Five Pillars of Islam
1. The first pillar Shahadah, states that "there is no god, beside God, and Muhammad is God's Messenger."
2. The second pillar(Salat), is to pray five times a day.
3. The third pillar(Sawm), is to fast during Ramadan.
4. The fourth pillar(Zakat), is the giving of 2.5 of your saving to the needy.
5. The fifth pillar(Hajj), is the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy land for Muslims.
Salat
To perform Salat you go through a lot of steps.
1. Raise your hands so that their near your face.
2. Bring your hands down to hip level.
3. Bend over so that your hands are on your knees.
4. Stand up so that your arms are down at your sides.
5. Bend to the ground, letting your fore-head touch the ground.
6. Sit back up, and rest your hands on your knees.
7. Lay your head back on the ground.
8. Sit back up, again resting your hands on your knees.
9. Turn your head to the right.
10. Turn your head to the left.
1. Raise your hands so that their near your face.
2. Bring your hands down to hip level.
3. Bend over so that your hands are on your knees.
4. Stand up so that your arms are down at your sides.
5. Bend to the ground, letting your fore-head touch the ground.
6. Sit back up, and rest your hands on your knees.
7. Lay your head back on the ground.
8. Sit back up, again resting your hands on your knees.
9. Turn your head to the right.
10. Turn your head to the left.
Holidays
Muslims have to fast for Ramadan. This celebration is celebrated in the Muslims' fifth month, called Ramadan.
The Laylat al-Qadr or The Night of Power, is a holiday that is celebrated in late Ramadan, in which Muslims commemorate when the first lines of their holy book were told to Muhammad.
At the end of Ramadan, Muslims break their fast with Eid al-Fitr, the festival of fast breaking, in which they have a big feast, like the one shown.
In the 12th month of the Muslim calender, thousands flock to Mecca, for an annual pilgrimage, called Hajj.
On the day of Arafat, the Muslims on their pilgrimage, go to the Plain of Arafat, to seek God's mercy. Muslims everywhere fast.
On the last day of their pilgrimage, the pilgrims Eid al-Adha, festival of sacrifice.
The Difference Between Sunni and Shi'ia Muslims
Sunni: Name means traditional.
Shi'ia: Name means party for Ali(I don't know why)
Shi'ia: Name means party for Ali(I don't know why)
Sunni: 90% of Muslims
Shi'ia: 10% of Muslims
Shi'ia: 10% of Muslims
Sunni: Almost all Muslim countries are Sunni countries.
Shi'ia: Shi'ia Muslims are in Yemen, Iraq, and Iran.
Shi'ia: Shi'ia Muslims are in Yemen, Iraq, and Iran.
Sunni: Sunnis believe that Abu Bakr is the successor of Muhammad.
Shi'ias: Shiites believe that 'Ali ibn Abi Talib is the successor of Muhammad.
Shi'ias: Shiites believe that 'Ali ibn Abi Talib is the successor of Muhammad.
Taqiyya is to hide ones faith to protect themselves.
Sunni: Believe that it's ok to practice, mattering the circumstance
Shi'ia: Emphasize use of Taquiyya
Sunni: Believe that it's ok to practice, mattering the circumstance
Shi'ia: Emphasize use of Taquiyya
Mecca is a holy place for both kinds of Muslims, here are a few more.
Sunni: Medina and Jerusalem
Shi'ia: Medina, Jerusalem, Najaf, and Karbala
Sunni: Medina and Jerusalem
Shi'ia: Medina, Jerusalem, Najaf, and Karbala
Muslims and Abraham
Muslims are from the tribes of Ishamaelities, meaning they're descendents for Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, Sarah (Abraham's first wife)'s handmaid.
Women and Children
Women who aren't the biological mother of their male child, cannot breast-feed the child.
Women are encouraged to have a religious education.
Polygamy is allowed by Islam laws
Endogamy is the practice of marring someone that is related to. The most common marriages in some Islamic countries, are between two first cousins.
Although marriage age varies from country to country, Islam has permitted the marriage of girls under 10.
Symbols and Dress
Originally, there wasn't a Islamic symbol. The star and crescent first appeared on the Ottoman flag in the 19th century. Eventually other countries in the Muslim area started using the symbol. By the '50's, the symbol had been re-interpreted as the symbol of Islam, in the '70's the star and crescent was excepted by the Muslim community as their symbol.
http://islam.about.com/od/holidays/f/holidays.htm
http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islamic_sects.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Pillars_of_Islam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Islam#Endogamy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niqab
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_and_crescent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chador
http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islamic_sects.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Pillars_of_Islam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Islam#Endogamy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niqab
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_and_crescent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chador