What is Islam

What is Islam
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In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

 

Understanding Islam and Muslims

 

     What is Islam ?

 

     Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. For a fifth of

     the world's population, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy,

     and forgiveness, and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated

     with their faith.

 

 

     Who are the Muslims?

 

     One billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe - from the southern Philippines

     to Nigeria - are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world's largest Muslim

     community is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are to be

     found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe.

 

     What do Muslims believe?

 

     Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God; in the Angels created by Him; in the prophets through whom His

     revelations were brought to mankind; in the Day of Judgement and individual accountability for actions; in God's

     complete authority over human destiny and in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam

     and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John

     the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them. But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message

     and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through Gabriel.

 

     How does someone become a Muslim?

 

     Simply by saying 'there is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.' By this declaration the

     believer announces his or her faith in all God's messengers, and the scriptures they brought.

 

     What does 'Islam' mean?

 

     The Arabic word 'Islam' simply means 'submission', and derives from a word meaning 'peace'. In a religious context it

     means complete submission to the will of God. 'Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims

     worship Muhammad rather than God. 'Allah' is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians

     alike.

 

     Why does Islam often seem strange?

 

     Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion does not dominate

     everyday life in the West today, whereas Muslims have religion always uppermost in their minds, and make no division

     between secular and sacred. They believe that the Divine Law, the Shari'a, should be taken very seriously, which is why

     issues related to religion are still so important.

 

     Do Islam and Christianity have different origins?

 

     No. Together with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham, and their three prophets are directly

     descended from his sons Muhammad from the eldest, Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus from Isaac. Abraham established

     the settlement which today is the city of Makkah, and built the Katba towards which all Muslims turn when they pray.

 

     What is the Ka'ba?

 

     The Ka'ba is the place of worship which God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to build over four thousand years ago.

     The building was constructed of stone on what many believe was the original site of a sanctuary established by Adam.

     God commanded Abraham to summon all mankind to visit this place, and when pilgrims go there today they say 'At Thy

     service, O Lord', in response to Abraham's summons.

 

     Who is Muhammad?

 

     Muhammad, was born in Makkah in the year 570, at a time when Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe.

     Since his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected

     tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought

     after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative.

 

     Muhammad was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society. It became his habit to

     meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal al-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near Makkah.

 

     How did Muhammad become a prophet and a messenger of God?

 

     At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the

     Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Quran.

 

 

 

     where Gabriel came to Prophet Muhammad?

 

     As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him,

     he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them

     the command to emigrate. This event, the Hijra, 'migration', in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some 260

     miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

 

     After several years, the Prophet and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies and

     established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and

     within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China.

 

     How did the spread of Islam affect the world?

 

     Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine - Islam calls for faith in

     only One God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation.

 

     Within a few years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the Prophet, 'seeking knowledge

     is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'. The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with

     old, brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature,

     and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to the

     advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to

     make possible the European voyages of discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good

     navigational maps.

 

     What is the Quran?

 

     The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. It was

     memorized by Muhammad and then dictated to his Companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it

     during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters, Suras, has been changed over the centuries, so that the Quran is in

     every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad fourteen centuries ago.

 

     What is the Quran about?

 

     The Quran, the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with all the

     subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship

     between God and His creatures. At the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an

     equitable economic system.

 

     Are there any other sacred sources?

 

     Yes, the sunna, the practice and example of the Prophet, is the second authority for Muslims. A hadith is a reliably

     transmitted report of what the Prophet said, did, or approved. Belief in the sunna is part of the Islamic faith.

 

     Examples of the Prophet's sayings

 

     The Prophet said:

 

     'God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.'

 

     'None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.'

 

     'He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a believer. '

 

     'The truthful and trusty businessman is associated with the prophets the saints, and the martyrs.'

 

     'Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger. '

 

     'God does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He scans your hearts and looks into your deeds.'

 

     'A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well he descended into it, drank his fill and came up. Then he

     saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The man saw that the dog was feeling the

     same thirst as he had felt so he went down into the well again and filled his shoe with water and gave the dog a drink.

     God forgave his sins for this action.' The Prophet was asked: 'Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness

     towards animals?' He said, 'There is a reward for kindness to every living thing.'

 

     What are the 'Five Pillars' of Islam ?

 

     They are the framework of the Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the needy, self-purification, and the pilgrimage to

     Makkah for those who are able.

          1) FAITH

 

          There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger. This declaration of faith is

          called the Shahada, a simple formula which all the faithful pronounce. In Arabic, the first part is la ilaha illa Llah -

          'there is no god except God'; ilaha (god) can refer to anything which we may be tempted to put in place of God -

          wealth, power, and the like. Then comes illa Llah: 'except God', the source of all Creation. The second part of the

          Shahada is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the messenger of God.' A message of guidance has come

          through a man like ourselves.          

 

          2) PRAYER

 

          Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between

          the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a

          learned person who knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the

          Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's

          own language.

 

          Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire

          day. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in

          fields, offices, factories and universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in

          daily life.

 

          A translation of the Call to Prayer is:

 

          God is most great. God is most great.

          God is most great. God is most great.

          I testify that there is no god except God.

          I testify that there is no god except God.

          I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.

          I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.

          Come to prayer! Come to prayer!

          Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)!

          Come to success!

          God is most great. God is most great.

          There is no god except God. 

 

          3) THE 'ZAKAT'

 

          One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by

          human beings in trust. The word zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by

          setting aside a proportion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and

          encourages new growth.

 

          Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakat individually. For most purposes this involves the payment each year

          of two and a half percent of one's capital.

 

          A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa, and does so preferably in secret. Although

          this word can be translated as 'voluntary charity' it has a wider meaning. The Prophet said 'even meeting your

          brother with a cheerful face is charity.'

 

          The Prophet said: 'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim. ' He was asked: 'What if a person has nothing?' The

          Prophet replied: 'He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings

          in charity.' The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to work?' The Prophet said: 'He should help poor and

          needy persons.' The Companions further asked 'What if he cannot do even that?' The Prophet said 'He should

          urge others to do good.' The Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet said 'He should check

          himself from doing evil. That is also charity.'

 

          4) THE FAST

 

          Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink,

          and sexual relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are

          permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to

          do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer)

          from puberty, although many start earlier.

 

          Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally as a method of self purification. By

          cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those

          who go hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life.

 

          5) PILGRIMAGE (Hajj)

 

          The annual pilgrimage to Makkah - the Hajj - is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able

          to perform it. Nevertheless, about two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe

          providing a unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another. Although Makkah is always

          filled with visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year (which is lunar, not solar, so that

          Hajj and Ramadan fall sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter). Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments

          which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God.

 

          The rites of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include circling the Ka'ba seven times, and going seven times

          between the mountains of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar during her search for water. Then the pilgrims stand

          together on the wide plain of Arafa and join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a

          preview of the Last Judgment.

 

          In previous centuries the Hajj was an arduous undertaking. Today, however, Saudi Arabia provides millions of

          people with water, modern transport, and the most up-to-date health facilities.

 

          The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange

          of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. This, and the Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of

          Ramadan, are the main festivals of the Muslim calendar.

 

     Does Islam tolerate other beliefs?

 

     The Quran says: God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your

     homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just. (Quran, 60:8)

 

     It is one function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this is why non-Muslim places of

     worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other

     faiths: when the caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious

     communities in the city.

 

     Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws drawn up by the

     minorities themselves.

 

     ABOVE: Mosque of Omar and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. When the caliph Omar took Jerusalem from

     the Byzantines, he insisted on entering the city with only a small number of his companions. Proclaiming to the inhabitants

     that their lives and property were safe, and that their places of worship would never be taken from them, he asked the

     Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him on a visit to all the holy places.

 

     The Patriarch invited him to pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but he preferred to pray outside its gates, saying

     that if he accepted, later generations of Muslims might use his action as an excuse to turn it into a mosque. Above is the

     mosque built on the spot where Omar did pray.

 

     RIGHT: According to Islam, man is not born in 'original sin'. He is God's vicegerent on earth. Every child is born with the

     fitra, an innate disposition towards virtue, knowledge, and beauty. Islam considers itself to be the 'primordial religion', din

     al-hanif, it seeks to return man to his original, true nature in which he is in harmony with creation, inspired to do good,

     and confirming the Oneness of God.

 

     What do Muslims think about Jesus?

 

     Muslims respect and revere Jesus, and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God's

     messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be peace'.

     The Quran confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Quran is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman

     in all creation. The Quran describes the Annunciation as follows:

 

     'Behold!' the Angel said, 'God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O

     Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in

     this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in

     maturity, and shall be of the righteous.'

 

     She said: 'O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?' He said: 'Even so; God creates what He

     will. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is.' (Quran, 3:42-7)

 

     Jesus was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam into being without a father:

 

     Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and

     he was. (Quran, 3:59)

 

     During his prophetic mission Jesus performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said:

 

     I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe

     into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers and I raise the dead by God's leave.

     (Quran, 3:49)

 

     Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the basic doctrine of the belief in One God, brought by earlier prophets,

     but to confirm and renew it. In the Quran Jesus is reported as saying that he came:

 

     To attest the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to you

     with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me. (Quran, 3:5O)

 

     The Prophet Muhammad said:

 

     Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is the

     servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and

     Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. (Hadith from Bukhari)

 

     Why is the family so important to Muslims?

 

     The family is the foundation of Islamic society. The peace and security offered by a stable family unit is greatly valued,

     and seen as essential for the spiritual growth of its members. A harmonious social order is created by the existence of

     extended families; children are treasured, and rarely leave home until the time they marry.

 

     What about Muslim women?

 

     Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her

     property and earnings. A marriage dowry is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her

     own family name rather than taking her husband's.

 

     Both men and women are expected to dress in a way which is modest and dignified; the traditions of female dress found

     in some Muslim countries are often the expression of local customs.

 

     The Messenger of God said:

 

     'The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife.'

 

     Can a Muslim have more than one wife?

 

     The religion of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so accommodates widely differing social

     requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another wife but the right is granted, according to the Quran,

     only on condition that the husband is scrupulously fair.

 

     CLOCKWISE: Muslims from Turkestan, Scotland, Saudi Arabia. Denmark, Egypt.

 

     Is Islamic marriage like Christian marriage?

 

     A Muslim marriage is not a 'sacrament', but a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions.

     Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to country. As a result, divorce is not common, although it is not

     forbidden as a last resort. According to Islam, no Muslim girl can be forced to marry against her will: her parents will

     simply suggest young men they think may be suitable.

 

     How do Muslims treat the elderly?

 

     In the Islamic world there are no old people's homes. The strain of caring for one's parents in this most difficult time of

     their lives is considered an honor and blessing, and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. God asks that we not only

     pray for our parents, but act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children they preferred

     us to themselves. Mothers are particularly honored: the Prophet taught that 'Paradise lies at the feet of mothers'. When

     they reach old age, Muslim parents are treated mercifully, with the same kindness and selflessness.

 

     In Islam, serving one's parents is a duty second only to prayer, and it is their right to expect it. It is considered despicable

     to express any irritation when, through no fault of their own, the old become difficult.

 

     The Quran says: Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and be kind to parents. If either or both of

     them reach old age with you, do not say 'uff to them or chide them, but speak to them in terms of honor and kindness.

     Treat them with humility, and say, 'My Lord! Have mercy on them, for they did care for me when I was little'. (17:23-4)

 

     How do Muslims view death?

 

     Like Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial preparation for the next realm of existence.

     Basic articles of faith include: the Day of Judgment, resurrection, Heaven and Hell. When a Muslim dies, he or she is

     washed, usually by a family member, wrapped in a clean white cloth, and buried with a simple prayer preferably the

     same day. Muslims consider this one of the final services they can do for their relatives, and an opportunity to remember

     their own brief existence here on earth. The Prophet taught that three things can continue to help a person even after

     death; charity which he had given, knowledge which he had taught and prayers on their behalf by a righteous child.

 

     What does Islam say about war?

 

     Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been

     expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians

     and against destroying crops, trees and livestock. As Muslims see it, injustice would be triumphant in the world if good

     men were not prepared to risk their lives in a righteous cause. The Quran says:

 

     Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors.

     (2:190)

 

     If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things. (8:61)

 

     War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term jihad

     literally means 'struggle', and Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other 'jihad' is the inner struggle

     which everyone wages against egotistic desires, for the sake of attaining inner peace.

 

     What about food?

 

     Although much simpler than the dietary law followed by Jews and the early Christians, the code which Muslims observe

     forbids the consumption of pig meat or any kind of intoxicating drink. The Prophet taught that 'your body has rights over

     you', and the consumption of wholesome food and the leading of a healthy lifestyle are seen as religious obligations.

 

     The Prophet said: 'Ask God for certainty [of faith] and well-being; for after certainty, no one is given any gift better than

     health!'

 

     How does Islam guarantee human rights?

 

     Freedom of conscience is laid down by the Quran itself: 'There is no compulsion in religion'. (2:256)

 

     The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether a person is Muslim or not.

 

     Racism is incomprehensible to Muslims, for the Quran speaks of human equality in the following terms:

 

     O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may

     come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is

     All-Knowing, All Aware (49:13)

 

 

     Islam in the United States

 

     It is almost impossible to generalize about American Muslims: converts, immigrants, factory workers, doctors; all are

     making their own contribution to America's future. This complex community is unified by a common faith, underpinned

     by a countrywide network of a thousand mosques.

 

     Muslims were early arrivals in North America. By the eighteenth century there were many thousands of them, working as

     slaves on plantations. These early communities, cut off from their heritage and families, inevitably lost their Islamic identity

     as time went by. Today many Afro-American Muslims play an important role in the Islamic community.

 

 

     The nineteenth century, however, saw the beginnings of an influx of Arab Muslims, most of whom settled in the major

     industrial centers where they worshipped in hired rooms. The early twentieth century witnessed the arrival of several

     hundred thousand Muslims from Eastern Europe: the first Albanian mosque was opened in Maine in 1915; others soon

     followed, and a group of Polish Muslims opened a mosque in Brooklyn in 1928.

 

     In 1947 the Washington Islamic Center was founded during the term of President Truman, and several nationwide

     organizations were set up in the fifties. The same period saw the establishment of other communities whose lives were in

     many ways modeled after Islam. More recently, numerous members of these groups have entered the fold of Muslim

     orthodoxy. Today there are about five million Muslims in America. 

 

     The Muslim World

 

     The Muslim population of the world is around one billion. 30% of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in

     Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab World, 10% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran

     and Afghanistan comprise 10% of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in almost every area,

     including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in the Soviet Union, India, and central Africa. There are 5

     million Muslims in the United States.

 

 O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you

 may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is

                               All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Quran, 49:13)

 

 

 

 

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