Task #1:
1.
What is highest estimate for the total number of
Muslims that live in the world today? 2.1 billion
2.
List 10 countries who have a Muslim population
of 86% or greater.
Afghanistan,
Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Iran, and
Iraq
3.
What country has the largest Muslim population?
Indonesia
4.
How many Muslims are there in the United States?
2,595,000
Task #2:
Summarize each of the key beliefs
below in a COMPLETE sentence.
1) They believe in one, unique,
incomparable, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-hearing, all-seeing, and kind,
loving God.
2) They believe that angels exist and
are honored beings that worship, obey, and only act on the command of God.
3) They believe that God revealed
books to the people to teach them about Himself.
4) They believe in the prophets and
messengers of God and that Muhammad was the last one.
5) They believe in the resurrection
of the dead where everyone will be judged.
6) They believe in Divine
Predestination which includes believe that God knows everything, God has
recorded everything that has and will happen, whatever God wills to happen
happens, whatever He wills not to happen will not happen, and that God created
everything.
TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD
Go to the following website and put 3
of Muhammad’s sayings in your own words.
1.
The best believers are those that have good
morals and those with the best morals are good to their wives.
2.
You don’t completely believe until you love your
neighbor like you love yourself.
3.
Those that show mercy are shown mercy by God.
Task #3:
1.
What does the Quran provide? It provides guidelines for a good, just
society, proper human interaction, and an equitable economic system
2.
In what language(s) does the Quran exist? Why?
It exists in Arabic only because it was revealed from heaven in Arabic.
3.
During which month was the Quran sent down from
Heaven?
It was sent down
during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar.
4.
What did the angel Gabriel command Muhammad to
do? What happened
next? He commanded
him to spread the teachings in the Quran and he did and his followers were
persecuted.
Task #4:
List and explain the 5 Pillars of
Faith.
1.
Shahada (Shahaadah) – It is the testimony of
faith. To perform the testimony of faith, one is required to say with
conviction at least once in his or her life: "There is no god but Allah,
and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."
2.
Salat (prayer) - Muslims pray five times
daily, at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night facing Mecca.
3.
Zakat (almsgiving) - Charitable giving, or
Zakat, is a requirement of faith for all Muslims. Used to benefit the poor,
Zakat represents a fixed portion of one's wealth and assets
4.
Siyam (Sawm) (fasting) - Sawm literally
means any ritual fasting, but is generally understood to refer to ritual
fasting during the month of Ramadan. From dawn to dusk for the entire month,
Muslims must refrain from eating, drinking and engaging in sexual relations so
they can focus on Allah.
5.
Hajj (pilgrimage) - During the last month
of the Islamic calendar, Dhu al-Hijjah, some two million Muslims ascend to the
holy city of Mecca for the Hajj, or pilgrimage. Every able-bodied Muslim is
required - if their finances permit - to make the pilgrimage at least once in
their lifetime.
2) Why are they important? They strengthen
their faith in and service to Allah.
3) Why is cheating on the 5 Pillars
impossible? The Five Pillars are a matter between the individual Muslim and
Allah: the community may well insist
on certain practices, but at the
heart lies the relationship between a Muslim and Allah.
4) Compare the 5 Pillars with similar
activities in other religions. Shahada is similar to the Apostle’s Creed in
Christianity. Salat is similar to the Prayers of the Hour the monks of Christianity
do every day. Zakat is similar to God’s call to love your neighbor as yourself
and give to the poor. Siyam is similar to what Christians do during Lent.
Task #5:
1.
What is Ramadan? Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when
Muslims fast during daylight hours.
2.
What restraints are placed on Muslims during
Ramadan? They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours.
Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. At the end of
the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the
evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out
visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.
3.
What can destroy the good acquired during
Ramadan? the telling of a lie, slander, denouncing someone behind his back, a
false oath, and greed or covetousness
4.
Why is the 27th day of Ramadan significant? Muslims
celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr(the Night of Power). It is believed that on
this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And
according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for
the following year.
5.
What happens when Ramadan ends? When the fast
ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal) it is celebrated for three days in
a holiday called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are exchanged.
Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals. In some
cities fairs are held to celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan.
6. What
are the 3 reasons Ramadan is important? The Qur'an was first revealed during this month. The
gates of Heaven are open. The gates of Hell are closed and the devils are
chained up in Hell.
7.
Why is easier to do good during Ramadan? They also believe that it is easier to
do good in this month because the devils have been chained in Hell, and so
can't tempt believers.
Task #6:
List 10 interest facts you learned
from the websites above.
1.
The
al-Burda, also called Qasida (hymn) Burda, is an Arabic poem honouring the
Prophet Muhammad. The name means 'poem of the mantle' or
'of the cloak'.
2.
The
Burda was also engraved on the Prophet's mosque in Madina. There it adorned its
walls and reminded believers for centuries before being erased by people who
could not comprehend it. There is still one line left that has not been removed.
3.
Historically,
the veiling of the face was practised by many cultures before Islam and
scholars say the adoption of its practice by Muslims was part of fitting into
the society.
4.
Architecture
is one of the greatest Islamic art forms. An Islamic style is seen in mosques
but also in Muslim houses and gardens.
5.
Muslims
regard abortion as wrong and haram (forbidden), but many
accept that it may be permitted in certain cases.
6.
Islam
allows abortion to save the life of the mother because it sees this as the
'lesser of two evils' and there is a general principle in Sharia (Muslim law) of choosing the lesser of
two evils.
7. Muslims believe
that:
all living creatures were made by Allah
Allah loves all animals
animals exist for the benefit of human beings
animals must be treated with kindness and
compassion
8. Muslims are only allowed to eat meat that has been killed
according to Sharia law. This method of killing is often attacked by animal
rights activists as barbaric blood-thirsty ritual slaughter. Muslims disagree.
They say that Islamic law on killing animals is designed to reduce the pain and
distress that the animal suffers.
9. According to Al Hafiz B A Masri, using
animals for research may be permitted in Islam. The animals must not suffer
pain or mutilation and there must be a good reason for the experiment.
10.
The
baby's first taste should be something sweet, so parents may chew a piece of
date and rub the juice along the baby's gums. It was a practice carried out by the Prophet Muhammad and is believed to help tiny digestive
systems to kick in.
