Islam The Misunderstood Faith

Islam The misunderstood faith

5 pillars of Islam • • • • •

Shahadah =faith/testimony Salat =prayer Seyaam=fasting Ramadan Zakkah=obligatory charity Hajj=pilgrimage

1st Pillar: Shahadah faith/testimony • • • • • •

La Elaha Ella Allah, La = no Elaha= god Ella = except Allah=God No god but God

• Mohammed Rasool Allah. • Mohammed=Arabic man , died~1400years ago • Rasool=prophet • Allah=God • Mohammed is the prophet of God

Allah Holy Quran chapter 114 In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. [1] Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; [2] Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; [3] He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; [4] And there is none like unto Him.

Allah :name in the bible • ALLELUYA = YA ALLA HU = OH! Allah • Elohim =Eloh +im (pleural), translated to Allah in Arabic bible.

Allah • Arabs called Allah , the God of their father Ibrahim, the God of gods. • Mohammed’s (PBUH) father name is Abdullah, meaning slave of Allah • Jews used the name Abdullah before prophet’s birth. • The word Allah is used in Arabic translation of the bible. Also it exists in some old versions of English translations.

It doesn’t matter He has many names, they all mean the same. • [Holy Quran 17:110] Say: "Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman: by whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. “

Allah

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[22] Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god; Who knows (all things) both secret and open; He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

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[23] Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god; the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.

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[24] He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory; and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

Story of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) • He was born to Arab parents from the tribe of Quraish, in Makkah. • Quraish worshiped ~360 gods they had in Makkah. They believed these gods will get them closer to the God of gods (Allah, Ibrahim’s Lord). • His parents died very early. • He never worshiped Idols, drank Alcohol or lied. • He worked as a shepherd and then as a trader. • Known to people in Makkah as “the Honest”.

Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH) • Mohammed searched for the truth but couldn’t find it in the polytheistic religion of Quraish. • He started worshipping Allah following what he had of the teachings of Ibrahim. Being an illiterate man, he had no real access about Ibrahim’s monotheistic faith.

Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH) •

At the age of 40, Gabriel appeared to him, the first revelation of Quran was given to him.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. [1] Proclaim! (or Read!) In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created, [2] Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: [3] Proclaim! and thy Lord is Most Bountiful, [4] He Who taught (the use of) the Pen, [5] Taught man that which he knew not. [6] Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds, [7] In that he looketh upon himself as selfsufficient. [8] Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all).

Correct translation: Alak=leach

Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH) • Mohammed started teaching people. • His close family members, friends and those who knew him well, believed him immediately , knowing he doesn’t lie. • Many slaves and poor people believed in Islam, being attracted to its revolutionary social system and to the true monotheistic religion.

Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH) • Mohammed (PBUH) and his followers suffer a lot so they started finding a safe place. • The Christian king of Abyssinia , gave Mohammed followers a safe place to hide. • Later, Arab tribes in Medina heard about the prophet. Being informed about the soon coming of a prophet by their Jewish neighbors, they listened to him and then believed him.

Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH) • Arab tribes had multiple wars with the prophet and Muslims. • Finally, victory was for Islam and Makkah fall in hands of the prophet. • He forgave all his enemies and soon, his followers became in hundreds of thousands. • He died at the age of 63.

Song of Solomon 5 Name Muhammed is mentioned in original Hebrew text 16 His mouth is most sweet; yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.' ,‫ מַחֲמַדִים; זֶה דודִי וְזֶה רֵעִי‬,‫ וְכֻלו‬,‫ מַמְתַקִים‬,‫טז חִכו‬ ‫בְנות יְרושָלִָם‬ Source http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3001.htm

• ‫= מ‬m ֲ‫ ח‬h=‫= ד‬d ‫= י‬e ‫= ם‬final m • ‫ = די ם מ חֲ מ‬Mhmdem, remember em means pleural in Hebrew which indicates respect e.g. Elohem (one god with full respect), so Mhmdem is Mhmd with full respect. • Solomon 5:10 he is mentioned as “pre-eminent above ten thousand.” indicating his concurrence of Makkah leading 10000 Muslims.

Mohammed •

The New Testament says, in the words of Jesus: "And I will Pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever" (John 14:16); • "But when the Comforter is come, whom i will send unto you, from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me" (John 15:26); • "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for that if I go not away , the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7) ; • "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth : for he shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that he shall speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:12-14).

1    MUHAMMAD 570-632 •

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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 supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels. It is probable that the relative influence of Muhammad on Islam has been larger than the combined influence of Jesus Christ and St. Paul on Christianity. 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. http://www.adherents.com/adh_influ.html

Mohammed PBUH GEORGE BERNARD SHAW said about him:

• "He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much needed peace and happiness." • "I have studied him — the wonderful man — and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ he must be called the savior of humanity." (The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936)

2nd pillar = Salaat

Wuduu=Ablution •

"O you who believe! When you rise up to prayer, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads, and wash your feet to the ankles."-(HOLY QURAN 5:7) • "And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat; when they went into tent of the congregation they washed as the Lord commanded Moses."(EXODUS 40:31-32).

Salaat=prayer •

"So turn thy face toward the Sacred Mosque, and (O Muslims), wheresoever ye may be, turn your faces toward it."- (HOLY QURAN 2:144).

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"Now when Daniel...went into his house; and his window being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."-(DANIEL 6:10).

Opening of the book= Fatiha [1] In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. [2] Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds; [3] Most Gracious, Most Merciful; [4] Master of the Day of Judgment. [5] Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek, [6] Show us the straight way, [7] The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

Sojood= prostration •

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"O you who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord, and do good that you may prosper."-(HOLY QURAN 22:77). "And he (Jesus) went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed..."-(MATTHEW 26:39). "And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship..."(JOSHUA 5:14). "And he (Elijah) cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees."-(1 KINGS 18:42). "And they (Moses and Aaron) fell upon their faces..."-(NUMBERS 20:6). "And Abraham fell on his face..."(GENESIS 17:3).

3 pillar Seyaam Fasting rd

Fasting • [Holy Quran 2:183] O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) selfrestraint.

Fasting • According to Islamic resources; Prophet David used to fast every other day. Prophet Noah fasted for his whole life . • Prophet Mohammed used to fast 2 days every week; Monday and Thursday. • Jesus "fasted forty days and forty nights“ (Matthew 4:2). • Disciples were fasting: "they fasted and prayed" (Acts 14:23).

Fasting • Means abstinence from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset time on the day of fasting • Obligatory only in Ramadan(9th month of Islamic lunar calendar) : healthy individuals able to fast. • No fasting: Pregnant, nursing, ill, old, child and traveler. • Fasting in days other than Ramadan: breaking oath, single unable to get married, optional.

Fasting Benefits • Piety: Help believers to reach piety. • Learn self-control: especially helpful to control bad habits like smoking, excessive eating and in the case of single unmarried persons; control sexual desire. • Feel the pain of poor starving people. • Feel the weakness of one’s body and the continuous need for God’s support. • Bring Muslim families, and Muslims allover the world together, when they fast then brake the fasting at the same time.

4 pillar Zakaah obligatory charity th

Zakaah •

[Quran 2:177] It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity, to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.

Zakaah • 2.5% of savings go to the poor. • Savings should be in hand for a full year. • Not calculated on basis of income like tax. • Personal obligation. •

Example: You make 60,000$ per year. You spend most of this money but saved 5,000 over the last year and added them to your 100,000 savings you had since last year. Zakaah=2.5% X 100,000= 2,500$ paid in full. Notice that your income and your savings over the past year were not used to calculate Zakaah.

Zakaah What is the solution? • 3 billion people are poor. • 1.1 billion are extremely poor <$1/day. • World donations: $30 per person annually. • Solution: rich nations should give to the poor ones.

5 pillar Hajj Pilgrimage to Makkah th

Story of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) • Ibrahim’s (PBUH) 2nd wife , Hajar delivers Ismael, Ibrahim’s 1st son. • God orders Ibrahim to leave his wife and her baby in a valley that had no water or food, known as Bakkah (later known as Makkah). • Ibrahim obeys the order and leave his family there. • Hajar and her baby had no water. She starts looking for water going back and forth between two plains, Safa and Marwa. She walks 7 times between them with no success.

Continue-story of Ibrahim • God sends the angel, Gabriel, to dig a well of water under the feet of Ismael. • Hajar comes to the water and start holding the water between her hands saying zamzam, meaning stop stop. • Arab tribes come to Bakkah and ask Hajar to use her water and since she liked to have people around her, she agrees.

Continue-story of Ibrahim • Ibrahim comes back to visit his family many times. One time, he is ordered in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismael. • Satan try to convince Ibrahim not to kill his son, so Ibrahim starts throwing stones on Satan. • Ibrahim obeys but God saves Ismael through a miracle and orders Ibrahim to sacrifice a lamb instead.

Continue-story of Ibrahim • Ibrahim and Ismael are ordered to build the house of God in Bakkah, called Kaabah. • Ibrahim is ordered to make a call for Hajj. Ibrahim makes the call and every human being hears the call and those who are destined to respond will keep coming until the last hour.

Kaabah

• [3;96] The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka; full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: • [3;97] In it are Signs manifest; (for example), the Station of Ibrahim; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.

Makkah in the Bible. Psalm 84-NIV

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD ; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her younga place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

al·tar P n. An elevated place or structure before which religious ceremonies may be enacted or upon which sacrifices may be offered. Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Arafat

Forbidden in Islam • Shirk: worshiping anybody/anything other than God. • Treating parents badly: not obeying there orders, speaking to them in loud voice even if they have a different faith. • murder, suicide. • Stealing. • Adultery, homosexuality. • Usury: Mortgage, credit card with interest, bank interest. • Gambling. • Treating neighbors badly even if they have a different faith. • Backbiting. • Drinking Alcohol. • Eating pork.

Behavioral aspects  Muslims should: • • • • • • • • •

Love Allah, his messengers and the believers. Be honest. Be generous. Visit the ill. Help the weak. Smile to others. Be clean. Remove dirt from the road. Dress conservatively.

World Muslims • 1.2 billion, Muslims represent between 19.2% and 22% of the world's population. • One of every five humans in the world is a Muslim • Second largest religion in the world • Fastest growing including Europe and America

World Distribution of Muslims Africa

308,660,000

27.4%

Asia

778,362,000

69.1%

Europe

32,032,000

2.8%

Latin America

1,356,000

0.1%

North America

5,530,000

0.5%

World

1,126,325,000 100%

Source: Britannica Yearbook, 1997

American Muslims • 5.8 million Muslims in the USA (World Almanac 2001)

• About 40% African Americans. • Not all Muslims are Arabs, Not all Arabs are Muslims.