What does Islam mean?
Islam is an Arabic word which means obedience, submission and peace. Islam is to commit one's
self totally to God,making one's will subservient to and in complete harmony with Will of God.
Submission in Islam is not taken in any passive ssense but as a positive act of committing on's
self to live in peace with God and bringing one's likes and dislikes, one's attitudes and behavior
into harmony with the Divine Will. In other words, a Muslim is one who adopts Islam as a way of life,
follows God's commands and does not disobey Him in word or action. In Arabic, God is called Allah,
which is His proper name.
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 Judgment 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 [peace be upon him] through Gabriel.
What is the Quran?
The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the
Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]. It was memorized by Muhammad [pbuh] and then dictated to his
Companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime.
Not one word if 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 [pbuh]
fourteen centuries ago.
What are the 'Five Pillars' of Islam?
They are the framework of the Muslim life:
faith
prayer
concern for the needy
self-purification
pilgrimage to Makkah [for those who are able]
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
partof the Shahada is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the messenger of God.' A message of
guidance has come through a man like ourselves.
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.
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 [pbuh] said: 'Even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity.' The Prophet
[pbuh] said: 'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim.' He was asked: 'What if a person has
nothing?' The Prophet [pbuh] 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 [pbuh] said: 'He should urge others to do good.' The Companions said,
'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet [pbuh] said: 'He should check himself from doing evil.
That is also charity.'
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.
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'aba 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 Arafat 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.
What do Muslims think about Jesus?
Muslims respect and revere Jesus [pbuh], 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:
[Bismillah al-rahman al-rahim] '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, 3:42-47]
Jesus [pbuh] was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam [pbuh] into
being without a father: [Bismillah al-rahman al-rahim] 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 [pbuh] performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he
said: [Bismillah al-rahman al-rahim] 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. [3:49]
Neither Muhammad [pbuh] nor Jesus [pbuh] 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 [pbuh] is
reported as saying that he came: [Bismillah al-rahman al-rahim] 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. [3:50]
The Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] 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 food?
Although much simpler than the dietary law followed by the Jews and the early
Christians, the code which Muslims observe forbids the consumption of pig meat or any kind of
intoxicating drink. The Prophet [pbuh] 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 [pbuh] said: 'Ask God for certainty [of faith] and well-being; for after certainty,
no one is given any gift better than health!'
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 [pbuh] said: 'The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best
in manner and kindest to his wife.'
How does Islam guarantee human rights?
Freedom of conscience is laid down by the Quran itself: [Bismillah al-rahman al-rahim]
'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: [Bismillah al-rahman al-rahim] 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]
|
