FIND OUT MORE. Judaism 287 • North Africa 240–241
290 Society and Beliefs
Islam means obedience to the will of
Allah (God) and honours the laws
and teachings revealed to his
prophet Muhammad in the sacred
book known as the. QUR’AN.
Followers of Islam are called
Muslims (“obedient ones”).
WHAT IS THE KA’BA?
The Ka’ba is a holy shrine at the heart of Mecca’s
Sacred Mosque. Muslims believe it was originally built
by Ibrahim (Abraham) on a site made holy by the first
man, Adam. In the pre-Islamic period it was a shrine
to 360 Arabic deities. In 630 CE, Muhammad
rededicated the shrine to Allah.WHERE DO MUSLIMS WORSHIP?
Muslims can pray anywhere, but often gather in
a mosque to pray together. A mosque usually has a
minaret tower, from which a muezzin (crier) chants
a call to prayer five times a day. All Muslims pray
facing towards Mecca and a small niche (mihrab)
is always set into the mosque wall nearest Mecca.HOW DOES THE QUR’AN SPEAK?
The Arabic name Qur’an means “the recital”.
Muhammad’s first revelation began with the angel
Gabriel’s instruction, “Recite!” The verses (Ayat) and
chapters (Surahs) are arranged to help reading aloud.
Marks show when to breathe at the end of each verse.WHY DO MUSLIMS PRAY TOWARDS MECCA?
Mecca in Saudi Arabia is Muhammad’s birthplace
and the holiest city of Islam. Muslims believe that,
in 610 CE, Muhammad received the first of his
revelations from God on a mountain outside Mecca.
All Muslims are supposed to make the. HAJJ
at least once in a lifetime.Also spelled Koran, this is Islam’s holiest
text, believed to have been revealed to
Muhammad by Allah. The Qur’an unites all
Muslims in a single language, as they must
learn Arabic to read Allah’s original words.The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca made
once in every Muslim’s lifetime, if it is
possible. It is one of the five Pillars of
Islam – which also include the statement of
faith, daily worship, charity, and fasting.1 MOSQUE AT DJENNE, MALI
Islamic architecture tends to reflect its surroundings. This 14th-century
African mosque in Djenne, once a major centre of trade and learning,
is built of mud and shaped like a fort.1 CRESCENT MOON
The hilal, or crescent moon, has
become the recognized symbol of
Islam. It has ancient connections
with Islamic dynasties and also
links the lunar calendar to
Muslim religious life.1 KA’BA
When Muslim pilgrims arrive in
Mecca, they must walk seven
times around the Ka’ba, a shrine
covered in a black cloth.WOMAN PRAYING 3
A Muslim woman prays to Allah
in a part of the mosque separated
from the men. The designs on the
carpet direct her attention
towards Mecca, and her head is
covered as a mark of respect.DECORATED QUR’AN 3
Many copies of the Qur’an are
precious works of art, such as this
17th-century example. Making
the word of Allah beautiful is an
act of worship in itself.HAJJ
QUR’AN
Islam
Islam