Download Introduction to Islam

Introduction to Islam
By : Faiza Mubin Alvi
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Contents
• Islam and Muslims: the terms
• Some Fundamental concepts of faith
– Concept of God
– Creation and purpose of man on earth
– Guidance from God - prophets and books
– Concept of accountability on the Day of
Judgement
– The mercy of God
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Islam & Muslim
• Submission or surrender
• Peace
• Total and complete submission to our
Creator - resulting in inner and outer peace.
• MUSLIM: one who submits to the command
of God therefore attaining peace.
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Concept of God
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Allah : the name
Creator and creation
Al-Fatihah and Al-Ikhlas
99 names
Closest to us- no intermediaries
Tawhid and Shirk
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Al- Ikhlas
– The Sincerity,
Oneness Of Allah
• Say: He is Allah, the One
and Only;
• Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
• He begetteth not, nor is He
begotten;
• And there is none like unto
Him.
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Al-Fatihah
In the name of Allah Most Compassionate, Most Merciful
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All praises are due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
Master of the Day of Judgement.
You alone do we worship and You alone do we seek help from.
Guide us to the straight path.
The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your blessings,
not of those who have incurred Your wrath nor those who are
astray.
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Creation of Man
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Universe made subservient to man
Humans created from a single soul
Equality of mankind
Lessons learned in Paradise
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Satan avowed enemy to man
Humans are prone to sin
How to attain forgiveness
Two paths
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O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from
a single person and created from it his mate, and from the two of
them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights),
and (reverence) the wombs (that bore you): for Allah ever
watches over you.
Surah 4:1
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Purpose of man
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Vicegerent on earth
To use and not abuse the universe
To worship him alone- ‘ibadah
The earth a field for the hereafter
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Guidance from God
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We are promised guidance
Every nation received guidance
Prophets and Books
Those who follow guidance shall
have no fear nor shall they grieve
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The Prophets
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Chosen by Allah
Humans
Best people of their time
Made mistakes but no sins
Same religion different law
We make no difference between them
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Muhammad (saws)
• A servant and messenger of God
• Born 570, received revelation 610 went to
Madinah 622, died 630 CE
• Lived and died within recorded history
• Life and message preserved till today
• The best example to be followed
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The Qur’an
• The very word of God
• Revealed to Muhammad (saws) through
Gabriel over a period of 23 years
• Written down immediately as revealed
• Preserved as it is in original language
• The miracle of the last Prophet
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Miracles of the Qur’an
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Challenges us to prove it wrong
Only book not outdated
Scientific evidence
Unimitable with a unique combination of
poetry and prose
• Preserved - no editions, no revisions
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Accountability
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Answerable because of freedom of choice
Qur’an prompts to think, reflect, ponder
Every thought, action and deed judged
Complete justice done
Judged on the basis of faith - we cannot
see inside the hearts
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The Mercy of God
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God’s mercy surpasses everything else
We earn His mercy
Repentance should be sincere
God does not need anything from us
No change since the day of Adam
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