Islam 101
Bashar A. Shala
The Word: Islam
•
•
•
•
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Pronunciation: is-'läm,
Etymology: Arabic: submission (to the will
of God)
the religious faith of Muslims including
belief in Allah as the sole deity and in
Muhammad as his prophet
Is·lam·ic /is-'lä-mik, adjective
What does “Islam” mean?
• “Submission", or the total surrender of
oneself to God. ‫أسلم الرجل انقاد‬
• “Acceptance”, accepting God’s
commands. ‫سلَّم ب ِه رضي‬
• “Peace”, achieving peace of mind and
soul, in this life and the hereafter.
‫ نقيض الحرب‬:‫السلم‬
What does “Islam” mean?
• “Salvation and Safety", the way to saving
one’s soul. ‫السالمة و النجاة‬
• “Perfection and Completion”, an allencompassing coherent way of life that
involves every aspect of living activities.
‫س ِل َم من العيوب و النقائص‬
َ
• “Intact and Undivided”, taken as a whole.
‫السالم الصحيح‬
Religions
• Faith and Beliefs (Orthodoxy)
– Theology
– Creed and Doctrine
– Code of Ethics and Values
• Practice (Orthopraxy)
– Applications in daily life
– Expression of Faith
– Rituals and Customs
– Commands and Prohibitions
Religion
Practice
The Pillars
of Islam
Beliefs
Articles of Faith
Islam’s Beliefs: Articles of Faith
1. Belief in God
2. Belief in Angels (and the Unseen)
3. Belief in the Revelations
4. Belief in the Messengers
5. Belief in the Day
6.
of Judgment
Belief in the Supreme Power of God over
Destiny and Fate (Good or Bad)
Belief in God:
Allah
Belief in God:
• Allāh
• Al-ilah The God
• Arabic-speakers of all
faiths, including
Christians and Jews,
use the word "Allah"
to mean "God".
Allah
Belief in God:
• The Hebrew word for
deity, EL (‫ )אל‬or Eloah
(‫)אלוה‬, was used as a
synonym for the proper
name of God according to
the Torah.
• The Aramaic word for
God is Alaha which
comes from the same
Proto-Semitic word (ilâh)
Allah
Belief in God:
• Jesus is described in
Mark 15:34 as having
used the word on the
cross, "Elo-i, Elo-i,
lama sabachthani?"
which is translated,
"My God, my God,
why have you
forsaken me?"
Allah
‫‪Allah‬‬
‫‪Belief in God:‬‬
‫ض خ َِربَة‬
‫ض‪َ 2 .‬و َكانَ ِ‬
‫س َم َاوا ِ‬
‫‪1‬فِي ْالبَ ْد ِء َخلَقَ هللاُ ال َّ‬
‫ت األ َ ْر ُ‬
‫ت َواأل َ ْر َ‬
‫علَى َو ْج ِه ْالغ َْم ِر ُ‬
‫علَى َو ْج ِه‬
‫ظ ْل َمةٌ‪َ ،‬و ُرو ُح هللاِ َي ِر ُّ‬
‫ف َ‬
‫َوخَا ِل َية‪َ ،‬و َ‬
‫ور‬
‫ور»‪ ،‬فَ َكانَ نُ ٌ‬
‫ْال ِم َيا ِه‪َ 3 .‬وقَا َل هللاُ‪ِ « :‬ل َي ُك ْن نُ ٌ‬
‫ور‪َ 4 .‬و َرأَى هللاُ النُّ َ‬
‫ور َوال ُّ‬
‫ور‬
‫ظ ْل َم ِة‪َ 5 .‬ودَ َ‬
‫أَنَّهُ َح َ‬
‫س ٌن‪َ .‬وفَ َ‬
‫عا هللاُ النُّ َ‬
‫ص َل هللاُ بَيْنَ النُّ ِ‬
‫نَ َهارا‪َ ،‬و ُّ‬
‫صبَا ٌح يَ ْوما‬
‫الظ ْل َمةُ دَ َ‬
‫عاهَا لَيْال‪َ .‬و َكانَ َم َ‬
‫سا ٌء َو َكانَ َ‬
‫اصال بَيْنَ‬
‫َو ِ‬
‫س ِط ْال ِميَا ِه‪َ .‬و ْليَ ُك ْن فَ ِ‬
‫احدا‪َ 6.‬وقَا َل هللاُ‪ِ « :‬ليَ ُك ْن َجلَدٌ فِي َو َ‬
‫ْ‬
‫ْ‬
‫َّ‬
‫ت‬
‫ص َل َبيْنَ ال ِم َيا ِه ال ِتي تَ ْح َ‬
‫ِم َيا ٍه َو ِم َيا ٍه»‪7 .‬فَ َع ِم َل هللاُ ال َجلَدَ‪َ ،‬وفَ َ‬
‫عا هللاُ ْال َجلَدَ‬
‫ْال َجلَ ِد َو ْال ِم َيا ِه الَّتِي فَ ْوقَ ْال َجلَ ِد‪َ .‬و َكانَ َكذ ِل َك‪َ 8 .‬ودَ َ‬
‫صبَا ٌح يَ ْوما ثَانِيا‪.‬‬
‫س َماء‪َ .‬و َكانَ َم َ‬
‫َ‬
‫سا ٌء َو َكانَ َ‬
‫احدٍ‪َ ،‬و ْلتَ ْ‬
‫ظ َه ِر‬
‫‪َ 9‬وقَا َل هللاُ‪ِ « :‬لتَ ْجتَ ِمعِ ْال ِميَاهُ تَ ْح َ‬
‫ت ال َّ‬
‫س َم ِ‬
‫ان َو ِ‬
‫اء ِإلَى َم َك ٍ‬
‫سةَ أَ ْرضا‪َ ،‬و ُم ْجتَ َم َع‬
‫سةُ»‪َ .‬و َكانَ َكذ ِل َك‪َ 10 .‬ودَ َ‬
‫عا هللاُ ْاليَابِ َ‬
‫ْاليَابِ َ‬
‫ت‬
‫س ٌن‪َ 11 .‬وقَا َل هللاُ‪ِ « :‬لت ُ ْنبِ ِ‬
‫ْال ِميَا ِه دَ َ‬
‫عاهُ بِ َحارا‪َ .‬و َرأَى هللاُ ذ ِل َك أَنَّهُ َح َ‬
‫ش َجرا ذَا ثَ َم ٍر َي ْع َم ُل ثَ َمرا‬
‫ع ْشبا َو َب ْقال يُب ِْز ُر ِب ْزرا‪َ ،‬و َ‬
‫ض ُ‬
‫األ َ ْر ُ‬
‫ت‬
‫ض»‪َ .‬و َكانَ َكذ ِل َك‪12 .‬فَأ َ ْخ َر َج ِ‬
‫علَى األ َ ْر ِ‬
‫َك ِج ْن ِس ِه‪ِ ،‬ب ْز ُرهُ فِي ِه َ‬
‫ع ْشبا َوبَ ْقال يُب ِْز ُر ِب ْزرا َك ِج ْن ِس ِه‪َ ،‬و َ‬
‫ض ُ‬
‫األ َ ْر ُ‬
‫ش َجرا يَ ْع َم ُل ثَ َمرا ِب ْز ُرهُ‬
‫سا ٌء َو َكانَ‬
‫س ٌن‪َ 13 .‬و َكانَ َم َ‬
‫فِي ِه َك ِج ْن ِس ِه‪َ .‬و َرأَى هللاُ ذ ِل َك أَنَّهُ َح َ‬
‫صبَا ٌح يَ ْوما ثَا ِلثا‪.‬‬
‫َ‬
‫ار َواللَّ ْي ِل‪،‬‬
‫ار فِي َجلَ ِد ال َّ‬
‫س َم ِ‬
‫‪َ 14‬وقَا َل هللاُ‪ِ « :‬لتَ ُك ْن أَ ْن َو ٌ‬
‫اء ِلتَ ْف ِ‬
‫ص َل بَيْنَ النَّ َه ِ‬
‫ت َوأَ ْوقَا ٍ‬
‫َوتَ ُكونَ آل َيا ٍ‬
‫ين‪.‬‬
‫ت َوأَي ٍَّام َو ِس ِن ٍ‬
‫‪Allah‬‬
‫‪Genesis 1-14‬‬
‫‪Arabic Bible Outreach‬‬
‫‪Ministry‬‬
‫‪www.arabicbible.com‬‬
‫‪Belief in God:‬‬
‫ض خ َِربَة َو َخا ِليَة‪،‬‬
‫‪1‬فِي ْالبَ ْد ِء َخلَقَ ُ‬
‫ض‪َ 2 .‬و َكانَ ِ‬
‫س َم َاوا ِ‬
‫للاه ال َّ‬
‫ت األ َ ْر ُ‬
‫ت َواأل َ ْر َ‬
‫علَى َو ْج ِه ْال ِميَا ِه‪َ 3 .‬وقَا َل‬
‫َو َعلَى َو ْج ِه ْالغ َْم ِر ُظ ْل َمةٌ‪َ ،‬و ُرو ُح ُ‬
‫للاه يَ ِر ُّ‬
‫ف َ‬
‫ص َل‬
‫ور‪َ 4 .‬و َرأَى ُ‬
‫ُ‬
‫ور»‪ ،‬فَ َكانَ نُ ٌ‬
‫للاه ‪ِ « :‬ل َي ُك ْن نُ ٌ‬
‫ور أَنَّهُ َح َ‬
‫س ٌن‪َ .‬وفَ َ‬
‫للاه النُّ َ‬
‫ور نَ َهارا‪َ ،‬و ُّ‬
‫ور َو ُّ‬
‫عاهَا لَيْال‪.‬‬
‫الظ ْل َم ِة‪َ 5 .‬ودَ َعا ُ‬
‫ُ‬
‫الظ ْل َمةُ دَ َ‬
‫للاه النُّ َ‬
‫للاه َبيْنَ النُّ ِ‬
‫للاه ‪ِ « :‬ليَ ُك ْن َجلَدٌ فِي‬
‫صبَا ٌح يَ ْوما َو ِاحدا‪َ 6.‬وقَا َل ُ‬
‫َو َكانَ َم َ‬
‫سا ٌء َو َكانَ َ‬
‫للاه ْال َجلَدَ‪،‬‬
‫اصال بَيْنَ ِميَا ٍه َو ِميَا ٍه»‪7 .‬فَعَ ِم َل ُ‬
‫س ِط ْال ِميَا ِه‪َ .‬و ْليَ ُك ْن فَ ِ‬
‫َو َ‬
‫ت ْال َجلَ ِد َو ْال ِميَا ِه الَّتِي فَ ْوقَ ْال َجلَ ِد‪َ .‬و َكانَ‬
‫ص َل بَيْنَ ْال ِميَا ِه الَّتِي تَ ْح َ‬
‫َوفَ َ‬
‫ص َبا ٌح َي ْوما ثَانِيا‪.‬‬
‫َكذ ِل َك‪َ 8 .‬ودَ َعا ُ‬
‫س َماء‪َ .‬و َكانَ َم َ‬
‫للاه ْال َجلَدَ َ‬
‫سا ٌء َو َكانَ َ‬
‫احدٍ‪َ ،‬و ْلتَ ْ‬
‫ظ َه ِر‬
‫‪َ 9‬وقَا َل ُ‬
‫للاه ‪ِ « :‬لتَ ْجتَ ِمعِ ْال ِم َياهُ تَ ْح َ‬
‫ت ال َّ‬
‫س َم ِ‬
‫ان َو ِ‬
‫اء ِإلَى َم َك ٍ‬
‫سةَ أَ ْرضا‪َ ،‬و ُم ْجتَ َم َع ْال ِم َيا ِه‬
‫ْال َيا ِب َسةُ»‪َ .‬و َكانَ َكذ ِل َك‪َ 10 .‬ودَ َعا ُ‬
‫للاه ْال َيا ِب َ‬
‫ض‬
‫للاه ذ ِل َك أَنَّهُ َح َس ٌن‪َ 11 .‬وقَا َل ُ‬
‫دَ َعاهُ ِب َحارا‪َ .‬و َرأَى ُ‬
‫للاه ‪ِ « :‬لت ُ ْن ِب ِ‬
‫ت األ َ ْر ُ‬
‫ش َجرا ذَا ثَ َم ٍر يَ ْع َم ُل ثَ َمرا َك ِج ْن ِس ِه‪ِ ،‬ب ْز ُرهُ فِي ِه‬
‫ع ْشبا َوبَ ْقال يُب ِْز ُر ِب ْزرا‪َ ،‬و َ‬
‫ُ‬
‫ع ْشبا َوبَ ْقال يُب ِْز ُر‬
‫ض»‪َ .‬و َكانَ َكذ ِل َك‪12 .‬فَأ َ ْخ َر َج ِ‬
‫ض ُ‬
‫ت األ َ ْر ُ‬
‫علَى األ َ ْر ِ‬
‫َ‬
‫للاه ذ ِل َك‬
‫ِب ْزرا َك ِج ْن ِس ِه‪َ ،‬و َش َجرا َي ْع َم ُل ثَ َمرا ِب ْز ُرهُ ِفي ِه َك ِج ْن ِس ِه‪َ .‬و َرأَى ُ‬
‫ص َبا ٌح َي ْوما ثَا ِلثا‪.‬‬
‫س ٌن‪َ 13 .‬و َكانَ َم َ‬
‫أَنَّهُ َح َ‬
‫سا ٌء َو َكانَ َ‬
‫ار َواللَّ ْي ِل‪،‬‬
‫‪َ 14‬وقَا َل ُ‬
‫ار ِفي َجلَ ِد ال َّ‬
‫س َم ِ‬
‫للاه ‪ِ « :‬لتَ ُك ْن أَ ْن َو ٌ‬
‫اء ِلتَ ْف ِ‬
‫ص َل َبيْنَ النَّ َه ِ‬
‫ت َوأَ ْوقَا ٍ‬
‫َوتَ ُكونَ آل َيا ٍ‬
‫ين‪.‬‬
‫ت َوأَي ٍَّام َو ِس ِن ٍ‬
Belief in God:
Allah
• God exists
• God is one
• Monotheism (Tawheed-Oneness of
God)
– Monotheism in God’s actions
– Monotheism in our actions
Belief in God:
Allah
• Monotheism in God’s actions:
– Allah is the Lord (Rabb)
• The only true Owner (The King)
• The only Sustainer and Provider
• The only Legislator
• The only Creator
• The Only One who is obeyed
• The only One who takes care of
everything, who is in need of no one.
Belief in God:
Allah
• Monotheism in God’s actions:
– Allah’s names and Attributes
• There is nothing like Him
• His Attributes are infinite and absolute.
They may resemble human attributes only
in basic concept and name. (God is Rich,
Merciful, Generous, Powerful.. etc)
• He is the only one that can ascribe His own
names and attributes. (99 Names in
Islamic Tradition)
Belief in God:
Allah
• Monotheism in our actions:
– Allah is the only Deity worthy of
worship (the one ilaah)
• All acts of worship, adoration and
veneration have to be directed to Him
alone.
• All acts of supplication and seeking help
have to be directed to Him alone.
Belief in Angels
Belief in Angels
• Malak = Angel, means
“messenger” in the root of
the word in Arabic.
• similar to the Hebrew
word "mal'ach".
Belief in Angels
• In Islam, angels are benevolent beings created
from light and they do not possess free will
(obedient).
• Angels are described as being excessively
beautiful and have different numbers of wings
and have no gender. They can take on human
form, but only in appearance. As such, angels
do not eat, procreate or commit sin as humans
do.
Belief in Angels
• Archangel Gabriel: is attributed with sending the
message of God to all the Messengers.
• Israfel: who will blow the trumpet at the day of
Resurrection.
• The Angel of Death
• Angels that record our deeds
• Ridwan: Guards Heaven
• Malik: Guards Hellfire
• Mikail (Michael), Rafael,..
Belief in Angels
• Angels fulfill tasks given to them by God:
–
–
–
–
–
Recording deeds
Guardian Angels
Delivering Punishment/Torment
Supporting and Praying for the Believers
Glorifying God
• Humans do not become Angels after death
• Satan (Lucifer, or Iblees in Arabic) is not an
Angel. He is a “Jinni”. Jinn are created from
flames of fire and have free will.
Belief in Revelations
Belief in Revelations
O you who believe! Believe in
Allah, and His Messenger
(Muhammad), and the Book
(the Qur'an) which He has
sent down to His Messenger,
and the Scripture which He
sent down to those before
(him); and whosoever
disbelieves in Allah, His
Angels, His Books, His
Messengers, and the Last
Day, then indeed he has
strayed far away. (4:136)
Belief in Revelations
• God reveals Books and Revelations to guide
mankind.
• Books and revelations are delivered to the
Messengers of God through the Archangel
Gabriel (The Holy Spirit)
• Revelations:
– Scrolls of Ibraheem (Abraham)
– The Torah (Moses)
– Psalms of David
– The Scripture (Jesus)
– The Qur’an (Muhammad)
Belief in Revelations
• Muslims believe in all above mentioned Revelations.
However, there has been some that are lost
(Abraham’s Scrolls, some Gospels..) and some that
have been modified in translation and through history.
• For any Revelation to be accepted by Muslims
(including Qur'an), the Authenticity has to be proven
beyond any reasonable doubt.
• An intact Chain of Multiple Trustworthy Narrators has
to be present.
Authentication of Revelations
The Messenger
Companion
Companion
Companion
Companion
Companion
Follower
Follower
Follower
Follower
Follower
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Narrator
Belief in Revelations
• The Qur’an:
–
–
–
–
The last Book revealed to Humanity
The direct word of God (God’s Speech)
Revealed to the last Prophet Muhammad.
Preserved, letter by letter, through intact abundant
multiple chains of narrators.
– Revealed and preserved in Arabic.
– Translations are considered only as interpretations
of the meaning of the original Arabic text.
– A Book of Signs, Teaching, Prophecies,
Commands, Warnings and Glad tidings.
Belief in Messengers
Belief in Messengers
• God sends Messengers to Humanity.
• Messengers are Human beings, who receive
the message from God directly (like Moses) or
indirectly through Archangel Gabriel
• All Messengers are sent with the same basic
message:
– Oneness of God (Monotheism)
– Commandments and codes of ethics
– Warnings and Glad tidings
Belief in Messengers
• God does not change His message to people. It is not
acceptable in Islam to believe that messengers have
fundamentally different Theology.
• Muslims have to believe in ALL Messengers of God:
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob,
Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Job, Jonas,
Jesus, and Muhammad among many others.
• Five Messengers with a special status (Messengers of
Strong Resolve):
– Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.
Belief in Messengers
• Muhammad (Peace be upon him):
– Born an orphan in Mecca 570 C.E. in a Pagan Idol-worshiping
Society. A descendent of Abraham through Ishmael.
– He was raised by his grandfather then his uncle. Worked as a
Shepard then a Merchant.
– He was unlettered, not versed in poetry or literature.
– He was known as “The Trustworthy and The Truthful” amongst
his people of Quraysh.
– In 610 C.E., as he was seeking contemplation in a cave outside
Mecca, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him and delivered
the first Revelations of the Qur’an.
– Muhammad then started preaching the restoration of pure
uncorrupted Monotheism, as all the Messengers of God before
him did.
– The Pagans mostly rejected his call, and he was persecuted
with his Companions in Mecca
Belief in Messengers
• Muhammad (Peace be upon him):
– In 622 C.E., the early Muslim community escaped 13 years of
persecution to Yathrib, then to be known as Medina. This
historic event marks the establishment of the Muslim state
and the start of the Islamic calendar.
– The Pagans of Mecca and their allies continued to fight
against the Muslims for many years. War ended with the
victory of the Muslims and the Conquest of Mecca in 630 C.E.
– Muhammad passed away in 632 C.E. The Message was
carried by his companions and their followers.
Belief in Messengers
• Muhammad (Peace be upon him):
– As a Prophet and a Messenger, Muhammad was
supported by many miracles. Qur’an is considered
the greatest of all, as it is a living ongoing miracle.
– The Miracle of the Qur’an:
• Unparalleled level of Arabic eloquence that could not be
matched or challenged for the last 1400 years.
• Knowledge of past Prophets and stories that were not
available to the Arabs. Details that are not present in the
Bible.
• Quran did not come at Muhammad’s convenience but
according to independent schedule.
• Quran came with verses that disagree and occasionally
critique Prophet Muhammad's decisions.
Belief in Messengers
– The Miracle of the Qur’an:
• Multiple things in the Qur’an indicate that the
Creator is the one speaking:
–
–
–
–
–
Knowledge of the celestial Universe.
The origins of Earth (Smoke)
The Iron core of earth has descended later on.
The phases of the Embryo/Fetus in the womb.
Multiple scientific references
– The Qur'an is not a Scientific Encyclopedia, but it
has references to confirm that the words are not
coming from an unlettered human being who lived in
the desert 1400 years ago. It is the word of God
Himself.
Belief in The Hereafter
Belief in The Hereafter
– Life after Death: Resurrection
• No reincarnation in Islamic beliefs
– The Day of Judgment
• Accountability before God
• The Scale: Good deeds v. Bad deeds
• Ultimate Justice
– The Punishment: Torment of Hellfire
• Eternal
• Temporary
– The Reward: Gardens of Paradise
• Mercy and Forgiveness for the believers
• Eternal Pleasure
Belief in God’s Power and Destiny
Belief in God’s Power and Destiny
– Nothing ever occurs without the Knowledge of God
• God is All-Knowledgeable
– Nothing ever occurs without the Permission of God
• God is All-Powerful
– God’s Wisdom and Knowledge cannot be
completely understood by Human beings.
• We may not understand why things happen the way they
do. Our thinking and vision is limited.
– God allows Good and Evil to exist
– God commands only Good and Righteousness
God’s
Universal Will and Power
God’s
Commands
(Legislative Will)
Obedience
Our
Deeds
Disobedience
Religion
Practice
The Pillars
of Islam
Beliefs: Articles of Faith
The Pillars of Islam
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Declaration of Faith: Shahadah
Prayer: Salah
Almsgiving: Zakat
Fasting Ramadan: Sawm
Pilgrimage: Hajj
The Pillars of Islam
1. Declaration of Faith:
Shahadah
The Pillars of Islam
• Declaration of Faith: Shahadah
– Shahadah is the Muslim declaration of belief
in the oneness of God (Monotheism) and
acceptance of Muhammad as his final
Messenger.
– "[ I testify that ] there is none worthy of
worship except God, and [I testify that]
Muhammad is the messenger of God."
The Pillars of Islam
• Declaration of Faith: Shahadah
“There is none worthy of worship except God,
and Muhammad is the messenger of God.“
– Monotheism
– Belief in God’s Power
– Belief in the Messengers and Revelations
– Belief in the Angels that carried the messages
– Belief in the Messages, the Day of Judgment
The Pillars of Islam
• Declaration of Faith: Shahadah
• There are seven conditions of the Shahadah, without
which it is considered to be meaningless:
– Al-`Ilm: Knowledge of the meaning of the Shahadah, its negation
and affirmation.
– Al-Yaqeen: Certainty – perfect knowledge of it that counteracts
suspicion and doubt.
– Al-Ikhlaas: Sincerity which negates disbelief or polytheism.
– Al-Sidq: Truthfulness that permits neither falsehood nor hypocrisy.
– Al-Mahabbah: Love of the Shahadah and its meaning, and being
happy with it.
– Al-Inqiad: Submission to its rightful requirements, which are the
duties that must be performed with sincerity to God (alone) seeking
His pleasure.
– Al-Qubool: Acceptance that contradicts rejection.
The Pillars of Islam
2. Prayer Salah
The Pillars of Islam
Prayer : Salah
• The purpose of Salah is primarily to act as an
individual's communion with God.
• It enables one to stand in front of God and
praise Him.
• It serve as a constant reminder to Muslims that
they should be grateful for God's blessings.
• Show that remembrance of God is more
important and has priority over all other life’s
concerns
The Pillars of Islam
Prayer : Salah
• Five daily prayers:
– Fajr: Dawn to Sunrise
– Zuhr: Noon (Zenith) till Asr time
– Asr: Late afternoon
– Maghrib: Sunset till Dusk
– Isha: Dusk till Dawn
The Pillars of Islam
Prayer : Salah
• Rituals of Salah:
– Ablution (Wudu):
Cleanliness of body
and clothes.
– Clean hearts and
minds.
The Pillars of Islam
Prayer : Salah
• Rituals of Salah:
– Facing the Ka’ba
– Unity of all Muslims
facing the same
direction all over the
world.
The Pillars of Islam
Prayer : Salah
• Rituals of Salah:
– Takbeer: Declare
“Allahu Akbar”, God is
Greater that anything
else.
– Glorifying God
Prayer : Salah
Recitation of Qur’an
1. In the Name of Allah, the Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful
2. All the praises and thanks be
to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds
(mankind and all that exists).
3. The Most Gracious, the Most
Merciful.
4. The Only Owner (and the Only
Ruling Judge) of the Day of
Recompense
5. You (Alone) we worship, and
You (Alone) we ask for help
(for each and everything).
6. Guide us to the Straight Way.
7. The Way of those on whom
You have bestowed Your
Grace, not (the way) of those
who earned Your Anger, nor of
those who went astray.
(Amen)
The Pillars of Islam
Prayer : Salah
• Rituals of Salah:
– Prostration (Ruku and
Sujood) in humility and
humbleness before
God
The Pillars of Islam
3. Almsgiving:
Zakat
The Pillars of Islam
• Almsgiving: Zakat
• Literally means “Purification”
• Purifies hearts from greed.
• Purifies society from poverty, envy, and
crimes.
• Confirmation of Faith
• Manners of Zakat:
– No boastfulness
– No reminders
The Pillars of Islam
• Almsgiving: Zakat
• It is an obligation on every Muslim (except the
poor).
• Zakah is treated as a 2.5% levy on most
valuables and savings held for a full lunar year
• Due to the poor, needy, wayfarers,… etc
• It is considered to be a personal responsibility
for Muslims to ease economic hardship for
others and eliminate inequality.
The Pillars of Islam
4. Fasting Ramadan:
Sawm
The Pillars of Islam
Fasting Ramadan: Sawm
• Ritual fasting is an obligatory act during the lunar
month of Ramadan.
• Muslims must abstain from food, drink, and sexual
intercourse from dawn to dusk during this month,
and are to be especially mindful of other sins.
• Muslims are also expected to put more effort into
following the teachings of Islam by refraining from
violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, harsh language,
and gossip. In addition, all obscenities are to be
avoided.
The Pillars of Islam
Fasting Ramadan: Sawm
• The fast is meant to allow Muslims to :
– seek nearness to Allah
– express their gratitude to and dependence
on Him
– atone for their past sins
– remind them of the needy
– Show generosity and selflessness.
The Pillars of Islam
5. Pilgrimage:
Hajj
The Pillars of Islam
Pilgrimage: Hajj
•
an obligation that must be carried out by ever
able-bodied Muslin who can afford to do so, at
least once in his or her lifetime.
•
It is the demonstration of the solidarity of the
Muslims, and their submission to God.
The Pillars of Islam
Pilgrimage: Hajj
•
•
•
•
During the Hajj, male pilgrims are required to
dress only in a garment consisting of two
sheets of white cloth. Women are simply
required to maintain their normal modest
dress.
The clothing is intended to show the equality
of all pilgrims in the eyes of God, symbolizing
the idea that there is no difference between a
prince and a pauper when everyone is
dressed equally.
The clothing also symbolizes purity and
absolution of sins.
The clothing is a reminder of death and
resurrection. (Death shrouds)
The Practice of Islam
The Practice of Islam
•Sharia is the dynamic body of Islamic
Religious Law.
• It is the legal framework within which the
public and private aspects of life are
regulated for those living in a legal system
based on Muslim principles of
jurisprudence.
The Practice of Islam
• Sharia deals with many aspects of day-today life, including politics, economics,
business, contracts, family, hygiene, and
social issues.
• Sharia is more of a system of devising
laws, based on the Quran and the
Tradition and Teachings on Prophet
Muhammad (Sunnah)
Sources of Jurisprudence
Quran
Sunnah
Consensus
of Scholars
Public
Interest
Analogical
Reasoning
Common
Practices
Goals of Sharia
• Preservation of Religion
• Preservation of Life
• Preservation of Procreation (Family)
• Preservation of Intellect
• Preservation of Wealth
Mosques (Masjid)
• Place of worship and
gatherings of
Muslims.
Demographics
• 1.2-1.3 Billion
Muslims worldwide
• 85% Sunni Muslims,
15% Shia
• 20% Arabs, 80%
non-Arabs
• Estimated 4-6
millions in USA