ISLAMONE OF 3 WORLD RELIGIONS TO ORIGINATE IN

THE MIDDLE EAST

1.5 BILLION PEOPLE ARE MUSLIMS MUSLIMS LIVE IN ALL PARTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST, WITH ISLAM BEING THE DOMINANT RELIGION IN ALL M-E COUNTRIES EXCEPT ISRAEL.

MUSLIMS OCCUPY MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ASIA, WITH ESPECIALLY LARGE MAJORITIES IN PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, AND INDONESIA.

ISLAM IS ALSO THE DOMINANT RELIGION IN NORTH AFRICA, THE SAHARA, SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, AND EAST AFRICA.

IMMIGRATION HAS SPREAD ISLAM DURING THE PAST HALF CENTURY.

MUHAMMAD IS REGARDED AS THE FOUNDER OF ISLAM

HE WAS BORN IN MECCA IN 570 A.D. AND IT WAS FROM MECCA THAT ISLAM GOT ITS START.

HE CLAIMED TO HAVE HAD VISIONS IN WHICH ANGELS GAVE HIM THE WORDS FROM GOD THAT BECAME THE QURAN, THE MUSLIM HOLY BOOK.

ISLAM GREW RAPIDLY DURING MUHAMMAD’S LIFETIME. WITHIN A HUNDRED YEARS OF THE BIRTH OF ISLAM, THE ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST AND PARTS OF NORTH AFRICA HAD BECOME MUSLIM.

MECCA IS THE HOLY CITY OF ISLAMTHE HOLIEST MOSQUE IN ISLAM IS LOCATED IN MECCA. MUSLIMS REFER TO THIS MOSQUE AS THE HOUSE OF ALLAH (GOD).

LOCATED INSIDE THIS MOSQUE IS THE KAABA, A 43 FEET TALL RECTANGULAR CUBE ON THE SITE WHERE, ACCORDING TO TRADITION, ISHMAEL BUILT A TABERNACLE TO WORSHIP GOD.

AS ONE OF THE 5 PILLARS OF ISLAM, ALL ABLE-BODIED MUSLIMS ARE TO MAKE A PILGRIMAGE TO THIS HOLY SITE.

LAST YEAR MORE THAN 1.38 MILLION FOREIGNERS MADE THIS PILGRIMAGE.

ISLAMS 5 PILLARS OF FAITH1. FAITH: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.2. PRAYER: 5 formal prayers daily-at dawn, noon, sunset, evening, and night-all

while facing Mecca. 3. CHARITY: Muslims are required to give to the poor and needy as they are

able to give.4. FASTING: Muslims are required to fast from dawn to sunset each day during

the Islamic month of Ramadan.5. PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA: once in a lifetime (if financially and physically able

to make the trip)