What
is Islam?
Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God
revealed through all His prophets to everypeople. 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 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 OneUnique, 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 someonw become 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 Ka'abah
towards which all Muslims turn when they pray.
What is
the Ka'bah?
The Ka'abah 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.
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 Qur'an?
The Qur'an 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 Qur'an is in every
detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to
Muhammad fourteen centuries ago.
What is
the Qur'an about?
The Qur'an, 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.
Who is Muhammad?
Muhammad was born in Makkah in the year 570, at a time when
Christianity was not yet fuly 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 Jaba al-Nur,
the 'Mountain of Light' near Makkah.
How did he 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 Qur'an. 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.
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."
--From the Hadith collections of Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and
Bayhaqi
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.
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.
2.
Prayer
Salah 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 Qur'an, chosen by the congregation. These
five
prayers contain verses from the Qur'an, 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.
3. "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 is 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'abah 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 Judgement.
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.
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