Islam

1. Practical and Ritual Dimension
Muslims pray 5 times a day (usually in a Mosque). When they are not able to pray in a Mosque, Muslims will find a very clean place to pray, or lay down a prayer mat. These prayers occur at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night. __Shahadah__: Declaration of faith __Salat__: Ritual prayer __Zakah__: Alms tax __Sawm__: Fasting __Hajj__: Pilgrimage. Also a celebration where they walk around 7 times (CC) then walk/run 7 times between 2 hills. Then a 16 mile walk to Mount Arafat. Id ul-Fitr, Id ul-Adha, Id ul-Ghadir, Milad an-Nabi, and Lailat al-Qadr -During Ramadan, Muslims fast during the daylight hours of the 9th month in their lunar calendar -Some Muslims have memorized parts of the Koran (Holy book of Islam)
 * Other Rituals/Celebrations:**

2. Experiential and Emotional Dimension
-When fasting one is supposed to feel equality with the poor and self-discipline. They are supposed to represent goodness during the time of fasting. -The Koran (Qur'an) wants the reader to feel a sense of moral, ethical, and spiritual values

3. Narrative or Mythic Dimension
The Story of Muhammad (prophet): He was born in Mecca (570 BCE), he currently worked as a shepherd but would later become a merchant. Muhammad was unhappy with his social surroundings because of superstitions and social and economic injustice. People were worshipping more than one God, when Abraham (prophet) has told them there was only one to worship. Muhammad loved praying/meditating in the mountains. One day when Muhammad was up in the mountains (in 610 BCE/40 years old) he received a message from God through the angel, Jibril (Gabriel). Throughout the remainder of his life Muhammad continued to receive these messages. Muhammad then began preaching what he learned to people.

4. Doctrinal and Philosophical Dimension
From the story of Muhammad (and others similar stories) we learns the following: -Crescents are commonly used in Islamic art, they are a representation of the Islamic lunar calendar -Stars used in Islamic art, are signs of Allah -From the story of Muhammad, the main message was that there is only one God to worship, Allah. People should live in a way that pleases Allah.

5. Ethical and Legal Dimension
-Muslims do not believe in making pictures of Allah, Muhammad, or any other person/animal. 1. Worships of images is forbidden 2. No artist could explain Allah's beauty -The sunnis and Shi'ites disagreed on who the rightful leader of Islam was after the death of Muhammad -Belief in Angels -Belief that all holy books were sent to the prophets which preached them -Prophets sent by God -Day of Judgement -Life after Death -God is all powerful, nothing can happen without his/her permission

6. Social and Institutional Dimension
Two parts of Islam: 1. Sunnis- 80% 2. Shi'ites- 20%

-Both men and women try to dress modestly -Some women cover thier whole bodies when leaving their homes __Id ul-Fitr__: End of fasting of Ramadan, visit friends/family and say prayers __Id ul-Adha__: Gathering festival where animal is sacrificed __Milad an-Nabi__: Muslimes gather to tell stories of prophets' birth etc...
 * Celebrations**

7. Material Dimension
Mosques: Sahn: A courtyard with waters fountains where worshippers bathe before entering the Mosque. Minaret: A tower that overlooks the Sahn, where Muslims go to pray. Mihrab: An empty arch which shows the direction of Mecca Minbar: Where the prayer leader (Imam) gives sermons, and leads prayers Zulla: Prayer hall leading from the Sahn -Islamic artists use shapers, patterns etc...on their Mosques