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History
Grade 4
The origins of the main religions of the world
Module 15
More about judaism, islam and hinduism
Judaism
Origin: | Judaism originated in Canaan, the Promised Land (now largely corresponding to the present Israel), in approximately 2000 B.C. It is practised right across the world. |
What do they believe? | Followers of Judaism are known as Jews. They believe in one God, who revealed the Law to his people. Their symbol is the Star of David. |
Name of Founder: | ABRAHAM Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch, was born round about 2000 B.C. In Ur in the country now known as Iraq. He settled in Canaan after God had commanded him to do so. |
Truths: | RULES AND RITUALS The following are some of the traditions upheld in the Jewish way of life:
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Key Points: |
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Holy Scriptures: | TENAKH The Jewish Holy Scripture is known as the Tenakh . It tells the history of the Jewish people. The most important part of it is the Torah , the five books of Moses. They contain the laws, among which are the Ten Commandments that God had revealed to Moses. |
Sacred practices
Holy Days: |
Name | Event |
Hanukkah | Festival to celebrate the rededication of the temple |
The Passover (Pesach) | Festival to celebrate the deliverance from slavery in Egypt |
Yom Kippur | The day of atonement |
Islam
Origin: | ISLAM originated in Mecca ( Makkah ) in what is now known as Saudi-Arabia, in approximately 600 A.D. It is practised the world over and has hundreds of thousands of followers in South Africa. |
What do they believe? | ISLAMIC FAITH is based on the belief in one God, Allah. Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Their symbol is a star and the crescent moon. |
Name of Founder: | MOHAMMED Mohammed was the last and greatest of the 26 Islamic prophets. He was born in Mecca in 570 A.D. The shahadah (the daily declaration of faith) declares that Mohammed is Allah's messenger. |
Truths: | PILLARS OF ISLAM Muslims have to keep the following rules:
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Key Points: |
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Holy Scriptures: | QUR'AN. In this holy book of Islam, Allah revealed to Mohammed how humankind had to live on earth. Muslims handle this book with great respect. They keep it in a clean place and wash themselves before handling it. | |||||||||||
Sacred Practices: | PRAYER. Muslims frequently pray together in groups. They kneel down on clean surfaces or on a cloth, which may be a woven carpet, mat of straw or even a handkerchief. | |||||||||||
Holy Days: |
Name | Event |
Mawlid al-Nabi | The day of Mohammed's birth |
Layl’at al-Qadr | Qur'an revealed to Mohammed |
Id al-Fitr | Celebration of the end of Ramadan |
Id al-Adha | End of the pilgrimage to Mecca |
Read also:
OpenStax, History grade 4. OpenStax CNX. Sep 17, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11089/1.1
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