Blog Post 26-99 Names of God

Blog Post 24- Islam Webquest

Task 1
1.  What is highest estimate for the total number of Muslims that live in the world today? 

 2.1 billion people.

2.  List 10 countries who have a Muslim population of 86% or greater.

Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Iran, 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. There is only one unique God.

2. There are Angels who exist and worship God alone.

3.  God revealed his word to humans so that they might believe in him.

4.  Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God and his best messenger is Muhammad.

5.  All people will be judged when they are resurrected.

6. Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but his belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have freewill.

TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD

Go to the following website and put 3 of Muhammad’s sayings in your own words.

1.   Honesty and staying pure while moving forward is the best way to live life and makes up the Divine words of wisdom.

2. Struggling is going against one’s desires and submitting themselves to Allah.

3. Anger, dictatorship and being bias are sins, meaning going against God’s purpose.

Task 3

1.  What does the Quran provide?
The Quran provides guidelines and detailed teachings for a relationship between Allah and his people, a just society, proper human conduct, and an equitable economic system.  It deals with all aspects of humanity.
2.  In what language(s) does the Quran exist? Why?
The Quran can be translated into any language. However, it is only the true Quran in Arabic.

3. During which month was the Quran sent don from Heaven?

The 9th month

4. What did the angel Gabriel command Muhammad to do? What happened next?

He commanded Muhammad to read, and then he taught Muhammad some verses from the Quran, which Muhammad later memorized.

Task 4

1. List and explain the 5 Pillars of Faith.

Shahada- This is the most important pillar of Islam. One is required to say it with conviction at least once in his or her life.

Salat- Muslims pray five times a day: at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night.

Zakat- Zakat is giving to charity

Siyam- Siyam 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.

Hajj- Every able-bodied Muslim is required - if their finances permit - to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

2. Why are they important? They help to strengthen their faith in and service to Allah.

3.Why is cheating on the 5 pillars impossible? Cheating is impossible because all Muslims strive to perform them, regardless of anything.

4.Compare the 5 pillars with similar activities in other religions: In Christianity, we also fast during Lent, which is similar to Muslims fasting during Ramadan. Christianity also encourages giving to charity and praying as much as possible.

Task 5

1.  What is Ramadan?
Ramadan occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is believed that during this month, the Quran was sent down. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunup to sundown.
2.  What restraints are placed on Muslims during Ramadan?
Muslims must fast between sunrise and sundown during the month of Ramadan.  Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting.
3. What can destroy the good acquired during Ramadan?
The telling of a lie, slander, enouncing someone behind his back, a false oath, greed or covetousness can destroy the good acquired during Ramadan.

4.  Why is the 27th day of Ramadan significant?

This is the night that Muhammad received the Quran. On this day, God chooses the course of the rest of the year.
5. What happens when Ramadan ends?
The fast is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Id-al-Fitr. Gifts are exchanged among people and 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?
Three reasons Ramadan is important are:  to get closer to God, to become obedient to God, and to fast.
7.  Why is easier to do good during Ramadan?
It is easier to do good during Ramadan because all Muslims do good during Ramadan especially in Muslim countries.

Task 6

List 5 interesting facts you learned from the websites above:

1. It is disrespectful to portray Muhammad’s face.     

 2. Muslims account for 1/5^th of the word’s population.

3. Islam means “submission” from a word meaning “peace”. ·    

4.  The architecture of Muslims differed from the rest of the world at one time in the world.
5.  Islam and Judaism go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham and their three prophets are directly descendants from his sons.