This document provides an introduction to Islam, covering its key beliefs and practices. It discusses the five pillars of Islam - the shahadah (profession of faith), salah (prayers), zakat (charity), sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). It also covers the origins of Islam through the prophet Muhammad and important figures like Gabriel. Some social taboos of Islam are also summarized, such as restrictions on interaction between sexes, food prohibitions, and views on depictions of Muhammad. The document aims to help understand the religion of Islam and its influence in the United States.

1. An Introduction
to Islam
Sergeant Donald W. Reid

2. DonaldW. Reid
• Participated in the GulfWar
• Lived in a predominately Muslim country for
12 years
• Experience working in several
predominately Muslim countries
•Worked for more than 10 years as a security
consultant for an Israeli company
• Started learning about Islam in 1991

3. The Need:
The religion of Islam is not well
known or understood in the United
States
TheTerm Islam has become a part
of everyday conversation
The Muslim population in the
United States is growing
A 2007 Pew poll places the Muslim
population of Indiana at 32,000
The Islamic Society of North
America is headquartered in
Plainfield Indiana

4. Objectives
• Be able to list the five pillars
of Islam
• Be able to name the Holy
book of Islam
• Be able to identify at least
two social taboos of Islam

5. Islam means “submission to God”
A Muslim is one that submits to the
will of God

6. Muslims in the U.S. are generally as well-
educated and financially well-off as the general
population
Most Muslim Americans (72%) say their
communities are good or excellent places to live,
and most believe in the American dream -- 71%
say that in the U.S., most people who want to get
ahead can make it if they are willing to work hard
Many Muslim Americans share the concerns of
the broader population about Islamic extremism.
Roughly three-quarters (76%) are very or
somewhat concerned about the rise of Islamic
extremism around the world, compared with 81%
of the U.S. general population

7. Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 AD
Orphaned at the age of six
Muhammad worked as a shepherd and
then as a camel driver, managing
caravans for wealthy clients
At the age of 25 he married a, widow and
wealthy merchant named Khadija
By the time of his death in 632
Muhammad had conquered almost all of
Arabia

8. The visions
Regularly visited a cave on the
outskirts of Mecca
In 610, at the age of 40,
Muhammad returned from a
visit to the cave telling his wife
he had been visited by an angel
Muhammad reported that while
in a trance the Angel Gabriel
appeared to him and said
"Proclaim"

9. Muhammad recorded what had been
told to him and this eventually became
the holy book of Islam, the Koran
Muhammad continued to receive visions
throughout his life
Muhammad's message was to convert
from pagan polytheism, immorality and
materialism, repent from evil and
worship Allah, the only true God
Muhammad stated that he was not an
angel, he did not work miracles that he
simply preached what he had received

10. The first Muslims
In the first three years of his ministry,
Muhammad gained only 40 followers
The earliest followers of Islam were
persecuted by the Meccans
In 622 Muhammad escaped Mecca to become the leader of a
community 280 miles north of Mecca called Medina
This escape is called the Hijira and marks the beginning of the Islamic
calendar .The year 2010 AD corresponds to the IslamicYear 1431 AH
This also began several battles between Mecca and Medina, until
Mecca was defeated in 630

11. Modern day Branches of Islam:
The Sunni
The Shiite
The Kharijites
The Ismailis
The Sufi
The Nation of Islam or Black Muslims

12. The five pillars of Islam

13. The first duty is the Profession of faith called Shahadah,
The shahadah is a set statement normally recited in Arabic
translated as:
"I profess that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his
Prophet."

14. Prayers (Salah)
The requirement to pray five times
a day at fixed times during the day
The times of day to pray are at
dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset,
and before you go to bed
Each prayer is performed facing
towards the Kaaba in Mecca
The Holy day of Islam is Friday,
making Friday noon prayers special

15. Charity (Zakat) the giving of alms
Zakat consists of spending 2.5% of
one's wealth for the benefit of the
poor or needy
There are a wide range of Islamic
based charities

16. Fasting (Sawm)
specifically during the
Holy month of Ramadan
Ritual fasting is an
obligatory act during the
month of Ramadan
Muslims must abstain
from food, drink,
smoking and sexual
intercourse from dawn to
dusk during this month

17. The final pillar is Pilgrimage or
Hajj to Mecca
The Hajj is a pilgrimage to the
city of Mecca that takes place
once a year
Every able-bodied Muslim is
obliged to make the
pilgrimage to Mecca at least
once in their lifetime

18. Taboos in Islam

19. Taboos in Islam depend on
how strict or devout an
individual is
A very devout Muslim
male will commonly have a
full beard and wear a head
covering
A very devout Muslim
female will commonly
wear a headscarf but may
even wear the full body
covering chador or burka
with a full veil

20. Interaction between the sexes:
Generally much more restricted than typical in the
United States
Very rude for an unrelated male to approach a
female outside the routines of daily business
Physical male to female contact by an unrelated
male could result in a violent reaction by family
members
A female giving orders to a male would generally be
found offensive
No unrelated male should be allowed to see a
woman without her headscarf or other concealing
clothing

21. Food taboos:
Pork is not allowed in Islam
Alcohol is not allowed
Meat animals should be
ritually slaughtered to be
considered proper or Halal

22. Others:
The bottom of the feet or shoes are
considered to be offensive
Visual depictions of the prophet
Muhammad are forbidden
The left hand is considered unclean
The personal space between
members of the same sex is much
closer than most Americans would
feel comfortable with

24. Objectives
• Be able to list the five pillars
of Islam
• Be able to name the Holy
book of Islam
• Be able to identify at least
two social taboos of Islam

25. Q & A
Thank you!

26. References:
Koran
Islamic Hadith
Islam.com
Islam.web
The Pew Research Center

27. The Koran is considered by many
Muslims to be the direct word of
God to his last Prophet
Rumors of desecration of the
Koran has caused riots and
deaths
The Koran combined with the
traditions of Islam form the basis
of Sharia law. Many Muslims
consider Sharia ABOVE the laws
of mankind
x

28. Showing disrespect during prayer
call, such as laughing, inappropriate
remarks or gestures, will close the
doors of that community to you and
may provoke a violent reaction
x