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What is Islam?
Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God (ALLAH)
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.
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
(PBUH) rather than God. ‘Allah;’ is the Arabic name of God,
which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike.
Who is Muhammad (PBUH)?
Muhammad (PBUH) 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 Quraish. 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 (PBUH) was of
deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of
his society. It became his habit to mediate from time to time in
the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal al-noor, the ‘mountain
of light’ near Makkah.
How did he become a Prophet and A messenger of Allah?
At
the age of 40, while engaged in meditative retreat, Muhammad
(PBUH) received his first revelation, which continued for 23
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 Medina some 260 miles to north, marks the beginning of
the Muslim calendar.
After several years,
the Prophet [PBUH] and his followers were able to return to
Makkah, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam
definitively. Before the Prophet [PBUH] 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.
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 the common Islamic faith. about 18 % live
in the world; the world’s largest Muslim community is in
Indonesia ; substantial parts of Asia and most Africa’s
population is Muslim, while significant minorities are to be
found in the soviet Union, china, North and South America, and
Europe.
What do Muslim believe?
Muslims believe one, unique, Incomparable God (Allah); in the
Angels created by him; in the Prophets through whom his
revelations were brought to mankind; in the Day of Judgment an
individual accountability for actions; in God’s complete
authority of human destiny and in life after death; Muslims
believe in a chain of Prophets starting with Adams 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 finally 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 [PBUH] through Angel
Gabriel.
How does someone become a Muslim?
Simply by saying ‘there is no God apart from Allah, and Muhammad
[PBUH] is the Messenger of God.’ By this declaration the
believer announces his or her faith in all of God’s Messengers
and the scriptures they brought.
Why does Islam often seem strange?
Islam 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 to division between secular and scared.
They believe that Divine Law, the Shariah, should be taken very
seriously, which is why issues related to religion are still so
important.
Does Islam and Christianity have different origins?
No,
Together with Judaism, they go back to the Prophet Abraham, and
their three Prophets are directly descended from his sons-
Muhammad [PBUH] from the eldest Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus
from Isaac, peace be upon them .Abraham established the
settlement which today is the city of Makkah, and built the
ka’ba towards which all Muslims turn when they pray. |
