The word Islam in Arabic Language means submission and peace. A Muslim is a person who submits to the will of Allah and finds therein peace. Islam is derived from the Arabic word salaam meaning peace.
Who are the Muslims? The common answer is the Arabs. This is a mistaken impression that is true only insofar as Islam arose among the Arabs, its Prophet and many of its adherents were and are Arabs, and its scripture, the Holy Quran, must be recited in original Arabic form. The Arabs comprise only 25 % of the present population of Islam. They form majority of the population in roughly thirty-six (36) countries and nearly half of the population in five others. The estimated strength of Islam is estimated to be one billion people, almost one fifth of world population. Islam is the worlds third largest religion, behind Christianity and Buddhism,and its present rate of growth and vitality rivals both traditions.
Muslims represent many races and socioeconomic settings. There have been however significant divisions of opinion within the umma (commonwealth of Islam or Islamic Community). Despite these differences, Islam brings unity by incorporating divergent interpretations of basic beliefs.
SUNNI: The recorded practice and teachings of Prophet Mohammad were early regarded as his Sunnah, meaning path or way. These traditions became powerful symbols for the Islamic religion, models of right belief and practice. The collection of Prophet Mohammads sayings are called Hadith comprising Sunnah or authoritative examples. These required further interpretations and application to a variety of situations of everyday life.
Majority of Muslims following Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad are termed Sunnis. Islam developed four schools of jurisprudence whose functions were to decide upon the proper application of Holy Quran and Sunnah to virtually all aspects of life of the community. Each of the four schools takes its name from early jurist to whom later followers trace many of the schools distinctive opinions. The four schools are:
1. Hanifis (after Abu Hanifa, d.767)
2. Malikis (after Malik ibn Anas, d.795)
3. Shafiis (after Muhammad al-Shafii d.819)
4. Hanbalis (after Ahmad ibn Hanbal d.855)
Acceptable differences of interpretation exist among the four schools, and a Sunni may seek to conform his or her pratice of Islam to any one of them. Matters pertaining to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and proper government come under the jurisdiction of Islamic Law.
The learned scholars of law are called Ulema.They are highly respected for their learning in the religious sciences. Islam has no clergy or priesthood as such. The basic principles of Islamic Law are established by the following:
i) The Holy Quran
ii) The Prophets Sunnah
iii) The learned consensus of Ulema
iv) Reasoning by analogy from accepted interpretations of i) &
ii) to new problems not directly addressed therein.
All of the four above form a concept of revelation of Gods will to the community of Islam. This concept is called, Sharia, it is more than scripture, it implies a composite source of teaching and practice involving the Holy Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad and authoritative human interpretation and application.
SHIIA: A significant minority of Muslims, 10-15 %, differ on certain religious and political matters almost since the beginning of Islam. They are known as Shiia s. The historical and religious differences do not obscure the broad lines of agreement between Shiias and Sunnis.
Shiias differ little from Sunnis in belief and practice. Their differences lie mainly in the modes of leadership and piety. Although Islam united the Arabs of North and South under the same banner but the cultural and traditional differences remained strong and surfaced at the time of choosing the successors of Prophet Muhammad after His death. The majority believed in choosing from the closest companions of Prophet Muhammad while others sought guidance in political and religous matters from Hazart Ali, Prophet Muhammads cousin and son-in-law. Hazart Ali was chosen as the fourth Caliph (leader of Islamic community) but was assassinated in 661. The civil strife that resulted left and indelible mark upon Islamic Umma (community).
Shiias believe Prophet Muhammad passed on a significant part of his teachings directly to Hazart Ali, and hence to subsequent Imams ( sprititual leaders). Although the twelfth and last Imam disappeared late in the ninth century, expected to return before the Judgement Day. The Shia Ulema carry on the distinctive teachings and interpretations they trace back through the Imams to Prophet Muhammad. The teachings of the sixth Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq (d.765) became the basis of Jafari schools among Sunnis.
The emotional intensity that characterizes Shiia beliefs culminates on the tenth day of Muharram (the first month of Islamic calendar). On this date in Karbala, Iraq, in 680, Hazart Husayn, son of Hazart Ali and grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was brutally murdered by troops of Ummayyad Caliph,Yazid. For nine days, Yazids troops besieged the camps and deprived Hazart Husayn and his followers (72 of them) of any water. Remembering the tragedy of Hazart Husayn on every year on 10th of Muharram is done by Sunnis as well as Shiias.
The pillars of Islam are considered obligatory for all Muslims although Sunni and Shia schools of law have slight variations. The pillars of Islam play important roles in intellectual and social dimensions of Islamic life. The five pillars of faith and practice are:
1.The Shahada (Witness)
2. The Salat (Prayer)
3. The Zakat (Alms)
4. The Sawm or Siyam (Fasting)
5. The Hajj (Pilgrimage)
SHAHADA: (Witness) The Shahada is:
In Arabic : La ilah ha il Allah, Muhammadan Rasul-Allah
Translation: (There is) No diety but Allah (and) Muhammad is His Messenger or There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Apostle
Islam is one of the three monotheistic religions to arise in the Middle East; along with the other two - Judaism and Christianity- it stresses the oneness and uniqueness of God. The world Allah means The God.
The second phrase of the Shahada declares that Muhammad is Gods messenger to humankind. Accepting the Judaeo-Christian Biblical tradition in large part, Muslims believe that God had sent prophets and messengers to other nations in the past with the same revealed message Muhammad was to recite to the Arabs. Muhammads mission brought the final positing of divine Truth, and thus Muhammad is regarded as the Seal of the Prophets.
SALAT: (Payer) Performing daily prayers is an act of communication between humans and God. Five daily prayers are considered a duty for all Muslims,and on these occasions preparations in ritual purity are required. The prayers are Fajr (early morning before the sun rise), Zuhr (afternoon), Asr (later afternoon), Maghrib (after sunset) and Isha (evening). The prayers must be said while facing in the direction of Mecca. The congregational prayer of Friday afternoon is compulsory and must be said in a Mosque, Muslims place of worship. There is a sermom and then the prayers in uniform rows.
ZAKAT: (Alms) The Zakat is a form of giving to those who are less fortunate. It is obligatory upon all Muslims to give 2.5% of wealth and assets each year (in excess of what is required) to the poor. This is done before the beginning of the month of Muharram, the first of new year. Giving the Zakat is considered an act of worship because it is a form of offering thanks to God for the means of material well-being one has acquired.
SAWM or SIYAM: (FASTING) Another form of offering thanks to God is fasting. It is duty to all Muslims to fast during the ninth month of Islamic calendar, Ramadan. During this month, Muslims refrain from food, drink during daylight. Excepts are those ill health, pregnant women & travelers. One is to make up lost days of fasting at a later time. The time of fasting is from just before sunrise to just after sunset. The breaking of fast is joyous occasion. Sawm during Ramadan or any time is recognized as physically demanding but spiritually rewarding.
HAJJ: (Pilgrimage) The pilgrimage season begins in the tenth month, the month following Ramadan, and lasts through the middle of twelveth month, Dhu al-Hijja. This fifth pillar requires all Muslims who are physically and financially capable to make Hajj to Mecca once during their lives. The actual rites and prayers take place at the scred Kaba in Mecca and at nearby locations. Muslims associate the origin of the Hajj and the founding of the Kaba with the prophet Abraham. Nearly two million Muslims perform Hajj each year.
JIHAD: (Striving) Although it is not a pillar of Islam but is a duty in one form or another. The most common media misconception is of calling Jihad a Holy War. The general meaning of the term is striving for moral and religious perfection. The broader meaning of this term encompasses ones life and community. The constant struggle of striving to remain on the path of Islam by observing the above five pillars of Islam is Jihad. One who strives is Mujahid.
Being a Mujahid, a striver for moral and religious perfection, involves numerous forms of public and private devotion that charaterizes the practice of islam. This includes respecting the dietry laws against eating pork and drinking alcohol, respecting parents and elders, helping to provide for close relatives and kins, giving to the poor and disadvantaged. On the other side, theft, murder, fornication, adultery, lying, cheating, wrongly accusing or testifying are strictly forbidden by Sharia (Islamic Law).
In technical sense, Islam means the pratice of the religious and social duties outlined above.
IMAN: (Faith) The faith, like Five Pillars, can be divided in six parts.
It means belief in the following:
1. God and His Attributes
2. Prophets
3. Angles
4. Sacred Books
5. The Judgement Day
6. Predestination