UnderstandiUnderstandingng Islam Islam

THE BASICS OF FAITH•Belief in:• One God (Allah)• Prophet-hood• Divine Books• Afterlife and Divine Beings (Angels)• Creation • The Day of Judgment

•Virtually identical to Judaism and Christianity in principles

ALLAH – ONE GOD

Allah is the Arabic name for God used by Muslims of the world as well as Arab Christians.

God is seen as: immaterial and invisible or unseenanthropomorphicOmnipotent and infiniteA dreadful , perfect forcecompassionate and merciful

PROPHETS AND SCRIPTURES

• A Prophet is a messenger of God (Allah)

• Muhammad is considered the final or ultimate prophet or God’s official spokesman

PROPHETS: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Ishaq, Jacob (Israel), Joseph, Benjamin, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Zakareyya, John, Jesus, and Muhammad (the seal of the prophets).

HOLY BOOKS: TorahZabur (Psalms), Injeel (Gospel), Quran (KORAN or Bible of Islam)

PROPHET MUHAMMAD

• Descendant of Ishmael, the first son of Abraham.

• Born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the year 570 C.E.

•Received first revelation at the age 40 through angel Gabriel.

• Died in the year 632 C.E, after preaching Islam for 23 years.

• Credited for “creating” the Koran over 23 years after receiving revelations from Allah

QURAN: THE HOLY BOOK

• 23 Years of Revelations (610 - 632 C.E.)

• 114 Chapters; One Chapter, Multiple Revelations

• a continuation of the Old and New Testaments ( God’s earlier revelations)

“We made a covenant of old with the Children of Israel [and] you have nothing of guidance until

you observe the Torah and the Gospel “(5:70,68)

FORMS OF WORSHIPPrayers (Salah)

Five Daily Prayers from Dawn to Late Evening regulate a Muslim’s day

Charity (Zakat)Required 2.5% charity on yearly savings

Fasting ( Ramadan)Ramadan is 9th month in Islamic Lunar calendarDaily dawn to sunset fast for 29/30 days (no food or drink)

Pilgrimage (Hajj) Pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) once in life time for able MuslimsAbout 2-3 million Muslims perform Hajj each year from all over the world.

HUMAN RIGHTS IN ISLAM

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

"No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab. Nor does a white man have any superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay"

JUSTICE IN ISLAM

The Holy Quran says:

"Do not let your hatred of a people incite you to aggression" (5:2).

"And do not let ill-will towards any folk incite you so that you swerve from dealing justly. Be just; that is nearest to heedfulness" (5:8).

Source : [ http://www.islam101.com/presentations ]

QUESTIONS FOR QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER FURTHER

DISCUSSION DISCUSSION 1. What is Sufism? How does Sufism differ from

Islam?

2. What is the difference between a Sunni Muslim and a Shi’ite Muslim? Why do these branches clash?

3. What are the 5 Pillar of Islam? Why are they important?

4. What does the Koran teach about women and marriage? How have these teachings been manipulated?