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Introduction to Islam

By : Faiza Mubin Alvi

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Contents

• Islam and Muslims: the terms• Some Fundamental concepts of faith

– Concept of God– Creation and purpose of man on earth– Guidance from God - prophets and

books – Concept of accountability on the Day of

Judgement– The mercy of God

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Islam & Muslim

• Submission or surrender• Peace• Total and complete submission to our

Creator - resulting in inner and outer peace.

• MUSLIM: one who submits to the command of God therefore attaining peace.

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Concept of God

• Allah : the name• Creator and creation • Al-Fatihah and Al-Ikhlas • 99 names• Closest to us- no intermediaries• Tawhid and Shirk

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Al- Ikhlas

– The Sincerity, Oneness Of Allah

• Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;

• Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;

• He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;

• And there is none like unto Him.

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Al-Fatihah

In the name of Allah Most Compassionate, Most Merciful• All praises are due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. • The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.• Master of the Day of Judgement.• You alone do we worship and You alone do we seek help from.• Guide us to the straight path.• The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your blessings, not

of those who have incurred Your wrath nor those who are astray.

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Creation of Man• Universe made subservient to man• Humans created from a single soul• Equality of mankind• Lessons learned in Paradise

– Satan avowed enemy to man– Humans are prone to sin– How to attain forgiveness– Two paths

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O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person and created from it his mate, and from the two of them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;- reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (that bore you): for Allah ever watches over

you. Surah 4:1

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Purpose of man

• Vicegerent on earth• To use and not abuse the universe• To worship him alone- ‘ibadah• The earth a field for the hereafter

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Guidance from God

• We are promised guidance• Every nation received

guidance• Prophets and Books• Those who follow guidance

shall have no fear nor shall they grieve

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The Prophets

• Chosen by Allah • Humans • Best people of their time • Made mistakes but no sins• Same religion different law• We make no difference between them

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Muhammad (saws)

• A servant and messenger of God• Born 570, received revelation 610

went to Madinah 622, died 630 CE• Lived and died within recorded history• Life and message preserved till today• The best example to be followed

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The Qur’an

• The very word of God • Revealed to Muhammad (saws)

through Gabriel over a period of 23 years

• Written down immediately as revealed

• Preserved as it is in original language• The miracle of the last Prophet

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Miracles of the Qur’an

• Challenges us to prove it wrong• Only book not outdated• Scientific evidence• Unimitable with a unique

combination of poetry and prose• Preserved - no editions, no revisions

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Accountability

• Answerable because of freedom of choice

• Qur’an prompts to think, reflect, ponder

• Every thought, action and deed judged

• Complete justice done• Judged on the basis of faith - we

cannot see inside the hearts

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The Mercy of God

• God’s mercy surpasses everything else

• We earn His mercy• Repentance should be sincere• God does not need anything from

us• No change since the day of Adam