What Is Islam
“Islam” literally means “ peace through the submission to God”. WHO IS A MUSLIM
A Muslim is one who submits to the will of God Almighty
ISLAM IS NOT A CULT
Islam is not a cult. It’s followers number over one billion worldwide. Its basic beliefs and practices are very similar to those of Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus (Peace Be Upon Them) There are five pillars of Islam:
1) Shahadah - declaration of faith in the oneness of God and that Muhammad (s.a.w) is the final Messenger of God.
2) Formal prayer five times a day.
3) Fasting in the month of Ramadhan.
4) Charity - 2.5% of one’s savings given to the needy at the end of each year.
5) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able. A Muslim Believes In:
1) The One and only God
2) All the Prophets of God
3) The original books revealed to David, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad ( Peace Be Upon Them)
4) The Angels of God
5) The Day of Judgement and the Hereafter
6) Predestination.
Islam is a complete way of life that governs all facets of life - spiritual, social, political, economical, etc
Fastest Growing Religion
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Approximately one out of every five people today designate their religion as Islam.
| ALLAAH MEANS GOD
“Allaah” is an Arabic word that literally means “the God.” Muslims also believe that “Allaah” is the personal name of God.
Allaah is not God of the Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all creation. Just because people choose to call God by different names does not mean that they are different gods. Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians also refer to God as “Allaah.”
The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful, and compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is just and swift in punishment, much like a father is to his child. Nevertheless, Allaah once said to Muhammad (s.a.w), “My Mercy prevails over my wrath.” (Hadith Qudsi)
Muslims believe that God has revealed 99 of His names (or attributes) in the Qur’aan. It is through these that one can come to know the Creator. Some names are: the All Merciful, the All-Knower, the Protector, the Provider, the Helper, the Near, the One, the Source of Peace.
What Muslims Believe
Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the Prophets, from Adam to Jesus (Peace be upon them). Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (Islam) to different nations at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were “Muslims” because they submitted their wills to God.
Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, Muslims follow the subsequent, final and preserved revelation of God - The Holy Qur’aan.
| Muslims Don’t Worship
Prophet Muhammad ( S.A.W)
Muslims neither worship Muhammad (s.a.w) nor pray through him. Muslims solely worship the unseen and Omniscient Creator, Allaah.
WHAT IS THE HOLY QUR’AAN
The Holy Qur’aan was not authored by Muhammad (s.a.w). It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad (s.a.w), and written into physical form by Muhammad’s (s.a.w) companions.
The Holy Qur’aan has no flaws or contradictions.
If all Qur’aans in the world today were burned and destroyed, the original Arabic would still remain. This is because millions of Muslims (called Hafiz or “preservers”) have memorized the text letter for letter from beginning to end - every word and syllable. Chapters from the Qur’aan are precisely recited by memory in each of the five daily prayers.
Forgiveness & Punishment
Muslims do not believe in the concept of “vicarious atonement” but rather believe in the natural law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgement Muslims believe that every person will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous. However the Qur’aan teaches that Allaah forgives whomsoever He wishes and punishes whomsoever He wishes. Allaah is the most Merciful and most Forgiving.
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