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.
What does the term "Allah" mean?
The Arabic word Allah is a contraction of the words "al" and "ilah," and literally means "The God." Believers in Islam understand Allah to be the proper name for the Creator as found in the Qur'an. The name Allah is analogous to Eloh, a Semitic term found in the divine scriptures revealed to Muhammad's predecessors Moses and Jesus (may peace be upon them all).
The use of the term Allah is not confined to believers in Islam alone - Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews also use Allah in reference to God, demonstrating thereby that followers of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism believe in a common monotheistic Creator, a fact that many people are surprised to learn. One reason for this may be that English-speaking persons are accustomed to the term God, whereas believers in Islam, regardless of their native language, use the Arabic word Allah. This difference in usage may cause people to view the term Allah with reticence and uncertainty, preventing them from making the connection between the Arabic name and the accepted English equivalent term. In other words, Allah means "God," like Dios and Dieu mean "God" in Spanish and French, respectively.
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Who are Muslims?
The word Muslim, like Islam, comes from the three-letter Arabic root s-l-m, and literally means "one who submits (to God)." Islam teaches that everything in Creation - microbes, plants, animals, mountains and rivers, planets, and so forth - is "muslim," testifying to the majesty of the Creator and submitting or committing to His divine laws. Human beings, also, are considered fundamentally "muslim" (submitters to God) in their original spiritual orientation, but being unique creations endowed with abilities of reason, judgement, and choice, they may remain on a God-conscious, righteous path towards divine reward, or may veer away as a consequence of upbringing and life-choices.
More commonly, the term Muslim refers to one who believes in the Shahadah (the declaration of faith containing the basic creed of Islam) and embraces a lifestyle in accord with Islamic principles and values. Anybody may be or become a Muslim, regardless of gender, race, nationality, color, or social or economic status. A non-Muslim who decides to enter Islam does so by reciting the Shahadah, (pronounced La-Ilaha Ila Allah, Muhammad-un Rasool Allah) witnessing that "there is no deity but Allah (God), and Muhammad is His Messenger."
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Muslims believe in OneUnique, 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 eldest, Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus from Isaac. Abraham established the settlement which today is the city of Makkah, and built the Ka'abah towards which all Muslims turn when they pray.
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The Ka'abah 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.
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Muhammad was born in Makkah in the year 570, at a time when Christianity was not yet
fuly 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 Jaba al-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near Makkah.
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The Qur'an 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 Qur'an is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad fourteen centuries ago.
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The Qur'an, 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.
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What are the beliefs of Muslims?
The central concept in Islam, reflected in the Shahadah, is tawheed, or Oneness of God. For Muslims, there is but One God who is Lord and Sovereign of Creation, and devotion, allegiance, and obedience must first of all be to Him. This view serves as the foundation from which the basic beliefs of Islam emanate, since God is recognized as the Source for all knowledge and understanding. More specifically, the beliefs of Muslims are delineated and described in the Qur'an and in the sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad. The practice of Islam is based upon belief in One God (Allah), creations (humanly perceived and unperceived) of God, prophetic leadership, revealed guidance, and a Day of Judgement.
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How is God viewed in Islam?
The Qur'an, the divinely-revealed scripture of Islam, contains numerous verses describing the nature of God. The role of human beings as creations of God upon the earth and their relationship with God are also discussed extensively in the sacred text.
"Say: He is God, the One, the Eternal, Absolute. He does not beget, nor is He begotten, and there is none like unto Him." (Qur'an, 112: 1-4)
"It is He who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing, and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections that you may give thanks." (Qur'an, 16:78)
"No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision. He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things." (Qur'an, 6:103)
Muslims believe that God has no partners or associates who share in His divinity or authority. Muslims also believe that God is transcendent and unlike His creations, and thus has no physical form. Nor is God believed to exist in (or be represented by) any material object. A number of divine attributes or "names," which serve to describe God, are found in the Qur'an. Some commonly known attributes include the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving, the Most High, the Unique, and the Everlasting, among others.
In Islam, human beings, like other creations, are seen as completely unlike God, though they may aspire to exhibit various attributes manifested by God, such as justice or mercy. Furthermore, even while God is believed to be beyond traditional human perception, the Qur'an states "He is with you wherever you may be" (57:5). For Muslims, God's Oneness heightens the awareness that ultimately all life is bound by Divine Law emanating from a singular source and that life has a meaning and purpose which revolves around the consciousness of God's presence.
Moreover, belief in a singular Creator compels conscientious Muslims to view all humanity as one extended family, and treat others with justice and equity. Respect for the environment and natural resources also follows from the Muslim view of God.
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What is the role of prophets in Islam?
Muslims believe that God has provided guidance to humanity over the ages through the institution of prophethood. In the Islamic context, prophets are not persons who prophesy (foretell the future); rather they are seen as righteous and truthful messengers selected by God to fulfill the most important mission-calling on people to worship God alone, and teaching them to live righteously, in accordance with God's commandments. Muslims believe prophets, and the scriptures given to some of them, are the only sure sources of God's guidance, and that God has chosen, throughout history, thousands of prophets from among all peoples of the earth, culminating with the last prophet, Muhammad.
"Say: We believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us, and in what was revealed to Abraham, Ishma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, to Moses and Jesus and the other prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Allah we have surrendered ourselves." (Qur'an, 2: 136)
Thus, in Islam, the prophets are seen as spiritual brothers one to another. Some commonly known figures who are considered prophets in Islam include Noah, Jonah, Abraham, Ishmail, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus. The chain of prophethood ended with Muhammad (570-632 C.E.), who lived 600 years after his predecessor Jesus.
Essentially, prophets give warnings as well as glad tidings to fellow human beings: warnings of punishment in this world and the next for unjust, immoral people who have turned away from God and His natural order, and glad tidings of reward in this world and the next for those who are conscious of God and follow His guidance as revealed to the prophets.
The Qur'an mentions twenty-five prophets by name, and tradition indicates that many thousands of prophets were chosen by God throughout human history between the time of Adam and that of Muhammad.
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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 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.
2. PRAYER
Salah 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 Qur'an, chosen by
the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Qur'an, 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.
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 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'.
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 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.
The rites of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include circling the Ka'abah
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 Judgement.
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.
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.
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Profet 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
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