Islam In Brief - By Bridges Foundation

Cat Stevens-famous Pop Singer

Mario Scialoja Italian Ambassador

Peter Sanders famous photographer

Yvonne RidleyThe Guardian

Joseph Estes Ex-Christian Minister

Lord Headly, Murad Hoffman British StatesmanGerman ambassador Editor Slisbury Times

Jeffry Lang-KS univ.

ALI

Maurice BucailleFrench scientist

General Charles Buchanan nephew of former US President James Buchanan

Knud Holmboe, Danish Journalist at Dagens Nyheder

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A way of life not just a religion 1.3 billion Muslims Only 15% are Arabs. 1 out of every 5 people is a Muslim.

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M+6+5 = ISLAM

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M+6+5 M= Meaning 6= Beliefs 5= Deeds

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The meaning of Islam? (A) Linguistic meaning Surrender – purity - peace. (B) Islamic meaning If a person fully surrenders himself to Almighty God alone, worshiping Him purely will live in peace and harmony in this life and in the life after . MUSLIM = A Person who submits to God

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Relevant issues • Every human being is born pre-formatted to submit to GOD. • Human beings have free will. • No compulsion in religion. • People are born without any inherited sin (All humans from Adam and Adam from earth) • No supremacy: All people are equal. ( Piety not racism )

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Six Beliefs 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Almighty God (Allah) His angels His scriptures (Books) His messengers The day of resurrection The divine destiny.

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There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah ALLAH is the proper noun for God. Arab Christians & Jews call the Deity ALLAH as well, ALLAH has many attributes and

names which describe Him.

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Genesis

8‫ا‬ Allah

Allah

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Unique Has No Partners Alone is Creator The Sustainer of All That Exists Does Not Father Nor is Born There is Nothing Like Unto Him

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• • • • • • • • •

The All Merciful The All Beneficent The Savior The Knower of All The Bestower of Honors The Humiliator The Hearer of All The Seer of All The Judge The Just The All Aware The Magnificent The Forgiver The Highest The Greatest The Preserver The Mighty The Generous

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• • • • • • • •

The Watchful One The Responder to Prayer The Perfectly wise The Loving One The Majestic One The Resurrector The Truth The Possessor of All Strength The Giver of Life The Taker of Life The Ever living One The Self Existing One The All Powerful The Supreme One The Avenger The Patient One The Guide to Repentance

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The nature of Angels. – Created from light. – They do not have free will – They do specific tasks such as: »Carry messages to the messengers of God. » They protect human beings. »They record our deeds.

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Torah, Gospel, Qur’an, etc. –Gabriel carried them to messengers; 100% correct. –The Qur’an is the only book that has been maintained in its original language; Arabic.

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What is the Qur’an? • Last revelation. • Principal source of faith and practice. • Deals with all subjects that concern human beings, including wisdom, doctrine, worship and law. • Its basic themes are the relationship between God and His creatures and between people one another. • The Qur'an provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct, and equitable economic principles.

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A sample from the Quran In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

1. All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. 2. the Compassionate, the Merciful 3. King of the Day of Judgement 4. You alone we worship; and to You alone we turn for help 5. Guide us to the straight path 6. The path of those whom You have favored 7. Not of those who have incurred Your anger, nor of those who have gone astray. Amen.

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Another sample from the Qur’an

“O’ Mankind! (Allah) created you from male & female and made you into Nations & tribes, that you may know each other. Surely the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you , and Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted .” (49:13)

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Scientific Miracles of the Quran Religion & Science are associates in Islam. Many Muslims scholars were considered among the greatest scientists of their time, as well as many branches of science were either considered to be an Islamic innovation like Algebra & Chemistry or indebted to Muslim Scientists like Medicine and Architecture.

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Ai-Khawarizmi (Algorism, 750-850) invented Algebra and was instrumental in the development of trigonometry, calculus and the use of algorithms.

Ibn Hayyan (Geber, 738-813) known as the father of chemistry

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Ibn Sina (Avicenna, 9811037)-a very well known physician, authored the “Canon of Medicine” & the “Book of Healing”. His writings were considered the authority on medicine for over 500 years. Al-Zahrawi (Albucasis, 936-1013) recognized as the father of modern surgery

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{.. But say: O my Lord, increase me in knowledge } Ta-ha 20:114

Many scientific discoveries were used for better understanding of Quran (Scientific Miracles of the Quran ) which were a magnetic attraction for today’s scientists.

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"It is He Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They swim along, each in an orbit. “ (The Qur'an, 21:33)

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Have we not made the earth as a wide expanse, and the mountains as pegs? (78: 6-7)

The scientific definition of mountains: “Mountains are merely the tops of great masses of rock, floating in a more dense substratum as icebergs float in water.” George Airy (1865)

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"Yes, We are able to fashion in perfect order the very tips of his fingers." (Qur'an, 75:3-4)

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"He has let loose the two seas, converging together, with a barrier between them they do not break through." (Quran 55:19-20) Salinity Density Temperature

Currents

Because of the physical force called “surface tension “the waters of neighboring seas do not mix. Caused by the difference in the density of their waters, surface tension prevents them from mingling with one another, just as if a thin wall were between them. (Davis, Richard A ., Jr. 1972, Principles of Oceanography, Don Mills, Ontario)

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• One Message for all messengers. Worship God alone and do not associate partners with Him

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All messengers are the best human beings, They do not commit Major sins. None of them is divine. Jesus is a messenger like other messengers Jesus is coming back

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M MF None

F M

Adam Eve

F

Jesus

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“Say: We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and that given to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to all prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them and we submit to Allah (Muslims)”(2:136)

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• He (Allah) has ordained for you (O people) the same religion which He ordained for Noah, and that which We have revealed to you (O Muhammad), and that which We ordained for Abraham, Moses and Jesus saying you should establish religion, and make no divisions (various sects in religion): to those who worship other things than ALLAH, hard is the (way) to which you call them (42:13)

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Allah is the founder of Islam Prophet Muhammad is the final Messenger of Allah His traditions (Sunnah) are considered the number two source of Islamic knowledge and legislation after the Quran Before becoming a Prophet his people used to call him the trustworthy and the truthful For Muslims he is the most beloved person and an example to follow

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A Sample of his traditions: “The powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed the powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger.” “The most harmful container a person may fill is his stomach, few bites are enough for him or else then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.”

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A Sample of his traditions: “He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes to bed without food is not a believer.” “None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.“ “God does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but he scans your hearts and looks into your deeds.”

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Lamartine (the famous historian in l’histoire de la turkie,1854,Vol II p.276)

“If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and outstanding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad.”

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Bernard Shaw: ( The genuine Islam, vol I p. 8)

“I believe that if a man like him were to assume the leadership of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring to this world much needed peace and happiness.”

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Mahatma Ghandi I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter selfeffacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to this friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission.

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Wolfgang Goethe, the most famous European poet "He is a prophet and not a poet and therefore his Koran is to be seen as a divine law and not as a book of a human being, made for education or entertainment." (Noten und Abhandlungen zum West stlichen Divan, WA I, 7, 32)

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Michael Heart (The greatest 100 influential figures) My Choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was successful on both the religious and secular levels. It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history.”

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Resurrection after death. Reading your book of deeds. Accountability. Fair trial judgment. Paradise or Hell. Eternal life.

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• And spend (in charity) of that with which I have provided you before death should come to one of you, and he says: "My Lord if only you would delay my death for a while, then I will seize my opportunity by giving charity of my wealth, and be among the righteous. But Allah shall not delay the death of a soul when its time is fulfilled; And Allah is All-Aware of what you do. (Qur’an 63: 10-11)

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• Nothing happens without His knowledge. • By His knowledge. He prescribed every thing. • GOD knows what happened, what is happening, what will happen and he knows the 4th ; He knows what will not happen, if it happened, how it would happen

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1- The inseparable testimony a- There is no deity but Allah. b- Muhammad is a messenger of Allah. 2 - Establishing the prayer.. 3 - Paying financial obligation (Zakah). 4- Fasting the month of Ramadan. 5- Making pilgrimage.

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1. Testimony The inseparable testimony (Key to enter Islam) A.There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah . B. Muhammad is a messenger of Allah. Whoever says this with sincerity is to be considered as a Muslim Whoever dies on this belief will enter Paradise if his sins were forgiven by Allah

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2. Prayers

The five daily prayers » On time. » Any pure spot on the earth » One direction :All towards Makkah (Sense of unity). » All biblical Prophets like Abraham,Moses, Aron &Jesus fell on their faces in their prayers, Islam is reviving the prophetic traditions that people forgot.

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3. Financial obligation (Zakah)

2.5% of any cash savings held for one year. 5% to 10% of any agriculture income. 20% of any extracted resources & minerals. The right of the poor on the rich. Zakah = Growth & Purification.

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4. Fasting Ramadan No eating, drinking, or sexual activities from dawn till sunset

Patience and perseverance through discipline.

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5. Pilgrimage For those who are able. Once in lifetime. Universality of the religion

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“And say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that is purer for them, and Allah is aware of all that they do”

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“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty except that which is apparent (face and hands) and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their beauty except to their husbands ,

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their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers or their brothers’ sons or their sisters’ sons (all relatives that may never be able to marry those women)”

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• All Men and Women are equal before God. • All Men and Women are equal before the Law. • They are both subject to be equally rewarded or equally punished

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Women in Islam, like men, * Have the obligation to seek education. * Have the right to engage in business. * Engage in professions. * Engage in public life. * keep their family name and identity. * Possessions secured.

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CONCLUSION If any society or individual oppresses women discriminates against them, it is against Islam not because of it.

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Linguistic meaning Striving - Struggling Islamic meaning A- Non-violent struggling within oneself for a life of virtue B- Saying the truth, even if against ones’ own interests C-Combat to establish justice, which is a supreme goal “Combat in the cause of ALLAH those who combat against you, but do not transgress limits; for ALLAH does not love transgressors” (Q 2:190)

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Combat orders as in the traditions of Prophet Mohammad:

– – – – – – – –

Never Kill Innocent People Never torture Prisoners of War Never Kill Animals Never Destroy Crops Never Destroy Infrastructures Never Mutilate Bodies of Enemies dead or alive All Prisoners Given Fair Treatment Women, Children & Elderly Protected From Harm – Always Bury All Dead With Respect Note: 1,400 Years BEFORE Geneva Convention

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• And if two groups among the believers fall to fighting, then reconcile between them both, but if one of them rebels against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which rebels till it complies with the Command of Allâh; then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allâh loves those who are equitable (Qur’an 49:9).

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Is it an obligation to fight for your rights?

sَYZ َ p ُ Wِqu t ^‫َ[ ا‬dlt ‫ ِإ‬,p ٍ Wِqr َ nRQ SِUWْ YَZ َ [َR \ َ ]ِ ^َ‫ُو‬abَ cِ dِ Yْ e ُ fَ gْ hَ iَ j َ kَ lْ ‫ ا‬n ِ dَ ^َ‫• َو‬ ٌ‫‚َاب‬Z َ ْSUُ ^َ \ َ ]ِ ^َ‫† أُو‬ Q‡ َ ^ْ ‫ ا‬iِ Wْ wَ hِ ‫ض‬ ِ ْ‫ر‬z َ ‫ِ{ ا‬b ‫ن‬ َ }ُwqْ ~َ ‫س َو‬ َ [t€^‫ن ا‬ َ }ُdYِ ْ َ~ n َ ~ِ‚^t‫ا‬ (43-41 ‫ُ} ِر )ا^}رى‬Rz ُ ‫‰ْ ِم ا‬Z َ ْndِ ^َ \ َ ^ِ‫ن َذ‬ t ‫ ِإ‬iَ ‹َ Œ َ ‫ َو‬iَ qَ  َ ْndَ ^َ‫ َو‬,ٌSWِ^‫َأ‬ And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, against such there is no blame. The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrong doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a Penalty grievous, And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives, that would truly be recommended by Allah (Q 42:41-43)

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When is it recommended to fight ?

‫ن‬ ِ ‫َا‬f^ْ }ِ ^ْ ‫َ[ ِء وَا‬u€Q ^‫ل وَا‬ ِ [َ˜iQ ^‫ ا‬n َ Rِ n َ W‹ِ gَ  ْ kَ u ْ dُ ^ْ ‫‘ وَا‬ ِ ‫ا‬p ِ Wِqr َ {ِb ‫ن‬ َ }ُY’ِ [َ“’ُ ” َ ْS•ُ ^َ [َR‫• َو‬ [W^ِ‫\ َو‬ َ lْ fُ ^t nِR [َ€^t pَg˜ ْ ‫َ[ وَا‬UYُ‫ َأ ْه‬Sِ ^ِ[t^‫ْ َ~ ِ™ ا‬i“َ ^ْ ‫ْ َه ِ‚ ِš ا‬nRِ [َ€˜ ْ iِ œ ْ ‫€َ[ َأ‬ht ‫ن َر‬ َ }ُ^}ُ“~َ n َ ~ِ‚^t‫ا‬ (75:‫[ء‬u€^‫ًا )ا‬iWِjlَ \ َ lْ fُ ^t nِR [َ€^t pَg˜ ْ ‫وَا‬

And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the Cause of Allah, and for those weak, ill-treated and oppressed among men, women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who will protect, and raise for us from You one who will help.“(Q 4:75)

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Conclusion • Islam is a religion of PEACE, War exists only as an exception • Islam is the biggest enemy of Terrorism, fanaticism and oppression

• Unfair to label all the followers of any religion as fanatics every time there is conflict Christians : Crusades – Bosnia Hindus : Kashmir Jews : Palestine

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Cat Stevens-famous Pop Singer

Mario Scialoja Italian Ambassador

Peter Sanders famous photographer

Yvonne RidleyThe Guardian

Joseph Estes Ex-Christian Minister

Lord Headly, Murad Hoffman British StatesmanGerman ambassador Editor Slisbury Times

Jeffry Lang-KS univ.

ALI

Maurice BucailleFrench scientist

General Charles Buchanan nephew of former US President James Buchanan

Knud Holmboe, Danish Journalist at Dagens Nyheder

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Tel. (Egypt): +2 012 390 4053 Fax. (USA) : +1 708 810 3474 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

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