Islam: Lesson 5 - Course Material PDF

ISLAM Quarter 2 – Lesson 5  Why Islam is an Abrahamic Religion? ISLAM Established around the 7th century C.E. Youngest of the world's major religions. Over 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. The second largest and one of the fastest-growing religions globally. ISLAM Majority of Muslim...

ISLAM Quarter 2 – Lesson 5  Why Islam is an Abrahamic Religion? ISLAM Established around the 7th century C.E. Youngest of the world's major religions. Over 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. The second largest and one of the fastest-growing religions globally. ISLAM Majority of Muslims live in Asia and Africa. There are 49 countries where Muslims make up 50% or more of the population. Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country, with nearly 87% of its population practicing Islam. Star and Crescent Recognized symbol of the Islamic faith. Appears on the national flags of states formed after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the 20th century. Symbol was embraced by movements advocating Arab nationalism. The crescent moon (hilal) has ties to royalty. Linked to the lunar calendar that governs the religious life of Muslims. Islam’s Beginnings Islam originated among Arabian desert people. Before Islam, Arabian tribes had diverse religious influences, including Byzantine Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Islam’s Beginnings Pre-Islamic Arabs worshipped many gods, though they acknowledged one supreme deity. Local gods, spirits, and animistic beliefs were significant, with sacred objects like the Black Stone at Mecca's Kaaba revered. Mecca became a pilgrimage center due to these spiritual associations. Muhammad Muhammad Muhammad ibn Abdullah was born in Mecca in 570 C.E. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib and later his uncle, Abu Talib. He worked as a caravan driver, traveling across the Arabian Peninsula and encountering various religious influences, including Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Muhammad’s Early Revelations: At 25, Muhammad married Khadija, a wealthy widow. In 610 C.E., he began receiving divine revelations from the angel Gabriel. These messages, revealed in a cave on Mount Hira, formed the foundation of Islam, which means "submission" to God's will. Muhammad’s Preaching Muhammad initially shared his revelations with close family and friends. By 613 C.E., he began preaching publicly, but the polytheistic Quraysh tribe in Mecca opposed his teachings, viewing them as a threat to their authority. Hijra and Leadership in Medina In 622 C.E., Muhammad and his followers fled to Medina (the Hijra), marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar. He united the tribes of Medina and established a constitution, gaining political and religious leadership. Hijra and Leadership in Medina Muhajirun - those who made the hijra Ansar -the helpers Conquest of Mecca After years of conflict with the Meccans, Muhammad and his followers peacefully took control of Mecca in 630 C.E., cleansing the Kaaba of its idols. By the time of his death in 632 C.E., Islam had spread across the Arabian Peninsula, uniting the Muslim community under one faith, with Muhammad revered as the final prophet of God. THE Q’URAN The word Quran literally means "recitation" or "reading.“ It is the sacred book of Islam, revealed by God (Allah) to Prophet Muhammad. The Quran is considered the foundation of the Islamic faith. It holds supreme authority in matters of faith, theology, and law for all Muslims. REVELATION OF QURAN The Quran was revealed gradually over a period of 23 years (609-632 C.E.). Muhammad initially memorized the messages because he was illiterate and recited them to his followers. WRITING AND RECORDING Muhammad’s companions recorded the revelations on various materials such as leather, stones, palm leaves, and bones. Muhammad’s secretary, Zayd ibn Thabit, played a key role in compiling the Quran after his death. OFFICIAL COMPILATION Around 20 years after Muhammad’s death, the Quran was formally compiled into a single book. This version has remained unchanged for over 1,400 years. STRUCTURE OF QURAN The Quran is divided into 114 chapters known as surahs, and each chapter contains verses called ayahs. The term ayah means "evidence" or "sign.” The Quran is divided into 30 parts, known as juz, which allows for the complete reading of the Quran in one month, especially during Ramadan. STRUCTURE OF QURAN The Quran is classified into Meccan and Medinian verses, based on whether they were revealed before or after Muhammad’s migration (hijra) from Mecca to Medina. Meccan verses emphasize faith and spiritual ideals, while Medinian verses focus on community organization and law. STRUCTURE OF QURAN The Quran is roughly the same length as the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Its chapters are arranged by length rather than theme or chronological order. RECITATION AND MEMORIZATION The Quran’s verses are rhythmic and often rhymed, making it easier for memorization. Those who memorize the entire Quran are given the title hafiz (guardian), and hafiza for women. MOST RECITED SURAH Al-Fatihah (The Opening) The first chapter of the Quran, called Al-Fatihah, is a prayer for God’s guidance, mercy, and blessings. Used in daily prayers (Salah), making it a central part of Islamic worship. UNIVERSAL QURAN The Quran was revealed in Arabic, and it remains unchanged and unaltered in its original form across the world. Despite translations into many languages, only the Arabic version is considered the true Quran. No two copies of the Quran anywhere in the world differ in any way, ensuring a universal consistency in the practice of Islam. THE HADITH The Hadith is a collection of deeds and sayings of Prophet Muhammad and his followers. It serves as the second most important source of Islamic law, after the Quran. The Hadith plays a key role in the development of Shari’a (Islamic legal system), guiding aspects of daily life, ritual practices, and legal matters. DIFFERENCES FROM THE QURAN Unlike the Quran, which was compiled under a central authority shortly after the Prophet’s death, the Hadith was collected generations later. This process made the compilation of the Hadith more decentralized and complex. COLLECTION OF HADITHS Around the 9th century C.E., Muslim scholars began systematically collecting Hadiths. The collected Hadiths were later known as the Kutub al-Sittah These collections are critical to Islamic theology, law, and everyday practices. KUTUB AL-SITTAH “Six Sahih Books” The two most respected collections among the Six Sahih are: 1. Sahih al-Bukhari: Authored by Imam Bukhari (810-870). 2. Sahih Muslim: Compiled by Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (c. 815-875). AUTHENTICITY OF HADITH "The word sahih in these collections means “authentic” or “sound.” The scholars painstakingly sifted through reports, distinguishing between authentic and unsubstantiated narratives. Reliability of narrators and the chain of transmission were carefully examined to validate the authenticity of the Hadith. THE ROLE OF HADITH The Hadith provides critical details for practicing rituals and obligations, including the Five Pillars of Islam (Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj).