A: Islam means "submission to the will of God." It is a religion that believes in only one God, the Day of Judgment, and individual accountability for actions. Islam greatly values peace; in fact the traditional Muslim greeting is "Salaam" which means "peace."
Q: What are the basic teachings of Islam?
A: The basic
teachings of Islam are similar to those of
Christianity and Judaism. Islam teaches the
belief in one God, the Angels, the Day of
Judgment, Heaven and Hell, Adam and Eve,
Prophets, Prayer, and Equality.
There are
5 Pillars of Islam:
Faith:
Believe in
one God and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
as his last messenger
Prayer:
Pray towards Mecca five times each day
to remember God and thank him for his grace
Charity:
Donate a portion of your wealth to the poor
Fasting: Go
without food and drink from sunrise to sunset
during the month of Ramadan to empathize with
the poor and learn self-discipline
Pilgrimage: Visit
Mecca and perform the Hajj once in a lifetime,
if you are able and have the means
These 5 Pillars are built on the Articles of
Faith:
God:
There is only one God with no associate or
partner. All that happened in the past, is
happening now and is going to happen in the
future is by the will of God.
The Angels of God:
Angels can only do only good and serve God
The Books of God:
This includes the Torah, the Psalms given to
David, The Bible and gospels revealed to Jesus
(peace be upon them) and recorded by his
disciples, and the Quran the holy book of Islam.
Prophets of God:
Muslims believe that there were thousands of
prophets who preached God’s message. Muslims
believe in all of the prophets mentioned in the
Torah and the Bible including Noah, Abraham,
Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them). We also
believe that Muhammad was the last prophet for
all humanity and completed the message of God
started by Adam (peace be upon him).
Day of Resurrection or
Judgment Day: Muslims believe that
all mankind will be raised back to life and
judged by God. Those whose good deeds outweigh
their bad deeds will be rewarded and those whose
bad deeds outweigh their good deeds will be
dealt with according to God’s judgment.
Power of doing Good or Evil:
Humans are given intelligence and the knowledge
of right and wrong actions. The free will and
conscience of each individual is their guide.
Life after Death:
The eternal life in heaven where one will be
rewarded for living a righteous life on Earth,
or the fire of hell where one will be punished
for the evils that one committed (that one did
not repent).
Q: When was
Islam started?
A: Contrary to
popular belief, Islam was not started by
Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the 7th century.
Muslims, the followers of Islam, believe that
Islam was first followed by Adam, then by all of
the prophets thereafter. Muslims believe that
the same basic message of belief in one God was
communicated through many prophets including
Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace
be upon them) over time.
Q: What is a Muslim?
A: A "Muslim" is
one who follows Islam and submits to the will of
God.
Q: How
many Muslims are there?
A: There are
currently 1.2 billion Muslims in the world, with
7 million in the United States. Contrary to
popular perception, only 20% of Muslims are
Arabs and live in the Middle East. The countries
with the largest Muslim populations are India
and Indonesia with about 175 million Muslims
each.
Q: Who is "Allah"
A: "Allah" is
simply the Arabic word for God, the same God
worshiped by Christians and Jews. It is the God
of Abraham and Moses, not a different God.
Christian Arabs also refer to God as "Allah".
Q: What is
the Quran/Koran?
A: The Quran is
the holy book of Islam. Muslims believe that the
Quran was divinely revealed and is the last
testament of God. The Quran is preserved in its
original Arabic form and has never been changed,
and it is the living miracle of the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Q: What are Hadiths?
A: Hadiths are
the sayings of the prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him).
Q: Who was Muhammad?
A: Muslims
believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a
prophet and the last in a series of messengers
of God. Muslims believe in many prophets
including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac,
Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them).
Muhammad was born in Mecca in the year 570 CE,
during the period of history Europeans call the
Middle Ages. Muhammad was the son of 'Abd Allah,
a noble from the tribe of the Quraysh.
Muhammad's father died before Muhammad's birth,
and his mother, Aminah died shortly afterwards.
Muhammad was raised by his uncle, Abu Talib.
As he grew up, Muhammad became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, earning the title of al Amin, the trustworthy one. Muhammad was frequently called upon to arbitrate disputes and counsel his fellow Meccans
Muhammad was of a contemplative 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 Mecca
Q: How did Muhammad become Prophet and Messenger
of God?
A: At the age of
40, while engaged in a meditative retreat,
Muhammad (peace be upon him) received his first
revelation from God through the Archangel
Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for
twenty-three years, is known as the Qur'an.
Muhammad began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him. The people of Mecca were steeped in their ways of ignorance and opposed Muhammad and his small group of followers in every way. These early Muslims suffered bitter persecution.
In the year 622 CE, God gave the Muslim community the command to emigrate. This event, the hijrah or migration, in which they left Mecca for the city of Medina, some 260 miles to the North, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
Madinah provided Muhammad and the Muslims the safe and nurturing haven in which the Muslim community grew. After several years, the Prophet and his followers returned to Mecca where they forgave their enemies and dedicated the Ka'bah to the worship of the One God. 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.
Q: What is Hajj?
A: The
pilgrimage to Mecca (the Hajj) is an obligation
only for those who are physically and
financially able to do so. Nevertheless, over
two million people go to Mecca each year from
every corner of the globe providing a unique
opportunity for those of different nations to
meet one another.
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 that strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God.
The rites of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include going around the Ka'bah seven times, and going seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar (Hajir, Abraham's wife) during her search for water. The pilgrims later stand together on the wide plains of 'Arafat (a large expanse of desert outside Mecca) and join in prayer for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought as a preview of the Day of Judgment.
The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the 'Id al Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. This and the 'Id al Fitr, a festive day celebrating the end of Ramadan, are the two holidays of the Islamic calendar.
Q: What does Islam say about Christians and
Jews?
A: Islam
teaches that Jews, Christians, and Muslims are
all descended from Abraham and are "People of
the Book". By that it means that the three
religions share the same basic beliefs
articulated through their holy books. Muslims
hold Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them)
in high regard and believe that they were
prophets who performed certain miracles by the
permission of God to show the glory of God and
prove they were authentic.
Q:
What is an Islamic Fundamentalist?
A: This
term has no basis in Islam. This term is
incorrectly used in the media to refer to some
Middle Eastern people and does not represent
Muslims.
Q: What
does Islam say about War?
A: 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 that 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 people
were not prepared to risk their lives in a
righteous cause.
"And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for God. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrongdoers." (Qur'an 2:193)
"If they seek peace, then you seek peace. And trust in God for He is the One that hears and knows all things." (Qur'an 8:61)
War is therefore the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The often misunderstood and overused term jihad literally means "struggle" and not "holy war" (a term not found anywhere in the Qur'an). Jihad, as an Islamic concept, can be on a personal level- inner struggle against evil within oneself; struggle for decency and goodness on the social level; and struggle on the battlefield, if and when necessary.
Q: How
does Islam view terrorism?
A: Islam
does not support terrorism under any condition
or circumstances. Terrorism goes against every
principle of Islam. Islam is meant to bring
peace to individuals and society. If a
Muslim engages in terrorism he is not following
the religion and he will be accountable for that
in this world and surely on the Day of Judgement..
He may be wrongly using the name of Islam for
political or financial gain.
Q: How does Islam view killing innocent people?
A:
Islam does not condone the
killing of innocent people under any condition
or circumstances. It is one of the greatest sins
in Islam. What some people do is contrary to
Islam; they follow their own desires and anger,
not Islam.
Q: How
does Islam view suicide?
A: Islam
states that life is a gift from God and must be
cherished. Suicide is a major sin in Islam and
not permitted.
Q: What is "Jihad"?
A: Jihad does
not mean "holy war". Jihad in Arabic means to
strive, struggle and exert effort. It is a
central and broad Islamic concept that includes
struggle against evil inclinations within
oneself, struggle to improve the quality of life
in society, for self-defense or fighting against
tyranny or oppression.
Q: What is a
"Fatwa"?
A: A "Fatwa"
is a religious ruling to a question based on
Islamic law and issued by Islamic scholars.
Q: How does
Islam view women?
A:
Islam teaches that women must be respected and
protected. Islam does not condone oppression of
women but to the contrary provides many rights
to women. In some Middle Eastern countries women
may be limited in certain rights. This is not
due to Islam but due to the culture of that
area.
According to the Qur'an, men and women are equal before God; women are not blamed for violating the "forbidden tree," nor is their suffering in pregnancy and childbirth a punishment for that act.
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 marital gift is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she may keep her own family name rather than adopting her husband's. Roles of men and women are complementary and collaborative. Rights and responsibilities of both sexes are equitable and balanced in their totality.
Both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is simple, modest and dignified; specific traditions of female dress found in some Muslim countries are often the expression of local customs rather than religious principle. Likewise, treatment of women in some areas of the Muslim world sometimes reflects cultural practices which may be inconsistent, if not contrary, to authentic Islamic teachings.
The messenger of God
said:
"The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he
who is best in manner and kindest to his wife."
Q: Why do Muslim women cover their hair?
A: Islam
teaches modesty for women and men. Women are
required to cover their bodies so that their
figure is not revealed and that only their face
and hands are shown. This requirement is
designed to protect women and give them respect.
The dress Christian Nuns, who also cover their
bodies and hair, is very similar to
that of of Muslim women.
Q:
How does Islam view human rights?
A: Freedom of
conscience is laid down by the Qur'an itself:
"There is no compulsion in religion. Truth
stands out clearly from falsehood; whoever
rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the
most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks.
And God is All-Hearing and All-Knowing." (Qur'an
2:256)
The life, honor and property of all citizens in a Muslim society are considered sacred whether the person is Muslim or not. Racism and sexism are incomprehensible to Muslims, for the Qur'an speaks of human equality in the following terms:
"O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into peoples 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." (Qur'an 49:13)
Q: What is a
Mosque/Masjid?
A: A Mosque
or Masjid is a place of worship for Muslims.
Muslims pray in a mosque similar to the way that
Christians pray in a church, for example.
Q:
Where can I learn more about Islam?
A: Also, you can check the
Islam links
page for more information.
above adapted from
www.islamfaq.org