Islam:

3 key events: First Revelation - 610 CE Mount Hira visited by Angel Jibril, Iqra - scroll was
revealed, he could not read then he read.
The night Journey- Around 620 - Jibril, took muhammad to Jerusalem, then the 7 heavens
where he saw paradise and hell and was in the prescience of god. One of the 5 pillars, Salat.
630 CE - captured city of Mecca.
Model: Surrender to Allah, One true God, Hadith and Sunna, Wise and capable leader(military,
religious), Showed faith(1st revelation) and trust(travel to Yatrhib, Medinah), patience, Prudent
and Just leader(forgiveness and peace, sexual morality and agenda to change), Care for the
poor.
died - 632 CE
After Muhammad: Rashidun Caliphs, Abu Bakr- restoration of stability and writing of the Quran
634 CE, Umar ibn al-Khattab - expanded Muslim empire, restored mosque dome of the rock
Jerusalem, appointed 6 committee to next 644 CE, Uthman ibn Affan expand east, controversy
with Ali son in law of Muhammad, harsh treatment of Egypt resentment 656 CE, Ali ibn Abi Talib
- Tensions cause civil war and political upheaval, schism, Shiia and Sunni, 661CE.
Shiia 10% - Believe leaders must be descendants their leader is called Imam, can be referred
to as extremists.
Sunni - 90% believe leaders from tribe of prophet, can be referred as conformists.
Principle beliefs: Aquida, there is no creed,5 basic articles of belief, first is Tawhid. Refers to
the oneness and absoluteness of Alah, monotheistic. "He is Allah, the One, Allah is Eternal and
Absolute. None is born of Him, He is unborn. There is none like unto Him" (surah 112). Also
Allah is immanent but ultimately transcendent and beyond rational.
Implications: Incompatible with pride or arrogance, pride denies that gifts are from Allah.
Incompatible with Greed, possessions are transitory. A Muslim cannot complain about their life
situation due to the ultimate purpose that Allah has, sense of trust. 4th a lack of integrity is
believing that Allah can be fooled. 5th, falseness of personal holiness is compared to hypocrisy,
offends Allah. Muslims cannot be ignorant to teachings. Shirk is the bad things. Towhead means
muslims know they are accountable for their actions.
Role of prophecy: It is the was in which Allah becomes revealed to human kind.
Muhammad is not the first but the last to receive a revelation, the greatest, seal of the prophets.
Nabi- inspired prophet, Rusul - prophet with a mission. Rusul, Adam, Nua, Ibrihim, Musa,
Dawud, Isa. Books of Allah- Books revealed to the rusul by Allah. Muslims, believe they have
been altered and are not reliable.
The Quran is the last revealed book of Allah to the rusul Muhammad, universal significance,
reliable since it was written down as it was received. complete revelation of Allah.

Angels: Messengers of Allah, creatures of light. Angels can appear to people, Jibril to
Muhammad. Belief that each person has two protector angels who record their deeds.
Gabriel(greatest angel), Azrai(angel of death), Israfi(trumpet), Michael(gurading places), Ibis the
devil. Jinn are bad angels.
Akhira: Muslim belief of life after death. Jahannam (hell) ruled by Iblis (Satan)
All experiences in life are irrelevant, individuals are called to respond and submit to the will of
Allah which determines their afterlife.

- Nothing happens unless it is the will of Allah (even sin)

- They still have free will to choose
Life = mortal(temporary) and eternal - it is a test of character where a person is responsible of
the outcome.
Fate is rejected by Muslim belief as it is freedom of choice which determines our fate. Allah
knows our destiny.
Quran: The Quran is the fundamental sacred text for all Islam Adherents. Revelations of Allah,
unaltered revealed to Muhammad. 114 surahs in a order given to muhammad. Prophet
memorized the Quran, Hafiz, later written due to war(Abu Baks). Important cause of message,
announces the day of judgement and evil ones will experience internal condemnation of
separation of Allah. also bad if not monotheistic.
Hadith - Refers to the collection of traditions of the words and deeds of Allah. Highly respected
though not sacred like the Quran. Invaluable when dressing an issue not explicitly covered in
the Quran.
Surah 112 says "He is Allah, the One, Allah is Eternal and Absolute. None is born of Him, He is
unborn. There is none like unto Him - Allah
" It was We who created man, and We know even the secret suggestions his soul makes to
him;(surah 50:16) - Immanent
"Allah chooses for Himself whoever He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn to Him belief in the prophets
"On the Day of Judgment no step of a servant of Allah shall slip until he has answered
concerning four things:
his body and how he used it
his life and how he spent it
his wealth and how he earned
his knowledge and what he did with it - free will

Principal ethical teaching:

5 key virtues - Love of Allah, Humility, Modesty(Sexual behaviors), Naturalness, Selflessness.

Jurisprudence: The science of the interpretation of the law(Fiqh), Shariah: overall framework in
Islam.
Quran then Hadith)qudsi) & Sunna then Quiya involving Ijma(consensus of scholars) although
not binding, they are binding in the prescience of the prophet.
Sunni muslims - believe the Quiyas and Ijmas to be binding.
Shia - Recognised authorities have wise personal judgment and fiqh, form them are considered
binding.
Halal: Permitted acts Haram forbidden

- Ethical teachings taken from the law and teaching of Allah and Muhammad
- In determining what is halal or haraam they need simply look at the law of scripture.
- Sharia encompassing all aspects of life a derived from scripture is used to determine halal
and haraam.

Five Pillars of Islam

Outline

Shahada declaration of faith

I testify that there is no god but The God. And I testify that
Muhammad is the Messenger of God (Kalima)

Salat daily prayer

Obligatory five times each day (prayer)

for every Muslim who is sane, mature and, in the case of
women, free from menstruation and confinement due to
childbirth.
Helps them avoid attachment to non-essential things.

Zakat obligatory (religious)

almsgiving

Compulsory welfare contribution by economically well-off

Muslims for the needy.
Payed once a year based on their cash, savings and gold,
silver and jewellery (if savings above threshold)
Minimum amount of alms is 1/40 (2.5%) of excess
personal wealth.
Act of devotional duty of worship and obedience
Quran encourages Muslims to make voluntary
contributions (sadaqa)
At the end of Ramadan, Muslims make small donation to
allow poor to celebrate.

Five Pillars of Islam

Outline

Sawm fasting in Ramadan

Muslim adults fast from dawn to sunset each day (in

Ramadan 1 month)
Ninth month of Islamic calendar
Dont eat, drink, smoke or have sexual intercourse during
fast.
A light meal before dawn
Encouraged prayer and meditation
Old, sick or people on long journeys are exempt, also
pregnant women, breastfeeding or menstruating. (make
up for missed days later)

Hajj pilgrimage

Pilgrimage to Kaba in Mecca (symbolic house of Allah)

Must be taken once in a lifetime by Muslims who can
afford it.
Hajj performed during the twelfth month of Islam calendar
Bond through faith is uppermost
Reflect on lives and collectively ask for forgiveness