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The
Arabic word Islam means voluntary surrender to the will of Allah and obedience
to His commands. Allah is an Arabic word, the proper name of God. Muslims prefer
to use the word Allah rather than God. A person who freely and consciously
accepts the Islamic way of life and sincerely practices it is called a
Muslim.
BASIC BELIEFS
Oneness
of God which
implies that everything in existence originates from the one and only Creator,
who is also the Sustainer and the sole Source of Guidance. This belief should
govern all aspects of human life. Recognition of this fundamental truth results
in a unified view of existence that rejects any divisions of life into the
religious and the secular. Allah is the sole source of Power and Authority and
therefore entitled to worship and obedience from mankind. There is no scope for
any partnership with the Creator. Allah is not born, nor is anyone born of
Him. He has no son or daughter. Human beings, like the rest of creation, are His
subjects.
Prophethood and Messengership: Allah has not left humanity without
guidance for the conduct of our affairs. Since the creation of the first human,
Allah has revealed His guidance to mankind through His prophets. The prophets
who received books from Allah are called messengers. The message of all the
prophets and messengers is one and the same. They urged the people of their time
to obey and worship Allah alone and none other. Whenever the teachings of a
prophet were distorted by people Allah sent another prophet to bring human
beings back to the Straight Path. The chain of Risalah began with Adam, included
Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Jesus, and ended
with Muhammad (peace be upon them all), as the final messenger of Allah to
mankind.
The revealed books from Allah are: the Torah (Tawrah), the Psalms (Zabur), the
Gospel (Injeel) and the Qur’an. The Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad
(p)1, as the final book of Guidance. Among all these books, it is only the
Qur’an that remains unchanged, in its original revealed form.
Life after
death: Belief in life after death has a profound impact on the life of a
believer. We are all accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgment when we will be
judged according to how we lived our lives. One who obeys and worships Allah
will be rewarded with a permanent place of happiness and bliss in Paradise (Jannah);
One who does not do so will be sent to Hell (Jahannam), a place of punishment
and suffering.
FIVE
PILLARS OF ISLAM
Islam has five pillars or basic foundations of action. Acting correctly and
sincerely on these foundations transforms a Muslim’s life into one that is in
harmony with nature and thus in conformity with the will of the Creator.
Faithful practice of these duties inspires her to work towards the establishment
of justice, equality and righteousness in society, and the eradication of
injustice, falsehood and evil.
1. SHAHADAH, the first of the five basic foundations, is the declaration,
knowingly and voluntarily, of: La ilaha illal lahu Muhammadur rasulul lah.
“There is no god to be worshiped except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah”
This declaration is the basis of all actions in Islam, and the other basic
duties follow this affirmation.
2. SALAH (compulsory prayer) is offered five times a day. It is a practical
demonstration of faith, and keeps a believer in touch with her Creator. The
benefits of Salah are far-reaching, long lasting and immeasurable. It develops
in a believer the qualities of self-discipline, steadfastness and obedience to
the Truth, leading her to be patient, honest and truthful in the affairs of her
life.
3. ZAKAH (welfare contribution) is a compulsory payment from a Muslim’s annual
savings. It can only be spent on helping the poor, the needy, and the oppressed,
and for the general upliftment of society. Zakah is one of the fundamental
principles of Islamic economy, which insures an equitable society where everyone
has a right to contribute and share.
4. SAWM is the annual obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadan - the ninth
month of the Islamic calendar. A Muslim, every day of this month, refrains from
eating, drinking, smoking, and sex, from dawn to sunset. Sawm develops a
believer’s moral and spiritual standard and keeps him away from selfishness,
greed, extravagance and other vices. Sawm is an annual training program that
increases a Muslim’s determination to fulfill his obligation to the Almighty
Lord.
5. HAJJ (pilgrimage to the House of Allah) is an annual event, obligatory on
those Muslims who can afford to undertake it, at least once in their lifetime.
It is a journey to the “House of Allah” (Al-Ka’bah) in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia, in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Hajj symbolizes the unity
of humankind; Muslims from every race and nationality assemble together in
equality and fraternity to worship their Lord.
THE
QUR’AN
The Qur’an is the final Book of guidance from Allah, sent down to Prophet
Muhammad (p) through the angel Gabriel (Jibra’il). Every word of the Qur’an
is the word of Allah. The Qur’an is unrivaled in its recording and
preservation. Unlike other scriptures that were corrupted with human
interpolations and omissions, the Qur’an has remained unchanged even to a
letter for over fourteen hundred years. The Qur’an is the last and final
revelation to mankind and covers all aspects of human life, and its relation to
the life after death.
THE HADITH
The Hadith is the collection of sayings, actions and silent approvals of Prophet
Muhammad (p). It explains the Qur’an, and how to practice it. The Hadith were
recorded meticulously by the Prophet’s companions.
PROPHET
MUHAMMAD
Muhammad (peace be upon him), the final messenger of Allah, was born in Mecca,
Arabia, in the year 571 CE. His father died before his birth and his mother died
when he was only six. He received first revelation from Allah at the age of
forty.
The people of Mecca at that time used to worship idols. The prophet (p) invited
them to Islam. Some of them accepted and became Muslims, while others rebuked
him and turned against him. In the 13th year of his prophethood, Muhammad (p)
migrated from Mecca to Madinah.
The Prophet (p) organized the early Muslims and preached the message of Allah
with patience and profound wisdom. Eventually Islam was established in the whole
of Arabia and was set to make a tremendous contribution to the history and
civilization of the world. Prophet Muhammad (p) died in 632 CE at the age of 63.
He left behind the Qur’an and his Sunnah (way) as the source of guidance for
all generations to come.
MARRIAGE
AND FAMILY LIFE
Marriage is the basis of family life in Islam. It is a solemn yet simple
contract between a man and a woman. Marriages are arranged with the consent of
the couple, as required by Islamic law. Islam does not allow the free mixing of
men and women; nor does it allow sex before marriage. Extra-marital sex is
severely punishable. No discrimination is made on the basis of sex. Husband and
wife are equal partners of the family and play their part in their respective
fields.
DIET
Muslims are encouraged to eat what is good for them. Islamic law requires an
animal to be slaughtered while invoking the name of Allah. All varieties of
alcoholic drinks are prohibited. Pork and blood are also forbidden.
DRESS
Muslims must cover their bodies properly and decently. When it comes to
dressing-up, simplicity and modesty are encouraged. No particular dress is
recommended, however, men must cover their body from navel to the knees. Women
must cover their whole body except the face and hands. Any dress that is
suggestive, transparent, skin-tight or half-naked may send wrong signals to
others; signals that are contrary to Islam’s teachings. Pure silk and gold are
not allowed for men.
SOCIAL
MANNERS
Islam teaches decency, humility and good manners. Muslims greet each other by
saying: As-salamu ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you) and the reply is:
Wa‘alaikumus salam (peace be upon you too).
Keeping promises, truthfulness, justice, fair play, helping the poor and needy,
respect for parents, teachers and elders, love for children and good relations
with neighbors and relatives are the most valued virtues of a Muslim. Islam
condemns enmity, back-biting, slander, blasphemy, ridicule, use of offensive
names, suspicion and arrogance.
From Whay Islam |
