What is Islam?

What is Islam?

Muslims praying in Jerusalem outside the Dome of the Rock.	A Moroccan in prayer.

Islam is not a new religion, but
the same truth that God 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
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; the world's largest Muslim community is
in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim, while
significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, 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, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus,
peace be upon them. But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the
eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad through Gabriel.


◊ How does someone become a Muslim?



Simply by saying
'there is no god apart from God, and Muhammad 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 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.
'Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims worship
Muhammad rather than God. 'Allah' is the Arabic name for God, which is used by
Arab Muslims and Christians alike.


◊ Why does Islam often seem strange?



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. They believe that the Divine Law, the Shari'a, should be taken very
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 Muhammad 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'ba towards which all Muslims turn when
they pray.



◊ What is the Ka'ba?



The Ka'ba 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 many 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.

Makkah, Saudi Arabia

◊ Who is Muhammad?




Muhammad, was born
in Makkah in the year 570, 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.


Muhammad 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 Jabal al-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near Makkah.


◊ How did Muhammad become a prophet and a messenger of God?

The Prophet's Mosque, Madinah, the dome indicates the place where his house stood and where he is buried.

The Mountain of Light where Gabriel came to Prophet Muhammad.

At the age of 40,
while engaged in a 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 Quran.


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 Hijra, '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 Makkah, 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.


◊ How did the spread of Islam affect the world?

Taj Mahal, India.

Among the reasons for the rapid and
peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine - Islam calls for
faith in only One God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs man to use
his powers of intelligence and observation.

Hui Shen Mosque, China. Built in the 7th Century.

Within a few years, great
civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the Prophet,
'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'. The
synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought
about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography,
architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as
algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to the
advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam.
Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of
discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good
navigational maps.


◊ What is the Quran?

Arabic
	This opening chapter of The Quran, the Fatiha, is central in Islamic prayer. It contains the essence of The Quran and is recited during every prayer.

The Quran is a record of the exact
words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. It was
memorized by Muhammad and then dictated to his Companions, and written down by
scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114
chapters, Suras, has been changed over the centuries, so that the Quran is in
every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad
fourteen centuries ago.


◊ What is the Quran about?



The Quran, the last revealed Word
of God, is the prime source of every Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with
all the subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship,
and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures.
At the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct
and an equitable economic system.


◊ Are there any other sacred sources?




Yes, the sunna, 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.


Examples of the Prophet's sayings

The Prophet said:

'God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.'

'None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.'

'He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a believer.'

'The truthful and trusty businessman is associated with the prophets the saints, and the martyrs.'

'Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger.'

'God does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He scans your hearts and looks into your deeds.'

'A man walking along a path felt very thirsty.
Reaching a well he descended into it, drank his fill and came up. Then
he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to
quench its thirst. The man saw that the dog was feeling the same thirst
as he had felt so he went down into the well again and filled his shoe
with water and gave the dog a drink. God forgave his sins for this
action.' The Prophet was asked: 'Messenger of God, are we rewarded for
kindness towards animals?' He said, 'There is a reward for kindness to
every living thing.'


From the hadith collections of Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and Bayhaqi.


◊ What are the 'Five Pillars' of Islam?



They are the framework of the
Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the needy, self-purification, and the
pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able.

1. FAITH

The Shahada inscribed over entrance to Ottoman Topkapi Palace (the museum contains a mantle worn by the Prophet, among other treasures), Istanbul.

"There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger."


This declaration of faith is called the Shahada, a
simple formula which all the faithful pronounce. In Arabic, the first
part is: La ilaha illa Llah - 'there is no god except God';
ilaha (god) can refer to anything which we may be tempted to put in place of God
- wealth, power, and the like. Then comes illa Llah: 'except God',
the source of all Creation.


The second part of the Shahada is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the messenger of God.' A message of guidance has come through a man like ourselves.

2. 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 priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person who
knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain
verses from the Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of the
Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own
language.

Adhan
	New Mexico, U.S.A. Prayer call from Abiquiu Mosque.

Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset
and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire
day. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim
may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and
universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality
of prayers in daily life.


A translation of the Call to Prayer is:
God is most great. God is most great.
God is most great. God is most great.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)!
Come to success!
God is most great. God is most great.
There is no god except God.

3. THE 'ZAKAT'

Courtyard of Great Mosque, Herat, Afghanistan.

Zakat keeps the money flowing within a society, Cairo.

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 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.


Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakat
individually. For most purposes this involves the payment each year of
two and a half percent of one's capital.


A pious person may also give as much as he or she
pleases as sadaqa, and does so preferably in secret. Although
this word can be translated as 'voluntary charity' it has a wider
meaning. The Prophet said 'even meeting your brother with a cheerful
face is charity.'


The Prophet said: 'Charity is a
necessity for every Muslim.' He was asked: 'What if a person has
nothing?' The Prophet replied: 'He should work with his own hands for
his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in charity.'
The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to work?' The Prophet
said: 'He should help poor and needy
persons.' The Companions further asked 'What if he cannot do even that?'
The Prophet said 'He should urge others to do good.' The Companions
said 'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet said 'He should check
himself from doing evil. That is also charity.'

4. THE FAST



Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast
from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual
relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who
are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make up an
equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to
do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children
begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty, although many
start earlier.


Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, it
is regarded principally as a method of self purification. By cutting
oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting
person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in
one's spiritual life.

5. PILGRIMAGE (Hajj)

Pilgrims praying at the mosque in Makkah.

The annual pilgrimage to Makkah - the Hajj - is an
obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to
perform it. Nevertheless, over 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, the annual Hajj begins
in the twelfth month of the Islamic year (which is lunar, not solar, so
that Hajj and Ramadan fall sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter).
Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments which strip away
distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God.

Pilgrim tents during Hajj.

The rites of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin,
include circling the Ka'ba seven times, and going seven times between
the mountains of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar during her search for
water. Then the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Arafa and
join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a
preview of the Last Judgment.


In previous centuries the Hajj was an arduous
undertaking. Today, however, Saudi Arabia provides millions of people
with water, modern transport, and the most up-to-date health facilities.


The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid
al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in
Muslim communities everywhere. This, and the Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the main festivals of the Muslim calendar.


◊ Does Islam tolerate other beliefs?




The Quran says: God forbids you
not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive
you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God
loveth
those who are just. (Quran 60:


It is one function of Islamic law to protect the
privileged status of minorities, and this is why non-Muslim
places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History
provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when
the caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom
of worship to all religious communities in the city.


Islamic law also permits non-Muslim
minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws drawn
up by the minorities themselves.


◊ What do Muslims think about Jesus?



Muslims respect and revere Jesus, and await his Second
Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God's
messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as 'Jesus',
but always adds the phrase 'upon him be peace'. The Quran confirms his
virgin birth (a chapter of the Quran is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is
considered the purest woman in all creation. The Quran describes the
Annunciation as follows:


'Behold!' the Angel said, 'God has chosen you, and
purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God
gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the
Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and
one of those brought near to God. 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?' He said: 'Even so; God creates what He will. When
He decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is.' (Quran 3:42-47)




Jesus was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam into being without a father:


Truly, the likeness of Jesus with
God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to
him, 'Be!' and he was. (Quran 3:59)


During his prophetic mission Jesus performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said:


I have come to you with a sign
from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a
bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I
heal the blind, and the lepers and I raise the dead by God's leave.
(Quran 3:49)


Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the basic
doctrine of the belief in One God, brought by earlier prophets, but to
confirm and renew it. In the Quran Jesus is reported as saying that he
came:


To attest the law which was before
me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you; I have
come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me. (Quran
3:5O)


The Prophet Muhammad said:


Whoever believes there is no god
but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger, that
Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word
breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise
and Hell are true, shall be received by God 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
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 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 God said:


'The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to
his wife.'


◊ Can a Muslim have more than one wife?



The religion of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so accommodates widely differing social
requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another wife but the right is granted, according to the Quran, only on condition that the husband is scrupulously fair.


◊ 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 it 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 honor and blessing, and
an opportunity for great spiritual growth. God 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 honored: 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 Quran 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
or chide them, but speak to them in terms of honor and
kindness. Treat them with humility, and say, 'My Lord! Have mercy on
them, for they did care for me when I was little'.
(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 Judgment,
resurrection, Heaven and Hell. When a Muslim dies, he or she is 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 an
opportunity to remember their own brief
existence here on earth. The Prophet 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-defense, in defense 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 Muslims see it,
injustice would be triumphant in the world if good men were not prepared
to risk their lives in a righteous cause. The Quran says:


Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors. (2:190)


If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things. (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 egotistic desires, for the sake of attaining inner peace.


◊ What about food?



Although much simpler than the dietary law followed by
Jews and the early Christians, the code which Muslims
observe forbids the consumption of pig meat or any kind of intoxicating
drink. The Prophet taught that 'your body has rights over you', and the
consumption of wholesome food and the leading of a healthy lifestyle are
seen as religious obligations.


The Prophet said: 'Ask God for certainty [of faith] and well-being; for after certainty, no one is given any gift better than health!'


◊ How does Islam guarantee human rights?



Freedom of conscience is laid down by the Quran itself: 'There is no compulsion
in religion'. (2:256)


The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether a person is Muslim or
not.


Racism is incomprehensible to Muslims, for the Quran speaks of human equality in the following terms:


O 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 honored of you in
God's sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All
Aware (49:13)


◊ Islam in the United States



It is almost impossible to generalize about American
Muslims: converts, immigrants, factory workers, doctors; all are making
their own contribution to America's future. This complex community is
unified by a common faith, underpinned by a countrywide network of a
thousand mosques.

The Islamic Cultural Center, Washington DC.

Muslims were early arrivals in North America. By the
eighteenth century there were many thousands of them, working as slaves
on plantations. These early communities, cut off from their heritage and
families, inevitably lost their Islamic identity as time went by. Today
many Afro-American Muslims play an important role in the Islamic
community.


The nineteenth century, however, saw the beginnings of
an influx of Arab Muslims, most of whom settled in the
major industrial centers where they worshipped in hired rooms. The early
twentieth century witnessed the arrival of several hundred thousand
Muslims from Eastern Europe: the first Albanian mosque was opened in
Maine in 1915; others soon followed, and a group of Polish Muslims
opened a mosque in Brooklyn in 1928.


In 1947 the Washington Islamic Center was founded
during the term of President Truman, and several nationwide
organizations were set up in the fifties. The same period saw the
establishment of other communities whose lives were in many ways modeled
after Islam. More recently, numerous members of these groups have
entered the fold of Muslim orthodoxy. Today there are about five million Muslims in America.


◊ The Muslim World



The Muslim population of the world is around one
billion. 30% of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in
Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab World, 10% in
the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan comprise 10%
of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in
almost every area, including Latin America and Australia, they are most
numerous in the Soviet Union, India, and central Africa. There are 5
million Muslims in the United States.


O 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 honored of you in
God's sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing,
All-Aware. (Quran 49:13)

---