1- 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.
2-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.
3- 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 Angel Gabriel.
4-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.
5-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 peace be upon him rather than God. ‘Allah’ is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike.
6-Why does Islam often seem strange?
Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modem 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.
7-Do Islam and Christianity have different origins?
Well Together with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham, and their three prophets are directly descended from his sons -Muhammad (peace be upon him) from the eldest, Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus (peace be upon him) from Isaac. Abraham estab¬lished the settlement which today is the city of Makkah, and built the Ka’ba towards which all Muslims turn when they pray.
8-What is the Ka’ba?
The Ka’be is the place of worship which God com¬manded Abraham and Ishmael to build over four thou¬sand 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, 0 Lord’, in response to Abraham’s summons.
9-Who is Muhammad?
Muhammad (peace be upon him) 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 a calm and meditative.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) 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.
10-How did he become a prophet and a messenger of God?
At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad (peace be upon him) 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 of 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 (peace be upon him) and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet (peace be upon him) died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam has spread to Spain in the West and as Far East as China.
11-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 (peace be upon him):” seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim”.
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.
12-What is the Quran?
The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It was memorized by Muhammad (peace be upon him) and then dictated to his ‘Companions’, and written down by scribes, who crosschecked 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 (peace be upon him) fourteen centuries ago.
13-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 subject, 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.
14-Are there any other sacred sources?
Yes, the sunna, the practice and example of Muhammad (peace be upon him), is the second authority for Muslims. A ‘hadith’ is a reliably transmitted report of what the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, did or approved. Belief in the sunna is part of the Islamic faith.
Examples of the Prophet’s sayings. The Prophet (peace be upon him) 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, frying 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 well again and filled his shoe with water and gave the dog a drink. God forgave his sins for this action. ‘The Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked: ‘0 Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals? He said, ‘There is a reward for kindness to every living thing.’
15-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 Allah and Muhammad is His messenger. This declaration of faith is called the “Shahada”, a simple formula which all the faithful pronounce: There is no god except Allah, and Muhammad is a messenger of Allah.
2- PRAYER
( Salat ) is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshiper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers arc 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 done 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- 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 posses¬sions 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 half percent on one’s capital.
A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases a (sadaqa), and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as ‘voluntary charity’ it has a wider meaning. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: (Even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is 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 the 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 Abrabamic origin, include circling the Ka’ba seven times, and going seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar (Abraham’s wife) during her search for water. Then the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain.
16-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 Capliph 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.
17- What do Muslims think about Jesus?
Muslims respect and revere Jesus (peace be upon him), 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. 0 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: ‘0 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, lie says to ii, “Be!” and it is’.(Quran3:42 – 7)
Jesus (peace be upon him) was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam (peace be upon him) 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). (3:59)
During his prophetic mission Jesus (peace be upon him) 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). (3:49)
Neither Muhammad (peace be upon him) nor Jesus (peace be upon him) 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 (peace be upon him) 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. (3:50)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: (Whoever believes there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, that Muhammad (peace be upon him) 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)
18-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.
19- 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 tradition s of female dress found in some Muslim countries are often the expression of local customs. The messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: “The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife”.
20-Can a Muslim has more that 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.
21- 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.
22-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 (peace be upon him) 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. Allah says in The Quran says: Your Lord has commanded that you worship none by 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)
23- 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 re¬member their own brief existence here on earth. The Prophet (peace be upon him) 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.
24- 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 prohi¬bitions against harming civilians and against destroy¬ing crops. trees and livestock. As Muslims see it, in¬justice 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.
25-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 (peace be upon him) said: ‘Ask God for certainty (of faith) and well-being; for after certainty, no one is given any gift better that health!’
26- How does Islam guarantee human rights?
Freedom of conscience is laid down by the Quran it self: 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:
(0 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)
27- Translation of the Call to Prayer is:
Allah is most great. Allah is most great.
Allah is most great. Allah is most great.
I testify that there is no god except Allah.
I testify that there is no god except Allah.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Come to prayer!
Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)!
Come to success!
Allah is most great. Allah is most great.
There is no god except Allah.
