What’s in a name? What’s in a name?

Ilah – god

Allah – proper name for God

Controversy over use of Allah and if it is the same god as the Hebrew/Christian god

Only religion ‘of the book’ with a specific and personal name for God

The Quran (Koran) The Quran (Koran)

Originally maintained as a set of oral beliefs

Written down late 600’s/early 700’s

Some portions may have been written before the death of Muhammad

HadithHadith

Oral and written collections of stories about the life and sayings of Muhammad

Many authors, 100’s of 1,000’s of hadith

Tends to be a sectarian issue

The Five Pillars of IslamThe Five Pillars of Islam

1. Shadada – Declaration of Faith

2. Salah - Daily prayer

3. Zakat – Charity

4. Sawn – Fasting during the month of Ramadan

5. Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca

Sharia LawSharia Law

Laws derived from the Quran/Hadith/Sunnah

Criminal, civil, and personal matters

Causes concern in countries ruled by secular law and courts

Muhammad (the Muhammad (the basics)basics)

Born around 570 CE near Mecca/Mekka

Orphaned c. 575 CE – raised by uncle, spends time as a merchant with Bedouins

C. 595 CE – married Khadija (1st wife) – six children – four daughters survive

C. 610 CE – first revelation (Gabriel), tells Khadija, otherwise keeps quiet

613 CE – begins to “recite”

622 CE – Muhammad flees Mekka to Yathrib/Medina

630 CE – Muslim conquered Mekka