◄UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIOUS SCRIPTURESUNIT 3: THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT►

UNIT 2: BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

  • UNIT 2: BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

    Key Unit Competence: Explain the origin of Christianity and Islam.

    Introductory Activity

    Every institution has its own history: initiators or founders, headquarter, 
    hierarchy, inauguration date, fundamental rules, aims or finalities, 

    adherents or customers. 

    Discuss the above mentioned elements in relation to Christiantity and 

    Islam.

    2.1. Christianity

    2.1. Learning activitiy :

    Using various resources, research on the birth, founder, mission and 

    expansion of Christianity in the world.

    The name Christians was used firstly at Antioch to mean disciples or followers 
    of Christ (Acts 11: 25-26). This name was given not by Jesus’ disciples 
    themselves but by the society of Antioch. It was also used by Agrippa, an 
    unbelieving King when he was in controversies with Paul (Acts 26:28). Peter 
    used it when he comforted Christians to glorify God by accepting persecution 

    basing on their name (1Peter 4:16)

    Christianity then is a religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus 
    Christ.     The essence or fundamental nature of Christianity turns around 
    believing on life, death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians 

    believe God sent his Son Jesus to save the world (John 3:16).

    2.1.1. The precursor of Jesus

    The precursor also called the herald refers to the announcer of what about 
    to happen. John the Baptist, son of Elizabeth and Zechariah became the 
    precursor     of the coming God’s Kingdom among people (Mark 1:2-3; Malachi 
    3:1; Isaiah 40:30). The teachings of John the Baptist were emphasized by the 
    baptism in Jordan River: baptism of conversion. He called people to prepare 
    the paths for the Lord and to produce good fruits (Luke3:9) He showed the 
    conditions to that heavenly Kingdom to many levels of people: the crowds, 
    tax collectors and soldiers (Luke 3: 10-14). The values from His predications 
    are repentance, sharing, honesty and respect for human rights.

    John the Baptist declared to be precursor and lesser than whom he came 
    to prepare for “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to 
    stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals. I have baptized you with water; 

    he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark1:6-8)

    2.1.2. Fundamental teachings of Christianity

    Christianity is one of three monotheistic religions that consider Abraham as 
    their ancestor: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Christianity is based on the 
    life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth: Jesus is Christ, the Anointed by 
    the Spirit of God, the Son of God and the Savior of all people, the Messiah 

    who was prophesied into the Old Testament.

    The main teachings of Christianity then, turn around one God triune: God is 
    one the Father Creator of heaven and earth; the Son who is Incarnated Verb 
    of God who died and rose for human Salvation and the Holy Spirit who 

    animates the lives and inspires the Church. 

    This central theme Christian teaching was also recalled by Paul to 
    Romans: “for if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe 
    in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is 
    with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth 
    that you profess your faith and are saved. For the Scripture says, “No one 

    who believes in him will be put to shame” (Romans 10:9-11)

    2.1.3. Jesus and His Mission

    Short biography of Jesus

    This is the Jesus’ biography on earth remembering that before everything 
    the Word was and the Word was with God (John 1:1-11)

    The Annunciation by angel Gabriel and the spiritual conception (Luke 1:26-

    35)

    Parents are Mary and Joseph descended from King David. Birth time: Under 
    the reign of King Herod, the great who ordered the massacre of innocent 
    babies and Augustus Caesar emperor of Rome with a decree of government 
    census. He was born at Bethlehem. The shepherds and the Magi came to 
    pay Him respect. At the 8th day He was dedicated in the Temple according to 

    the Jewish custom. At early age He was taken to exile in Egypt. 

    The growth place is Nazareth. At 12 years old He disappeared at Jerusalem 
    on the Feast of Easter. He was found after three days (Luke 2:41-49). At 
    30 year old he entered into the public life. He received the baptism by John 
    the Baptist that followed by His 40 days of fasting temped by devil. He 
    started teaching in Galilee and the message was to call for repentance and 
    believing in the Gospel because the Kingdom of God is at hand (Mark1:14-
    15). He chose 12 Apostles (Mark3:13-19). He performed many miracles and 

    He used to teach in parables (comparisons aiming at teaching). 

    At 33 years old He concluded the process of Salvation by ultimate sacrifice: 
    He offered Himself at the Last Supper. It follows his crucifixion on Calvary, 
    His death and Resurrection after three days. He appeared to eleventh and 
    at the 8th He reappeared to Tom. He stayed with Apostles until the 40th day 
    when He went back in Heaven (The Ascension). On the Pentecost (50th day 
    of His resurrection), Jesus fulfilled the promise to the Apostles: they received 

    the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    Mission of Jesus

    Firstly, Jesus declared his mission when He returned to Galilee and taught 
    in Synagogue “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed 
    me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to 
    captives and to recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 

    and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Luke 4:17-19). 

    Several times Jesus declared His main mission: Proclamation of Good 
    News of eternal life     to the entire world. For Jesus all categories of people 
    are children of God. He comes to increase hope of the neglected people 
    especially: Sinners called gentiles, sick people, wives, children, slaves and 

    all the oppressed people in general.

    He came to gather all human kinds in one Kingdom without distinction “I 
    came to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke19:10). He performed 
    miracles to prove the power of God Kingdom of God among people. But, His 
    target was not human kinds body, He came to heal spiritual injuries and the 
    blindness of hearts (John 9:1-12) and His Kingdom did not belong to this 

    world (John 18:36-37)

    He came to save sinners and to call them for repentance. So God hates 
    sin but loves sinners who repent perfectly “It is not the healthy who need 
    a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous to repent but 

    sinners” (Luke 5:31-32) 

    2.1.4. Pentecost event

    The Pentecost was a Jewish feast called Shavuot. It was primarily a 
    thanksgiving for the first fruits of the wheat harvest but it was later associated
    with a remembrance of the Law given by God to Moses on Sinai Mount. In the 
    early church, Christians often referred to the entire 50-day period beginning 

    with Easter as Pentecost.

    Shiphrah N.Gichaga wrote: Pentecost was one of Jewish festival with 
    the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. For Jews Pentecost was a 
    commemoration of God’s giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. It 
    was a harvest festival commonly called the Festival week’. Every Jew was 
    expected to bring to the Temple the first fruits of the harvest as thanksgiving. 
    The feast was held 50 days after the Jewish Passover. (Shiphrah Gichaga 

    N: 2009)

    The Christian Pentecost refers to the 50th day after the Resurrection of Jesus 
    when Jesus fulfilled the promise made to His Disciples: reception gift of the 
    Holy Spirit. The spirit came in form of wind, fire and different tongues. God 
    manifested His presence through a mighty wind and fire as the light Apostles’ 
    mission. The Holy Spirit enabled Apostles to speak different tongues and 
    everybody there understood in his/her own languages (Acts 2:8). It is a Sign 

    that they would evangelize many nations.

    What became the role of the Holy Spirit to the Early Church?

    • He would act as advocate, counsellor and comforter

    • To make understanding deeply Jesus’ Words and teachings(remind 
    and Explain parables and mystery such death and Resurrection and 

    holy Trinity)

    • To reveal the truth about God and His Word then to fight against 

    heresies

    • To continue Jesus’ work of renewing the people of God for example by 

    forgiving sins (John 20: 22-23) and by others holy and efficacious signs

    • Power to Apostles to be true witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judaea, 

    Samaria and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8)

    • Power to discern and find out the sinful hearts: cheating of Sapphira 
    and Ananias (Acts5:1-11)

    The gift of the Holy Spirit to Christian (Isaiah 11:1-3; 1 Corinthians 12:1-32)

    • Wisdom: perfection of Faith. It helps to make deep understanding of 
    all truth about God, His plan for us and to order our relationship with 
    created world. By wisdom we love God by loving creatures rather than 

    loving things more than God.

    • Understanding: it helps to gain certitude about our beliefs and meaning 

    of the essence of the believed truth

    • Counsel: perfection of cardinal virtue of prudence. It helps to judge 

    best to act well 

    • Fortitude: also called courage, it refers to strength to follow through on 

    the actions suggested by counsel

    • Knowledge: it gives us ability and skills to do well what we judged

    • Piety: it is a willingness to worship and serve God

    • Fear of the Lord: it is a perfection of virtue of hope. It helps us to 
    desire not to offend God. There are also gift of faith as total confidence 
    in God, of performing miracles, of prophecy, of distinguish spirits,

    of speaking in tongues and of interpretation of them.

    With the help of the Holy Spirit Christians generate the following fruits as the 
    Scripture says in Galatians 5:16-26: peace, joy, love, kindness, patience, 

    self-control, faithfulness, gentleness and generosity.

    The Illustration below shows the fruits of the Holy spirit

    In addition, Christians live virtues of modesty, humility and goodness or 

    mercy.

    2.1. Application activity: 

    1. How do the teachings of John the Baptist help you to live in the 

    society?

    2. Summarize the biography of Jesus 

    3. What and how did Jesus accomplish His Mission? 

    4. Explain the basis of Christian teachings

    5. How did the Pentecost become the public foundation of the 

    Church?

    6. How does the Holy Spirit manifest Himself in your life at school 

    like at home?

    2.2. Islam

    2.2. Learning activitiy :

    Using different resources, personal information and knowledge you got in 
    previous school years make a research and share the results about Islam: 

    Its foundation, beliefs and its holy book

    Islam means Submission to Allah. This submissiveness is also talked by 
    Jan Thompson. Literary the word Islam means Surrender and Muslim 
    means the one who surrenders to Allah (Jan Thompson: 2005, p2). Islam
    also means Peace because by surrendering Muslim makes peace. The 

    Islamic concepts:

    • Allah: Muslim name for God

    • Allahu Akbar: God is the most great

    • Bismillah: in the name of Allah, the Merciful, and the Compassionate.

    • adhan: first call to prayer

    • du’a: personal prayer

    • jumu’ah: Friday prayer

    • qiblah: direction for prayer (where Muslims orient regard in prayer)

    • mihrab: alcove in the wall in mosque that shows the qiblah

    • minbar: a piece of furniture in Mosque serves to raise imam or a 

    preacher of Friday midday sermon, so that he can be seen and heard.

    • wudu: washing that Muslims perform before prayer

    • salam: peace

    • imam: a leader of a prayer, or the one stands in the front of other 

    worshippers.

    • khatib: preacher of the Friday sermon

    • masjid or mosque: Muslim place of worship

    • mu’adhin or muezzin: person who calls Muslims to prayer

    • Makkah: the holy city of Islam, in Saudi Arabia (Mecca)

    • prostration: a taken position of Muslims in a prayer to show they 

    surrendered their lives to Allah

    • The dome: a part of building in hot countries sometimes over the prayer 

    hall that allows air to circulate.

    • the minaret: a tall tower

    • moon and star: signs to Muslims of the greatness of the Creator

    • The five-pointed star: it symbolizes the five Pillars of Islam

    • Muhammad: the greatest prophet of Islam, the Messenger of Allah

    • The Quran: the sacred book for Muslims

    A Muslim common prayer known as Swalat is made in the carpeted Mosque. 
    But, Jan Thompson wrote that a “prayer mat laid down at home or even at 
    the side of the road, becomes a mosque or a place of prostration”     (Jan 

    Thompson: 2005, p1)

    When a Muslim goes to mosque to pray must wash feet before but visitors 
    must not. When worshipper washes another one’s feet he proves respect 
    to him. The cleanness or hygiene rite before prayer shows respect to Allah. 
    Ordinary women do not get regular time to go to mosque to pray by many 
    family responsibilities. If they go there they will pray separately with men so, 
    they do not distract each other. In this case also if there is washing room, the 

    room for men will be separated from the men’s one. 

    A mosque has three uses: it is first a place of worship; it can be used as a 
    college or Islamic school. Lastly it is a community centre used for all kinds 

    of activities. 

    2.2.1. Bibliography of Muhammad

    Muhammad is believed as God’s Prophet. The first pillar of Islam which 
    is about faith testifies it “there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the 

    messenger of Allah (La illaha illallahu Muhammad-ur-Rasulallah)

    Short biography of Muhammad

    Muhammad was born in Makkah (Mecca) in Arabia about 570 of Christian 

    era.

    His father is Abdullah was a trader who was died few moths before the birth 
    of Muhammad. He became trader like his Father. Died, he was buried in 

    Yathrib which became Madinah.

    His mother is Amina who died at 6 years of Muhammad

    He was taken in charge by his grandfather Abdul Muttalib who later died

    Muhammad was left in uncle’s hands Abu Talib, son of Abdul Muttalib

    Muhammad looked after uncle’s sheep and he went with him on trading 

    expeditions

    He founded a league to protect the safety and rights of strangers in Makkah

    He earned the reputation of being an honest and reliable businessman, and 

    he was called “al-Amin”, the Trustworthy. 

    He impressed khadijah, the rich widow for whom he worked

    At his 25 years old he had a very happy marriage with khadijah with 40 years 

    old.

    As long asKadhijah was alive, Muhammad did not take other wife while 
    polygamy was allowed. Muhammad took 12 wives in all during his time at 

    Madinah.

    In Makkah, arabs used to worshiped about 365 idols while Allah was known 
    too. Muhammand and the arabs called Hanifs took decision to become 

    monotheist, believing that there was only one God, Allah.

    Muhammad liked to play alone to the Cave Hira on a mountain called Jabal 
    al-Nur which means Mountain of Light. One night when he was 40 years 
    old He received a vision from Archangel Gabriel who gave him Arabic word 
    to recite. This is how Islam started getting the Quran about 610 AC. The 
    night of first vision of Muhammad known as the Night of Power is called 
    Laylat-ul-Qadr. Many Muslim commemorate this Night in the night of 27th
    in Ramadan. He became a preacher of one God and opponent to idolaters. 
    His wife did in 619. On 16th July 622 Muhammad with Abu Bakr set out by 
    night on the journey to Yathrib, late in the honor of Muhammad called alMadinah 
    (the town of prophet). This is what Muslims call Hijrah that means 
    emigration    . The reason is that there was a serious group who wanted to 
    assassinate him. The Muslims were many that time and the Muslims’ titles 

    were:

    • The Companions: all muslims who knew Muhammad in his lifetime

    • The Emigrants: all those who had come with Muhammad to Yathrib

    • The Helpers: all citizen of Yathrib who converted to Islam

    Death of Muhammad: from Jan Thompson we read that in March 632 he 
    went on pilgrimage to Makkak (Mecca) for the last time where he delivered a 
    famous speech to his fellow pilgrims. He enforced the five essential practices 
    known as five Islamic pillars. A few months later; Muhammad died of fever 
    and was buried in Madinah    . His tomb is still there, under the dome of the 
    prophet Mosque, with the tombs of his two successors, Abu Bakr and Umar 

    (Jan Thompson: 2005, p34)

    2.2.2. Muslim era

    Historically an era refers to a system of chronology dating from a particular 
    event    . It can be also defined as a memorable or important date or event
    especially one that begins a new period in the history of a person or thing. 
    When we simply consider an era as an epoch we will conclude that the end 
    of an era is the beginning of another. Examples of eras: the zero years is 

    known as Christian era from the birth of Jesus. 

    The year 622 is considered as Muslim era or the foundation of Islam. It is 
    linked with Hijrah that became the beginning of Muslim calendar. It became 
    also the first time the community ran to Islamic lines. 622CE became the 
    1AH (1anno Hegirae) for the Muslims and the Muharram is the 1st Month in 
    Islamic calendar, so the 1st Muharram is the New Year’s Day. On this day 

    Muslims commemorate the Hijrah (Jan Thompson: 2005, p32).

    2.2.3. Pillars of Islam

    This is an extract from the last Muhammad’s sermon “O People, listen to me 
    in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month 
    of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to” 
    (Jan Thompson: 2005, p33). The Islamic faith is based on six pillars such as: 
    beliefs in Allah, beliefs in Angels, beliefs in holy books (Quran and Gospel 
    not the whole Bible), beliefs in Messengers or prophets, beliefs in Last Day 
    and beliefs in predestination. But Islam itself is based on five pillars that 

    follow:

    Shahadah: it is a declaration of faith: Abdul Wahid Hamid tells us that the 
    Arabic word Shahaadah means Witness or Testimony (Abdul Wahid Hamid: 

    1989, pp20-21). There is no god except Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet.

    Salat (Prayer): every Muslim is called to pray five times per day kneeling 
    towards Mecca. Those prayers are: Fajr: The Morning Prayer between dawn 
    and sunrise, Zuhr: prayer of after midday, during the early afternoon, Asr: 
    prayer of the late afternoon, Maghrib: prayer of just after susnset and Isha: 

    prayer of the night prayer

    Sawm: it is an islamic fasting during the month of Ramadan. Muslims fast 

    from food and drinks as long as the sun is out. 

    Zakat: it is a practice charitable giving to the poor or alms-giving. It is done 

    in money, materials or services. 

    Hajj: Pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) at least once in lifetime.

    The fundamental sources of Islam are the Quran as Word of God and 
    the Sunnah as the examples of prophets Muhammad PBUH (Peace and 
    blessings Be Upon Him). By Sunnah we understand the sayings, actions, 
    silence and disapprovals of the Prophet.     Sunnah is also linked to the 
    Hadith which refers to the recorded expressions, quotes and Quran 
    interpretation     from the Prophet Muhammad about religious duties. Hadith 
    is considered to be the second to the Quran. The hadith helps to understand 

    the Quran and this last helps to explain the hadith.

    2.2. Application activity: 

    1. Here are the islamic and arabic terms, give their meaning in 

    English: Bismillah, Allah,Swalat and Allahu Akbar.

    2. Discuss the values should the society get from grandfather and 

    uncle of Muhammad

    3. Why is year 622 considered as starting of Muslim era?

    4. How does each Islamic pillar help Muslim to live well with his/her 

    and with others?

    2.5. End unit assessment

    1. Explain the mission and the teachings of John the Baptist

    2. Breakdown the basis of faith in christianity and in Islam

    3. Summarise the biography of Jesus and of Muhammad

    4. Generalise the role of the Holy Spirit sent to the Apostles on the 

    Pentecost

    5. Interpret the necessity of hygiene of Mosque and cleaneness of 

    body before a prayer

    6. Develop the found letters added to the name of Prophet 

    Muhammad PBUH

    7. Justify the link between the Quran and the Hadith

    ◄UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIOUS SCRIPTURESUNIT 3: THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT►