Core Beliefs of Islam

Core Beliefs

• Islam is a monotheistic religion, believing in one God, Allah.
• Muslims believe in the prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, who is considered the final prophet.
• The Five Pillars of Islam:
  1. Shahada (faith): declaration of faith in Allah and Muhammad as his prophet.
  2. Salat (prayer): performing five daily prayers.
  3. Zakat (charity): giving to the poor and needy.
  4. Sawm (fasting): fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
  5. Hajj (pilgrimage): making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

Islamic Scriptures

• The Quran: the holy book of Islam, considered the word of Allah as revealed to Muhammad.
• Hadith: collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad, used as a guide for Islamic living.

Branches of Islam

• Sunni Islam: the largest branch, accounting for about 90% of Muslims.
• Shia Islam: the second-largest branch, with a focus on the lineage of Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law.
• Sufism: a mystical branch, emphasizing spiritual purification and a personal connection with Allah.

Key Practices

• Prayer (Salat): performed five times a day, facing towards Mecca.
• Fasting (Sawm): during Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset.
• Charity (Zakat): giving 2.5% of excess wealth to the poor and needy.
• Pilgrimage (Hajj): a journey to Mecca, performed at least once in a lifetime.

Islamic Law

• Sharia: the Islamic legal system, based on the Quran, Hadith, and consensus of Muslim scholars.
• Fiqh: Islamic jurisprudence, interpreting and applying Sharia to daily life.

Islamic History

• The Prophet Muhammad: born in 570 CE, received his first revelation in 610 CE, and died in 632 CE.
• The Four Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, who succeeded Muhammad and established the Islamic caliphate.
• The Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates: two major empires that expanded Islam's reach and established Islamic governance.

Core Beliefs of Islam

• Islam is a monotheistic religion, believing in one God, Allah.
• Muslims believe in the prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, who is considered the final prophet.
• The Five Pillars of Islam are the fundamental practices of the Islamic faith.

The Five Pillars of Islam

• Shahada (faith): declaration of faith in Allah and Muhammad as his prophet.
• Salat (prayer): performing five daily prayers.
• Zakat (charity): giving to the poor and needy, which is 2.5% of excess wealth.
• Sawm (fasting): fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
• Hajj (pilgrimage): making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

Islamic Scriptures

• The Quran is the holy book of Islam, considered the word of Allah as revealed to Muhammad.
• Hadith are collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad, used as a guide for Islamic living.

Branches of Islam

• Sunni Islam is the largest branch, accounting for about 90% of Muslims.
• Shia Islam is the second-largest branch, with a focus on the lineage of Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law.
• Sufism is a mystical branch, emphasizing spiritual purification and a personal connection with Allah.

Key Practices

• Prayer (Salat) is performed five times a day, facing towards Mecca.
• Fasting (Sawm) is during Ramadan, where Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset.
• Charity (Zakat) is giving 2.5% of excess wealth to the poor and needy.
• Pilgrimage (Hajj) is a journey to Mecca, performed at least once in a lifetime.

Islamic Law

• Sharia is the Islamic legal system, based on the Quran, Hadith, and consensus of Muslim scholars.
• Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence, interpreting and applying Sharia to daily life.

Islamic History

• The Prophet Muhammad was born in 570 CE and received his first revelation in 610 CE.
• He died in 632 CE, after establishing the Islamic community in Medina.
• The Four Caliphs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, succeeded Muhammad and established the Islamic caliphate.
• The Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates were two major empires that expanded Islam's reach and established Islamic governance.

Get familiar with the fundamental principles of Islam, including the concept of one God, the prophets, and the Five Pillars of Islam.