Abdiwahab Rashid

The Word “Allah”:

Allah is an Arabic word the means God. Muslims also believe that Allah is the personal name of God.

Concept of God:

The Islamic concept of God is that He is Loving, Merciful, and Compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is Just and Swift in Punishment. nevertheless, Allah once said to Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), “My mercy prevails over my wrath.” Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from complacency and despair.

Meaning of Islam:

Islam means peace through the submission to God.

Meaning of Muslim:

Muslim means anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God.

Five Pillars of Islam:

There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim:

1. Declaration of faith that there is no god but Allah

and Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is His

Prophet.

2. Formal prayer five times a day.

3. Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of

Ramadan.

4. Poor-due “tax” - 2.5% of one’s savings to the

needy at the end of each year.

5. Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically

and financially able.

Six Articles of Faith in Islam:

There are six articles of faith in Islam. These are the basic beliefs that one must have in order to be considered a true Muslim. They are:

1. Belief in the One God “Allah”

2. Belief in the angels.

3. Belief in the original scriptures revealed to

prophets: Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad

(Peace Be Upon them All).

4. Belief in all the prophets of God.

5. Belief in the Day of Judgement and the Hereafter.

6. Belief in the divine decree ( or destiny).

Fastest Growing Religion:

Islam is one of the fastest growing religion in the world. To become Muslim, a person of any race or culture must say a simple statement (the shahadah), that bears witness to belief in “ there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was the last Prophetof God.”

Allah - The Universal Name for God:

Allah is not the God of Muslim only. He is the God of all people and all creations. Just because people refer to God using different terms does not mean that they are different gods.

Qur’an - The Unaltered Revelation:

The Holy Qur’an has no flaws or contradictions. The original Arabic scriptures have never been changed or tampered with.

Law of Personal Responsibility:

Muslims do not believe in the concept of “vicariousatonement” but rather believe in the law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches the each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day ofJudgement Muslims believe that every person will be resurrected and will have to answer to God for their every word, thought and deed. Consequently, apracticing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.

Actual Seventh Century Qur’an:

Actual Seventh Century Qur’an, complete and intact, are on display in museums in Turkey and many other places around the world.

Muslims Worship only One God:

Muslims neither worship Muhammad nor pray through him. Muslims solely worship the unseen and Omniscient Creator, Allah.

Revelations of God:

Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and the original Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, none of those original scriptures are in existence today, in their entirety. Therefore, Muslims follow the subsequent, final, and preserved revelation of God, the Holy Qur’an.

Five Daily Prayers:

In the five daily prayers, Muslims face the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. It is a cube-shaped stone structure that was originally built by Prophet Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first house of worship on earth dedicated to the worship of one god. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It serves as a central focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus and direction. Interestingly, the inside of the Kaaba is empty.

From Adam to Jesus - All Prophets:

Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the prophets of old, from Adam to Jesus. Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (islam) to different people at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were muslims because they submitted their wills to God.

A Way of Life:

Islam is a complete way of life governs all facts of life:moral, spiritual, social, political, economical and intellectual, etc.

Head-covering (Hijab):

Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfillment of God’s decree to dress modestly. This type of modest dress has been worn by righteous women throughout history.

Women Rights in Islam:

Islam grants women numerous rights in the home and in society. Among them are the right to earn money, to financial support, to education, to an inheritance, to being treated kindly, to vote, to a dowry, to keep their maiden name, to worship in a mosque, etc.

Marriage and Divorce:

Arranged marriage are allowed in Islam but are not required. Whereas “forced” marriage, usually stemming from cultural practice, are forbidden. Divorce is permissible, however, reconciliation is what is most encouraged. But if there are irreconcilable differences then Islam permits a fair and just divorce.

Islamic Pilgrimage - Hajj:

The Hajj is a simultaneous pilgrimage to the Kaaba made by millions of Muslims each year. It is performed to commemorate the struggles of Abraham, Ismail and Hagar in submitting their wills

to God.

99 Names of Allah:

Muslims believe that God has revealed 99 of His names (or attributes) in the Holy Qur’an. It is through these names that one can come to know the Creator. A few of these names are: the All-Merciful, the All-Knower, the Protector, the Provider, The Hearing, the Seeing, the Judge, The Most Kind, The Creator, Forgiving, The Wise,The One, The Watchful, The Resurrector, The Absolute Truth, The Restorer, The Giver of Life, The Giver of Death, The All Powerful, The First, The Last, The Bestower, Giver of Peace, The Mighty, The Sustainer and Provider, The all Knowing, The Exalter, The Protector, The Everlasting ...