Friday, November 21, 2008

ISLAM IS..................

Al-Haramain Foundation | Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 60 | Size: 1 MB
The Arabic word Islam literally means ‘surrender’ or ‘submission.’ Islam, as a faith, means total and sincere surrender to God so that one can live in peace and tranquility. Peace (Salam in Arabic, Shalom in Hebrew) is achieved through active obedience to the revealed commandments of God, for God is The Just, The Peace. The name Islam is universal in meaning. Islam is not named after a tribe of people or an individual, as Judaism is named after the tribe of Judah, Christianity after Christ and Buddhism after Buddha. Islam is not a name chosen by human beings; it was divinely communicated from God. Islam is a global faith, not of the East or the West. Islam is a complete way of life, implying total submission to God. One who surrenders his or her will to God, voluntarily, is called a Muslim. It was not Muhammad (SAW) but Adam (S.A) who first brought Islam to humanity. Then, each Prophet and Messenger came to exhort the people to a clear understanding of God’s commandments. They offered teachings relevant to that time, until God chose the final Prophet, Muhammad (SAW), to come with the Last Testament referred to as the Qur'an. Allah is an Arabic word, meaning ‘The One and Only True Deity’, the proper name of The One who created the heavens and the earth. Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians also call God by the name Allah. For a Muslim, Allah is the greatest and most inclusive of names for God, denoting The One who is adored in worship, The One who created all that exists.

Preface:


The purpose of this work is to present the authentic teachings of Islam. We do not present any specific version or a unique interpretation of Islam. We present Islam as it is, without sugarcoating, and we allow it to stand on its own merits. There is only one Islam and only one example of how it is to be lived -that of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Our intention is to provide a basic overview of the main tenets of Islam as given in the Qur'an and as exemplified by the Prophet (SAW). We also intend to address some of the commonly asked questions about Islam.

Despite the fact that over one-fifth of the world’s population is Muslim, Islam is often misunderstood and misrepresented in contemporary Western societies. It is hoped that this work will help shed light on Islam as it was divinely communicated to Muhammad (SAW) and dispel any commonly held misconceptions that perpetuate prejudice and hatred. We write this booklet in the hope that people of all faiths will join us in making this a world of tolerance, kindness, understanding, and peace.


The symbol (SAW) means ‘Peace and Blessings be upon him (or them)’. It is an Islamic tradition to offer blessings of peace to all the Prophets and Messengers of God. To respect God’s representatives is to respect God.

Contents:

Preface 5
What Is Islam? 6
Monotheism 8
The Oneness of God in His Lordship (Omnipotence) 8
The Devotion of All Worship to the One God Alone 9
The Uniqueness and Oneness of God in His Names and Attributes 11
The Six Articles of Faith 14 Belief in God 14
Belief in His Angels 14
Belief in His Books 15
Belief in His Prophets and Messengers 16
Belief in the Day of Judgment 18
Belief in Divine Decree 19
The Free Will of the Human Being 21
There Is No Compulsion in Religion 22
The Five Pillars of Islam 23
The Declaration of Faith (Shahadah) 23
Praying Five Times a Day (Salah)24
Paying the Yearly Alms (Zakah) 25
Fasting During Ramadan (Sawm) 26
Making the Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj) 26
The Qur'an 28 The Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah (Peace be upon him) 32
The Dangers of Innovations in Islam (Bid'ah) 34
The Story of Adam and Eve 36 Jesus (Peace be upon him) 39
Sin and Repentance 41
Organizational Structure of Islam 43
Islamic Law 45
The Islamic Dress Code 47
Women in Islam 49
Male Chauvinism and the Muslim World 51
Science and Technology 54
Summary 56 Editor’s Note 58

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