Discover Islam General Ibrahim

Islam The word "Islam" in Arabic means submission, commitment, acceptance, and peace.

Islam

Islam is a

Islamic Greeting AS-SALAAM ALAY-KUM “Peace be upon you…”

WA ALAY-KUM AS-SALAAM “…and may peace be upon you, too”

Who is a Muslim? A Muslim is the One who submits to Allah (God). A person can enter Islam just by admitting that:

“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah”

Anyone can be a Muslim, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, or language

Muslim Population (US) Ohio New York 4% 15%

Maryland 2% Indiana 11% Texas 5% Illinois 13%

Virginia 9% Michigan 9%

California 19%

New Jersey 13%

European 2%

Other 5%

Arab 25%

African-American 30% African 3% South East Asian 2%

South Central Asian 33%

By State

By Ethnic Background

(2000)

(2000) Source: Data per the Council on American-Islamic Relations http://www.cair-net.org/mosquereport/

Today, Islam is the fastest growing religion in US

The Holy Qur’an For Muslims, the Holy Qur'an: • is the Book of Allah (God). • is the principal source of every Muslim's faith. • is the eternal, literal word of Allah. • was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years

Five Pillars of Islam • Shahãda (Declaration of Faith) • Salãh (Prayer) • Sawm (Fasting) • Zakãh (Almsgiving) • Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Shahãda

(Declaration of Faith)

The central belief in Islam, as well as being the first pillar, is the following declaration of faith (the shahãda):

"There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the messenger of Allah."

Salãh

(Prayer)

The second pillar in Islam is prayer. Salãh is the name for the obligatory prayers that are performed five times a day and are seen as a direct link between the worshipper and God. These prescribed prayers contain verses from the Qur'an and are said in Arabic. Personal supplications, however, can be offered in any language and at any time.

Sawm

(Fasting)

Fasting is the third pillar of Islam. Every year in the month of Ramadan, Muslims, who are healthy and able, fast from dawn until sunset abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations with their spouses. Although fasting is seen as beneficial to health, it is mainly a method of self-purification and restraint enhancing one's resilience against life's hardships and temptations. Fasting also enables the Muslim to empathize with the poor and hungry encouraging social consciousness.

Zakãh

(Almsgiving)

The fourth pillar is zakãh or charity, the financial obligation upon Muslims. Zakãh involves the annual payment to the poor and needy of a fortieth of one's capital (excluding such items as primary residence, car and professional tools). • An important principle in Islam is that everything belongs to God. •In addition to zakãh, Islam encourages Muslims to give voluntary charity. Charitableness and compassion are among the most stressed qualities.

Hajj

(Pilgrimage)

The fifth pillar, the pilgrimage to Makkah (the Hajj) is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to do so. Over two million people from every corner of the globe go to Mecca each year providing an opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another. Pilgrims wear special simple clothes garments that strip away distinctions of class and culture reinforcing the basic Islamic principle of unity that all are equal in the eyes of God.

Pillars of Faith • His Books • His Angels • His Prophets • Day of Judgment • Divine Destiny

Prophets Adam

“Idris” Enonch

“Lut” Lot

“Ya’qub” Jacob

“Dhu’l-kifl” Ezekiel

“Dawud” David

“Yunus” Jonah

“Zakariyya” Zechariah

“Yusuf” Joseph Nuh Noah

“Sulaiman” Solomon

“Yahya” John the Baptist

“Ayyub” Job Ibrahim Abraham

“Isma’il” Ishmael

“Ishaq” Isaac

“Musa” Moses

“Harun” Aaron

“Ilias” Elias

“Essa” Jesus

“Al-Yasa” Elisha

Muhammad

Muslim Woman • Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. • Roles of men and women are complementary and collaborative. Rights and responsibilities of both sexes are equitable and balanced in their totality.

Muslim Woman •Both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is simple, modest and dignified; specific traditions of female dress found in some Muslim countries are often the expression of local customs rather than religious principle.

•Likewise, treatment of women in some areas of the Muslim world sometimes reflects cultural practices which may be inconsistent, if not contrary, to authentic Islamic teachings. For examples: nor allowed to drive cars.

Islamic Holidays • EID UL-FITR (Holiday of Fast-Breaking) celebrated after Ramadan • EID UL-ADHA (Holiday of the sacrifice) celebrated after Hajj

Philosophy of Life For Muslims, both faith and good works and practices are important. Blind faith without good works is seen as empty, without merit. Muslims are often very attuned to their behavior as they believe that there is a Day of Judgment when all of mankind will be brought to individually account for their every action. Islam asserts that the present life is but a minute part of the totality of existence. A human being's life in this world constitutes a test of his faith and actions.

Islamic Values • • • • • • • •

Monotheism and commitment to Allah Education and Learning Purity, Modesty and Chastity Family as basic unit in society Self control and Contentment Honesty, Trustworthiness and Humility Cleanliness and Conservation Courtesy, Compassion, Forgiveness and Fairness • “The ends do not justify the means” (Purity of intention and action)…

Questions & Answers