1 clean; Muslims do not make Salah in a bathroom. Siyam (Fasting) Fasting during the month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the lunar calendar) is from sun up to sun down only and is an obligation on every adult healthy Muslim, male or female. Fasting is total abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking, gum chewing, intimate relations, and taking anything into the body. If a person is ill and needs to take medication, s/he cannot fast. Fasting is also a time to discipline one’s self from bad behaviors, such as, arguing, arguing, and saying mean things. Those who are ill or unable to fast for health or reasons of age are exempt from fasting. However, they should feel the poor one meal for every day they miss of fasting. Women who are pregnant, menstruating, or nursing, or any who are traveling, are also exempt from fasting. However, when their situation changes, they make up the days of fasting or feed the poor one meal for each day of fasting they missed. Zakah (Charity) Zakat is an annual obligatory charity on every Muslim, male or female, who possesses over the last year money or property that exceeds their minimum needs. The requirement is 2.5% of one’s excess wealth. It is also called a tax because it supports the government workers who are not free to make money elsewhere. Hajj (Pilgrimage) The performance of the pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim, if financially able, as well as physically able. Hajj begins every year during the month of Dul Hejja; Dul Hejja is the 12th month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar year. The Hajj is a spiritual journey where a Muslim forgets all worldly things and devotes his\her attention and time to Allah alone. PILLARS OF FAITH In Islam, there are six pillars of faith: Belief in Allah, His angels, His books to mankind, His Prophets and Messengers, the Day of Judgment, and Destiny. 1. Belief in God (Allah) Islam teaches that there is one Unique God (Allah) who should be worshipped and obeyed. 2. Belief in Mala-eka (Angels) Muslims believe that Allah created unseen creatures such as Angels. Muslims believe in their existence, their names, their tasks, and descriptions as explained in the Quran and in the Sunnah (Teachings of the Prophet). MEANINGOF ISLAM Islam means to submit freely to The Commandments and Will of The One and Only God (Allah). This submission should come from within, from sound belief in and conviction to Allah, with no doubt. It should also come from love, trust, and affection. Allah is not a special god for Muslims, but Allah is The Creator of all creatures, including mankind. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace on him) is the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace on him) received The Word of Allah (revelation), through the archangel Gabriel (The Holy Spirit). This revelation comprises the Religion of Islam. The Qur’an is the authentic collection of this revelation recorded in book form. It is the exact, unchanged Word of Allah to all mankind. A Muslim is any male or female person who believes in Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace on him) as His Messenger who then testifies to that belief to witnesses announcing his/her acceptance of Islam as his/her religion. “Muslim’ should not be confused with “Arab”; A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam and s/he can be of any race while Arab refers to a race of people. An Arab can choose to be of any religion or belief system be it Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, atheism, or any faith. Arabs make up less than 18% of the Muslim population of the world today, which is estimated to be over one-fifth of the world’s population, or more than a billion people. Islam is a simple and practical religion. It has established, clear, and easily understandable beliefs and laws that any follower or student of the religion can easily understand. Islam affirms belief in a decent, civilized society. Islam also does not demand impossible goodness of its followers, but it recognizes that all human beings make mistakes and sin. No one is exempt. Islam preaches peace, mercy, justice, tolerance, equality, love, truth, forgiveness, patience, morality, sincerity and righteousness. Islam is the religion that preaches the Oneness of God, the Oneness of mankind and the Oneness of the Message. Islam is the religion that preaches the Oneness of God, the Oneness of mankind and the Oneness of the Message. BASIC BELIEFS IN ISLAM Oneness of God: “Tawheed” Muslims believe that there is ONLY One supreme God (Allah). In Islam to believe in Allah is not only to believe in Allah’s existence but also to believe in all Allah’s attributions, to worship Allah alone, and to obey all Allah’s commands. Tawheed includes the oneness of the Lordship, oneness of Worship and oneness of Names and Attributes: A) Oneness of Lordship: To believe that Allah is The ONLY Creator, Provider, and The Commander. B) Oneness of Worship: To believe that Allah is the ONLY God who should be worshipped, and obeyed as Allah prescribed. C) Oneness of Allah’s Names and Attributes: To believe that Allah Is Perfect and His Names and Attributes are Perfect according to what Allah tells us about Himself in the Quran, believing that those Names and Attributes, in their perfection, belong only to Allah. Muslims believe that NO one shares Allah’s divinity that is neither angel nor human. Allah says: “And Allah makes none to share in His decision and His rule” (Holy Quran 18:26). Muslims do not believe that Allah sleeps, gets tired, or dies. Those attributes are only for Allah’s creatures. Allah has neither Weakness nor Weariness. Muslims do not believe that human beings are created in the image of Allah. Muslims believe that there is no intermediary who will take any one nearer to Allah or plead on anyone’s behalf. They believe that any individual can directly supplicate to Allah and ask for anything he/she wants. ONENESS OF MANKIND People are created equal in the sight of Allah. There is no superiority of one over another for any reason except piety and righteousness. Muslims are required to respect the dignity of mankind, regardless of religion, race, nationality, or place of birth, all of mankind are honored. People are not to be judged on factors that they had no choice over, such as gender, color, size, race, health, etc. Islam teaches that human diversity is a sign of the richness of Allah’s mercy and the beauty of His creation. Prophet Muhammad said: “Surely Allah does not look at your faces or your bodies, but looks at your hearts and your deeds”. In Islam there are no priests, priesthood or holy men, and no one has special access to sacraments, there are however, scholars who are knowledgeable of Islam, and their duty is to truthfully explain Islam to others. THEYARE JUST ADVISORS. Islam teaches people to be moderate in their life. Muslims should not give up totally this life for the hearafter, nor give up the work for the hearafter totally for this life only. ONENESS OF THE MESSAGE Muslims believe that Allah Sent Messengers to each nation hroughout the history of humankind. Messengers came with the same message: to worship the One Supreme God and to obey His Commands. Innocence of mankind at Birth. Muslims believe that people are born free of any sin and bear no responsibility for other’s faults and sins. It is only after they reach the age of puberty, and they knowingly commit sins that they will be held responsible for their actions in this life and the hearafter. There is no original sin in Islam. Muslims believe that both Adam and Eve were equally tempted, both sinned, and were both responsible for disobedying Allah. Both were remorseful and repented, and Allah forgave both of them. Muslims believe that no soul is responsible for the sins and faults of others, even if they are their parents, children, wives or husbands. Muslims believe that forgiveness is always available through repentance. Muslims pray for repentance directly to Allah, without any intermediary. Salvation in Islam is only through belief and practice. both go together, side-by-side, to be granted salvation. PILLARS OF ISLAM There are five pillars of Islam: 1. Shahada (Testify) 2. Salah (Prayer) 3. Seyam (Fasting), 4. Zakat (Charity) 5. Hajj (Pilgrimage) Shahada (Creed) The verbal commitment and pledge that there is no deity but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Salah (Mandatory Worship [Prayer]) It is the duty of every Muslim, male and female, after reaching the age of puberty, to perform five Salats (Prayers) at specific times during the day and night. These five specific times are: - Dawn, Noon, Afternoon, Sunset, and Night. A ritual called Wudu (Cleaning several parts of die body with water) is a prerequisite to Salat. The above picture is one “rak’a”, i..e, one set of standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting. Each Salah consists of several Rak’a. Muslims are strongly encouraged to pray in the masjid, but if that is beyond their ability, they can pray anywhere that is SOUTH 5 ISLAM BELIEFS AND PRACTICES The Islamic Bulletin www.islamicbulletin.org ISLAM BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
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