INTRODUCING ISLAM
Islam has always appealed to a certain kind of person irrespective of his religious or cultural background - the sincere and open-minded human being who has not lost hope of eventually knowing the truth which will satisfy his soul.Islam refuses to accept any form of creation whatsoever as a deity worthy of worship. Nothing is worthy of worship except Allah (the One True God) who created the heavens and the earth and all that is contained in it - not stone idols or fire, not heavenly bodies such as the sun and moon, not animals, not angels, and not other men (including prophets).
Islam is not a new religion but the continuation and culmination of preceding monotheistic religion - the same truth revealed by God to every prophet. Islam means submission to the will of God. Islam is not as it is represented in the popular media, nor is it Arab culture, nor is it a religion in the sense of mere private conviction or speculation concerning the state of existence.
Islam is the religion of peace: its meaning is peace; one of God's names is peace; the daily greetings of Muslims and angels are peace; paradise is the house of peace, the adjective 'Muslim' means Peaceful. Peace is the nature, the meaning, the emblem and the objective of Islam. Every being is entitled to enjoy the peace of Islam and the kindness of the peaceful Muslims, regardless of religious or geographical or racial considerations, so long as there is no oppression against Islam or the Muslims. If non-Muslims are peaceful with the Muslims or even indifferent to Islam, there can be no justification to interfere in their affairs or declare war on them. There is no religion or constitution that guarantees peaceful freedom of religion and forbids compulsion in religion except Islam.
God is completely just and merciful, and His laws are just for all people regardless of nationality, color or social status. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether or not a person is Muslim.
There are few people on earth today who have not heard something about Islam. Yet, one is often surprised to learn that it is really quite different from his initial impression. For Islam is not as it is
represented in the Western media, nor is it Arab culture, nor is it a religion in the sense of mere private conviction (or more often, speculation) concerning the state of existence.
Islam is a voluntary relationship between an individual and his Creator. The outstanding difference between this and other religions is that Islam refuses to accept any form of creation whatsoever as a deity worthy of worship. It emphasizes the exclusive worship of the One who created the
heavens and the earth, to whom all creation will finally return. It is not a new religion but the continuation and culmination of preceding monotheistic religion - the same truth revealed by God to every prophet. Hence, it is for all peoples and all times.
Islam has always appealed to a certain kind of person irrespective of his religious or cultural background - the sincere and open-minded human being who has not lost hope of eventually knowing a truth which will satisfy his soul.
One and a half billion people (more than one fifth of the world's population) from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe - from the southern Philippines to the western coast of Africa - are united by the common Islamic faith. Of these, about eighteen percent live in the Arab world. The world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia, and substantial parts of Asia and much of Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are to be found in what used to be called the Soviet Union, as well as China, North and South America, Europe and Oceania.
For Muslims, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. 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. Islam teaches that human diversity is a sign of the richness of God's mercy. God has willed that human beings compete with each other in righteousness in order to test who is the best in deeds, and this is the reason for the creation of the universe. God alone is the judge of human
righteousness, and it is God alone who rewards and punishes in this life and in the Hereafter. God (whose name is "Allah
The essence of God's message through all of the prophets was: "O mankind, worship God. You have no other deity but Him."[Qur'an: Surah al-A'raf 7:59, 65, 73, 85; Surah Hud 11:50, 61, 84; and Surah al-Muminun 23:23, 32]. Nothing is worthy of worship except Him who created you - not stone idols or fire, not heavenly bodies such as the sun and moon, not animals, not angels, and not other men (including prophets) - for all of these are His creations.
God is one. His unity is evident in the order, arrangement and symmetry of the universe. He is all-knowing and all- powerful. He is completely just and merciful. God has revealed certain names and descriptions of Himself so that we may have a limited understanding of His qualities and therefore love, and at the same time, fear Him.
This universe was not formed by chance, nor is it left to chance. God created it for a purpose and subjected it to physical laws for an appointed period of time. Man was created for a purpose as well - to serve God on earth and live according to His law. This is the essence of Islam, a word which means literally: submission to the will of God. It is God alone (who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves) who has the right to govern our lives. And His law means justice for all people regardless of nationality, color or social status. Human beings are judged only on the basis of righteousness.
Man has been given a free will and has been left the choice of whether or not he will follow the way of God. Furthermore, he has been given a mind with which he is able to reason and choose wisely. One may, by his own efforts, gain knowledge that enables him to recognize the evidence of God in His creation. By contemplation one may weigh, measure and learn from all situations. And finally, because the human mind and experience is limited, God has revealed the guidance we need through prophets.
After making available the information necessary for one to choose His way, God informs us in the Qur'an that after passing through a temporary stage of death man will bear the consequences of his choice in a greater life to come. Every individual is personally responsible for his own deeds - both good and evil. No one else can carry the burden of his sins.
On the other hand, God is always prepared to accept and forgive any servant who has gone astray and then repents and turns back to Him. The compensation for evil will be exact justice, but the compensation for good will be much greater - complete satisfaction and happiness.
This last message revealed by God to mankind through Prophet Muhammad is the final and complete religion and legal code for mankind. Just as a new revised law supersedes and invalidates what came before it, Islam now nullifies all former religions on earth. It corrects the deviations that had crept into religion previously, in the realm of both belief and practice. The text of the Qur'an has been preserved by God in order that humanity may no longer have an excuse to deviate and that there may always be men who keep the true religion.
The final prophet sent by the Creator to mankind was an example to be followed and obeyed. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) patterned his life on the teachings of the Qur'an, which were revealed to him by God. True Muslims try to follow this noble example. A high moral standard is clearly the goal of Islam. It is the duty of every Muslim to learn and put into practice all that he can of his religion in order to earn the pleasure of God before returning to Him.
Muslims have two distinct advantages to help them in the practice of Islam as their way of life:
The sacred scripture, the Qur'an, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the seventh century, still remains authentic in its original Arabic text. This language is used and understood by millions of people in the world today. The Qur'an contains God's guidance in teachings and commandments, which are valid for all times and places and which encompass all spheres of human life.The example of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) lives on as well. There is a complete and authentic record showing how he exemplified the teachings and commandments of God and elaborated the principles laid down in the Qur'an - all in order to provide sure guidance for their interpretation and application for all later times and societies.
What are the "Five Pillars" of Islam?
They are the framework of a Muslim's life: the declaration of faith, prayer, zakah, fasting, and the pilgrimage to Makkah, which are described briefly in the following sections.
Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)
"There is no deity [worthy of worship] except God, and Muhammad is His messenger." This declaration of faith is called the shahadah, a simple formula which all of the faithful pronounce.
The concept of "no deity except God" is always alive in the Muslim's heart. He recognizes that God alone is the Creator, that He alone is the Provider and Sustainer, that He is the true Reality, the source of all things - of all benefit and harm. This requires that He be worshiped and obeyed.
Islam emphasizes the unity of divinity (tawheed) as opposed to the concept of trinity in Christianity and plurality of gods in other religions. God is the original source of all occurrences and actions. He is completely superior to and unlike anything He has created, He is not in any way a part of His creation, nor is it a part of Him. Therefore, although God has revealed to us certain qualities of His, they are not like those found in man. No one is able to imagine God because He is completely above and beyond His creation. This concept of the uniqueness of God the Creator is found only in Islam. The significance of that uniqueness is that He alone can rightfully be worshiped. In addition, no other creature or human being has the right of intercession between man and God. Instead, the Muslim's relationship with Him is direct and personal.
"No deity except God" includes the question of authority. The right to govern man belongs to the One who created him. When one is guided to the true path of God, all other ways of life lose their place in his heart and are replaced by a desire to please Him alone in anticipation of the judgement and full compensation in the next life.
Belief in God's Messenger means accepting Prophet Muhammad as the last messenger sent by Him. While previous messengers were sent to peoples at different times to guide and reform them, the "Seal of the Prophets," Muhammad (peace be upon him and upon all of God's messengers), was sent with the final revelation (i.e., the Qur'an) to all of mankind as guidance for humanity until the Day of Judgement.
Prophet Muhammad is the spokesman for God by His authority. Muhammad's duty was not only to deliver the message which God revealed but also to explain it and put it into practice as an example to be followed by mankind. Thus, the Qur'an and the sunnah (the Prophet's sayings and examples) are the two main sources of Islamic law.
In the Qur'an, God has made obedience to the Prophet incumbent upon the believers. The teachings of Prophet Muhammad are available today in the form of hadith, i.e., his sayings and traditions related and recorded by those who witnessed or heard them. Scholars have carefully scrutinized the reliability of the transmitters of these traditions, accepting only those hadiths whose chain of narrators is known to be completely reliable and sound.
Acceptance of Prophet Muhammad as the final messenger sent by God to complete His religion upon the earth eliminates belief in any claim to prophethood after him. Thus, a Muslim completely rejects the claims of all false prophets. The Qur'an states:
"Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets. And God has full knowledge of all things." [Qur'an: Surah al-Ahzab 33:40].
A few examples of the prophet's sayings are as follows:
"God will not have mercy upon one who does not have mercy for others." [Bukhari, Muslim and at-Tirmidhi].
"None of you [truly] believes until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself" [Bukhari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasai and Ibn Majah]
"He is not a believer who eats his fill while his neighbor remains hungry" [Al-Hakim, at-Tabarani and al-Bayhaqi]
"He is not strong who knocks the other down; but strong is the one who controls himself when angry" [Bukhari and Muslim]
"God does not look at your bodies and faces but He looks at your hearts." [Muslim]
Salah (Establishment of Regular Prayer)
No other form of worship can be compared to prayer (salah), for it is the basis of religion, without which there is no religion. Prayer was practiced in some form by the earlier prophets and their followers as an essential part of the religion of God. Islam, which is the final stage, the completion and confirmation of monotheistic religion considers prayer essential, and its denial removes one from the ranks of Islam.
Obligatory prayers are performed five times a day and are a direct link between the worshiper and God. There is no hierarchical authority or priesthood in Islam, so group prayers are led by a person learned in the Qur'an. These prayers, whether performed in congregation or individually, contain verses from the Qur'an and are said in Arabic, the language of the revelation itself. Personal supplication can be offered in one's own language.
Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and nightfall and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable for men to pray together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in the field, office, factory or university. In fact, visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life.
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 zakah 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 zakah individually. For most purposes this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of the capital in excess of one's basic needs. One may also give as much as he or she pleases in voluntary charity (sadaqah), seeking additional reward. This is preferably done in secret. Although the word "sadaqah" can be translated as charity, it has a wider meaning. For example, the Prophet said:
"Every good deed is a sadaqah. And one who directs [others] toward good is like him who does it." [Al-Bayhaqi]
Fasting, which involves abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking and marital intercourse, is observed throughout the daylight hours of the 29 or 30 days of the lunar month of Ramadhan in obedience to God's command. This teaches the believers patience and self-control, as well as reminding them of their responsibility for the millions of human beings in the world who lack provisions or are victims of their unjust distribution.
The month of fasting is accompanied by increased efforts toward good manners and righteous deeds, along with additional worship at night. It is not a retreat from life, but rather, a supplement to one's ordinary activities.
Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah 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, their number increases in the twelfth month of the Islamic year, when hajj takes place. (Because the Islamic calendar is based upon lunar months, hajj and Ramadhan fall sometimes in summer and sometimes in winter.) Pilgrims wear special clothing - simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and culture - so that all stand equal before God.
In previous centuries hajj was an arduous undertaking. Today, however, Saudi Arabia provides millions of people with water, modern transport and up-to-date health facilities.
Does Islam Tolerate Other Beliefs?
One function of Islamic law is to protect the rights and status of minorities. History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths. For example, when the Caliph 'Umar (ra), entered Jerusalem in the year 634, freedom of worship was granted to all religious communities in the city.
The Qur'an states:
"God does not prohibit you regarding those who do not fight you or drive you out of your homes from dealing kindly and justly with them. Indeed, God loves those who are Just." [Qur'an: Surah al-Al-Mumtahinah, 60:8]
The Qur'an provides the proper perspective concerning the person of Jesus - that he is a human prophet, like all of the others, to be held in honor and respect but not in worship. This view is consistent with the unity and exclusiveness of God. The virgin birth of Jesus is confirmed in the Qur'an and compared to the creation of Adam - without father or mother, by God's will.
Like other prophets, Jesus was sent to confirm and renew the basic doctrine of belief in one God. The words of Jesus related in the Qur'an reveal:
"[I have come] to confirm the law which came before me in the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you." [Qur'an: Surah Ali 'Imran, 3:50]
"O Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord. Verily he who associates others with God - He has forbidden him Paradise." [Qur'an: Surah al-Ma'idah, 5:72]
And in the Qur'an, God denies the claims of those who attribute divinity to Jesus, saying:
"Christ, the son of Mary we not but a messenger. Other messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a women of truth. [Qur'an: Surah al-Al-Ma'idah, 5:75]
"The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant of God nor would the angels close to Him." [Qur'an: Surah an-Nisa, 4:172]
Some Qur'anic Verses About Mary and Jesus (pbut)
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 live outside the home until they marry.
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 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 modest and dignified way and to remain chaste. Islam encourages the facilitation of marriage and allows a man to have more than one legal wife while strictly forbidding any extramarital relationships between the sexes. Because Islam was ordained for all societies and all times, it 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 the condition that the husband is scrupulously fair in dealing with each. Islam is explicit about the rights and duties of both husbands and wives; therefore, divorce is not common. It is, however, permitted as a last resort its marriage fails.
In the Islamic world there are no homes for the elderly. Caring for one's parents at this time is considered an honor and blessing and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. Mothers are particularly honored, and the Prophet taught that Paradise lies under the feet of mothers. Muslim parents are treated with kindness, mercy and selflessness, especially in old age. The Qur'an instructs:
"Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and [show] kindness to parents. If one or both of them attain old age while with you, do not say 'uff to them but speak to them with honor and kindness. Treat them with humbleness and say 'My Lord have mercy upon them, as they raised me when I was small.'" [Qur'an: Surah al-Isra', 17:23-24]
Fourteen Precepts of Wisdom (Commandments) from Holy Qur'an
Muslims believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of existence. When a Muslim dies, he or she is washed and wrapped in a clean, white cloth (usually by a family member) and buried after a special prayer, preferably the same day. Muslims consider this a final service that they can do for their relatives and an opportunity to remember that their own existence here on earth is brief. The Prophet taught that three things continue to benefit a person even after death - charity which he had given, knowledge which he had taught, and supplication on his behalf by a righteous child [Muslim].
A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed, and the dead will be resurrected to stand before God. That day will be the beginning of a life that will never end. And that day every person will be rewarded by God according to his or her good or evil deeds.
The explanation that the Qur'an gives about the necessity of life after death is exactly what the moral consciousness of man demands. If there were no life after death, the very belief in God would become meaningless, or even if one believed in God, it would then be an unjust and indifferent deity, having once created man and no longer being concerned with his fate. Surely, God is just. He will punish the tyrants, whose crimes are beyond count - having killed hundreds of innocent people, created great corruption in society, enslaved numerous persons to serve their whims, etc. Because man has a very short life span in this world and because numerous individuals are affected by one's actions, adequate punishments and rewards are not possible in this life. The Qur'an very emphatically states that the Day of Judgement must come and that God will decide the fate of each soul according to his or her record of deeds.
Islam has laid down some universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed and respected under all circumstances. To achieve these rights, Islam provides not only legal safeguards but also a very effective moral system. Thus, whatever leads to the welfare of the individual or the society is morally good in Islam, and whatever is injurious is morally bad.
Islam does not, through a false sense of originality and innovation, provide any novel moral virtues, nor does it seek to minimize the importance of well-known moral norms, nor does it give exaggerated importance to some and neglect others. It addresses all of the commonly known moral virtues, and with a sense of balance and proportion it assigns a suitable place and function to each one in the total scheme of life. It widens the scope of man's individual and collective life, his domestic associations, his civic conduct, and his activities in the political, economic, legal, educational and social realms. It covers his life from home to society, from dining table to battlefield and peace conference - literally, from the cradle to the grave. In short, no sphere of life is exempt from the universal and comprehensive application of Islam's moral principles. It makes morality reign supreme and ensures that instead of being dominated by selfish desires and petty interests, the affairs of life are regulated by norms of morality.
"And say 'My Lord increase me in knowledge.'" [Qur'an 20:114]
Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) said "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim."
True knowledge confirms the Muslim's faith.
The Qur'an mentions taqwa as the highest quality of a Muslim:
"Verily the most honorable among you in the sight of God is the one who is most God-conscious [i.e., righteous]." [Qur'an: Surah al-Hujurat, 49:13]
Awareness of the Creator's perfect knowledge of all things, including every soul's innermost thoughts and intentions, insures both public and private morality in the believer. As stated in the Qur'an:
"He [i.e., God] knows that which deceives the eyes and what the breasts conceal." [Qur'an: Surah Ghafir, 40:19]
When continually remembering God and seeking His acceptance in all that one does, even ordinary daily tasks become expressions of worship that are rewarded in the Hereafter. Such qualities as faithfulness, obedience, honesty, patience, self-control, modesty, generosity and courage are strengthened by the remembrance of God and of the judgement to come:
"And race for forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden [i.e., Paradise] as wide as the heavens and the earth which awaits the God-conscious who spend [for the cause of God] in time of plenty and in time of hardship and restrain their anger and pardon their fellow men; for God loves those who do good." [Qur'an: Surah Ali 'Imran, 3:133-134]
Food for Thought: Ayat (Verses) from Holy Qur'an
Striving in the Cause of God (Jihad)
Islam is not an arbitrary religion nor has it ever ordered Muslims to force others to adopt it, even though it is the final and complete way of life revealed by God. The Qur'an specifies:
"There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error." [Qur'an: Surah al-Baqarah, 2:256]
Muslims are first commanded to defend their brothers against deception and materialism. Second, they are ordered to defend liberty of thought and to invite others to their belief. Muslims are required to establish justice in the world and to allow all peoples to enjoy this justice as individuals, as members of society, as citizens of a nation, and as members of the international community. Thus, Muslims are commanded to fight against injustice wherever it may be, whether it be individual, social, national or international. Taking up arms for this purpose is prescribed for the Islamic state (not for independent individuals) when all other measures fail. The term jihad includes peaceful efforts as well as armed struggle.
Since God is the absolute and sole master of mankind and the universe, the sovereign Lord, the Sustainer and Nourisher, the Merciful, whose mercy encompasses all beings, and since He has given each person human dignity and honor and breathed into him of His own spirit, it follows that all men are substantially the same and that no tangible and actual distinction should be made among them on the basis of superficial differences such as nationality, color or race. Every human being is thereby related to all others, and all become one community of brotherhood in their honorable and pleasant servitude to the Lord of the Universe. In such an atmosphere the Islamic testimony of the oneness of God stands dominant and central, and it necessarily entails the concept of the oneness of humanity and the brotherhood of mankind.
Although an Islamic state may be set up in any part of the earth, Islam does not seek to restrict human rights or privileges to the geographical limits of its own state. Islam has laid down some universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed and respected under all circumstances - whether a person is a resident within the Islamic state's territory or outside it, whether he is at peace or at war. The Qur'an clearly commands:
"O you who have believed, stand up firmly for God and witness with justice and do not let hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just. That is nearer to righteousness." [Qur'an: Surah al-Maidah, 5:8]
Human blood is sacred in any case and cannot be spilled without legal justification. Indeed, if anyone violates the sanctity of human blood by killing a soul without justification, the Qur'an equates it to the killing of the entire human race:
"Whoever kills a soul except [in legal retribution] for murder or corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain all people." [Qur'an: Surah al-Maidah, 5:32]
Even during war it is not permissible to oppress women, children, the elderly, the sick or the wounded. Women's honor and chastity are to be respected under all circumstances. The hungry person must be fed, the naked clothed, and the wounded or diseased treated medically, irrespective of whether they belong to the Islamic community or are from among its enemies. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether or not a person is Muslim.
Moreover, racism is incomprehensible to Muslims, for the Qur'an speaks of human equality in the following terms:
"O mankind We have created you from male and female and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may come to know one another. Verily, the most honorable among you in the sight of God is the one who is most God-conscious. Indeed God is All-Knowing All-Aware." [Qur'an: Surah al-Hujurat, 49:13]
Allah: Allah is the proper name in Arabic for The One and Only God, The Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It is used by the Arab Christians and Jews for the God (Eloh-im in Hebrew; 'Allaha' in Aramaic, the mother tongue of Jesus, pbuh). The word Allah does not have a plural or gender. Allah does not have any associate or partner, and He does not beget nor was He begotten. SWT is an abbreviation of Arabic words that mean 'Glory Be To Him.'
s or pbuh: Peace Be Upon Him. This expression is used for all Prophets of Allah.
ra: Radiallahu Anhu (May Allah be pleased with him).
The Holy Qur'an, Text, Translation and Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, 1934. (Latest Publisher: Amana Publications, Beltsville, MD, USA; Title: "The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an," 1992). Includes subject index.
The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, An Explanatory Translation by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, a Mentor Book Publication. (Also available as: The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, by Marmaduke Pickthall, Dorset Press, N.Y.; Published by several publishers since 1936).
The Bible, The Qur'an and Science (Le Bible, le Coran et la Science), The Holy Scriptures Examined in the Light of Modern Knowledge, by Maurice Bucaille, English version published by North American Trust Publication, 1978.
What Everyone Should Know About Islam and Muslims, by Suzanne Haneef, Kazi Publications, 1979.
Jesus: A Prophet of Islam, by Muhammad 'Ata ur-Rahim, MWH London Publishers, UK, 1983.
Islam in Focus by H. Abdalati, ATP 1975; also AQPH.
Copyright © Abul Qasim Publishing House (AQPH). All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 1998 Web version prepared by Dr. A. Zahoor.
Posted by the permission of AQPH.
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