Islam - a brief guide

Islam - a brief guide

An introduction for non-Muslims

ISLAM

Islam is a complete way of life. It tells man about the purpose of his creation and existence, his ultimate destiny, his place among other creatures and, more importantly it provides him with Guidance (Hidayah) to lead a balanced and purposeful life which will enable him to avoid the Hellfire (Jahannam) and be rewarded with a place in Paradise (Jannah) in the life after death.
The Arabic word 'Islam' means voluntary surrender to the Will of Allah and obedience to His commands. Allah, also an Arabic word, is the unique name of God. Muslims prefer to use Allah rather than God. The Islamic way of life is based on total obedience to Allah. This is the way to obtain peace both here and in the hereafter; hence, Islam also means peace.

MUSLIM

A person who freely and consciously accepts the Islamic way of life, and sincerely practices it, is called a Muslim.

BASIC BELIEFS

The three fundamental Islamic beliefs are:
Tawhid - the oneness of Allah
Risalah - prophethood
Akhirah - life after death

Tawhid is the most important Islamic belief, Everything in existence originates from the one and only Creator, who is the Sustainer and sole Source of Guidance. This belief should govern all aspects of human life. Recognition of this fundamental truth brings a unified view of life which rejects any division into religious and secular.
Allah is the sole source of Power and Authority, and is to be worshipped and obeyed. He has no partner; Tawhid is pure monotheism. Allah is not born, and He has no son or daughter. Human beings are His subjects. He is the One; He is the Eternal; He is the First and the Last; and there is none like Him.
Belief in Tawhid brings total change to a Muslim's life. It makes him bow down only to Allah, Who sees all of his actions. He must work to establish the laws of Allah in all areas of his life, in order to gain His pleasure.

Risalah means prophethood or messengership. Allah has not left man without Guidance for the conduct of his life. Since the creation of the first man, Allah has revealed, His guidance to mankind through His prophets. Prophets who received books from Allah are called messengers. All the prophets and messengers came with the same message; 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 them back to the Straight Path (Siratul Mustaqim). The chain of Risalah began with Adam, included Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, lsaac, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and Jesus, and ended with Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final messenger of Allah to mankind.
The revealed books from Allah are: the Torah (Tawrat), the Psalms (Zabur), the Gospel (Injil) and the Qur'an. The Qur'an, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is the final book of Guidance.

Akhirah means life after death. Belief in Akhirah has a profound impact on the life of a believer. We are all accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgement, when we will be judged according to how we lived our lives. A person who obeys and worships Allah will be rewarded with a place of happiness in Paradise; the person who does not will be sent to Hell, a place of punishment and suffering.
Allah knows our every thought and innermost intention; angels are recording all our actions. If we always keeps in mind that we will be judged by our actions, we will try to make sure that we act according to the Will of Allah. Many of today's problems would disappear if we had this awareness and acted accordingly.

FIVE BASIC DUTIES OF ISLAM

Islam has five basic duties, often called the'pillars of Islam'. Pedormed regularly, correctly and sincerely they transform a Muslim's life, bringing it into line with the wishes of the Creator. Faithful practice of these duties should inspire a Muslim to work towards the establishment of justice, equality and righteousness (Maruf) in society, and the eradication of injustice, falsehood and evil (Munkar).

1. Shahadah is the conscious and voluntary declaration of:
    La ilaha illallahu Muhammadur rasulullah
    "There is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah"
This declaration contains the two basic concepts of Tawhid and Risalah. It is the basis of all actions in Islam; the other four basic duties follow this affirmation.

2. Salah (compulsory prayer) is offered five times a day, either in congregation or individually. It is a practical demonstration of faith, and keeps a believer in constant touch with his Creator. The benefits of Salah are far-reaching, longlasting and immeasurable. Salah prepares a Muslim to work towards the establishment of true order in society, and the removal of falsehood, evil and indecency. It develops self-discipline, steadfastness and obedience to the Truth, leading to patience, honesty and truthfulness in the affairs of life.

The five daily prayers are:
Fajr between dawn and sunrise
Zuhr between midday and mid-afternoon
'Asr between mid-afternoon and sunset
Maghrib just after sunset
'Isha between nightfall and dawn
Five times a day, Salah provides a wonderful opportunity for a Muslim to improve his life. It is a system of spiritual, moral and physical training which makes him truly obedient to his Creator.

3. Zakah (welfare contribution) is a compulsory payment from a Muslim's annual savings. It literally means purification, and is an annual payment of 2.5% of the value of cash, jewellery and precious metals; a separate rate applies to animals, crops and mineral wealth. Zakah is neither a charity nor a tax: charity is optional, whilst taxes can be used for any of society's needs. Zakah, however, can only be spent on helping the poor and needy, the disabled, the oppressed, debtors and other welfare purposes, as defined in the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Zakah is an act of worship. It is one of the fundamental principles of an Islamic economy, which ensures an equitable society where everybody has a right to contribute and share. Zakah should be paid with the conscious belief that our wealth and our property belong to Allah, and we merely act as trustees.

4. Sawm is the annual obligatory fast during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. From dawn to sunset every day a Muslim refrains from eating, drinking, smoking and from sex with his marital partner, seeking only the pleasure of Allah. Sawm develops a believer's moral and spiritual standards, and keeps him away from selfishness, greed, extravagance and other vices. Sawm is an annual training programme, which increases a
Muslim's determination to fulfil his obligations to the Creator and Sustainer.
5. Hajj (pilgrimage to the House of Allah) is an annual event, obligatory at least once in a lifetime for Muslims who have the means to perform it. It is a journey to the House of Allah (AI-Kabah) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, in the month of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Hajj symbolises the unity of mankind; Muslims from every race and nationality assemble in equality and humility to worship their Lord. The pilgrim, in the ritual clothing of lhram, has the unique feeling of being in the presence of his Creator, to Whom he belongs, and to Whom he must return after death.

THE QUR'AN
The Qur'an is the sacred book of Muslims, and the final Book of Guidance from Allah, sent down to Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the angel Gabriel (Jibra'il). Every word of the Qur'an is the Word of Allah. Revealed over a period of 23 years in the Arabic language, it contains 114 chapters (Surahs) over 6000 verses. Muslims learn to recite it in Arabic and many memorise it completely. Muslims are expected to try their best to understand the Qur'an and practise its
teachings.

The Qur'an is unrivalled in recording and preservation. Astonishingly, it has remained unchanged even to a letter for over fourteen centuries. In the Qur'an Allah addresses human beings directly. Its style cannot be compared with any other book. The Qur'an deals with man and his ultimate goal in life. Its teachings cover all aspects of this life and the life after death. It contains principles, doctrines and directions for every sphere of human activity. The theme of the Qur'an broadly consists of three fundamental concepts: Tawhid, Risalah and Akhirah. The success of human beings on this Earth and in the life hereafter depends on belief in and obedience to the teachings of the Qur'an.

THE SUNNAH
The Sunnah is the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is contained in the books of Ahadith (sing. Hadith), which are collections of his sayings and actions and the actions approved by him. It shows how to put the Guidance of the Qur'an into practice. The Ahadith were carefully recorded after the Prophet's death. Six particular collections have become prominent and are regarded as the most authentic: Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasai and lbn Majah.

MUHAMMAD(saw)
Muhammad (peace be upon him), the final messenger of Allah and best example for mankind is born in Makkah, Arabia, in the year 571 CE (Christian Era). His father Abdullah, died before his birth and his mother, Aminah, died when he was six. He married Khadijah, a noble lady of Makkah, when he was twenty-five.

He began to receive revelation from Allah at the age of forty, marking the beginning of his work as the messenger of Allah. The people of Makkah used to worship idols. The Prophet (peace be upon him), invited them to Islam. Some became Muslims, others turned against him. Undaunted, he continued to preach the message Allah and, gradually, the number of his followers increased. He and the early Muslims underwent terrible suffering, facing stiff opposition from the idolaters.

In the twelfth year of his prophethood, in 622 CE, Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated from Makkah to Madinah, where there were already many new Muslims. The people of Madinah welcomed him as their leader and he established an Islamic state there. The Islamic calendar begins from this migration (Hijrah).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) organised the early Muslims and preached the message of Allah with unmatched patience and wisdom. Eventually Islam was established throughout the Arabian peninsula, and within a short time the message of Islam spread to most parts of the known world, making a tremendous contribution to world history and civilisation. Over a billion Muslims today bear testimony to the success of this message.
Prophet Muhammad (described in the Qur'an as a 'blessing for the universe' and 'the perfect example to follow) died in 632 CE at the age of 63. He left the Qur'an and his Sunnah as the sources of guidance for all generations to come.
Islam, completed at the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), can solve all human problems, and bring peace to mankind for the present as well as the future. The need is to practise it faithfully.

FESTIVALS

In Islam festivals are observed to seek the pleasure of Allah, not for pleasure's own sake. They are, however, occasions of joy and happiness. The happiest occasion of a Muslim's life is to see the laws of Allah established in their totality on the earth, ensuring peace and happiness to all of Creation.

'Id ul Fitr and 'Id ul Adha are the two major festivals in Islam:
'Id ul Fitr falls on the first day after the month of Ramadan. On this day, after a month of fasting, Muslims offer congregational prayer, preferably on open ground. They express their gratitude to Allah for enabling them to observe the fast. Special food is prepared. It is customary to visit friends and relatives, and to make the occasion special for children.
'Id ul Adha begins on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah and continues until the 13th. This celebration commemorates the willingness of Abraham when he was asked to sacrifice his own son, lshmael. Abraham showed his readiness and Allah was very pleased. A ram was sacrificed instead of lshmael on Allah's command. Muslims offer congregational prayer on the day, and they sacrifice animals such as sheep, goats, cows and camels. The meat of the sacrificed animal is shared amongst relatives, neighbours and the poor.
Other celebrations include the Hijrah (migration of the Prophet), Lailatul Miraj (Night of the Ascension) and dates of Islamic battles. There is a special night called Lailatul Qadr (Night of Power), an odd-numbered night in the last ten days of Ramadan. The Qur'an says it is "better than a thousand months". Muslims spend the night offering prayers and reciting the Qur'an.
Islamic festivals are observed according to the Islamic calendar, which is based on twelve lunar months. The lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. Festival dates are determined by the appearance of the moon.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

Marriage is the basis of family life in Islam. It is a solemn, simple contract between a man and woman. Muslim marriages are usually arranged by parents, but must be with the consent of the son and daughter, as required by Islamic law (Shariah). Marriage is performed in a simple ceremony in the presence of relatives, friends and neighbours.

Islam does not allow free mixing of men and women, nor sex before marriage. Extramarital sex is severely punished in an Islamic state, to keep society free from the social problems it causes. No discrimination is made on the basis of sex. Husband and wife are partners in the family and play their respective roles. Divorce, whilst permitted, is the lawful action most displeasing to Allah.

DIET

Muslims are encouraged in the Qur'an to eat what is good and wholesome for them, and are forbidden to eat certain foods. A Muslim is not allowed to eat:

pigs
animals not slaughtered in the name of Allah.
the blood of animals
carnivorous animals

Fish and vegetables are permitted. Islamic law requires animals to be humanely slaughtered by a sharp knife penetrating the inner pad of the neck, to allow maximum drainage of blood. The name of Allah must be said at the time of slaughter. All alcoholic drinks are prohibited. These rules root out the harmful effects of food and drink in society.

DRESS

Muslims should dress modestly and decently. No particular dress is recommended. The requirements include:

For men, covering at least from the navel to the knees.
For women, covering the whole body except the face and hands; according to some scholars, women above the age of puberty should cover the face when going out or meeting strangers.
Men and women must not dress in a manner that arouses sexual feelings, e.g. transparent, skin-tight or half-naked dress.
Men are not allowed to wear pure silk or gold.
Men must not wear women's clothes, and vice-versa.
Symbolic dress from other religions is not allowed.

Simplicity and modesty are encouraged. Dress expressing arrogance is disliked. The style of dress depends on local customs and climate.

SOCIAL MANNERS

Islam teaches decency, humility and good manners. Muslims greet one another by saying:
As-salamu 'alaikum (peace be upon you)
the reply is: Wa 'alaikumus salam (peace be on 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 neighbours are valued virtues in a Muslim.
Islam condemns enmity, back-biting, slander, blasphemy, ridicule, use of offensive names, suspicion and arrogance.

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