حول العالم مع عم مصيلحي

**دانة** · 2011-01-30 09:03 PM

What do you really know about Islam and Muslims?

What do you really know about Islam and Muslims?

What does Islam actually teach about Allah (Almighty God), Jesus, the purpose of life,the treatment of women, or the perpetration of terrorism? Who are Muslims, where do they come from, and What have they contributed to the world?

You may think you have a pretty good idea – after all, you can hardly switch on the TV or pick up a newspaper these days without the words “Islam” or “Muslim” being mentioned in some con####. But how authentic is the information you are receiving?

Does the talking head on the network news have his facts right about Islamic teachings? Does the angry man with the AK-47 represent Muslims? Are these reliable sources on which to base your understanding?

This concise booklet separates the wheat from the chaff. It is written by Muslim New Yorkers, in order to explain the basic foundations of Islamic belief and life. It is based on authoritative sources that Muslims all over the world have accepted for the last 1400 years

If you are ####### to let others do your thinking for you, or you want to stick to preconceived ideas despite the facts, then perhaps this booklet is not for you –

please feel free to pass it on to someone else. But if you want to know the truth about the fastest growing religion in America – the faith of one fifth of the world’s population, then read on. All we ask is that you do so with an open mind.

What do you really know about Islam and Muslims?

**دانة** · 2011-01-30 10:41 PM

Islam and Muslims

Islam is an Arabic word which means ‘submission to the Will of Allah (Almighty God)’.Islam comes from the same root as the word Salam”, meaning peace. Therefore, the name of the religion itself carries a deep spiritual meaning – true peace can be achieved through knowing Allah (Almighty God), obeying His Commands, and ensuring that all acts of worship are directed towards no one but Him
.

The central teaching of Islam is that Allah (Almighty God), the One, the Unique,Incomparable Creator of all that exists, alone is worthy of all worship. Hence, Islam is not a new religion, but a continuation of the clear and profound message of pure monotheism revealed by Allah (Almighty God) throughout history to all of His prophets, including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. With the revelation of the Qur’an,
Allah’s final message to mankind, this primordial religion received a name: Islam. Allah (Almighty God) says: This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor unto you, and have chosen for you as religion Islam [Qur'an
5:3].

The laws that Allah (Almighty God) revealed to each prophet differed according to the needs of the community to which he was sent, but the religion was the same – submission to the Will of Allah (Almighty God): Islam. Allah (Almighty God) says:And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): Serve Allah and shun false gods [Qur'an 16:36].

Thus, the religion of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, was Islam. Muhammad was therefore the final, not the first, prophet of Islam. Through his prophethood, Allah’s divinely revealed religion was perfected and completed for all mankind.

**دانة** · 2011-01-30 10:46 PM

This continuity is reflected in the 6 core articles of faith in Islam:

. Belief in Allah (Almighty God)
. Belief in the Angels
. Belief in the Scriptures
. Belief in the Prophets
. Belief in the Life Hereafter
. Belief in Divine Predestination
It is also reflected in the 5 pillars of Islam, which form the basic structure of an Islamic life:

Testimony of faith – to declare: “There is none worthy of worship except Allah:Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”
Prayer
Fasting
Charity
Pilgrimage to Mecca – at the heart of which lies the first building established for the worship of Allah (Almighty God), built by Abraham and his son Ishmael

A Muslim is ‘one who submits to the Will of Allah (Almighty God)’. Anyone, in any period of history, who has submitted to the Will of Allah (Almighty God) is thus considered a Muslim. Hence, all of the prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus,and Muhammad, were Muslims.

**دانة** · 2011-01-30 10:53 PM

In the past, Muslims were often mistakenly referred to as “Muhammadans” by
Europeans. This was due to the widespread propagation of a malicious distortion over several centuries claiming that Muslims worship Muhammad, just as Christians worship Jesus. Of course, this is antithetical to the most basic teaching of Islam - a Muslim is absolutely not permitted to worship anything besides Allah (Almighty God).

Today, there are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world, which is 22% of the world’s population. Islam is predicted to become the religion with the most adherents worldwide by 2050. It is estimated that over 6 million Muslims live in America. A common misconception is that all Muslims are Arabs, another is that all Arabs are Muslims. In fact, only 18% of Muslims are Arabs. Whilst most Arabs are Muslims, they are not exclusively so. Millions of Arabs are Christians - the majority of Arabs in
America are in fact from Christian backgrounds.

Muslims come from all races and ethnicities – Bosnians, Nigerians, Egyptians, Chinese, Indians and many others. The country with the highest Muslim population is Indonesia in south-east Asia, with over 210 million - more Muslims than in all the Arab countries combined. Islam is, and always has been, a universal faith intended for all mankind - the companions of Muhammad included Arabs, Persians, Africans and Byzantine Romans. Thousands of Americans of varying heritage - European, Asian, Latino, African and other – convert to Islam every year, adding to the rich tapestry of the Muslim world.

**دانة** · 2011-01-30 11:08 PM

Allah

A major misconception held by many is that “Allah” is the God of Muslims, and is different to the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. This is patently and demonstrably false. There is only One God, and “Allah” is simply the Arabic word that means “God”. Arabic speaking Christians and Jews also refer to God as “Allah” - the Bible in Arabic uses “Allah” for God.

The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief in Allah - the Almighty God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. One of the unique aspects of Islam is that it is absolutely uncompromising on the Oneness and Uniqueness of Allah (Almighty God). He is the Sole Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, with no other being sharing in
His Lordship. His attributes are free of all imperfection, and beyond any similarity to His Creation. Allah (Almighty God) says: There is nothing like Him and He hears and sees all things [Qur’an 42:11]. In Islam, God is God, and the creation is creation – they are not mixed together in some unintelligible fashion.

Given these attributes, Allah Almighty God) alone - not any idol, human being, or anything else - is worthy of all worship. Allah (Almighty God) says: Know, therefore,that there is no god who deserves to be worshiped except Allah; and ask forgiveness for your sins [Qur’an 47:19]. Some other religions also believe in Allah (Almighty God), but they violate this belief by worshipping others alongside Him, which is, as all of the prophets taught, the worst possible sin.

The Islamic concept of Allah (Almighty God) is therefore straightforward and easy to understand - free of irrational, mysterious or confusing ideas. That there is only One God, not a Trinity or a multitude of deities, is an idea that any person - whether a layman, or a scholar, can understand without difficulty.

The attributes of Allah Almighty God), so clearly expressed in the Qur’an, correspond perfectly to man’s innate predisposition towards recognizing and worshipping Him alone. Islam’s pure monotheistic belief means that Muslims experience and maintain a close and direct relationship with Allah (Almighty God), free of any intermediaries. There are no middlemen between the Muslim and Allah (Almighty God). When a Muslim prays, he prays only to Him, and if he seeks forgiveness, he seeks it only from Him. Allah (Almighty God) says: Call on Me and I will answer you [Qur’an 40:60].

**دانة** · 2011-01-30 11:16 PM

The Purpose of Life

What is the meaning of life? Why do we exist? These are questions that most people ask at some time in their lives. Allah (Almighty God) gives us a clear answer: And I created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me [Qur’an 51:56]. Allah (Almighty God) is our Creator, and our purpose in life is to know and worship Him. When we realize our purpose in life and act accordingly, we achieve our full potential as human beings. We gain peace in this life, and salvation in the hereafter.

Worship in Islam is a comprehensive term that includes everything that Allah Almighty God) loves and is pleased with, whether it is a belief, a word, or a deed. The essence of worship is Allah consciousness. Therefore, it encompasses not only the ritual acts of worship such as prayer and fasting, but also includes patience, sincerity and kindness. In fact, any act – even a mundane worldly action such as going to work or feeding one’s family, can be considered an act of worship if one’s
intention is to please Allah (Almighty God) thereby.

Islam teaches that all human beings are born pure - in a state of original sinlessness as opposed to a state of “Original Sin”. By becoming a Muslim, all of one’s past sins are forgiven, and one returns to the sinless state in which Allah (Almighty God) created him or her.

Subsequently, if we fall into sin during the course of our lives, we must never despair. The door of repentance is open for those who seek it. Allah (Almighty God) says: Your Lord knows best what is in your inner-selves. If you are righteous, then, verily, He is Ever Most Forgiving to those who turn unto Him again and again in obedience, and in repentance [Qur'an 17:25]. On the Day of Judgment, Allah (Almighty God) will Judge us according to his infinite Mercy and Justice, and assign us to everlasting paradise or hell.

**دانة** · 2011-01-30 11:34 PM

The Qur’an

“Al Qur’an” is an Arabic term that means “The Recitation”. The Qur’an is the literal Speech of Allah (Almighty God), His final message to mankind, revealed word by word to his prophet, Muhammad, through the archangel Gabriel.

The Qur’an is remarkable for a number of reasons. It is the most recited book on Earth, a book of unsurpassed wisdom and astounding comprehensiveness. The Qur'an is a book of guidance that addresses every aspect of life, from the ultimate questions of existence to the foundations of establishing a just social order. It contains detailed, historically accurate accounts of the lives and missions of earlier prophets like Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

In contrast to previously revealed scriptures, the Qur'an has been perfectly preserved since its revelation both orally and in writing since the time of it’s revelation. Even today, there are hundreds of thousands of Muslims from around the world who can recite the entire #### from memory – just as it was memorized in the time of Muhammad.

But above and beyond these remarkable qualities, the Qur’an is considered a living miracle of the Arabic language. It’s exquisite linguistic eloquence and stylistic beauty posed a challenge at the time of it’s revelation - a challenge that remains unanswered today.

The Qur'an explicitly challenges anyone to produce a chapter similar to one of it’s chapters. Allah (Almighty God) says: And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed to Our slave, then produce a chapter like it [Qur’an 2:23]. The Arabs at the time of Muhammad were unsurpassed poets and knew how to use their language to maximum effect, yet none were able to match the depth, power and beauty of the Qur'an.

This is not a subjective evaluation. The Arabic language is divided into 16 forms - one for normal speech, one for poetry, and so on. The Qur'an fit into none of these pre-existing forms. In other words, it was a completely new pattern that defied linguistic classification, and at the same time moved men to tears, and sometimes to embrace Islam, merely upon hearing it's sublime words.

Muhammad, like most Arabs at that time, was illiterate. If the Qur’an was the work of Muhammad as some doubters have claimed - how was it possible for an illiterate man compose what is acknowledged as the most beautiful work – in both style and ####### - ever produced in the Arabic language?

The Qur’an also contains explicit, precise prophecies which have come to pass, and information about scientific and natural phenomena, such as the development of the human embryo, which have only recently come to be known in the light of modern instrumentation and techniques. The miraculous nature of the Qur’an is a clear indication of its divine origin.

**دانة** · 2011-01-31 06:47 PM

Muhammad

We know more about Muhammad than any other prophet in history. His life was lived in the full light of history, and even the minutest details of his daily life were preserved and authenticated for later generations of Muslims, who would take him as the ultimate role model.

Muhammad was an Arab born in Mecca in 570CE. He was a direct descendant of Abraham through his first son, Ishmael. He was widely known for his honesty and good conduct, to the extent that he was nicknamed “Al-Amin” – which means “The Trustworthy”, and called upon to arbitrate in the bitter disputes between the Arab
tribes.

Muhammad kept away from the idolatry, adultery and other widespread evils of his time, and chose to worship only Allah (Almighty God), following in the footsteps of Abraham, his forefather. In 610CE, Allah (Almighty God) elected him to be His final prophet and began the revelation of the Qur'an to him through the archangel Gabriel, a process that would take 23 years to complete. This momentous event in human history began a period of intense persecution and exile for Muhammad and the small band of Muslims.

In time, by the Will of Allah (Almighty God), the message of pure monotheism had spread and Muslims numbered in the thousands, united under the leadership of Muhammad.

The Muslims marched on Mecca, the inhabitants of which expected to be slaughtered or taken as slaves, as was the custom in Arabia at that time. Instead, Muhammad stunned the Meccans by announcing a general amnesty, forgiving those who had killed, robbed and otherwise cruelly persecuted Muslims. Allah (Almighty God) says: And We have not sent you except as a mercy to mankind [Qur’an 21:107]. The majority of the Meccans embraced Islam wholeheartedly, finally acknowledging Muhammad’s sincerity and recognizing the truth of his message.

The centerpiece of Mecca was the Ka’aba – established by Abraham as the first building dedicated to the worship of Allah Almighty God). The polytheistic pre- Islamic Arabs had filled it with idols who they worshipped besides Allah (Almighty God). Muhammad, his mission nearing its end, cleansed the Ka’aba of it’s idols – restoring the building built by his forefather Abraham back to its original purpose – the worship of Allah (Almighty God) alone. Today, over a billion Muslims turn toward the direction of the Ka’aba when they pray.

Despite his conquest of Arabia, Muhammad’s lifestyle remained humble. He often went hungry for lack of food, sewed his own clothes when they needed repair and milked his own goats.

His message and example would inspire millions, and within a few years of his death, Muslims, united under the enlightened leadership of Muhammad’s companions, liberated Syria, Iraq, Persia, Egypt and Palestine. As in Arabia, most of the inhabitants of these lands chose to embrace Islam as their way of life.

His life was a shining example to all humanity of how one should live nobly – as a man, a husband, a father, a best friend, a leader, and a ruler.