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Manal Fatima December 6, 2019 -
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WHAT IS ISLAM?
Islam is an Arabic term which means to submit ones will to the will of God. Islam teaches us that there is only one Divine, one supreme power of this universe. Islam is a complete religion who teaches us all aspects of our lives, who teaches us how to behave in every aspects of life individual, social, material, moral, ethical, legal, cultural, political, economical, and global.
WHAT IS A MUSLIM?
A Muslim is the one who offers prayers 5 times a day, who knows that ALLAH is one, and Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is HIS last messenger, no one is HIS partner.
For a person to become a Muslim and accept Islam as their faith, they must say and believe in the following phrase:
لآ اِلَهَ اِلّا اللّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُوُل اللّهِ
La ilaha illa Allah. Muhammad rasool Allah
This sentence literally means There is no God but ALLAH and Muhammad is HIS messenger. The sentence also means There is none worthy of worship except ALLAH, and Muhammad is HIS messenger. The moment a person says this phrase and begins to act upon it they become a Muslim.
WHO IS ALLAH?
ALLAH is the name God Almighty has given HIMSELF as is mentioned many times in the HOLY QURAN.
Say: He is ALLAH, (the) One; ALLAH, the Eternal; HE did not beget (give birth) and HE was not begotten (given birth to); And there has never been anyone equal to HIM.
Qu'ran, Chapter 112, Verses 1 - 4
Muslims believes that ALLAH is one, HE has no partner, HE has the authority on this universe. Who will worship ALLAH, ALLAH has reward for him in this world and for the next world too.
ALLAH said in HIS HOLY QURAN:
Truly, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous good deeds to Gardens underneath which rivers flow (in Paradise), wherein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls and their garments therein will be of silk.
Qur'an, Chapter 22, Verse 23
THE HOLY QURAN:
A core belief taught in Islam is that human beings are unique from among Gods creation. We have the ability to think freely and choose to behave in any way we wish. In order to communicate and guide mankind, ALLAH sends Prophets and Messengers with scriptures to teach mankind about the true message.
The Holy Quran is the last revelation from ALLAH sent to all of mankind and it was revealed to his final messenger, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).
Muslims believe that Islam is not a new religion, but rather a continuation and completion of the message revealed to the Prophets of the past.
ALLAH teaches in the Quran:
Say (O Muhammad): We believe in ALLAH and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail, Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqub (Jacob) and Al-Asbat [the twelve sons of Yaqub (Jacob)] and what was given to Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to HIM (ALLAH) we have submitted (in Islam).
Quran, Chapter 3, Verse 84
And in another verse ALLAH tells us that Islam is the final message for mankind:
This day have I (ALLAH) perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.
Quran, Chapter 5, Verse 3
The Holy Quran contains 114 chapters and it was revealed over 1,400 years ago to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).
PROPHET MUHAMMAD (S.A.W):
When this world was created ALLAH sent HIS messengers on Earth for the guidance of mankind. ALLAH has sent 1,24,000 messengers on different nations, and Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is the last messenger of ALLAH and HOLY QURAN is his book. ALLAH has completed HIS religion on him, he is the role model for us. His lived his life according to Islam and Quran and told us how to live in this world and become a successfull person not in this world but in the next one too.
The chain of prophethood began with Adam and ended with Muhammad (S.A.W), the final Prophet of ALLAH. He was born in Makkah in the year 570, about six centuries after Jesus. He grew up to be known as an honest and truthful person throughout the city. When he reached the age of 40 he was chosen to be a Prophet of Allah. He was chosen at a time when mankind had turned away from the original message of Islam that the previous Prophets had come with. ALLAH sent Hazrat Jibrael to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) to spread the correct message of ALLAH. ALLAH gave Muhammad (S.A.W) the ability to carry on the message successfully and today 1.6 billion believe in this faith. They are grateful for the blessing of calling themselves Muslim.
5 Pillars of Islam:
The religion of Islam stands on five pillars. It is recorded that the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said:
Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the salah (prayer), paying the zakat (obligatory charity), making the hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadan.
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)
The 5 pillars of Islam:
Belief
Prayer
Zakat
Fasting
Hajj
Explanations:
Belief (Tawheed):
Tawheed (pronounced tow-heed) is an Arabic term which refers to the unique belief in the oneness of God. It refers to the belief that there is only one divine being that is worthy of worship — Allah. When Muslims mention the name of Allah, they are calling out to the one true God of the universe. Tawheed is the first and the most important pillar of the five pillars of Islam.
The testimony of faith is a single statement:
لآ اِلَهَ اِلّا اللّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُوُل اللّهِ
Laa ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasoolullah
This sentence means There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger.
There are two parts of the first half of the testimony of faith. Lets break it down:
Part 1:
لآ اِلَهَ اِلّا اللّهُ
Laa ilaha illa Allah
Laa ilaha illa Allah which means there is no god but Allah or none has the right to be worshipped except Allah. With this phrase, you are affirming that Allah alone is the Creator, Ruler, and Sustainer of all things, and He alone is deserving of our worship.
Part 2:
مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُوُل اللّهِ
Muhammad Rasoolullah
The second half of the testimony of faith means Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. It also means to follow what he says, obey him in what he orders us to do, to stay away from what he forbids, and to worship Allah only in ways that were legislated. You also believe that Allah sent his Messenger (S.A.W), revealed the Quran to him, and commanded him to call the people to Tawheed (belief in the oneness of God).
2. Prayer:
The prayer is the second most important pillar in Islam, and it is the first thing that a person will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment.
If the persons prayer is good, then that person will be successful. But if the persons prayer is incorrect in some way, then that person will have achieved failure. There are five obligatory prayers that every sane adult Muslim has to observe every day.
Allah tells us about these prayers in the Quran:
Guard strictly (five obligatory) the prayers especially the middle prayer (i.e. Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience.
Qur'an - Chapter 2, Verse 238
The five daily prayers are:
Fajr (early morning, before dawn)
Duhr (mid-day, just after noon)
Asr (mid afternoon)
Maghrib (just after sunset)
Isha (at night, after dark has fallen)
The prayer is the link between a person and Allah. It is an intimate relationship a person has with His Creator and it should be performed to the best of ones ability.
3. Zakaat:
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. It is a specified portion of a Muslims wealth that is given to those in need. It is the amount given once a year to support specific categories of people. The amount is about 2.5% of total wealth which includes the following asset classes:
Gold and silver
Precious metals
Stocks and shares
Real estate
Cash
Agricultural livestock
"and estblish prayer and give zakaah and bow with those who bow (in worship and obidence)"
QURAN-CHAPTER 2, VERSE 43
4. Fasting:
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam. It is the practice of not eating food and drinking water until the sun set. Fasting is obligatory for every normal Muslim rather male r female.
Allah says in the Quran:
"O you who believe! Observing the fast is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious"
Quran - Chapter 2, Verse 183
The month of Ramadan is a great month as it was the period in which Allah revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). The reward for good deeds, acts of charity and acts of worship are multiplied in this month.
5. Hajj:
The fifth and final pillar of Islam is to perform the hajj. Every year millions of Muslims make their way to the Kaba, the Sacred House of ALLAH in Makkah to perform the hajj. It is one of the most significant forms of worship in Islam and it demonstrates unity among the Muslims. This action is required from every Muslim to perform at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially capable. It is a deed that requires much time and energy from a person which is why it is required to be done only once in a lifetime. The reward for performing hajj is great.
The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said concerning the reward of hajj:
He who performs Hajj seeking Allahs pleasure and avoids all lewdness and sins (therein) will return after Hajj free from all sins, just as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him.
