the Jews, fought for the enemy and Mohammed psvxt had to show his strength to them too. At last he took the city of Holy Makkab, but without much fighting. He hhad made an agreement with the ruler* of Holy Makkah8 ben who realised how powerful Mohammed pauH had ‘become and Mohammed pavxt cleaned the Ka'bah of, the old gods. Khadija had seen the beginning of his Call and now he was the leader of Holy Makkah. Ten years after the Call almost all Arabia was Muslim. In 632, after saying goodbye to his followers in Holy Makkah, ‘Mohammed paunt retuned to Medina and died there ‘The desert Beyond the city Belongs to me ‘A place of beauty For it reminds me (Of the Friend ‘And wherever He is, there Is a place of beauty. B. Se'adi A thirteenth century Persian poet. eo Z Pilgrimage* and the holy cities According to Muslims, the first man on earth was a Muslim and the prophet Abraham preached Islam only, which in turn was changed into Judaism by the Jews and Christianity by the Christians, and re- established by Mohammed raurs. Each has its holy book, the Holy Qur'an, the Old Testament and the New’ Testament. Muslims recognise Jews and Christians as People of the Book. ‘Mohammed rauxt had always hoped that the Jews would accept him as the leader promised in the Old ‘Testament. Muslims believe that the teachings of the (Old Testamentled to the coming of Mohammed Pav, the last and greatest prophet, as Abraham was the first. When Mohammed pau and his followers first prayed, they followed the Jewish custom and turned towards the Holy City of Jerusalem. But the Jews ‘would not accept Mohammed Pautt as their prophet. ‘The Muslims faced Holy Makkah instead when they prayed. Although at that time Holy Makkah was still an enemy city, the Ka’bah was there, the House of God built by Abraham with the help of his son, Isma’il. The Ka'bah was important to the Muslims, not only be-10 sen cause of its holiness* but also because they believed Isma’il to be the first of the Arab race. His mother, Hagar, had been sent out of Abraham’s house and left alone by the Kabah. She was frightened and thirsty. She ran among the hills searching for water. Returning to the Ka’bah, she saw a spring" called Zamzam sud- denly appear. The spring was taken asa sign from God and made the place more holy. Arabs had come on. pilgrimages, holy journeys, to the place, before the time of Islam. Zamzam is the sacred” spring (or well) of Holy ‘Makkah, and is also called the well of Isma’i. Ieisin the south-east part of the Ka’bah, opposite the corner where the Black Stone is. It is 47 metres deep and there used to be a dome* on top. Pilgrims drink the water, take it home with them to give to sick people, and dip* the clothes they will be buried* in when they die, into Zamzam. ‘The Angel Gabriel opened the spring to save Hagar who was dying from thirst. Later the Djuerbumis filled in Zamzam and threw their treasure into it, but then the spring was rediscovered and dug* out by “Abd al-Muttalib, an_ancestor* of the Prophet. ’Abd al- “Mauttalib made the door ofthe Ka’bah from some of the gold which the Djurhumis had thrown into Zamzam, When Mohammed psuxt took Holy Makkah he broke all the gods made of stone and wood and closed the city to non-believers. Only Muslims could now center Holy Makkah. It was the centre of the Muslim ‘world and it stil is, Different customs grew up around Prgmage andre hay coe 11 the Muslim pilgrimage to Holy Makkah. The last time ‘Mohammed rBux went there he said goodbye to his people on the side of the mountain called Arafat. He kknew he would never see them again and he fixed the ceustoms which were to be followed each year. These customs are still kept. Visitors to Holy Makkah are on a holy journey. ‘They are pilgrims. Their first aim isthe Kabab. A fine “Muslim place of prayer, or mosque, has now been built around the Ka’bah. Before pilgrims can enter they ‘must wash themselves; they must wear plain, white pilgrim dress instead of their ordinary clothes. They follow Hagar’s paths through the hills and drink from the spring Zamzam. They stand on Mount Arafat and listen to the words ofthe Prophet and the Holy Qur'an. During the pilgrimage, one of the days is called “The Feast* of Sacrifice’, when pilgrims offer sheep or camels as sacrifices to God. The Feast of Sacrifice reminds Muslims of Abraham who had been ready to offer his son, Isma’il, to God. But God stopped him and showed him an animal to sacrifice instead. ‘The Arab word for pilgrimage is ha. It is the duty of Muslims to go on the baj a least once but only if they can, in their lives. When they do they can use the name of hajjor pilgrim. They goto remember Abraham and Mohammed aux and to show that all Muslims are brothers. They also go to sacrifice money and comfort and to learn to forget the things of everyday life. Indeed the haj can be a sacrifice of comfore. People come to Holy Makkah from all over the world, all12 bom through the year, but especially atthe time of ha. They. usually crowd first into the modem city of Jeddah and then on to Holy Makkah. It can be difficult to find a place in cars, trains or planes. The city is crowded with people from different nations and strange languages can be heard on every street. Sometimes the weather is extremely hot since the time for the hajcan be different every year. However, although over million people now goon the hajeach year, the journey is safer than it used tobe. ‘Moder pilgrims usually arrive by plane at Jeddah and. Saudi Airlines has special lights® for the baj The Saudi government have built modern hotels and made the place around the Kabah bigger. Over 300,000 people can now stand there at one time. They have also made sure that there are careful checks on health and that, ‘water supplies are good. All along the pilgrims’ road there are taps for drinking water. The Saudi govern- ‘ment moves to Holy Makkah for the haj and the King ‘of Saudi Arabia or his representative leads the pilgrim= age in the same pilgrims’ dress as the hundreds of thousands who follow him. In spite of the crowds, the heat and the foreigners ‘with different ways, the Muslim is taught he must be ‘calm and kind during the haj; the rich must not look down on the poor; the educated* must think well of the uneducated. Prophet Mohammed's PBUH ‘struggle’ against one’s own bad characteris as much part of the haj as the long journey. ‘Almost every pilgrim to Holy Makkah also travels. Parage and te rey oes 13 over two hundred miles north-east to Medina, where Mohammed psux lived for ten years and where his ‘tomb is. Pilgrims are also encouraged to goto Jerusalem. as well. Ths is the third holy city for Muslims and is known in Arabic as the ‘Holy House’ but i is very different from the closed city of Holy Makkah. Some Muslims not only go to visit Abraham's tomb at Hebron and other places written about in the Old Testament. they. also visit the holy places of the Christians. Muslims recognise Jesus Christ as a prophet in the line of prophets from Abraham. The Holy Qur'an tells of Jesus and of his mother, Mary. So Muslims visit the church in the town of Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born. But the important place for Muslims is the Furthest Mosque, in the Old City of Jerusalem. Mohammed aust had made his prayers in that direction before his Call. Special families have looked after this and other ‘mosques in Jerusalem for centuries. They also keep the Propher’s coat and his pen which re shown to pilgrims once a year. Pethaps the best known place is the Dome* of the Rock. This was the first of the great and beautiful buildings of Islam and is thirteen centuries old. The dome, the great roof like a half circle, is covered with gold and shines out over the whole city. Underneath. this work of artis a plain and simple rock. This is what the dome protects. It is the rock of Father Abraham; the Temple* of the Jews was built here by King. Solomon the Great; jesus walked and taught in the16 bn Temple, the Jewish place of prayer. So if the Holy Cities of Makkah and Medina are signs of Muslims as brothers, Jerusalem could bea sign of Muslims’ brotherhood® with the People of the Book. Coaches* in the carparks of modern Jerusalem carry pilgrims from Africa, Europe or America who ould be ews, Christians or Muslims. An carly example of this brotherhood was when the Muslim leader, *Umar, father-in-law* of Mohammed Pau, took the city of Jerusalem from the Christians of that time, He entered the city in simple pilgrim dress, not like a powerful ruler. Hle would notlet his followers take the churches and he made a fair agreement with the Christian leaders. Sadly, later examples of fig ‘over the Holy City have not been so peaceful. 3 The teachings of the Holy Qur’an ‘Muslims believe that the Holy Qur'an is the Word of God, told to Mohammed Pau from a book in Heaven. They think of Heaven as the home of God's angels and the place where the book of God’s truth is kept. Because Muslims believe the word comes directly from God in this way, nothing in the Holy Qur'an can be changed. Mohammed aux did not say that he, himself, had any special powers but that what, he taught was God’s word which must be obeyed. ‘The message of the Holy Qur'an did not come to ‘Mohammed rsut all at once on the night of his Call. He heard God’s word at different times, sometimes in sleep and sometimes in the daytime. Then he heard strange sounds and became hot and then cold. When this state passed he taught the new message that had been given to him. At first God’s teachings were not written down; then Mohammed's paux followers wrote what he said ‘on anything that might be near: wooden tablets, soft stones, palm leaves, pieces of leather and camel's bones. There were some people who remembered ‘everything he said and could repeat the teachings from.16 son beginning to end. In this way the Holy Qur'an was passed from one age to the next. Even now young ‘Muslims lear by heart* the teachings of God as com- piled in the Holy Qur'an. "Ten years after Mohammed pour died these writings were collected together and made into a single Mushaf (a copy of the Holy Qur'an). They were arranged in chapters of different lengths. The traditions or sayings of the Prophet were ofien revurded. By the sevond century they had been compiled into various books. ‘These traditions were called Sunnas. Muslim law is made from the teaching of the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnas. The Holy Qur’an is full of both beautiful poetry about God and His Heaven and teaching about every- dy life. Its main message is that there is only one true God tells that there s no end to His power; that God is full of kindness and forgiveness towards man. Man must not be afraid of death because that isthe gate to Heaven*. Heaven is painted as a beautiful garden with trees and flowers, fruits and streams. Against this is the picture of Hell*, the place for those who have had false gods, who have treated other men cruelly and who hhave thought only of riches all their lives. To help man live his life as God wants him to, there are five main teachings from the Holy Qur’an: the five pillars® of Islam. The first is the declaration” of faith, the giving up of one’s will to God’s teaching. This is ‘what the word Islam means and a Muslim is the man or woman who gives himself or herself in this way and Muslims praying together in the Sultanabmet Mosque in Istanbul,18 ban speaks and thinks of his belief in God every day. ‘The second pillar is prayer®. It was because of their daily® prayers that the people of Makkah first recog- nised the Muslims. These prayers said five times a day are still the sign of a Muslim. They remind the Muslim of God and help him to understand God’s will. They are also times of thought and rest in busy lives. Mohammed aux compared these prayers with ‘washing in a clear stream five times a day. A Muslim prays by himself in any place as long as it is clean oF with other Muslims in the mosque. ‘The third pillar is giving to the poor ~ another teaching which made the people of Makkah of Mohammed's roux time angry. Everything in Islam belongs to God, so the man who has a lot must not keep it all for himself. He has a duty to look after poorer people. On the other hand, since God has given ‘each man his belongings, itis a very serious thing to steal from anyone and thieves are given hard punish- ments*. ‘However, a rich man cannot do his duty just by giving money to apoor man. Ifa Muslim has power, he ‘must use it to help others in every way he can. "Umar said that if man died of hunger, the whole city he had lived in should be punished* for his death; the same great leader said that if a horse fell down on the other side of the country, he, "Umar, would have to answer 10 God for the bad condition of the roads. ‘The fourth pillar is fasting* in the month of Rama- dan, the month when Mohammed pauxt heard the Tro tachogs of he Hoy ran 19 Call. This can be a great sacrifice. The months of the Muslim year are not fixed to the seasons and Ramadan ‘may be in winter or summer. The fast is from dawn” tosunset* and no one but the sick, or travellers may eat or drink during that time. ‘The fifth pillar of Muslim life isthe baj. As well as these five duties, the Muslim is forbidden to drink. ‘wine, eat pig meat, to gamble* or to lend money and ask extra payment for it For a good Muslim the Holy Qur’an is a guide to every part of life. The book of the Floly Qur'an iselfis, given a special place in the house and must be handled ‘with care. A third of the teaching is on the life of the family. There is teaching on all the main happenings in hhen a child is born; his childhood, education*, ‘when he marries, how he does business, what he gets from his father when he dies and how to die in peace with God. "The family is very important to Muslims. The Holy (Qur'an teaches children to obey their parents*in every way that agrees with God’s laws. When parents are old they have aright to kindness and care. Muslim homes usually have grandparents and other relations as well as, parents and children. Parents must be the first to teach, children their religion; sometimes they are taught to pray by their older brothers or sisters. ‘The laws of Islam recognise the right of every child to education, This places upon the child the du learn what he can, in Islam all rights have duties wit them. The Holy Que’an says that all Muslims, men oF ‘women, must lock for learning.‘The Muslim Calendar ‘The Muslim calendar is based on the lunar* system and the months coincide® withthe appearance of the new moon to the naked eye. The Islamic year is made up of 354 days, divided into months of 29 and 30 days. ‘The Muslim calendar started from the year of the Hegira622 AD, and the months egeess* dhiouglall the seasons every 32% years ‘The calendar is not fixed to the seasons and so varies from year to year, but the table below shows how the months occur in 1984, Gregorian Calendar Muslim Calendar pests oon oe tem wordy a Joy | tt Rane foe Eibrcy | 2] 964] jumaDaa [toe Mark” | 3{t904|JuMaDA [toe Moa | 3) tone| Rajan [toe My | 2) toee| sda [toe me | Toe RAMADAN [ane June 30] 1984 | SHAWWAL =| 1404 July 23| 1984 | Z’QA’DAH 1404 ‘gun || tone] ZniggaMT [ot September |2c| tone MUHARRAM | 10 (ew Yer (Gliter” | 35) ons [Saran | tans November [34] 004 [Ramet —— [tsas December [33] 000 [RABen —— [tsas Tre tacts of ne Hoy Quran 21 If a Muslim does wrong, then the family are re- sponsible, The family will help if there is trouble but +he must also answer to the whole family for his wrong- doing. When a young Muslim begins business life his religon guides how he behaves. The Prophet himself ‘was called ‘the Trustworthy’ and he taught that ‘the truthful, honest businessman is like the prophets...” ‘Those who owe* money must pay it back, especially to a poorer man. The poor man, an the other hand, must be given more time to pay. ‘The Prophet also advised young people to get mar- ried as soon as they could, but not if they couldn't afford to. Muslim men wanting to marry must show they can keep a family. The family is responsible for arranging good marriages". Marriage is meant to last for life in Islam and if a marriage seems tobe failing, the families must try to save it. If this is unsuccessful, then divorce* is allowed. However, Mohammed poux said that among those things which are allowed to a Mus- lim because of the weakness of man, divorce is the most hateful to God. Muslim men are also allowed to take more than one wife. Before Mohammed's rauxt time in the Arab world, men took as many wives as they wished. To have alot of wives was a sign of importance, like having 1 lot of camels or goats. The teaching of the Holy (Qur'an says a man can have more than one wife only if he can be fair and just between them ~ and that that, may proveimpossible. The Holy Que’an also saysthata ‘man can have no more than four wives. Mohammed22 ban PBUH asa younger man had only one wife much older than himself. When Khadija died he married other ‘women, often so that enemy families might become friends. When many men were killed inthe fighting he rade sure his followers took the wives and children who were left without protection’ into their own families. Now, however, most Muslims only marry once. “Blood money’ isthe price a person or family must pay ifa life is raken. Among the desert Arahs this wat paid for with another life. If che death is accidental, eg. jinacaraccident, no onemay be to blame, butthe ‘blood money’ must still be arranged between the families. This custom has often in the past caused long wars between families, lasting from one age to another. Yet ‘one of the most important teachings in the Holy Qur'an is forgiveness. Muslims believe that it is sensible to fight back if you are attacked and the law says itis fair to give back evil* for evil; bu itis swonger and beteer to forgive. Mohammed raux taught, “You will recog- rise Muslims because of ... their love for one another and their kindness towards one another’. All Muslims ‘may not live up to this teaching but itis said strongly again and again in the Holy Qur'an and the Sunna. So the teachings of the Holy Qur’an recognise that men and women are weak. Itisa practical religion in its, strong duties and responsibilities but italso sets high aims for men and women to follow. It also brought together the countries of the Arab world and was the beginning ofa great culture* which spread far beyond Arabia Islamic culture Tn Arabia at the time of Mohammed rsutt there were rich, settled cities like Holy Makkah and in the desert there were the tribes who moved from place to place finding food for their animals. North and south Arabia were setled countries with their own rich customs and ‘culture. The trading caravans moved across Arabia with their silks* and perfumes® and things from many countries. City traders paid the desert Arabs to allow their caravans to pass safely through their lands, However, there was often fighting between the de- sert tribes which made the caravan roads dangerous and which was bad for trade. The desert Arabs were brave and strong and each supported his own tribe against other tribes. The whole tribe was more important than the family. They had many gods but their animals and the strength of thei tribes were more important to them than their gods. Although the city ‘Arabs lived a very different sort of life, they were still related to one tribe or another and so had connections* with the desert Arab. It was partly because of these ‘connections that Mohammed Paux was sent to the desert as a boy, but it was also Arab custom to sendThis wall of the Mosque in Cordoba, Spain shows the becuifid design that were ned to decorce mongue. their children to stay with tribes outside Holy Makkah, ‘where they could enjoy fresh air and fresh milk and be with people who spoke pure Arabic. ‘There was no written history or poetry* among the wibes but the pots ad many stones vo tll sees he past and the Arab language was rich and full of poet- Ty. Poetry about love and war was popular before Mohammed's Pour time. anal As trade grew, more and more caravans crossed the ‘Arab lands. They carried news and new ideas and customs as well as things to sell. The idea of belief in ‘One God was not completely new to the Arabs. They eane cutse 25 hhad heard a litle of the teachings of the Jews and the Christians. So when Mohammed raux began his ‘teaching, Arabia was ready for it. Apart from religious belief, Islam joined the tribes together and gave the ‘Arab people a feeling of being one. And Arabia gave to Islam its language, its traditions* and its fighting strength. Trade grew better and better as the new religion joined the people together. When Islam spread outside Arabia it took in the cultures of the great nations around it: Persia, Turkey and Byzantium. "The most important root of Islamic culture was the ‘Arab language. The language of the Holy Qur'an is powerful and beautiful. Early copies of the Holy Qur'an were works of art in themselves. Even the handwriting in which the Holy Quran was written was holy in Islam, Each writer tried to produce the finest writing, "The thought of the homemade gods of the non- Maslim Arabs made Muslims dislike pictures of men, ‘or even animals, on their religious buildings. Even paintings of Mohammed rau were forbidden to stop imple people thinking of him as God. Instead, writ- ings of the Holy Qur'an set among flowers and other designs were used to make tombs and mosques more beautiful. Even when the Holy Qur'an was translated into other languages the fineness ofits thoughts and poetry ‘was recognised. Although Christians and Muslims ‘were fighting over Jerusalem, translations* of the Holy Quran could be found in Europe. The great Italian poet, Dante, found ideas for his most famous poem in25 ban the Holy Qur'an, where the story of Mohammed's sux ‘Night Journey’ is told. ‘Mohammed pauxt told his followers that he was carried to Jerusalem on a horse with wings led by the ‘Angel Gabriel. Then he reached the ruins of the Jewish ‘Temple. From there he climbed a ladder made of light tothe seat of God in heaven. Itis from this journey that all the pictures of heaven and hell come; and the teach- ing on the five prayers of the Muslim also comes from the ‘Night Journey’. ‘The beauty of the Holy Qur'an helped writers to produce other beautiful works. Sometimes these were religious and sometimes they were stories of love or action. Many of them were also translated and became well-known in the non-Muslim world. Stories The Arabian Nights and poems such as The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam were very popular in Europe and are now well-known all over the world. ‘Quranic writing made the mosque more beautiful butthe building of a mosque was a work of art. Within fifty years of Mohammed's ppuxt death, the Arabs had become masters* of much of the known world. There wwere already buildings of great beauty in many coun- tries which had belonged to Rome and Byzantium. ‘There were clever builders in every large city where the Arabs took control. The main buildings of the Arabs ‘were palaces and mosques. In spite of all the different examples they saw and leamt from, the strong ideas of the Muslims produced one main kind of mosque Probably the yearly haj helped to keep the form of the ‘mosque the same, In every town the pilgrim passed “Muslim countries and populations There are over 42 Muslim states in the world at present. These are some of the Muslim countries and thir eimated populations: 140° milion ls lion “40 milion 30 milion wailon sillion million million millionSome of the beautiful tiles used to decorate the Sulta- nabmet Mosque in Istanbul. through he would say his prayers in the mosque there. ‘The teers and aris woud notice and sary the ideas home with them. ‘mosque is place for prayer: walls around an open spat in which people pray. The direction of Holy Makkah must be shown in one of the walls and usually this part of the mosque has a roof. A simple place of prayer like this could be made very quickly by fighting men when they rested, However, when the Arabs took cities and settled there, they made their places of prayer very fine. A dome, or high, round roof covered part of the mosque. Near the dome was a tall minaret®, from The Muslims buile many beautiful buildings. This one is the Sultanahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque’) in Istanbul. which Muslims could hear the call to prayer five times a day. The place where the religious leader stood to read the Holy Qur’an and to teach was also often a work. of art, often steps made from wood or stone. Visitors of every nationality, Muslims and those with no belief in Islam, travel ro see the beauties of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the Mosque in Isfa- han, the Al-Rifai Mosque in Cairo and many others. The beauties of Muslim tombs are also famous. TheThe interior of a mosque isan open place where people pray. seventeenth century Taj Mahal in India is one of the best known Muslim buildings in the world. Sometimes the mosque was set in a lovely garden or within a palace or inside a school. These schools were fine buildings themselves. They were begun for the study of religion and in some cities they became great centres of learning The study of medicine, of science, of numbers, ofthe stars, as well asthe study of God and rman reached great heights between the tenth and the fifteenth centuries, The oldest university inthe world, which still exists, is Al-Azhar in Cairo, It grew up around the Al-Azhar Mosque and itis still a centre of Islamic learning, The Taj Mabal in India is one of the most beautiful and best known Muslim buildings in the world. The finest of the old universities was in Baghdad. It ‘was builtin the thirteenth century. The building was large and beautiful; there were several hundred stu~ dents who were given their food and clothes and money. There was a splendid library as well as great kkitchens, bath houses and a hospital. In Muslim Spain, in the tenth century, Salerno was a famous school of medicine, For the rest of Europe and for students who could not go to a school, Arab learning was spread by teachers who travelled great distanees and who taught wherever they were welcome. ‘Thus, from a ‘place of prayer’ came learning, the art of building and design. However, if pictures of man were not allowed on mosques oF tombs, they were painted most beautifully in books of poems and storiesThis is a Koran reading desk from the 13th Century. and on cups and plates. From Persia (modern Iran) ame sents, asully painted on sal pieces of camel bone; pictures of fighting, of games, of love, full of trees and flowers and birds as well as men and women. Like these, the pictures in books had wonderful col- ours and rich designs. ‘The art of carpet making was older than the Islamic religion. Many of the finest examples came from Per~ sia, It began as a tribal art. Carpets were hung in the tents of leaders and spread on the floors. When Persia was ruled by Arabs, the rich rulers used the carpets in sane amse 33 The beauty of Turkish and Persian carpets is known all over the world. their palaces. This helped the art to grow and Persian carpets were famous all over the world. Today the old carpets which hung in Muslim palaces are very valu- able; their colours and designs still seem full of light and beauty. Even the small carpets, used as prayer mats, were works of art. When a Muslim prayed away from home or from the mosque, he placed his small prayer mat on the ground. One end of the mat showed that it had to be placed in the direction of Holy Makkah, These travelling ‘places of prayer’ are still used. Very fine carpets are still made by village families at home or in the markets, in spite of modern ‘machinery. The village arts of carpet making, pot making and metalwork still have their place in Muslim life5 Customs and differences within the Muslim brotherhood ‘The Muslim religion has many well-loved customs; things which are said and done at certain times of the day or year. But the Holy Qur’an warns that itis not enough to carry out customs. Traditional acts must go with belief in God and a good life. For both Muslim and non-Muslim, the Call to Prayer from the tall minaret of the mosque isa picture of Islam. The man ‘who calls the people, five times a day, must have a strong clear voice. He is called the muezzin. “There is no god but Allah! he cries, ‘and Mohammed raux is his prophet.” ‘Before beginning the prayers, whether in the mos- ‘que, at home or on a prayer mat in the market, the Muslim must do ablutions (washing first the hands, then the face, then the arms and lastly the feet). The prayers begin with ‘God is most great’ and continue with special movements of the body, standing, sitting, kneeling and lying with face to the ground. If these prayers are said in a mosque, then there is a prayer leader, facing Holy Makkah, with the others in rows behind him. eed non-Muslim, the Call to Prayer from the tall minarets of the mosque is a typical picture of Islam. Tee A favourite practice for Muslims is repeating the ninety-nine beautiful names of God. Each name gives a different picture of God's greatness. A Muslim is often seen with a string of beads* in his hand. These are the prayer beads, passed through the fingers as each name ‘of God is repeated. ‘The times of prayer are when the day begins, mid- day, mid-afternoon, after the sun has gone down and in the early part of the night. The midday prayer on Friday is the time when most Muslims go to the mosque and pray together. There they listen to teachings about their religion. Muslims also come96 kon together like this on the two main public holidays, the Feast of the Sacrifice, which marks the end of the haj, and the end of Ramadan. "Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year and for the whole month Muslims should not eat or drink ‘or smoke during the day. This can be very hard but there are happy family visits and friendly meetings ‘when evening comes. Then people come together for gatherings and special prayers. It is a time to finish quarrels, especially at the holiday atthe end of Rama- dan. Then it is usual to meet friends and say, ‘HT have done you any wrong, please forgive me.’ This is also a time to pay any money hich rowing? and w give money sents to the poor. "The sacrihces of the Muslim religion are mainly personal ones: Ramadan, the haj, giving to the poor land keeping the times of prayer even when itis diffi ‘cult, Sacrificing animals is usually kept for the end of the baj. But animals must be killed quickly as itis forbidden to cause animals pain. The meat of sacrificed animals is shared with the poor. When animals are Killed for food, the blood must be allowed to run away, and, at the same time, the words, ‘in the name of Gods, God is greatest’ must be said. Other Muslim food laws forbid Muslims to eat pork*, the meat of the pig; and the Holy Qur'an warns that to drink alcohol is a dangerous thing that can lead to many quarrels and even hell. To drink it is forbidden. Like other important religions, there are different groups within Islam. One main group are called Sun- Caos an cerose nahn he Misim aharaod ST nis. They say they are the true followers of Mohammed aux because they follow everything he taught and keep all the traditions (sunnas) of early Islam alive. ‘The Sunnis themselves have four different schools of law, each with its own way of teaching, Butif there is serious disagreement* about how to understand a ‘Muslim law, then all the men of learning among the Sunnis must decide on it together. So on all really important matters the four Sunni groups agree. All four schools of law teach atthe Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Those groups who kept the law most carefully settled finally in what is now the modern Kingdom of ‘Saudi Arabia which was begun by one of the four main Sunnis, under the leader Mohammed Bin Abdul ‘Wahhab. Apart from the Sunnis, there are two other groups in Islam who are not atall in agreement, One of the beliefs of the Sunnis is ‘once a Muslim always a Muslim’, No matter what wrong he does, there is always the chance of living a good life again because God is forgiving. The Kharijites believe that if a Muslim does something really wrong he is a ‘non- believer’, no longer a Muslim, He cannot pray and he should be punished in hell forever. Their college of learned men has the power to say that a person is outside the brotherhood of Muslims, the worst ching, that could happen to a follower of Islam. The Shi‘tes are also mentioned later in the book. ‘After Mohammed’s PauHt death, the world of Islam was ruled first by Abu Bakr and then by "Umar, both fathers-in-law of the Prophet. Then another relation of8 ken the Prophet, Uthman, was chosen. He was not as strong as Mohammed’s paux old friends Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. Many disagreements began and the Mus- lims broke up into different groups. Uthman was killed and Mohammed’s pau son-in-law, Ali, was chosen. Ali had married the Prophet’s daughter, Fati- ima, He had to fight to keep his power but although he ‘won many times, he lost his position as leader of the ‘Muslims. the group called the Kharijites would not support him any longer and finally one of the Kharijtes killed him. His son, Hasan, did not try t0 become leader buthe died afew years later, possibly by poison*. His younger brother, Husain, became leader but he was also killed by his enemies and his head was cut off. ‘The group who continued to support sons were called Shi'ites. They said tha ‘way a8 Mohammed aunt Ali and all his family after hhim were guided by God. The leader Umar had said to his followers, ‘What will you do if I go wrong?” The answer was ‘Put you right with our swords”. But the Shivites said chat the leaders who were in the same line as Ali were led by God and as leaders they could do no ‘wrong, These leaders no longer have to be from Ali's family but the power of Ali isin them and God leads them as they lead their people. The Shi'ites do not recognise the leaders of the Sunnis, while the Sunnis feel very strongly thatthe Shiites give too much power, to Ali, who was only a man, just as Mohammed Pxux. ‘was only a man. The Shi‘ite group grew particularly Cus and trees tin the Msn bratharacd) $8 strong in Persia and isthe main power in modern Iran. For Shite Muslims the tomb of the eighth leader inthe Fine of Ali, the leader Reza, isa holy place. Its in the city of Mashad in north-eastern Iran. No non-Muslim may visit the tomb but many Shi'ites from different countries make special visits there. On religious holidays the deaths of Ali, Husain and Hasan are shown in plays. One particular holiday, Ashura, remembera the death of Husain. The law is most important to the Sunnis and the God-given leader to the Shi'ites. Another group grew ‘up which taught that the love of God, religion of the heart, was above everything. They were called Sufi. They appeared in all the Muslim countries although the largest number were in Persia. They taught that songs and poetry, games and dance could lead to a deeper understanding and love of God and man. This teaching helped enrich the Islamic culture. The Sufis often lived together in ‘brotherhoods’ without break- ing away from the wider brotherhood of Islam. The ‘Sunnis fele that che Sufis were not ‘useful’ to Islam but they did not say they were not Muslims. In spite of the history of fighting to be leaders and the fact that Sunnis and Shi‘ites stil feel strongly that their own beliefs are right, the haj to Holy Makkah brings all together. When the different groups follow the customs began by Mohammed PsuH more than thirteen hundred years ago, they fel the strength of the ‘Muslim brotherhood.6 Women in Islam When Mohammed pauxt began teaching, women had ‘no importance in the Arab world. A man’s wives were hhis belongings and he could do what he wanted with them, According to some tribes, girl babies were some- times buried alive in the desert. Mohammed raux. taught thatit was a terrible wrong to kill girl babies and when his teaching spread, this custom stopped. Girl, like boys, had to obey their parents but after marriage they had an important place in the family. It was the duty of Muslim fathers to find good husbands for their daughters and the duty of all Muslims to look after women whose husbands had died. The non-Muslim ‘Arabs had very many wives but the teaching of the Holy Quran allowed a man no more than four. The Holy Qur'an wars ‘Marry more than one only if you ‘ean be fair to them all’. A Muslim must behave to each of his wives in the same way. He must have enough ‘money to keep them and a large enough home for them. The Holy Qur’an tellshim "Your wife has aright over you’. A wife keeps any belongings she brings into the marriage as well as the money her husband must give her atthe time she marries. In many cases itis not Women nism 41 paid to her at once. It is kept and when her husband dies or ifhe divorces her, then the money is hers. This giving of rights and position to women was avery new thing in Mohammed's Psvx time. Many laws were for the protection of women, and although pethaps modern women do not feel the need for so much protection, these laws are still part of Muslim life. A. gir’s father chooses who she will marry, although the Holy Qui'an says that she must agree. ‘The arrangement is made with the boy's father or another man of his family. This can happen with quite young boys and girls although they usually do not live as man and wife until they are older. A man ‘may marry a Christian or a Jew and these women may. follow their own religions although children of such a marriage must follow their father’s religion; but a Muslim woman may not marry outside Islam. The Holy Qur'an says that a couple should be married for life but if married life becomes impossible a man may divorce his wife. Once a month, for three months he has to say ‘I divorce you’, and when he has said it three times, he cannot change his mind. A woman can ask her husband for a divorce and if he agrees, the divorce is final and in some cases she has to return the money given to her. Ifher husband does not agree to divorce, she may approach a Muslim Qadi (judge) who may sgranchera divorce. Ifa womanis divorced, her sons can. stay with her until the age of seven, and her daughters ‘until the age of fifteen or sixteen. After thatthe father has them.42 bon ‘The Shiites have these laws about the rights of ‘husbands and wives but they also allow aman to takea wife for only a shore time, when he is way from home fighting for his country, for example, or travelling for a long time. When he is ‘married’ for a short time like this he must still give money to his wife but she has no right to any of his belongings when he dies. "A Muslim must leave part of his belongings to his wife or wives when he dies and this was also a new thing in the old Arab world. However, most of whathe ‘owned goes to his children, each girl getting half as much as each son, ‘So women in Islam have aright to love and protec- tion but their men have many rights over them. Some of these rights are old customs of one country or another, carried on side by side with Holy Qur’anic law. Keeping a woman behind the walls of her house or at least keeping her face hidden from men, is a custom, more carefully Kept in some countries than others. ‘Women themselves often find protection in a covered face in a crowded, busy city. Life s freer for them in the desert of the mountain. The Holy Qur'an says that bijab (keeping women out of public view) should be observed, and as the wives of the Prophet covered their faces when they went outside their home so the law schools teach that itis the right thing for good Muslim women to do. On the other hand, in such countries as Egypt and Turkey this custom is not always kepr. "The Holy Qur’an teaches that women have aright to ‘education, Most Muslim countries expect girls to goto Woren hem 43 school as well as boys and now there are places for ‘Muslim women at universities and teachers’ colleges. ‘The oldest university, Al-Azhar in Cairo, started a ‘women’s college in 1962 and women have been at the King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah for some years. In Egypt and Iran women have held important posi- in the country. However, the Holy Qur'an for- bids men and women and boys and girls of school age to mix freely, and itis urual to have separate schools and colleges for them. ‘The Women’s College in Al-Azhar was a great step forward since Al-Azharis such an old, famous place of religious learning; many points of Qur’anic law have been decided there. The Women’s College has over 7000 girls. Its new buildings were a present from Kuwaitand its students come from all over the Muslim world. The School of Medicine has girls carefully chosen from Arab countries, Students from Africa and Asia usually take Arabic and Islamic studies and then return to their own countries to teach there. As West- ern customs, books and films find their way into Masi courses, however, women have problem face. Some things from the West seem godless and dangerous to Muslims. Muslim families ae with some of the ideas brought back by young students who have been abroad. To protect themselves against this danger, Muslim religious leaders become firmer and more careful in their teaching of the law. Girls and ‘women can find they are less free to study and to work than they had hoped.44 en In the early days of Islam, women went to the mosque with their men, but they had to stand in separate places and later there were curtains between. them. More and more women are not going to the ‘mosque and instead are saying their prayers at home. However, at the haj women mix with men and are forbidden to cover their faces. Both men and women 0 ‘with clean hearts tothe haj; they are equal before God and there is no need for protection. ‘Women can have a high place in Muslim society but it is a traditional one, and the growing Muslim dislike ‘of Western customs may stop more changes. Many educated Muslim women do not see the women of the Westas free and powerful; they point out the high rates of divorce, alcoholism and other social problems. They. find in their religion more than can be found in some of the Western so-called freedoms. 7 Islam in the world today The message af Islam brought together the fighting, tribes of Arabia. It made them a people with power, culture and religion that went far beyond their coun- try. Mohammed's PBux teaching made Arabia anation ‘buthis message was for the world. He taught that Islam. did not begin with the Arab people but with the frst man, Adam, who gave himself to the will of God. As man went away from God’s path, so prophets were sent to lead him back. Mohammed Pur accepted the ‘Old Testament of the Jews as God's teaching but said that the Jews had not understood it. He accepted Jesus as a prophet but said the Christians had made a man into a god. Now that man has learnt so much from science, Muslims say that Islam is more important to the whole world than ever. ‘Certainly the Muslim religion is spreading. There is a world total of over 907,197,000 Muslims. In Arab lands over 125,000,000 live in twenty different coun- tries. Most of the people in Nigeria, Somalia and the Sahara are Muslim and also in Pakistan and Bang- ladesh. There are large groups in the United States, while in South America there are many Muslims fromThe new London Mosque in one of the richest parts of. London is sign ofthe one and a half million Muslims living in Britain, Syria. Groups have settled in the West Indies also. It is thought that there are over 60,000,000 in the Soviet Union and over 90,000,000 in China. The East London “Mosque has long been a centre for Muslims in Britain. ‘Now the large, new London Mosque in one of the richest parts of London is a sign of the one and a half ‘million Muslims living in Britain. The largest Muslim groups have always been in ‘am n ne wos cay? countries which, until lately, have been poor and with- out the help of modern science. Now that Arab lands and parts of Africa and Indonesia are rich in oil, they are in a position of power in the world. Over thiryy ‘countries, where most of the people are Muslim, have broken away from foreign rulers in the last thirty years. They do not need Western culture and ideas anymore and this has led the way to a stronger feeling for the values of Islam. Some countries have returned to ruling by Islamic laws. Some call themselves Arab Socialists®. Western countries sometimes think that ‘Arab Socialist States are like Communist states but this, is not true. They believe that all nations are brothers, under God and they think that both Western countries and the Communists of Russia and China value things, which are ungodly. ‘The aim of Muslims today is to educate their young people in an Islamic way and to keep the strength of the family. They feel the need to return to the Holy Qur'an, for their teaching and also to get back the high place they once had as leaders in the world of science. Muslims are leading figures in world meetings, not only about oil and energy, but also about world food supplies and other important international questions. ‘The Muslim religion, Islam, has a great history. It is. important now that more people in the world, more non-Muslims, come to understand the ideas and values of Islam so that Islam and the other world religions can live together in peace.48 tun Ccroraegcs at faim 49 3 1811. Mamluks wiped ovt ‘Chronological Table ae ee 570. Birth of Mohammed Pou : B 1849 Faysal dives lst Egyptian goveror out of Arabia G22 Mohammed's enon migration" to Medina beginning 1882 Mahl drives Egyptians ot of Sodan ol laaic ert 1885 Desth of Mand 630. Mohammed's rnun conquest” of Mosca 1804 Penan conssition 632, Death of Mohammed rave 1808. Revolcon of the Young Turks o2°34 Caliph Abu Bakr revolts in Arabia put down 1909. Revelation in Persia 33 Conquest of southem Mesopotamia 1912. Balan War God Caliph Umae 1914. Turkey in Word War I with Cenral Powers “BS Comet of Damascus 1917 Besa ake Baghdad; Plre cast0. Congocs of Egypt and Pecsia 1919. Independence of Afghanistan ‘et Caliph Usman 1919-38 Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) in Anatolia 650-61 Caliph ‘All 1921 Caliphate abolished” 6i-750. Umayyad dynasty 1925 Ries Khan Pehlew becomes Shah of iran G7 Nort west Africa conquered 1516. seblaien of Kingdom of Soi Aria Tit Conquest of Spain : 1928 Independence of Egypt Ft BOT evoke hose? with Byzantines in Asa 93 Deaf igh soto Pakistan poet Minor 41939, Seat of World War I 149. Abbasids take all Persia 1945, End of World War Il: Independence of Indonesss 786-869. Harun al-Rashid, flowering of Arabic Iterature Enablshment ofthe Arab Lengue Bis-833 Flowering of lami scholarahip and sciences 1947. Exablshment of Pakivan {6e-906 Tulunid a hereditary® rulers of Egypt 1948 Ina set wp 910 Fatimid caliphate founded 1952. Role of King Farouk of Faypt ended sist Abdeal-Male 1956, Independence of Sadan 969 rrimids conquer Egypts Cairo founded; exablish- 1957. Independence of Malaysia tment of Al-Azhar 10 Inependens of Maura Souk empire 1962. Revoltion in Yemen; Independence of Algeria Sida 1965 Indi meas Pain bs THB), Monga empire ounded 1967 Day War bye el nd Eat 1254-1517 Mama rule in Egypt 1971 Fallof Daces (Banglades) 1258, Baghdad capeored end of Abbasid caliphate 1973. teh Anbeleach Wer 1453. Conquest of Constantinople 1979 Implementation of Islamic ls in Pakistan Over 192. allo Granade and Moors throw of Shab of Iran Iran declared sn sami 1502. Sh'sm introduced a wate religion in Persia Repoble 1520-1566. Suleiman the Gret 1982 Women in Algeriarcbelaainst Westem syle of dress 1543. Sabjugaion of Hungary 1638-1739 Wars with various neighbouring countries in Eastern Europe, Russia andthe Near EastExercises Comprehension Answer briefly in one, two or three sentences. 1 What were Mohammed's pavxt main aims once he had arrived in Medina? : 2 What does Holy Makkah mean to Muslims? 3 Which are the other Holy Cities of Islam? 4 What did Mohammed paurt mean when he spoke of a jthad (struggle)? 5 How are these words connected: church temple mosque? 6 What in a mosque is used ‘2 to tell people when to pray? btw help people prepare to pray? ¢ to show people in which direction to pray? 7 In what ways has the Saudi government prepared for the haj? 8 ‘Pillars’ are posts of stone which hold up the roof of 1 building, Why do you think that Muslims call their five most important teachings “The five pillars of Islam’? eevee 51 9 What sort of thing was used to make Muslim buildings more beautiful? 10 Where were the first carpets used? 11. What is the main group of the Muslim brother- hood called? 12 Which country has most ofthe Shi‘ite Muslims in ive 13. What duties do Muslim parents have in connection with their children’s marriage? 14 What has changed the position of many Muslim states in the world today? 15 Where do all Muslims come together freely and as equals? Language practice Laws based on the Holy Qur'an are Qur’anic Laws. The language of Arabs is Arabic. ‘The way of life based on Islam is Islamic. Fill in the gaps in the passage below with any of the ‘words in italics: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are states. The rulers and most oftheir people belong to the way of life called They know the teaching of Moham- med roux from the . The language of the Holy Book Although the people of Pakis- tanare not > they can understand the language of the Holy Qui’an. Their everyday lives as well as their religious lives are raled by Law.52 kon Activities 1. Find out how many Muslims there are in your city ‘orcountry. You can find this in anew encyclopedia or by writing a letter to an Islamic Society in your capital city. 2. Find out where your nearest mosque is. You can ask a Muslim if you know one. If you are a Muslim ‘yourself you will probably know. You can also ask at your local library or even the Tourist Office. 3 Check how many news items there are in one English language newspaper in one week which ‘mention Islam or Muslims. Report what they say 4 Ask a Muslim friend or colleague “What is a Muslim?” ‘Written work 1. Describe ahajstarting from your home town to the time of arrival in Holy Makkah. Describe the diffe- rent forms of transport that would be used. Use all the different ways of describing direction that you 2. Ifyou live in a non-Islamic country write a short report about the information you havecollected for the Activities. 3 If you live in an Islamic country write a short answer to ‘What is a Muslim?*. Glossary (¢o) abolish To bring to an end. alcohol A drink like whishy, gin or wine. ancestor A person in your family, before you. angel _A being who comes from God: often shown in non-Islamic pictures as a human person dressed in white, with wings ‘Arab _A person from the Arabian Peninsula or North ‘Africa, who speaks Arabic. art Painting, music, theatre, are all arts attention Directing your mind to one special thing. beads Small, round balls of wood or glass with holes through the centre so that a string can pass through. and hold them together. belief The feeling that something is real and true. belongings Things that a person owns, things that belong to a person. brotherhood A group of people who feel like brothers; a very close group. (to) bury To put into the ground. camel Desert animal with one or two humps on its back. caravan A group of people and animals movi eroes the desert topetbor ™st an century One hundred years. childhood The time when you are a child. Christian Believers in the teaching of Jesus Christ. coach A bus. (to) coincide (with) To happen at the same time. combat Fight. connection Something joining two things or two ideas. (to) conquest To take by force. culture State of art, science, education, etc, of a people. daily" Every day. ‘dawn The time of day when sky. death End of life. declaration To make something known publicly or officially. desert Large area of land, covered in sand, usually ‘without water or trees. (to) dip To put something into aliquid and takeit out (to) disagree Not to agree, disagreement Act of not agreeing. divorce When a husband and wife part and are no longer married. dome The round, high part of a roof. duel A fight with hand guns or swords between two people because of an argument. dug (from to dig) To make a hole in the ground, educated People who have been to school or uni- versity are educated. 3 first appears in the essay 55 education ‘Training of young people in schools and universities. evil Very bad. (to) fast To go without food for a special reason, feast A special holiday to do with religion. follower A person who follows a leader. flight A journey made by air. (to) gamble To play games of chance for money. by heart Without reading or looking again. heaven ‘The home of God's angels, and holy people after death. hell Place of punishment for wrongdoers after death, hereditary Something passed from an older person to a younger person. holy Belonging to God or to religion. holiness Being holy. hostilities Acts of fighting in a war. hunger Need for food. inlaw _A relation by marriage (example: brother-in- law: father-in-law). Jew A person belonging to the Jewish religion (to) kneel To go down on the knees. law Rule for a group of people. lunar To do with the moon. marriage The state of being married martyr Someone who dies for his belief. master A man who has others working under him. mat Material used as a small floor covering. messenger Person bringing a message. migeation To move from one place to another.kon rillion 1,000,000. minaret The tall cower of a mosque from which the Call to Prayer is made. ‘mind Where your thoughts come from. mosque A Muslim place of worship. Muslim A believer in Islam. obedient Willing to do as one is told. Geo) ome, _To have mony you mut rer some: ‘owing Money which is sil to be paid. parent Father or mother. PBUH Peace Be Upon Him. perfume Sweet-smelling liquid, usually made from flowers. pilgrim A person ging on holy jourmey ‘Along, thin piece of stone holding up the roo! ae [Apperson who writes in besutfl language, ina special form. poctry The art and writing of a poet. poison Something which causes death or illness if eaten or drunk. pork The meat of a pig. (¢o) pray To speak to God. prayer Act of praying to God. prophet A messenger from God. (to) protect Keep safe against danger. protector A person who protects another. protection The act of keeping someone safe from danger. (eo) punish To make someone do something painfl for a wrong. cossay 57 punishment Being punished. (to) rebel To fight against someone in power. (¢0) record To keep or preserve, (to) regress To rewurn or go back to the same state of, development. religion Belief in God; the way you live your life because of that belief, (to) revolt To take power violently from someone in power. ruler The person who controls a country. sacred Holy. sacrifice Giving up comfort or belongings for reli ‘gion (or other reasons). (to) settle To make one’s home somewhere, settled Places that have been people's homes for a long time. shopkeeper Person who has a shop. silk Very soft, fine material; very expensive. socialist Person who believes everybody in society should share things and help each other. spring The time before summer. (in) spite of When something happens against what ‘you expect eg. in spite ofthe rain, he played tennis, sunset When the sun goes down at the end of the day sword A large piece of metal, like abig knife, used to Kill people in wars. temple A place to meet in and to sing about God or pray to him; only called this in some religions. Testament A part of the Bibles there are two, the ‘Old and the New Testaments.2 kon tomb A place to put dead people, usually made of stone. tradition Something (jdeas, beliefs) passed down from one age to another. (to) translate To change from one language 10 another. tribe A group of people with the same beliefs, ‘customs and language, who have a chief or chiefs to lead them. trustworthy Someone you feel you can trust and believe. university A place where people go to study, when they leave school. + The Qur’anic text reads as follows: Read in the name of Thy Lord and Cherisher who created, Created man out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood. Proclaim! And thy Lord is most Bountiful. He Who Taught (the use of) the pen. ‘Taught man that which he knew not.