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Mankind and the universe were not created by accident
or chance, but according to the plan of the Creator, who is known as Allah
(lit.: the one God) in Islam. The Qur'an states that it is the duty of
all individuals to learn about Allah and to live according to His will.
As we cannot accomplish this be ourselves, Allah has sent messengers and
prophets to guide humanity All of these chosen individuals have brought
the same message and have served as examples to their people of how Allah
desires all human beings to live. Through these selected people, we have
been told why mankind was created, what will happen to us after death,
and what Allah expects of us. But most importantly, we have been told that
Allah is unique-He has no partners, no sons or daughters, and no competitors,
as so many other man-made religious systems have postulated. This message
always remains the same, whereas the laws laid down for a particular might
show some slight differences.
Muhammad, the last of Allah's prophets, was sent to present Allah's
revelation in its final form and for the last time. This was necessary
because the message delivered by the previous prophets and messengers had
been corrupted or distorted by their followers. They had been mixed with
philosophical speculations, superstitions, myths, and neglect. Therefore,
Islam is not a new religion-it is a restatement of the original religion
of Allah in its purest form and is designed to provide humanity with the
uncorrupted message of Allah.
Islam is an Arabic word that denotes submission and obedience to Allah.
It also means "peace," for it brings peace of mind as well as peace on
the individual and the social levels.
THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
In Islam, the term "worship" covers any action that one does in accordance
with the will of Allah. It can be mental, physical, spoken, or otherwise.
All such actions will be rewarded. There are five acts of worship that
are so fundamental that the Prophet grouped them together as the five pillars
of Islam. Every Muslim is expected to fulfill these obligations. They are:
The Declaration of Monotheism:
Recognizing and acknowledging the monotheistic nature of Allah stands
at the core of Islam. This consists of a public affirmation that "there
is no god but Allah (God), and Muhammad is His Messenger." One cannot be
a Muslim until he states this fact in the presence of Muslim witnesses.
Prayers:
A Muslim must perform the five daily prayers. These must be performed
at specific times, corresponding roughly with dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset,
and nightfall. The prayers can be made in any clean place, but it is preferable
to pray them with others in a mosque, for this communal undertaking acts
as a reminder that all Muslims are equal. When many people are praying
together, it becomes clear that color, economic status, social position,
and all other artificial distinctions have no importance to Allah, for
all Muslims are commanded to stand together, shoulder to shoulder, and
prostrate themselves before Him. There are no exceptions. Prayers also
elevated the individual to a higher level of morality, purifies his heart,
and helps him to resist his desire to engage in forbidden activities.
Fasting the Month of Ramadan:
Every year during the Muslim month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from
food, drink, and sexual activity from dawn to sunset. While this gives
the body a much needed rest and improves ones health by getting rid of
excess weight, it also increases ones commitment to Allah, develops his
social conscience, and reminds him of how the less fortunate live every
day In addition, it strengthens one's patience, self-restraint, will power,
and sincerity.
Charity (Zakat):
Every Muslim whose net annual savings are above a certain specified
minimum must pay an annual amount of 2.5% to the poor and needy This action
purifies one's accrued wealth, fosters the quality of sacrifice, and rids
him of selfishness and greed. It also helps to reduce resentment and envy
between a society's poor and rich classes.
Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah):
Hajj is an act of worship that is to be performed at least once in
a lifetime, provided that one is physically and financially able to do
so. During this time, Muslims meet from all corners of the world in an
international congregation for the sole purpose of responding to the call
of Allah. It also reminds the participants that all Muslims are equal,
irrespective of their geographical, cultural, or racial origins.
THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
All Muslims believe in:
The oneness of Allah. Allah has no partner, son, daughter, helper,
or competitor. There is nothing that even remotely resembles Him, for He
is unique.
All of the messengers and prophets of Allah. The Qur'an states that
each people has received revelation from Allah in its own tongue so that
all individuals know what is required of them. The Qur'an mentions twenty-five
of them by name, among them Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Issac, Jacob, Joseph,
Moses, David, Solomon, John, Jesus, and Muhammad. There are, however, many
others who are not named. Muhammad, the last prophet, was sent with a universal
message meant for all of humanity The message revealed through him is the
Qur'an, which is Allah's final presentation of the original revelation
received by mankind in its purest form. A Muslim must accept all of Allah's
prophets and messengers as legitimate, for denial of one means denial of
all. For western readers who are not convinced that Muhammad is a prophet
of Allah, proof of this claim can be found in the Bible (Deut. 18:15-18,
33:2-3; Isaiah 29:12; Songs of Solomon 5:16;John 14:1516, 16:12-14) as
well as in the biographical accounts of Muhammad's life, which was lived
in full view of his contemporaries.
The original messages revealed through Allah's various prophets and
messengers. The purest of these is the Qur'an, for it was recorded during
the lifetime of the Prophet and under his direct supervision. The revelations
mentioned in the Qur'an as having been received by other prophets, such
as the Suhuf of Abraham, the Torah of Moses, the Zubur (Psalms) of David,
and the Injeel (Bible) of Jesus, have all been either lost or corrupted.
The existence of angels as part of the unseen world. They are spiritual
beings who have no need for food, drink, or sleep.
The Day of Judgment. The Qur'an teaches that life is a test for each
individual, for everyone must choose whether he will or will not follow
the commands of Allah. On this day, a person will be resurrected and asked
to account for what he did while he was alive. Those with good records
will be rewarded and enter paradise, while those with bad records will
be punished by being sent to hell. This belief develops within the individual
an awareness of Allah's presence and a desire to obey His laws sincerely
and voluntarily.
A Muslim believes that nothing happens without the knowledge and permission
of Allah. While we may not understand why certain things happens, it is
part of the divine plan for our lives.
MUSLIMS: THE MODERATE NATION
Islam does not divide life into "spiritual" and "secular" realms. As
all of life is thus unified and interconnected, Islam avoids the dangers
of the extreme ritualism, secularism, or materialism that is found in other
civilizations. Activities are not classified as belonging to the state
or the individual, religion or daily life, but as belonging to Allah alone,
Who has provided guidelines for individuals. These are to be followed in
every aspect of their lives: individual, social, governmental, political,
economical, spiritual, and otherwise Reflecting this moderation, the Qur'an
has entitled the Muslims the "moderate nation. "
SOURCES OF ISLAMIC TEACHINGS
The Islamic way of life is based on the teachings and laws found in
the Qur'an and the example (Sunnah) of the Prophet Muhammad.
The Qur'an is the word of Allah and was revealed in potions to Muhammad,
via the Angel Gabriel, over a twenty-three year period. Each portion was
recorded in writing by his official scribes and memorized by thousands
of his followers. After his death, the written collection was given to
Abu Bark, the first caliph, who oversaw its collection into one volume.
The third caliph, Uthman, prepared several copies and sent them to different
Muslim territories. Ever since that time, the same version has been used
by Muslims. The wording, order, and language have never been altered in
the slightest manner. No other book claiming to be a divine revelation
can make this claim, and no one has ever been able to refute the claim
of the Qur'an to complete authenticity.
The Sunnah consists of the teachings, sayings, and actions of Prophet
Muhammad. This information was meticulously reported and collected by his
Companions. It is essentially an elaboration of the Qur'anic verses that
shows how they are to be implemented in one's daily life.
ISLAM: THE RELIGION OF EQUALITY
Islam recognizes no man-made artificial distinctions based on color,
tribe, race, nationality, or otherwise. As all people come from the original
couple-Adam and Eve-they are all one family and therefore equal before
God. What distinguishes people from each other is their commitment to Islam:
"The most honored in the sight of Allah is (he who is) most righteous."
(Qur'an 3:86).
ISLAM IS YOUR BIRTHRIGHT
Islam states clearly that everyone is born a Muslim and is therefore
monotheistic by nature. We read in the Qur'an that humanity has been created
with the natural disposition towards the unity of God. This is to be expected,
for Allah, who has breathed His spirit into each of us, is Himself the
example of perfect unity. In the words of the Prophet Muhammad: "Every
person is born with the innate religious faith (to submit to God Almighty)."
Thus when an individual accepts Islam, he is not turning his back on any
prior revelation but rather is returning to the original and true revelation
of Allah and to his own nature as a creation of Allah. This being the case,
Islam is your birthright-other religious or ideological systems are either
corruptions our outright denials of Islam.
CRITERIA FOR TRUTH
How do you know if your belief system is true? Take a moment to look
at the following list.
Are the teachings of your belief system rational? Do they conform
to the norms of human reason and intellect?
Is the creator of your belief system perfect? Allah, the creator of
Islam, is.
Does your belief system contain superstitions or myths? Islam presents
humanity with only true knowledge.
Can your belief system withstand the discoveries and claims of modern
science? Islam can and does.
How accurate are your belief system's prophecies and predications?
Islam's are always completely accurate.
Could a person have devised your belief system? No one has ever been
able to imitate the Qur'an, although many have tried over the centuries.
Islam is not a new religion founded by Muhammad, but a final restatement
of the original revelation that has been conveyed to humanity by messengers
and prophets sent by Allah for that very purpose: "This day I have perfected
your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for
you Islam as your religion" (5:3). As the Qur'an is the final revelation
and Muhammad is the final prophet, humanity is obligated to accept it:
"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted
of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have
lost all spiritual good" (3:86).
THE CHOICE IS YOURS TO MAKE!!!
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Islam and Muslims, contact: WAMY EUROPE: 46 Goodge Street, London W1T 4LU,
UK
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