"O 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."
(Qur'an: Translation of the meening, 49:13)
WHAT IS ISLAM?
Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed
through all His prophets to everyone. 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.
WHO ARE 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.
WHAT DO MUSLIMS BELIEVE?
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.
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.
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 rather than God. 'Allah' is
the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians
alike.
WHY DOES ISLAM OFTEN SEEM STRANGE?
Islam may 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
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.
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.
WHAT IS THE KA'ABAH?
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.
WHO IS MUHAMMAD?
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.
HOW DID HE BECOME A PROPHET AND A MESSENGER OF GOD?
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
Qur'an. 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.
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, 'seeking knowledge is an
obligation for every Muslim man and woman'. 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.
WHAT IS THE QUR'AN?
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.
WHAT IS THE QUR'AN ABOUT?
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.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SACRED SOURCES?
Yes, the Sunna, the practice and example of the Prophet, is the second
authority for Muslims. A Hadith is a reliably transmitted report of what
the Prophet said, did, or approved. Belief in the Sunna is part of the
Islamic faith.
EXAMPLES OF THE PROPHET'S SAYINGS
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
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.
A translation of the Call to Prayer is:
God is most great. God is most great.
God is most great. God is most great.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)! Come to success!
God is most great. God is most great.
There is no god except God.
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." The Prophet said:
"Charity is a necessity for every Muslim."
He was asked: "What if a person has nothing?"
The Prophet replied: "He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in charity"
The Companions asked: "What if he is not able to work?"
The Prophet said: "He should help poor and needy persons."
The Companions further asked "What is he cannot do even that?"
The Prophet said "He should urge others to do good'."
The Companions said "What if he lacks that also?"
The Prophet said "He should check himself from doing evil. That is also 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.
DOES ISLAM TOLERATE OTHER BELIEFS?
The Qur'an 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." (Qur'an, 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 caliph 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.
WHAT DO MUSLIMS THINK ABOUT JESUS?
Muslims respect and revere Jesus, 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 Qur'an confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of
the Qur'an is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman
in all creation. The Qur'an 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. O 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: 'O 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, He says to it, "Be!" and
it is." (Qur'an, 3:42-7)
Jesus was born miraculously through the same power which had brought
Adam 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 performed many miracles. The Qur'an 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 nor Jesus came to change the basic doctrine of the
belief in One God, brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew
it. In the Qur'an Jesus 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 forbiden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord,
so fear God and obey me." (3:50)
The Prophet Muhammad said:
"Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that
Muhammad 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)
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.
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 bridge 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 traditions of female dress found in some
Muslim countries are often the expression of local customs. The
Messenger of God said:
"The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife."
CAN A MUSLIM HAVE MORE THAN 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 Qur'an, only on condition that the husband is scrupulously fair.
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.
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 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. The Qur'an says:
"Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but 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)
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 Judgement, 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 remember their own brief existence here
on earth. The Prophet 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.
WHAT DOES ISLAM SAY ABOUT WAR?
Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defence, in defence 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. As Muslims see it, injustice would be triumphant in
the world if good men were not prepared to risk their lives in a
righteous cause. The Qur'an 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.
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 said:
"Ask God for certainty (of faith) and well-being; for after certainty, no one is given any gift better than health!"
ISLAM IN THE UNITED STATES
It is almost impossible to generalize about American Muslims: converts,
immigrants, factory workers, doctors; all are making their own
contribution to America's future. This complex community is unified by a
common faith, underpinned by a countrywide network of a thousand
mosques.
Muslims were early arrivals in North America. By the eighteenth century
there were many thousands of them, working as slaves on plantations.
These early communities, cut off from their heritage and families,
inevitably lost their Islamic identity as time went by. Today many
Afro-American Muslims play an important role in the Islamic community.
The nineteenth century, however, saw the beginnings of an influx of Arab
Muslims, most of whom settled in the major industrial centers where
they worshipped in hired rooms. The early twentieth century witnessed
the arrival of several hundred thousand Muslims from Eastern Europe: the
first Albanian mosque was opened in Maine in 1915; others soon
followed, and a group of Polish Muslims opened a mosque in Brooklyn in
1928.
In 1947 the Washington Islamic Center was founded during the term of
President Truman, and several nationwide organizations were set up in
the fifties. The same period saw the establishment of other communities
whose lives were in many ways modelled after Islam. More recently,
numerous members of these groups have entered the fold of Muslim
orthodoxy. Today there are about five million Muslims in America.
How does Islam guarantee Human Rights?
Freedom of conscience is laid down by the Qur'an itself:
'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 Qur'an speaks of human equality in the folowing terms:
O 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
peity. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (49:13)
Muslims throughout the world
The Muslim population of the world is around one billion. Most Muslims
live east of Karachi. 30 percent of Muslims live in the Indian
subcontinent, 20 percent in Sub Saharan Africa, 17 percent in South East
Asia, 18 percent in the Arab World, 10 percent in the Soviet Union and
China. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan comprise 10 percent of the non-Arab
Middle East.
Although there are Muslim minorities in almost every area, including
Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in the Soviet Union,
India and central Africa. There are 5 million Muslims in the United
States.
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