Islam

Researched and edited by:
Maggie McGarrity

// Samuel Masiello //
=** Robin Kuis **= Cherry Lin Abdallah ougammadan
 * Joey Wiles Eagle **

How did the religion develop? Did someone found the religion?

 * Islam began when Mohammed was born in 610. he was called the trustworthy one. he went off to become a caravan leader and he married the widow of a caravan leader and became very wealthy but he still couldn't read or write. He was interested in religion and he went to a cave and fasted and prayed. Then on the Night of Power the angel Gabriel came to him and almost crushed him 3x telling him to write what God wanted him to. Mohamad said 3x that he can't because he was illiterate. Then Mohammed went home and told his wife about the encounter and Gabriel who he thought was an evil demon. His wife said he was too much of a trustworthy man for a demon to come to you so it must have been an angel. He had a small group of followers who wrote down what Mohammed said God revealed to him. Those words became the Koran. Mohamad told the people in Mecca to stop their religion and follow his religion. They said no. He was asked to come to to solve a dispute in the city of and he agreed but he said that the city would have to convert to Islam. The city changed its name to Medina that means the City of the Prohpet. Mecca and Medina fought ad Medina won and the terms of surrender was theta Mecca had to become the second Islam city and had to get rid of the 360 deities worshipped their and worship Allah. By 632 Islam was the main religion in Arabia. But Mohamad died in 632 and didn't tell his followers what to do (Understanding Islam). **


 * Islam, founded in 622CE in the Arabian Peninsula, was created on the principles and beliefs of Muhammad to surrender or bow before Allah (god). These beliefs spread very quickly, there are many reasons for this, one being the fear of what would happen if one did not become a “follower”. Another reason is how very logical and peaceful his teachings were. Contrary to popular belief Islam very rarely spread by sword, most often just by word. **

Islam was founded in a city called Mecca in the Saudi desert. The man who founded Islam was Muhammad, who was a merchant that was raised by his uncle. Muhammad's parents died when he was very young. His dad was named Abdullah and his mother was Aminah Bint. Islam was founded in 622 AD. Muhammad mostly mediated in a cave in Mount Nur. Once, while he was meditating, Gabriel, an angel, came to Muhammad and recited the Qur'an to him.
 * Islam was founded by the great Muhammad. Muhammed was born around 570 AD. He was an orphaned merchant until he married a 40 year old w **** oman named Khadijah, a very wealthy, older widow of a rich caravan leader. Together they had 6 children. Unfortunately, his only two  **** s **** ons died before they could experience their father’s future impact in society. Muhammad would often meditate for hours at a time **** . There are many theories as to why he did this. One theory was that he was in a mid-life crisis. Another theory was that it was his trust in God that compelled him to meditate. A cave on Mount Nur was his most often visited place. While in the cave one day in the month of Ramadan, he received a visit from “Gabriel” where he exclaimed “ Qur'an 96:1-5.  ”. Gabriele asked him to write what God wanted him to but he protested and exclaimed that he was illiterate. At first, Muhammad was quite scared that Gabriel did not have good intentions. However, shortly after his encounter he started to recognize that God needed him to spread the word about this new, monotheistic religion. His message spread quickly throughout the city of Makkah , particularly in the  **** youth. **



**Islam was found at around 622 AD by Muhammad. Muhammad was born in about 570 AD and was raised by his uncle Abu Talib. He was mostly a merchant, as well as a shepherd. He was married when he was at the age of 25 and also had a habit of occasionally retreating in a cave for meditation. After a long period of time fighting with the Meccan tribes, by then his followers gained up to 10,000 supporters. They took control of the Mecca in the largely peaceful Conquest of Mecca. Then Muhammad was ill and died, by the time of his death most of the  Arabian Peninsula converted their religion into Islam. ** **Are there any important days? Which ones? What happens on those days?** ===** There are many Islamic holy days and prayer days. One important holiday is Ramadan and it is the equivalent of September because it is the ninth month of the Islam calendar. Muslims fast this month in honor of Allah. They cannot consume any food or drink during the day and this is meant help them learn patience and to be dutiful to Allah. Only after the sun sets can Muslims eat and drink again. On the 27th night of the month, many Muslims pray throughout the night because the Koran was revealed to Mohammed on that night **** ( ** What Is Ramadan?). ===


 * Another holy day is Eid al Adha. This is a holiday that celebrates how Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, to Allah **** ( **** Eid-al-Adha) **** . Instead of killing his son, the angel Gabriel gave Abraham a goat to sacrifice instead. This is a happy day when Muslims wear new clothes, pray, and many people try to visit Mecca, the birthplace of the prophet Mohammed. The food of the day is always centered around meat. People will give money to the poor so they can have a meat based meal that day. **


 * 15th - Islamic new year (1 Musharraf 1434 H.) This is the start of the new ear, tradition is very similar to the Chinese new year. **

** The months are as follows, **
//** Muharram-januray **// //** Safar-febuary **// //** Rabia Awal-march **// //** Rabia Thani-april **// //** Judaism Awal-may **// //** Jumaada Thani-june **// //** Rajab-july **// //** Sha'ban-august **// //** Ramadam-september **// //** Shawwal-october **// //** Dhul-Qi'dah-november **// //** Dhul-Hijja-december **// Nearly every religion has holy days including Islam. One of the holy day is Jumu’ah-tul-Wida. Jumu’ah means Friday in Arabic. That holy day remarks the last Friday in the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is also a holy month for Muslims when you need to fast until 8 or 6 pm, depending on your timezone. Muslims that celebrate Ramadan must also stop their bad habits, pray everyday including reading the Quran.

**Islam has 3 main holidays, Eid Al-Fitr, Ramadan and Eid Al-Adha. Eid Al-Fitr, translated as “Feast of Breaking Fast”, this holiday is to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. This is a single day when Muslims all around the world are not aloud to fast, with a common goal of unity. Ramadan, as I have mentioned before, is the holy month of fasting. This means that all adults, who are in sound physically, must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and other things from dawn until dusk. Finally Eid Al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice, is to celebrate Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to god’s command, until god intervened at the last minute to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead. **

Holy days are very important to the Islam community. Muslims participate in Ramadan, which is a Holy month which takes place in the 9th month of the year. During Ramadan, Muslims participate in ** fasting during daylight and feasting in the night. **** Many Muslims attempt to stop bad habits and read the entire Quran (the holy book of Islam) at least once during the month of Ramadan. **** Eid al-Fitr is a very famous Islam day when the fasting ends and the Muslim people thank their god Allah for sticking with them while they fasted and became strong for the whole previous month. This day occurs at the first sighting of the New Moon. ** ** Another important Holy Day is called Ashura. It is a day when the Muslim community feasts to honor the day that Noah left the ark and Moses was saved from the Egyptians by Allah. This day takes place on November 24th of the Gregorian calendar. It is only celebrated by the Sunni Muslim community. **  ** Eid ul Adha is a holiday celebrated in Muslim countries. It is to celebrate Ibrahim and what he did for Allah. Islamic history states that Ibrahim was ordered by Allah to sacrifice his own son. Despite this difficult request, Ibrahim did it because Allah asked him to. This holiday is to remind Muslims that you must obey Allah, even if it may be difficult. During the holiday, Muslims who can afford to, will sacrifice animals, sheep in particular. ** ** Milad un Nabi is honored as the birthday of the leader of Islam, the great prophet Muhammad. Even though this is considered a very celebratory holiday filled with joy, it is also the day that Muhammad died. In fact, many Islam followers don’t believe in celebrating yearly birthdays or deaths because there is no evidence that Muhammad did. ** **Friday is the main day of the week, on this day Muslims worship the gods. The reason why they worship on fridays is because it was the first day when god created heaven and earth, it is also believed that it is the Day of Judgement. Islamic calendar also has twelve months in a year, with 29 or 30 days in every month. Since they have the calendar like this they only have 354 or 355 days in a year, 10 or 11 days shorter than the solar year. **
 * Yawm Al-Jumu'ah **
 * It is a Friday and Muslims gathered in <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">masjid (mosque)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">They visit relatives and friends after the Salat (praying, facing the Mecca five times a day)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In some countries they put clean sheets or covers for prayers
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Laylat Al-Qadr **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is the most worshipful day for the Muslims because the worship this night carrys more value than the other ones
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This night would be on an odd nights of Ramadan (which may be on the 21th, 23th, 25th, 27th in the month Ramadan)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">During the nights of <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Laylat Al-Qadr, Muslims needs to stay awake reading and studying the Qur'an, listens to the religious addresses and performing the Salat.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then they go home for the pre-dawn meal and naturally they fall asleep
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">'Eid Al-Adha **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is the celebration of sacrifices
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Muslims sacrifice a ram, sheep, goat, cows or camels and distributes them in three part
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One part is to the poor, one part is distributed for relatives and friends, and the other one is for the family
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Celebrates on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah

How many gods does the religion have?
**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Muslims only have one god called Allah (in Arabic). They also believe in that he is the creator of the universe. **
 * Islam has one god, Allah, who is believed to be the one true unrivaled god. **
 * Islam has one true god which they call Allah (the Arabic word for God). To Muslims, Allah is the one and only, actual true god. In Islam, Allah is the highest figure in their world. **** Muslim people believe that Allah presented the Islamic book, the Quran, to the prophet Muhammad because he was the chosen one. **
 * Islam only believes in the god Allah, "he is the one true god" Translated to english this means god. **

How do the followers contact or pray to their gods?
In islam you start prayer by standing on a rug for prayer.You start by standing in the dicrtion of mecca.Then you start with the first chapter of the Quaran starting with In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful: All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Universe The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Owner of the Day of Judgement. You alone do we worship, and You alone we turn to for help Guide us to the straight path; The path of those on whom You have bestowed your grace, not (the way) of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray. then you bow saying glory be to my lord,the Almighty.After you are finished with the lst chapter you start with the 2nd chapter.Before you pray you must star with wash your ears mouth head arm and legs.
 * The core of this religion is rather simple and inocent, **
 * there religion is based on, **
 * being respectful to elders, doing work well and honestly, be humble to parents, respect both young and old, dont gamble and drink, and finally follow the Quran. **
 * In the religion of Islam you start "prayer" by standing and reciting the first chapter of the Quran: **
 * // “In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Most Gracious //**
 * // Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee (alone) we worship and Thee (alone) we ask for help. //**
 * // Show us the straight path. The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.” (1:1-1:7) //**

// “**Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.”** //
 * Then, they bow and glorify their god, **


 * After bowing, Muslims then prostrate themselves by slowly placing their forehead on the ground. This is also the time when Muslims ask Allah for forgiveness and mercy and say the following line: **
 * //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Glory be to my Lord, the most High.” //**


 * And finally, the final movement and recitation of the prayer is when the Muslim simply sits. It is at this time that they tell their God, Allah, that he is the only one who they worship and that Muhammad is his slave. At this time, they recite the longest passage: **

//** “All service is for Allah and all acts of worship and good deeds are for Him. Peace and the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you O Prophet. Peace be upon us and all of Allah’s righteous slaves. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. **** O Allah exalt Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad, just as you exalted Abraham and the followers of Abraham. Verily you are full of praise and majesty. O Allah send blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as you sent blessings on Abraham and upon the followers of Abraham. Verily you are full of praise and majesty.” **//


 * They then finish by turning their head left and right and saying: **


 * //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah” //**


 * Muslims pray to Allah by first standing whilst the first chapter of the Quran is recited, then they bow and glorify him, next while prostrating, to express complete submission to him and finally sit and testify that no one is worthy of worship other than Allah. **


 * What are the rules? What do people have to do in their lifetime?**
 * Their are 5 Pillars are what people have to do. **
 * Pillar 1 Confession: People have to accept that Allah is the only God and Mouhammad is the only prophet. **
 * Pillar 2: Daily Prayer: Pray 5 times a day **
 * Pillar 3: Giving Alms: Have to give 21/2 of their money to the poor each year. **
 * Pillar 4: Fast during Ramadan **
 * Pillar 5: Visit Mecca during their life **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The main rules in islam are these ones. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1.confession that you accept allah and muhammad as his me <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2.You must pray five times a day <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3.You must also go to mecca and visit the room of god if you are able to <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In islam you are also not allowed to gamble for luck like poker or for instent gambling over a race or a game.You are not allowed to eat meat that is not halal mean a muslim slaughtering of the animal for its meat.In islam it is forbidden to drink alchole or anything that will make you high or drunck.It is highly forbidden to eat porn meat in islam.In islam you need to repect your parents specaily your mother.You are not allowed to have more then 4 wives and need to respect them all fairly.You are not allowed to kill somone for hatered, revenge or fun.If somone invades or takes your land or trys to kill or harm you. **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. They are not allowed to dance with the opposite gender. Women is only allowed to dance with women and men can only dance around other men. Even dancing with the same gender has a rule, this dancing and the song must not stimulate other people’s desire. This also applies to sports and games, involves only with same gender. ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Islamic law dictates that one must live in accordance to a set of rules. This means that Muslims cannot steal, lie, commit adultery, gamble, eat pork or drink alcohol. Islams must also dress modestly and non-suggestively, this leads to women in some countries having to cover up their heads with robes, and men must grow beards. In Islam there is also something called “The Five Pillars Of Islam”. Out of these five pillars the most important is by far faith in Allah, god. Only one who has complete faith in Allah can be a true muslim. The second pillar is prayer. A muslim must prayer five times a day, at dawn, mid-afternoon, sunset and before going to bed. These prayers must be said facing the holy city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. These prayers can be done anywhere, apart from on Friday when they must be done in a Mosque. Thirdly, one must help the poor by paying tax, which goes towards the poor, or sometimes towards holy wars, building facilities for travellers or to building schools. The fourth pillar is fasting in Ramadan, the holy ninth month of the year.(for more about Ramadan see important islamic days). The final pillar is the pilgrimage to Mecca a Muslim must make if they are in a fit state to do it, and it is financially possible. **
 * There are some radical Muslims who believe that the 6 Pillar is Jihad. Jihad means struggle. It is the struggle to protect and spread Islam and the struggle in a person to live the right way. **
 * Muslims can't gamble, drink, or eat pork. They can practice polygamy but can't have more than 4 wives and they all have to be treated fairly **** (Understanding Islam). **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Dress code: Women must cover their whole body with loose fitting clothes, except their face and hands. Men must cover from the knee up to the navel. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Depends how much their parents are strict to their own children. 80% of the college are girls and some are boys, only when necessary. Most parents don't let their daughter/son to go out of home. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. They are allowed to get to know the person before they get married. For example, if you met him/her at work, then he meets your parent and asks their permission to get to know you more. This means that you are allowed to meet each other but with supervision, but cannot touch/kiss. In some countries they are allowed to write a contract with your fiance. This means that you can meet without supervision, you can touch and whatever (but sexual intercorse is still prohibited, it isn’t when they are declared and married in front of people. The girl and boy must give their approval for all of this. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Muslims pray 5 obligatory prayers per day. They can also add non-obligatory prayers, this is the most important pillar in Islam. Prophet pbuh said that its the thin line between belief and disbelief. **
 * There are many rules throughout the religion of Islam. This includes dietary, recreational, physical, and social laws that they are very strict about: **
 * 1. Islamic people cannot consume pork. This belief came from a verse from the Quran: **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">"He has only forbidden you what dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that over which any other (name) than (that of) Allah has been invoked; but whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring, nor exceeding the limit, no sin shall be upon him; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">— Qur'an, Sura 2 (Al-Baqara), ayat 173 **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Drinks and food such as Intoxicants are strictly forbidden in the religion of Islam. In the beginning, the Quran stated that you may not be intoxicated while reciting prayer. However, a later verse from the Quran was revealed. It stated that intoxicants have good and evil, but the evil was greater than the good. After a while, this made the Muslims turn against these things because it was considered “abominations of Satan’s work”. **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Some types of Music and Art are forbidden, such as singing, western movies, playing a musical instrument, or listening to modern day music and even tattooing. However, these rules are not as strict as the ones above. Many Muslims do not follow these as much as the other critical rules because this rule is not considered of the upmost ** **importance.**
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Pillars of Islam are basically what you are required to do if you practice Islam: **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Witness that there is no God but Allah (the one and only one God) and the prophet Muhammad is His Messenger **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Prayer **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Paying Zakat (specific compulsory Charity) **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Fasting during Ramadan **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Pilgrimage for those who can afford it **

Are there any sacred books? What are they called?
=== The main holy book is named the Quran, it is the muslim version of the christian bible and is treated with the highest honors. The Quran is safe from any kind of distortion and is un-editable. It is supposed to be chanted aloud and only in Arabic. === **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The holy book of Islam is called the Quran, which was presented to the first prophet Muhammad from an angel named Gabriel in a cave he often visited. The Islamic holy book that muslims believe in is the Quran. This book has the code and laws of Islam. Muslims believe that there are four holy books, Tawrat (sent to Moses/Musa), the Zabur (was sent to David/Dawood), the Injil (was sent to Jesus/Isa) and the last one Quran (was sent to Muhammad). ** ** The sacred, holy book of Islam is called the Quran. This is the book that Muhammad was given to preach and is the only sacred book. Muslims firmly believe that the words of the Quran are ** ** Allah's words and translating them is considered changing the words of Allah. Muslims believe that the Quran is meant to be spoken in Arabic(the religions language) only. This book contains chapters called “surah”. The Quran is also separated into 30 sections called “ajiza”. This is done so that the Quran can be read in a 30 day/month time period. The Quran contains verses, laws, history, and more. ** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #980000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The holy book of islam which explains the meaning of life the creator and the rules.The quran explains what should be done in life and what will happen in the afterlife.What to do in prayer and rules to become a real muslim and how to treat others.The quran also explains facts about the prophets and how they died or what they did.
 * One holy book of Islam is the Quran, the Quran is the central religious text of Islam. Some people think that Muhammed wrote the Quran, this is however not true as he was illiterate, he could neither read nor write. It is the Islamic belief that the angel Gabriel was sent down by Allah with the Quran to be read to Muhammad who would memorise it and teach it to his companions. It was only written down much later. **

What do the holy buildings look like?
===** There are four main building structures in the islam religion architecture, one the mosque two the fort three the tomb and finally four the palace. **** Muslim pray to allah in a mosque and on fridays in a Jemea. the first mosque was built in 622 in the city of medina it is called Quba Mosque (Islamic architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). **===

** Islamic holy buildings are called Mosques, Mosques all look different depending on where they are, for example a Mosque in Turkey will look very different from a Mosque in China. In spite of this the traditional or ster **** eotypical Mosque usually has a domed roof/s and a number of minarets. They also tend to be white or beige with gold plated sections. ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The most impo **** rtant kind of building are the m **** asjid (mosques) that worships Allah. A Jemea is a kind of Mosque for friday prayers to go. Mosque has a half sphered top and has long halls across in the Mosque. Every mosques has different looks, none of them look the same. ** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #980000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The holy book of islam which explains the meaning of life the creator and the rules.The quran explains what should be done in life and what will happen in the afterlife.What to do in prayer and rules to become a real muslim and how to treat others.The quran also explains facts about the prophets and how they died or what they did.
 * The main, most important building in the religion of Islam is called a Mosque. Most of the time, mosques will be painted a neutral color such as white. Mosques have a **
 * <--(Maggie's) very individual look about them and no mosque will look the same. **** A typical mosque will have a dome-shaped roof, many minarets, and are often symmetrical. Mosques will have a courtyard in the front and then a central prayer room or area. In t **** hat prayer area, there is always a hole somewhere in the wall that points towards Mecca, the city of Muhammad, because Muslims must pray facing Mecca. **

What happens to you when you die?
**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If the person dying was a very bad person (on drugs, alcohol, rape or even murder) but believes in Allah and before the believer dies and says the Shahadah and repents then all of his sins will be forgiven. There are two kind of life after muslims die. Either they go to heaven or they get tortured in hell. ** Muslims think that when you die Allah judges you and a good person is rewarded with heaven and a bad person is punished with Hell.** (Understanding Islam). ** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #980000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Muslims believe when you die your soul goes to barzakh where you will be judged for your sins and good deeds.If the person has more sins than his good deeds then he will go to hell he can also go to hell if he doesn't believe in god.
 * If you are a believer your soul is taken from you painlessly and respectfully by the angels of mercy, if you are Kafir or a non-believer your soul is taken from you agonizingly by the angels of punishment and treated with disrespect. If you are a believer your soul will either stay below the Arsh, or go to <span style="background-color: #f8f8fc; color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aala Illiyyeen, the highest point. It is also possible for a believer to stay in their grave or at the well of Zam Zam. Kafir are imprisoned in the well of "Barhoot", some in "Sajeen" (the lowest point in Earth), and some at their place of cremation or burial. **
 * The religion of Islam believes that there will be life after death, but you must be a believer if you would like to have a further life with “Allah”. If you do not believe, then Allah will rid of your soul and make you suffer for not believing in him. It is very similar to Christianity’s beliefs in the sense that you either go to a place of paradise and happiness(Heaven) or you could go to a place of absolute suffering where everyone has been rid of their souls and you are tortured to the upmost extent (Hell). **

Are there any religious symbols and writing?
===** Official islam/muslim symbols do not exists but there are a few notable ones. For starters the crescent and star are the most well known symbol. many countries use this symbol in there flag like, Turkey and Pakistan (Islamic Symbols - ReligionFacts). The color green is a very significant color in the islam religion, it is the color most muslims believe Muhammad had on his battle banner during there crusades. it was also the color thought to be muhameds favorite color and symbolize vegetation and growth (Islam - Symbols). **===

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The crescent moon is the international symbol of the faith in Islam. Muslims have this symbol on the flag, this sign could be in black, white, red, and greenish black. It is green on the Islamic flag, because green has a special place to Islam, often represents word religion. **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Qur’ an is the primary text of Islam, it is required for the people who want to understand more of Islam. **
 * There are a few Islamic symbols, and while they aren't official, they show tradition. On symbol is the color green, lots of important Islamic writings and other symbols are in green and many mosques are decorated in green. Islam has been associated with green for centuries, the main reasons for this being Muhammad's tribe’s flags were green, and in Islam the colour green symbolizes life. Another Islam **
 * ic symbol is the star and crescent moon, which has appeared as a symbol for many countries and religions, but mainly Islam. **
 * The religion of Islam is actually against having any religious symbols to represent their faith. Even though there are no official symbols, the green crescent moon and star with the white background is a very famous symbol that is looked at as being Islamic. This symbol is used in Islamic countries’ flags as well as different Islamic logos. The color of the symbol is green. Green is a very **** import **** ant color to Muslim people. The first prophet, Muhammad’s, tribal flag was green and it is thought that this is one reason why green is considered the religion's color. Green is the color of life and nature and it is referred to in the Quran as the color of the silk that the inhabitants of paradise wear. --> (Maggies) **

Is there any special clothing?
====** Woman have to dress modestly so they don't attract the attention of other men. Another item women wear a called burkas which cover there face from men which goes along the lines of what i said earlier. Men are allowed to wear tea scarfs by order of the hijab, the islamic law book (Understanding Islam). **====

**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Sunnah clothing has no fixed standard, and in cold weathers it is necessary to protect their bodies. In hot countries muslims wear thinner clothes are mostly norm. The clothings must cover their private parts. For men they have to cover between the navel and the knee, and for woman, they must cover their whole body but the palm. Trousers must be lengthened above the ankle and shortened below the ankle. Robes must cover major parts of the body. The color of dresses should be vividly in white. ** = Where is the religion most common? = **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Islam is most common in Africa, eastern and western Asia, and middle east and southeast of asia. **
 * In Islam there are a few special items of clothing,especially for women. In the Qu’ran it repeatedly states how both men and women must retain their modesty. The actual text is as follows: **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say that the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss. **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">—Sura 24 (An-Nur), ayat 30-31, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline;">Qur'an” **
 * Different people within Islam take this to different degrees, some women cover up all their body apart from their eyes and hands, and some don’t wear anything in addition to their normal clothes. It all comes down to the individual’s interpretation and the ruling power of where they are. **
 * The Islamic dress code is a very modest and simple way of dressing. It is required that mens’ bodies be covered from their naval to their knee which is the minimum. Muslim women **** must at least cover their hair and body. The “HIjab” is worn by Islamic women and it is a peice of cloth folded and tucked into the c **** hin over the head covering the **
 * <--- (Maggies) **** hair. It could also be referred to as a shaylah or a tarha depending on your location. The Khimar is referred to as the veil which goes over the face. **** The clothing worn by men and women must have no resemblance of each other so that they are not to look similar. **
 * Islam is most common in North Africa and the Middle-East. **
 * Islam is most common in places such as the Middle East, North Africa, and most of Asia excluding most of the north. **

How many people believe in the religion?

 * Islam is the second most practiced religion in the entire world. There are approximately 1 and a half billion followers of Islam worldwide. **


 * There are somewhere between 1.25 and 1.84 billion islamic worshipers in the world. **

**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Islam has 1.57 billion muslims that follow this religion. It is the second most popular religion in the world. **
 * Islamh has about 1.60 billion followers, it is the second largest religion in the world, and the fastest growing. **

=__//** Why are the holy books of Islam in Arabic? **//__=


 * The holy books, prayers, conversations, and gatherings are all spoken in Arabic because it is the language of which their God, Allah, spoke the Quran. Therefore, Arabic became the language of Islam. Many Muslims try to learn the basics of Arabic because it is the spoken language. Even though the language is Arabic, more than 90% of Muslims' mother tongues are not Arabic. For these people who do not know Arabic as their native language, they are not required to have conversations or celebrations in Arabic. Arabic IS needed however to recite prayers and writing from the Quran. Unlike other languages, Arabic has it's own, individual alphabet and reads from right to left. **

When did Islam begin? Islam began at around 600 BC in the arabic peninsula. Islam has started because Muhammad thought that Jews and the Christians had lost their ways. Meaning that they have changed their way of beliefs. =**Bibliography**= ==<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> BLankH. "What Rules Do Muslims Have to Follow? What Traditions Do You Follow?" Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo!, 2010. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. Ekhan7. "ISLAM-Religion Of Peace." ISLAMReligion Of Peace. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. "Glossary: Salat or Islamic Prayer." About.com Middle East Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. "How Many Followers of Islam Are There in the World?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. "How Muslims Pray and What They Say." How Muslims Pray and What They Say. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. "Inter-Islam: Sitemap." Inter-Islam: Sitemap. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. "Islam." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012. "Islamic Holy Books." Wikipedia. Ed. Marmaduke Pickthall. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. Jt_787. "How Many Gods Are There in Islam?" - Yahoo!7 Answers. N.p., 2011. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. M Javed Iqbal. "Different Religious Buildings in Islam?" Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo!, 2011. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. "Muhammad." Wikipedia. Ed. James A. Toronto. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. Sheila R. Canby. "Islamic Architecture." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. "Where Is Islam Most Common?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. "Who Do Muslim Worship ?" Who Do Muslim Worship ? N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. ==

= SAMMY'S BIBLIOGRAPHY =

"Eid-al-Adha." timeanddate.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2012. <http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/muslim/eid-al-adha>.
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #00ff00; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"> Works Cited "Allah (Qur'an)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Allah." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Dec. 2012. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Did Mohamed Make Up Quran?" Did Mohamed Make Up Quran? N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "English-Online." Islam. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "How Do Muslims Worship?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "How To Perform the Muslim Prayers." About.com Islam. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Islam." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 01 Jan. 2013. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Islamic Beliefs about the Afterlife." The Afterlife in Islam. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Mosque." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Dec. 2012. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Muslim Holidays." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Dec. 2012. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Muslim Prayer: How Do Muslims Pray?" Muslim Voices RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Quran." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Symbols of Islam." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Who Founded Islam & When?" Religion. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Who Founded Islam, When and What Do They Believe?" Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Who Is the Founder of Islam?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. Why do they believe in Allah? Because Allah is the one who created the sun, the moon, the stars, and the sky etc.

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