What
is Islam?
Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that 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
vast majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which
have come to be associated with their faith.
Who are the
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, substantial
parts of Asia and Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are
to be found in Russia, China, North and South America and Europe.
What do Muslims
Believe?
Muslims believe
in One Unique, 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, Soloman,
Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and the Jesus, peace be upon them. But
God’s final message to man, reconfirmation of the eternal message and
summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed
through Gabriel.
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.
‘Allah’ is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and
Christians alike.
Why does
Islam often seem strange to Non-Muslims?
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. We believe that the Divine Law, the Shariah,
should be taken 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 – Mohammed
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’bah
towards which all Muslims turn when they pray.
What is the
Ka’bah?
The Ka’bah 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 main 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 Mohammad?
Mohammad was
born in Makkah in the year 570 CE, 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 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.
Mohammad 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 Mohammad
become a Prophet and a Messenger of Allah?
t the age of
40, while engaged in 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 Hijrah, ‘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 Mekkah,
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.
What is the
Qur’an?
The Qu’ran is
a record of the exact words revealed by God through the angel Gabriel
to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorised by Muhammad and then dedicated
to his Companions, and written down by scribes, who crosschecked it
during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters, Suras, has been
changed over the centuries, so that the Qu’ran is in every detail the
unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad fourteen centuries
ago.
Are there
any other sacred sources?
Yes the Sunnah,
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.
How does
someone become a Muslim?
Simply by saying
“There is no God apart from God and Mohammed 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 are
the Five Pillars of Islam?
They are the
framework of the Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the needy (Zakah),
Self-purification,
and the pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able.
Five
Pillars of Islam: Faith
There is no
God worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His messenger. This
Declaration
of faith is called the Shahada, a formula which all the faithful pronounce.
Five
Pillars of Islam: Prayer
Salat 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 priest, so the prayers are led by a learned
person who knows the Qur’an, chosen by the congregation. These five
prayers contain verses from Qur’an, and are said in Arabic, the language
of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one’s
own language.
“Picture: A
young Muslim boy offers his prayer.”
Five
Pillars of Islam: Zakat
One of the most
important principles of Islam is that all things belong to Allah, 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.
Five
Pillars of Islam: The Fast
The month of
Ramadan, the ninth of the Islamic Calendar, is distinguished all others
because it was during this month, over 14 centuries ago, that the revelation
of the Qur’an began. Allah had, in His wisdom and mercy, chosen Muhammad
as His final Emissary, responsible for communicating the Divine Word
to ‘all the Worlds’. Ramadan
thus mark the unfolding of a familiar but distinct chapter in religious
history; familiar in that the message is a reaffirmation and rearticulation
of that delivered by Abraham, Moses, David, John the Baptist and the
Christ, distinct for this marked Allah’s final reminder.
Within Muslim
ethic fasting is above all a spiritual exercise, serving a range of
diverse but complementary functions. Its central aim is to afford an
opportunity in reflect on one’s relationships.
A fasting Muslim
abstains from all food, drinks, smoking and intimate relations from
dawn to sunset. This is a total and complete abstinence. For those who,
through forgetfulness, inadvertently transgress these rules, the fast
is not nullified, so long as the act in question is ceased as soon as
one realises one’s error.
The Islamic
calendar is lunar. Therefore, during the course of a lifetime, Ramadan
will fall during all four seasons. In Britain, a winter fast lasts on
average for ten hours; in contrast, a summer fast may be for almost
19. For those who live in extreme altitudes, where there may be total
darkness or total daylight for months continuously. Islamic law is flexible
in its application requiring fasting for the length of time being fasted
in a neighbouring region where the normal cycle of day and night is
preserved.
Fasting is obligatory
on every responsible and healthy Muslim, male and female. The exempt
from fasting as follow;
Children under
the age of puberty,
Those with learning
difficulties or retardation such that they are unable to comprehend
the nature and purpose of the fast,
The old and
frail,
The acutely
unwell,
Those with chronic
illnesses, in whom fasting may be detrimental to health,
Travellers who
are journeying greater than approximately 50 miles,
Menstruating,
pregnant, and nursing women.
Five Pillars
of Islam: 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 filled with visitors all year round, the annual Hajj
itself begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year. Pilgrims wear
special cloths: simple garments which strip away distinction of class
and culture, so that all stand equal before Allah.
What
Muslims think about Jesus?
Muslims respect
and revere Jesus, and await his second coming. We consider him one of
the greatest of Allah’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, ‘Allah has chosen you, and purified you above the women
of all nations. O Mary, Allah gives you good news of a word from Him,
whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honoured in this
world and the hereafter, one of those brought near to Allah. 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? Allah said: Even so; Allah creates what Allah will.
When Allah decrees a thing, Allah says to it “be!” and it is.” Al Qur’an,
3: 42-7
Jesus was born
miraculously throughout
the same power which had brought Adam into being without a father.
“Thoroughly,
the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. Allah created
Him of dust and then said to Him: “be” and He was.” Al Qur’an 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 clay, as it were,
the figure of a bird by Allah’s leave. And I heal the blind, and the
leapers, and I raise the dead by Allah’s leave.” Al Qur’an 3:49
Neither Mohammad nor Jesus (PBUT) came to change the basic
doctrine of he belief in One Allah, brought by earlier prophets, but
to confirm and renew it. In the Qur’an Jesus (PBUH) is reported as saying
that he came:
“To attest the
law which was before me. And make to lawful to you part of what was
forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord; so fear
Allah and obey me.” Al Qur’an 3:50.
The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said:
“Whoever believes
there is no God but Allah, alone without partner, that Mohammad is His
Messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of Allah, His word
breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise
and Hell true, shall be received by Allah 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 poverty and
earnings. A marriage dowry is given by the groom to the bride 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 Allah said:
“The most perfect
in faith amongst believers is he who is the best in manner and kindest
to his wife.”
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 is not forbidden as a last resort. According
to Islam, no Muslim girl can be forced to marry against her will: her
parents will simply suggest young men they think may be suitable.
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 honour and blessing, and an opportunity for great spiritual
growth. Allah 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 honoured:
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
to chide them, but speak to them in terms of honour and kindness. Treat
them with humility, and say, ‘My Lord! Have mercy on them, for they
did care for me when I was little.” Al Qur’an 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 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 opportunity to remember their own
brief existence here on earth. The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) 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 Muslim 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 Allah against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits.
Allah does not love transgressors. If they seek peace, then seek you
peace. And trust in Allah for He is the One that hears and knows all
things.”
Al Qur’an 2:190
& 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 egoistic
desires for the sake of attaining inner peace.
How does Islam guarantee Human
Rights?
Freedom of conscience is laid down by the Qur’an itself.
“There is no
compulsion in religion” Al Qur’an 2:256
The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are
considered sacred. Racism is incomprehensible to Muslims. The Qur’an
speaks of human equality as follows:
“Of 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 honoured of you in Allah’s sight is the greatest of you in
piety. Allah is all-knowing, all-aware.” Al Qur’an 49:13
Muslims throughout the World?
The Muslim population of the world is around one billion –
30% live in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in Sub Sharan Africa, 17% in
South East Asia, 18% in the Arab World, 10% in Far East and Russia.
Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan comprise 10% of the non-Arab Middle
East. There are approximately 5 million Muslims in the United States
and 1.5 million in the UK.