Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Basics of Islam (Islam 101)

"There is none worthy of Worship but Allah, Muhammed is Allah's Messenger."The Muslim Creed

Opening Questions
What do you know about:
1. Allah?
2. Muhammed?
3. Islam?
4. Muslims?
5. The Qur’an?

Six Articles of Faith
1. Tawhid (oneness of God)
2. Messengers/prophets (from Adam to Muhammed)
3. Holy Books
a. Tourat (Torah/OT)
b. Zabur (Psalms)
c. Injeel (Gospels/NT)
d. The Qur’an
4. Angels. Four archangels are:
a. Jibraeel (Gabriel), equipper of messengers/prophets
b. Michaeel (Michael), in charge of food and rain
c. Izraeel, in charge of death
d. Israfeel, in charge of the Trumpet at the end of this world
5. The Day of Judgment
6. Qadar (decree of/ foreknowledge of God)

Five Pillars of Islam
1. Shahada (declaration of faith)
2. Salat (prayer)
3. Zakat (alms)
4. Soum (fast)
5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)


Miscellaneous
1. Muhammed was born in Mecca AD 570
2. He died in Madina in 632
3. At age forty, he became the prophet of Islam
4. Muslims believe the Qur’an to be a revelation from Allah to Muhammed
5. The Prophet's sayings (Hadith), are also believed to be a revelation
6. Because of severe persecution, Muhammed and his followers emigrated in 622 to Medina, 260 miles to the north of Mecca. This event, the Hijrah (migration), marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
7. 1.2 billion Muslims (1 out of every 5 people on earth)
8. Muslims have two main branches:
a. Sunni: majority of Muslims belong to this faction
b. Shiate: this faction is minority among Muslims. Most of them live in Persia.
9. Islam is generally peaceful
10. Saudi Arabia is the biggest supporter and producer of Islamic militancy—the Wahabi sect.
11. Best way to witness to Muslims is through friendship

Selected passages from the Qur’an:
"...[T]hose who believe (in the message of Islam), and the Jews, the Sabaeans, and the Christians - all those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and act righteously - no fear shall come upon them..." [5:69]

"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." [3:59]

"Behold!' the Angel said, God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. 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 in the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and he shall be of the righteous. She said: "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." [3:42-47]

"When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): "Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?"- They said: "Yea! We do testify!" (This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: "Of this we were never mindful": Or lest ye should say: "Our fathers before us may have taken false gods, but we are (their) descendants after them: wilt Thou then destroy us because of the deeds of men who were futile?" (7:172-173).

"I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me." (51:56).

"Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allah.s (Which is Islam), and he joined not gods with Allah." (3:67).

"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") (3:85).

"When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way." (2:186).

Say: "I [Muhammad] have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah willeth. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me: I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith." (7:188).

Selected passages from the sayings (Hadith) of Muhammad:
"Whoever believes there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is a 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. [Bukhari]

"To pursue knowledge is obligatory on every believing (man and woman)." [Ibn Majah]

"Removing a harmful thing from the road is charity." [Bukhari, Muslim]

"Those who do not show tenderness and love cannot expect to have tenderness shown to them." [Bukhari]

"Adore Allah (God) as though you see Him; even if you do not see Him, He nonetheless sees you." {Bukhari, Muslim]

"Verily, to honor an old man is showing respect to God." (Muslim)

"Are there rewards for doing good to quadrupeds, and giving them water to drink?" Muhammad said, "Verily there are heavenly rewards for any act of kindness to a live animal." (Bukhari)

"Heaven lieth at the feet of mothers." (Muslim)
He who wishes to enter Paradise at the best door must please his father and mother. (Ibid)

"A man is bound to do good to his parents, although they may have injured him." (Ibid)


Source: BLib 9152

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