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 does 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 seem stange?
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 elder son Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus from the younger
son Isaac. Abraham
established the settlement which today is the city of Mecca, and built the
Ka'bah towards which all Muslims turn when they pray.
What is the Ka'bah?
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 Mecca 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 Mecca.
How did Muhammad become a prophet and a messenger of God?
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.
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?
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.
Taj Mahal, India. Hui Shen Mosque, China,
Built in the 7th Century.
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 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 Qur'an about?
What is the Qur'an 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 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 Muhammad's saying.
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 5 pillars of Islam?
They are the framework of the Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the needy, self-purification, and the pilgrimage to Mecca for those who are able.
Faith
'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 5 pillars of Islam?
They are the framework of the Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the needy, self-purification, and the pilgrimage to Mecca 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
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.
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.
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.
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.'
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.
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.Pilgrims praying at the mosque in Mecca. 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.
Pilgrim tents during Hajj.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.'
The Messenger of God said:
'The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his 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.
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.
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?
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)
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.
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.
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.
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!'
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)
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)
 |
| The Islamic Cultural Center, Washington DC. |
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 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)
This page was incorporated from the book, Understanding
Islam and the Muslims, prepared by The Islamic Affairs Department, The Embassy
of Saudi Arabia, Washington DC., Consultants The Islamic Texts Society,
Cambridge, UK, 1989.
(source: Islami City)
