INTRODUCTION

TO WORLD
RELIGIONS AND
BELIEF SYSTEMS
ISLAM
SYMBOL: THE STAR AND CRESCENT
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Islam began with the

Arabian desert
people around early
seventh century C.E.
 THE PRE-ISLAMIC PEOPLE
• THEY WORSHIPPED A VARIETY OF GODS.
• CARVED IMAGES WERE DONE TO
REPRESENT THESE GODS.
• THERE WERE ANGELS, FAIRIES, DEMONIC
CREATURES, AND EVIL SPIRITS.
• In time, the city of MECCA became a
sacred shrine because of these animistic
associations.
 THE PRE-ISLAMIC PEOPLE
• A METEORIC STONE that had fallen in
Mecca centuries before became an
object of veneration to the animistic
people.
• Pilgrims the built an enclosure around
the stone and called it KAABA.
• Various images and relics gradually
filled the Kaaba, including a painting of
Jesus and Mary.
 THE PRE-ISLAMIC PEOPLE

• Pilgrims travelled to Mecca

to worship at the shrine. The
“Black Stone”, became a
very important object for the
Meccans at the time when
various clans struggled to
control the KAABA.
 THE PRE-ISLAMIC PEOPLE

• Pilgrims

A person who journeys to a

sacred place for religious
reasons.
KAABA
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• Born in the oasis town of

Mecca just off the western
coast of the Arabian
Peninsula.
• His father died before he was
born and his mother died
when he was six years old.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• He belonged to the clan

of HASHIM of THE
QURAYSH TRIBE that
controlled the Kaaba and
the camel trade that
passed through Mecca.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• He was raised by his grand

father ABD AL-MUTTALIB.
• Later on, he was taken into
custody by his paternal
uncle, ABU TALIB who was
the chief of the Quraysh
tribe.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• With no formal schooling,

Muhammad worked as a
camel driver.
• As a camel driver, had met
and conversed with
Christians, Zoroastrians,
Jews, and alike.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• KHADIJA- older wealthy

widow who got married to
Muhammad.
-15years older than him.
-One of his first converts to
the religion he founded.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• 610 C.E. Muhammad

began hearing the voice
of God in a caveon the
summit of MOUNT HIRA,
just outside Mecca in the
Arabian Hijaz.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• He began to experience
divine revelations
delivered by ANGEL
GABRIEL.
• He first disclosed these
revelations to his wife.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• ISLAM – ORIGINATED FROM

AN Arabic word meaning
“submit”
-”surrender or submit oneself
for obedience to God”
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

•MUSLIM- the person

who surrenders or
submits himself to
obey God.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• ALLAH – a compound of al
(the definite article), and ilah
(god or deity).
-GOD
-the one who is god.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• The Muslims considered

Muhammad as a messenger
and the last prophet sent by
God to humankind.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD
• Muhammad and his group
moved to MEDINA.
• Muhajirun – those who
followed Muhammad in his
journey.
• Ansar – those who
supported him (the helpers)
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• Muhammad died at the age

of 62.
• He was a classic example of a
just, compassionate, honest,
and brave human being far
removed from all evil deeds.
 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD

• Muhammad’s actions
were solely for the sake
of Allah as he is ever
mindful and fearful of
his one true god.