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from selfishness, greed, extravagance and other vices. The Charity (Zakah-Fourth pillar of Islam): By the order of God once a year every able Muslim who has wealth above certain limit must pay a certain amount (2.5%) of their excess wealth to the poor and needy. It purifies one’s wealth and carries many benefits for both the giver and the receiver. One benefit is that it reduces the gap between the rich and the poor and ensures an equitable society where everyone has a right to contribute and share. Muslims are always encouraged to give more of their time, labor and wealth as voluntary charity (Sadaqa) for the sake of God. The Pilgrimage (Hajj-Fifth pillar of Islam): By the order of God pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia, must be performed at least once in a lifetime, if she/he is physically and financially able. It occurs annually in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, unifying people of every color, race, status and age, as they join in worship of the One Absolute God. All pilgrims wear simple and similar clothing, which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God. This great journey consists of many components which are of Abrahamic origin, including rituals and sacrifices, travelling and praying at various locations. PROPHET MUHAMMAD (peace be upon him): Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) a descendent of Abraham thru Ishmael, the awaited Prophet prophesized by Moses (Bible, Deuteronomy 18:17-19), the final messenger of Allah, was born in Makkah, Arabia, around year 570 CE. His father died before his birth and his mother died when he was only six. He received first revelation from Allah at the age of forty. The people of Makkah at that time used to worship idols. The Prophet invited them to Islam. Some of them accepted and became Muslims, while others rebuked him and turned against him. In the13th year of his prophethood, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) migrated from Makkah to Madinah. The Prophet organized the early Muslims and preached the message of Allah with patience and profound wisdom. Eventually Islam was established in the whole of Arabia and beyond and was set to make a tremendous contribution to the history and civilization of the world. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) died around 632 CE at the age of 63. He left behind the Quran and his Sunnah (recorded in Hadith) as the source of guidance for mankind. (1400 years have passed since his death yet no one anywhere in the world came after him and claimed prophethood in a big way which itself is a proof of finality of his message and messenger ship.) MARRIAGE & SOCIAL MANNERS Marriage is the basis of family life in Islam. Islam does not allow the free mixing of men and women; nor does it allow sex before marriage. The husband and wife are complimentary partners of the family who are equal in the sight of God and play their respective role in the family and society. Islam teaches decency, humility and good manners. Keeping promises, truthfulness, justice, fair play, helping the poor and needy, respect for parents, teachers and elders, love for children and good relations with neighbors and relatives are the most valued virtues of a Muslim DIET AND DRESS A PROJECT FOR UNDERSTANDING ISLAM & MUSLIMS SHORT INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM WHAT IS ISLAM Muslims are encouraged to eat and live healthy. Just as mentioned in Bible, Islamic law requires certain allowed animal to be slaughtered in a specific way for consumption. Pork and blood are also forbidden which is also in line with the teachings of Prophet Moses and Jesus. All varieties of alcoholic drinks are prohibited. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way which is modest and dignified. No particular dress is recommended. However, men must cover their body modestly and women must cover their whole body except the face and hands when in public. The Arabic word "Islam" means total submission or surrender to One and Only true God worthy of worship and thus acquiring Peace. Islam is both a religion and complete way of life. Islam is not a new religion but the final affirmation, culmination and fulfillment of the same basic truth that God revealed through all His prophets beginning with Prophet Adam and ending with Prophet Muhammad- to all people. A way of life symbolized by peace - peace with God, peace within oneself, and peace with the creations of God through submission to God alone and commitment to His guidance. FINALLY WHO ARE MUSLIMS ISLAM CONDEMNS ALL ACTS OF TERRORISM & VIOLENCE AGAINST INNOCENT PEOPLE AND RESERVES THE MOST SEVERE PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE TERRORIST/CRIMINALS IN THIS LIFE AND HEREAFTER. As God said in Quran,"-- if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land - it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind."(Quran translation 5:32) Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Approximately 1.8 billion Muslims (a quarter of world's population) from all races, nationalities, and cultures live all over the world. There are estimated to be about 4 to 6 million Muslims live in America. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion by number of conversions each year. HOW TO BECOME A MUSLIM CONCEPT OF GOD IN ISLAM According to Islam all people are born sinless and as Muslim. It is as they grow up take on other path based on their family, society and information available to them. So when one is ready to come back to her/ his natural religion all she/he has to do is take the SHAHADAH, ". “There is no deity worthy of worship except God, Muhammad is the messenger of God”. With this declaration of faith God forgives all her/his past sins and thus one restarts her/his journey of Islam-- the Straight Path to paradise and God. FOR MORE INFORMATION Please visit a Mosque near you. Call toll free: 1.877.949.47523 or 1-800-662-ISLAM Visit www.whyislam.org & www.thedeenshow.com For Quran: www.quranexplorer.com or www.quran.com Your Local Mosque: Monotheism, belief in One Absolute God, is the most important and foundational concept in Islam. Muslims believe in one God Who is Eternal and Absolute, Who created everything seen and unseen, Who is free of all imperfection, needs, wants and has power over everything. God is unique, independent and exalted above everything. God's attributes and greatness cannot be compared to God's creation. God is the Only One deserving of any worship and the ultimate purpose of all creation is to submit to God alone. "Allah" is the Arabic word for "God" (Arab Christians uses the word Allah for God). Muslims do not worship a different God than Christians and Jews. However, it is important to understand that Jews, Christians, and Muslims all have different concepts of the same Almighty God. For example, Muslims reject the Christian belief of Trinity and Divine Incarnation. Muslims also reject the human like qualities, attributes and imperfections (Example: God need restExodus31:17) given to God by Jews and Christians. Judaism, Christianity and Islam share the same origin but Islam teaches that other religions have, in one way or another, distorted and nullified a pure and proper belief in One Absolute Almighty God by associating others with God and neglecting God's true teachings and mixing those with man-made ideas. IMPORTANT ARTICLE OF BELIEF IN ISLAM (1) Belief in Absolute Oneness of God: Muslims believe that there is only ONE God and that there is no deity or entity worthy of worship except One God. God has no father or son or partner or equal; God is Unique, Alone and ONE. (2) Belief in Prophets and Messengers of God: Muslims believe in all the Messengers and Prophets of God without any discrimination. All of them were mortals, human beings, with human needs of food, clothing, endowed with Divine revelations and anointed by God to teach mankind. God has not left humanity without guidance for the conduct of their affairs. Since the creation of the first human, God has revealed His guidance to mankind through His prophets and messengers. The message of all the prophets is one and the same. They urged the people of their time to obey and worship God alone and none other. Whenever the teachings of a prophet were distorted by people, God sent another prophet to bring human beings back to the Straight Path. The chain of prophet began with Adam, included Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Jesus, and ended with Muhammad (peace be upon them all), as the final messenger of God to all. Muslims love, respect and follow them but do not worship any of them. (3) Belief in the Revelations of God: Muslims believe in all scriptures and revelations of God, as they were complete and in their original forms. Muslims believe in the original scriptures that were given to previous messengers; for example David received the Zabur (Psalms), Moses the Torah and Jesus the Injeel (Gospel). However, the previous scriptures do not exist today in the original form in which they were revealed. The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad as the final revelation of Guidance to all. Among all these revealed scriptures, it is only the Qur’an that remains unchanged, in its original revealed form. (4) Belief in Angels of God: Muslims believe that God created Angels. Angels are made out of light and they follow every order of God. Angels always worship and obey God. Muslims do not worship angels or ask them for help. Gabriel and Michael are name of two of several arch angels familiar to many of us but there are many others and there total number is unknown to us. (5) Belief in the Day of Judgment and life after death: Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment and eternal life after death. This world as we know it will come to an end, and all humans will be resurrected to stand for their final trial before God. Everything we do, say, make, intend and think are accounted for and kept in accurate records. They will be brought up on the Day of Judgment to be Judge by God. On that day God will generously reward believers with good records and grant them Paradise forever. Non-believers and people with bad records will be fairly punished and cast into Hell. The real nature of Heaven and Hell are known to God only, but they are described by God in familiar terms in the Quran. (6) Belief in Al-Qadr (Predestination): Muslims believe in the Ultimate Knowledge and Power of God to plan and execute His plans. Everything seen or unseen, understood or misunderstood/not understood happens with the knowledge, permission, order and will of God. God is Wise, Just, and Loving and whatever He does must have a planned motive, although humans may sometimes fail to understand it fully due to limitation of knowledge. God gave humans freewill to think, plan and make sound choices based on God's guidance and then put their trust in God. If things happen as they want they should praise God and if do not happen as they want they should still praise God, recognizing that God knows best. SOURCES OF ISLAMIC INFORMATION Quran (The primary source of Islamic information): Quran is the final revelation of guidance from God to mankind. Quran is the inimitable and unique Arabic Speech or Word of God revealed to Prophet Mohammad by angel Gabriel in wording and meaning, which has been preserved in memory, and writing and reached us by numerous authentic continuous transmissions. The entire revelation of the Quran happened over a 23 year period. The Quran is unrivaled in its recording and preservation. Unlike other scriptures that were changed with human interpolations and omissions, the Quran has remained unchanged (over fourteen hundred years now) and will remain so as God has guaranteed its protection. The Quran is the last and final revelation to mankind a complete guide that covers all aspects of human life, and its relation to the life after death. Hadith (Secondary source of Islamic information): Hadith is the collection of commands, sayings, actions, expressed approvals/disapprovals and implicit approvals of Prophet Muhammad. It explains many aspects of the Quran and help us understand it. Hadith were also memorized and recorded meticulously by the Prophet’s companions and passed on to successive generations. FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM Islam has five pillars or basic foundations of action. Acting correctly and sincerely on these foundations transforms a Muslim’s life into one that is in harmony with nature and in conformity with the will of God. Faithful practice of these duties inspires a Muslim to work towards the establishment of justice, equality and righteousness in society, and the eradication of injustice, terrorism, falsehood and evil. Testimony (First Pillar of Islam): An individual begins her/his journey in the path of Islam by taking the testimony of faith known as "SHAHADAH"- This is the first and primary pillar or foundation of Islam. The declaration with belief and sincerity, knowingly and voluntarily, of: La ilaha illal lahu Muhammadur rasulul lah. “There is no deity worthy of worship except God, Muhammad is the messenger of God”Salvation begins with this declaration. This declaration is the basis of all actions in Islam, and the other basic duties and worship follow this affirmation. Worship is an all inclusive term for all that God loves of external and internal sayings and actions of a person. This, of course, includes rituals as well as beliefs, social activities, and personal contributions to the welfare of society. Islam looks at the individual as a whole. One is required to submit oneself completely to God. Some fundamental acts of worships in Islam: Obligatory daily Prayers (Salah-Second pillar of Islam): By the order of God a Muslim offers Prayer five times a day. Prayer establishes a direct personal and spiritual connection between an individual and her/his God, and is a constant and practical reminder of a person’s duty to surrender to God. A Muslim offers daily Prayers once each at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall. The Prayers develop in a believer the qualities of self-discipline, steadfastness and obedience to God, leading one to be patient, honest and truthful in the affairs of one’s life. The Annual Fasting (Sawm-Third pillar of Islam): By the order of God every year during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic lunar calendar, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink and sexual relations with spouse. It serves as a spiritual purification, nurtures patience and self-restraint, and keeps believers away