Muslim+Beginings

  **Ishmael  ** is a figure in the Torah, Bible, and Qur'an. Jewish,Christian and Muslim believers regard Ishmael as Abraham's eldest son, born of his wife Sarah's hand maiden Hagar. Both Jewish and Islamic traditions consider Ishmael as the ancestor of northern Arab people.   Ishmael and Hagar being banished on wish of Sarah    <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: -webkit-sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ishmael and Hagar in the wilderness being saved by G-d Judaism has generally viewed Ishmael as wicked though repentant. Judaism maintains that Isaac (the father of the Jewish people) rather than Ishmael was the true heir of Abraham. The New Testament contains few references to Ishmael. In Christian biblical interpretation, Ishmael is used to symbolize the older—now rejected—Judaic tradition; Isaac symbolizes the new tradition of Christianity. Islamic tradition, however, has a very positive view of Ishmael, giving him a larger and more significant role. The Qur'an views him as an Islamic prophet. According to the interpretation of some early Islamic theologians whose view prevailed later, Ishmael was the actual son that Abraham was called on to sacrifice, as opposed to Isaac. <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">   <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: -webkit-sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Abraham and Ishmael are said to have built the foundations of the Ka'aba. Islamic traditions hold that the Ka'aba was first built by the first man, Adam. Abraham and Ishmael rebuilt the Kaaba on the old foundations.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Ka'abba <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: -webkit-sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Ka'aba (literally "the cube" in Arabic) is an ancient stone structure that was built and re-built by prophets as a house of monotheistic worship. It is located inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Ka'aba is considered the center of the Muslim world, and is a unifying focal point for Islamic worship. <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> General Description: <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Ka'aba is a semi-cubic building that stands about 15 meters high and 10-12 meters wide. It is an ancient, simple structure made of granite. In the SE corner, a black meteorite (the "Black Stone") is embedded in a silver frame. Stairs on the north side lead to a door which allows entry to the interior, which is hollow and empty. The Ka'aba is covered with a ////<span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> kiswah  ////<span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, a black silk cloth which is embroidered in gold with verses from the Qur'an. The kiswah is re-done and replaced once a year. <span class="pCo" style="font-size: 100%; font-style: inherit; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: inherit; display: block; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> History Of the Ka'abba:  <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> According to the Qur'an, the Ka'aba was built by the prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael as a house of monotheistic worhip. However, by the time of Muhammad, the Ka'aba had been taken over by pagan Arabs to house their numerous tribal gods. In 630 A.D., Muhammad and his followers took over leadership of Mecca after years of persecution. Muhammad destroyed the idols inside the Ka'aba and re-dedicated it as a house of monotheistic worship. <span class="pCo" style="font-size: 100%; font-style: inherit; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: inherit; display: block; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Role in Muslim Worship:  <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It should be noted that Muslims do not worship the Ka'aba and its environs. Rather, it serves as a focal and unifying point among the Muslim people. During daily prayers, Muslims face toward the Ka'aba from wherever they are in the world (this is known as "facing the ////<span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> qiblah  ////<span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "). During the annual pilgrimage (" ////<span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hajj  ////<span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "), Muslims walk around around the Ka'aba in a counter-clockwise direction (a ritual known as "  ////<span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> tawaf  ////<span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "). <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|Qur'an]  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> states that Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son. The son is not named in the Qur'an (see  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|Qur'an]  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|37:99–113]  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ) and in early Islam, there was a controversy over the son's identity. However the belief that the son was Ishmael prevailed, and this view is continued to be endorsed by Muslim scholars. The argument of those Muslims who believed in the Ishmael theory was that "the promise to Sarah of Isaac followed by Jacob (  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|Qur'an]  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|11:71–74]  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ) excluded the possibility of a sacrifice of Isaac. The other party held that the son of sacrifice was Isaac since "God's perfecting his mercy on Abraham and Isaac (in   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|Qur'an]  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|12:6]  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ) referred to his making Abraham his friend and saving him from the burning bush and to his rescuing Isaac." According to Bruce Metzger and Michael Coogan, professors of Religious Studies, the circumcision of Muslims has its roots in the tradition that Ishmael was circumcised. <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">    <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">    <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">

<span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">     <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">    <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> By about the 5th century, some Arabs (a word which seems to mean "desert dweller") established settlements in the desert and abandoned their nomadic ways. After that, the remaining Arab nomads became known as the  //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Bedouins   //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, while settled Arabs assumed a different identity and refused to acknowledge their shared ancestry with the Bedouins. One settlement that grew in Arabia was Mecca, which later became the birth place of Muhammad, and later still, the holiest city of the Islamic faith. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Muhammas worked on the Arabian Peninsula on a caravan. He worked on Jeish and Christian settlements. Muhammad was polytheistic. Until Gabriel came to him when he was sleeping near the Ka'abba    <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> one night, and escorted him first to Jerusalem, then through seven heavens - where he met Abraham, Moses, and Jesus - to the presence of God. <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">        <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Jibril told Muhammad he wanted him to recite something, but Muhammad said no because he was illiterate. Jibril roughed <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">      <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> muhammad up and eventually he agreed. Jibril had Muhammad commit something to memory. <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">      <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This later become the Quran, the holy text of Islam. <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">    <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">        <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This event later helped establish Jerusalem as the third holiest city in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Islam is a religion that began in the 7th century in the Arabian Peninsula. In the Arabic language,  //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> islam   //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> means "submission," which in a religious context means submission to God. A person who submits is called a  //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> muslim   //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, which is also the word for a follower of the religion of Islam. Western writers in the past have sometimes referred to Islam as "Mohammedism." This word can be offensive to many Muslims, because it insinuates the worship of the prophet Muhammad as a deity, which is not a component of Islam the way the worship of Christ is a component of Christianity. <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">    <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">      <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It is significant that Muslims believe that what Gabriel told Muhammad came directly from God, and that Muhammad was simply God's messenger. Muslims do not believe that Muhammad himself was divine in any way, an important distinction that sets Islam apart from Christianity, which does believe in the divinity of Jesus. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">    <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Islam says that the message was similar to those received by the early Hebrew prophets: that God is one, he is all-powerful, he is the creator of the universe, and that there will be a Judgement Day when those who have carried out God's commands will enjoy paradise in heaven, and those who have not will be condemned to hell. <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Muhammad labeled both Jews and Christians "People of the Book," because their religion had a holy scripture. For this reason, Muhammad considered Judaism and Christianity to be superior to the polytheistic, humanist Arab religions. Islam also had several beliefs in common with the two older religions, and today calls itself the third "Abrahamic" religion because of what it sees as common roots between the three. <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">     <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">        <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">       <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> During his journey, Muslims believe that Muhammad was told   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">    <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">         <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> several tenets of Islam that became some of the most basic acts of the religion, such as praying five times daily. <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">        <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Quran is the word of God, there is also the Hadith, which are stories told of Muhammad. Some Muslims treat the Hadith as holy text while others do not. <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> There are many similarities between Judaism and Islam. There are dietary laws and covenants in both. In Judaism and Islam, men have to be circumsized in order to be part of the faith. Men in Judaism are circumsized at birth, but in Islam they are done later in life when they become more like men. The dietary laws are very similar. Judaism has Kosher and Tref foods, Islam has Halal and Haram foods. Kosher and Halal are permitted foods. Tref and Haram are forbidden foods. Neither religions can have pork. When Muslims eat meat it has to be traditionally slaughtered. Muslims cannot have alcohol, unlike the Jewish who can. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">     <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hajj- Pilgrimage for Muslims <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Six Articles of Faith <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The six articles of faith are the main doctrines of Islam. All Muslims share beliefs in the following:  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> >  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Five Pillars of Faith <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The five pillars of faith are duties each Muslim performs to demonstrate his or her faith. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> **  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> **__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Division of Islam __**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the death of Muhammad in 632 CE, two groups formed in Islam, stating two different ways that his successor should be chosen. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually, a power struggle developed as different groups of Muslims believed their method of establishing a successor were the best. <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sunni's (followers of the prophet's way) that Muhammad's successor was picked by him. This successor was Abu Bakr, who was a friend and companion of Muhammad. The Sunnis are the majority in Islam today <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Shi'a are the group of Muslims who believe that the successorship should remain within Muhammad's family, and that leaders are spiritually chosen, not politically chosen. They believed Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> become Muhammad's successor. They carry with them the pain of Muhammad's son-in-law. Today, the Shi'a dominate Iran.
 * 1) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Allah  **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam believes there is one true  **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Allah  **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (The Arabic translation of the word  **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God  **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">). Allah alone is the creator of all the universe.
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels  **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Angels exist and interact with human lives. They are comprised of light, and each have different purposes or messages to bring to earth. Each man or woman has two angels who record his actions; one records good deeds, the other bad deeds.
 * 3) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scripture  **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. There are four inspired books, the Torah of Moses, the Psalms (Zabin) of David, the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Injil) and the Qur'an. All but the Qur'an have been interpreted and changed by Jews and Christians.
 * 4) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prophets  **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. God has spoken through numerous prophets throughout time. The six greatest are: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. Muhammad is the last and greatest of Allah's messengers.
 * 5) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Afterlife  **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. On the last day there will be a time of resurrection and judgment. Those who follow Allah and Muhammad will go to Islamic heaven, or Paradise. Those who do not will go to hell.
 * 6) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Divine Creed  **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Testimony of Faith (Kalima)- One must state, "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah." publicly to become a Muslim.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prayer (Salat)- Prayer must be done five times a day (upon rising, at noon, in mid-afternoon, after sunset, and before going to sleep) towards the direction of Mecca. The call to prayer is sounded by the muezzin (Muslim crier) from a tower (minaret) within the mosque.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almsgiving (Zakat)- Muslims are legally required to give one-fortieth of their income to the needy. Since those whom alms are given are helping the giver achieve salvation, there is no sense of shame in receiving charity.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fasting (Sawm- During the holy month of Ramadan, faithful Muslims fast from sunup to sundown each day. This develops self-control, devotion to God, and identity with the needy.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pilgrimage (Hajj)- Each Muslim is expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they have the means to do it and are physically capable of the trip. It is an essential part of gaining salvation, so the old or infirm may send someone in their place. It involves a set of rituals and ceremonies.