About Islam
We believe that Islam is much more than just a religion. We believe
that it is a way of life. The following info shows some light to some
common question that are posed by individuals who want to learn more
about Islam.
If you have any detailed questions or want an answer on a specific
topic, please feel free to email our Education Officer at zzzaaaiiinnn@gmail.com
What is Islam?
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. Islam teaches that all religions originally had the
same essential message—which was to submit whole-heartedly to the will
of God and to worship Him and Him alone. For this reason, Islam is not
a new religion but is the same divinely revealed Ultimate Truth that
God revealed to all prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life.
Who are the Muslims?
Over
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, and Incomparable God. They believe in the Day
of Judgement and individual accountability for actions. Muslims believe
in a chain of prophets beginning with Adam and including Noah, Abraham,
Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus.
God’s eternal message was reaffirmed and finalized by the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be on them all). One becomes a Muslim by saying, “There
is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.” By this
declaration, the person announces faith in all of God’s messengers.
Who is Allah?
Very
often, one will here the Arabic word “Allah” being used in regards to
Islam. The word “Allah” is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God, and
is the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews. If one
were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the
word “Allah” being use where the word “God” is used in English.
Actually, the Arabic word for Almighty God, “Allah”, is quite similiar
to the word for God in other Semitic languages—for example, the Hebrew
word for God is “Elah”.
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.
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.
What are the “Five Pillars” of Islam?
1) The Declaration of 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.’
2) Prayer -
Muslims perform five obligatory prayers each day. Islamic prayers are a
direct link between the worshiper and God. Islam has no hierarchical
authority or priesthood. A learned Muslim chosen by each congregation
leads the prayers.
3) Zakat -
One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong
to God and that wealth is held in trust by human beings. Zakat, or
charitable giving, “purifies” wealth by setting aside a portion for
those in need. This payment is usually two and a half percent of one’s
capital.
4) Fasting -
Every year in the Islamic lunar month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from
first light until sunset. The fast is another method of
self-purification.
5) Pilgrimage -
A pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, is an obligation for those who are
physically or financially able. Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple
garments which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that
all stand equal before God.
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. 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. The Mountain of Light 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.
What about the American Muslim community?
There
are an estimated 7 million Muslims in America. The Muslim community in
America is made up of people from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds
and national origins. There are almost 2,000 mosques, Islamic schools
and Islamic centers in America. Muslims are active in all walks of
life. Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in this country and
around the world.
What about Muslim women?
Under
Islamic law, women have always had the right to own property, receive
an education and otherwise take part in community life. Men and women
are to be respected equally. The Islamic rules for modest dress apply
to both women and men equally. (Men cannot expose certain parts of
their bodies, wear gold or silk, etc.) If a particular society
oppresses women, it does so in spite of Islam, not because of it.
What is Jihad?
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.
“Jihad” does not mean “holy war.” Literally, jihad
means to strive, struggle and exert effort. It is a central and broad
Islamic concept that includes struggle against evil inclinations within
oneself, struggle to improve the quality of life in society, struggle
in the battlefield for self-defense (e.g., - having a standing army for
national defense), or fighting against tyranny or oppression.
[Source: http://www.islamicity.com/education/understandingislamandmuslims]