What are the five pillars of Islam? [angoltoretenelem]

What are the five pillars of Islam?

I. Muhammed (570-632)

-born in Mecca in about 570

-his parents died, he was raised by his relatives

-he got married at the age of 25 and became a successful merchant

YET: he was troubled by the problems he saw in the world.

--he often went to the desert to pray.

He believed the Gabriel angel spoke to him saying that God had chosen him as his

prophet. His duty, said the angel, was to proclaim that Allah was the one and only God.

=>opposition in Mecca => he fled to Medina in 622.

Hejira: departure (Mohammed’s journey from Mecca to Medina)

-622 is the first year of the Muslim calendar.

In Medina he gained power as both a religious and a political leader.

-630: M. returned to Mecca with an army and captured the city; destroyed hundreds of

idols, but left the kaaba (black stone) untouched, because he believed it had come

from God.

=>pilgrimage

=>Mecca remained the Holy city

II. Teachings of Islam

"Submission to God"

5 pillars: -there is only one God, Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.

-prayer 5 times a day turning towards Mecca.

-fasting during the holy month of the Ramadan.

-pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

-act of charity

III. No formal church or clergy. All worshippers are considered equal.

Mosque: Muslim meeting place

the imam leads the worshippers in prayer.

The Qur'an : -contains the word of God as it was revealed to his prophet.

-the basis for government and law throughout the Islamic world

-written in Arabic ----universal language of Muslims from many different cultures.

-rules for ethical behaviour: -charity

-humility

-mercy

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