ISLAM AND ITSELF

2006-03-27T02:12:00.003-08:00

For Muslims, God is unique and without equal. They attempt to think and talk about God without either making Him into a thing or a projection of the human self. The Koran avoids this by constantly shifting pronouns to discourage believers from inadvertently reifying God and creating any physical image of Him.

God is known in Arabic as Allah to distinguish Him from ilah, which could refer to any of the gods once worshiped in Arabia. Just as one might say in English that the French or Germans worship God, not Dieu or Gott, so one should properly say that Muslims worship God, not Allah, which is simply the word for God (with a capital G) in the Arabic language. Giving a different name to the one God worshipped by the followers of Muhammad erroneously implies that their God is different from the one God worshipped by Jews or Christians.

This is Mohammad
Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, to his admirers and foes alike, is incontestably one of the greatest and the most influential personalities in the history of mankind. The position this man occupies in the hearts of more than a quarter of the world population makes it pertinent that every right-thinking, fair and unbiased person should learn about this man. This then brings us to the following questions: Who is Muhammad? What did he stand for? What was his mission? What are his teachings? How did he live his personal and public life? What were the political, social and cultural circumstances of the environment in which he lived? What are the opinions of his followers and others about him? And what are the legacies he left for mankind?

::: This is Mohammad :::

The Five Pillars of Islam

1) Shahada: Testifying to God's One-ness:

The declaration "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet."
2) Salat: Prayer.

General Features of Islamic Prayer

Five prayer times each day:
early morning
noon
mid-afternoon
sunset
evening
Raq'ah: Bowing and prostration. Represents submission to God.

Ablutions, symbolic purification by washing hands, feet, etc. with water (or sand).

Qiblah, direction for prayer towards Mecca. Designated by Mihrab, niche in the wall.

Du'a, spontaneous private prayer exists, but is less important than communal worship.
Elements of Public prayer:

Masjid (Mosque):
Minaret (Tower for Muadhdhin to announce services).

Imam leads prayers. Worshippers stand behind in straight lines.
Imam or other scholar delivers a sermon (khutba ) from the pulpit (minbar).
Women are not required to attend prayers. When they do, they usually stand behind the men men.
Friday, Yawm al-Jum'ah (Day of Assembly), main day of public prayer.
3) Zakat: Giving charity.

Originally a free-will donation (what is no called Sadaqah).
Now largely compulsory.
General rate: 2 1/2% of income annually.
Given only to needy Muslims, or for religious purposes, etc.

4) Sawm: Fast

In memory of the revelation of the Qur'an.
During month of Ramadan, daylight hours.

Those who have medical exemptions etc. should fast at another time.
'Id al-Fitr, Feast of Fast-breaking: at beginning of next month.
5) Hajj: Pilgrimage.

Every Muslim man and woman (if physically and economically able) should try to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life-time.
Egalitarian atmosphere, Ihram:
donning of simple white garments.
Refraining from sex, haircuts, jewelry, arguing, etc.
Importance of the Ka'ba, associations with Abraham, Hagar Ishmael and Muhammad.

Symbolic reenactments of past events:
Tawaf: Circling Ka'ba counterclockwise seven times, emphasizing its centrality.

Touching black stone of Ka'bah

Sa'y: Running seven times between hills and drinking from Zamam spring (recalling Hagar's running for water)

Throwing 49 stones at stone "Satan"s (recalling the resistance to Satan's attempts to prevent Abraham from sacrificing Ishmael).

On eighth day pilgrims move to the desert and live in tents. Rituals performed there include:
Wuquf: Standing in prayer at the Plain of Arafat and Mount of Mercy.

'Id al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice): Head or household slaughters animal for feast. Meat is also distributed to the poor.
Return to Mecca for second circling of Ka'bah.
Most pilgrims also visit Medinah.

What Are the Five Pillars of Islam?

The Five Pillars of Islam are the framework of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving zakat (support of the needy), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime for those who are able.

1) The Testimony of Faith:

The testimony of faith is saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.” This saying means “There is no true god (deity) but God (Allah),1 and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God.” The first part, “There is no true god but God,” means that none has the right to be worshipped but God alone, and that God has neither partner nor son. This testimony of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which should be said with conviction in order to convert to Islam (as explained previously on this page). The testimony of faith is the most important pillar of Islam.

2) Prayer:

Muslims perform five prayers a day. Each prayer does not take more than a few minutes to perform. Prayer in Islam is a direct link between the worshipper and God. There are no intermediaries between God and the worshipper.

In prayer, a person feels inner happiness, peace, and comfort, and that God is pleased with him or her. The Prophet Muhammad said: {Bilal, call (the people) to prayer, let us be comforted by it.}2 Bilal was one of Muhammad’s companions who was charged to call the people to prayers.

Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night. A Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories, or universities.

(For detailed information on how to perform prayer, please refer to the links at How to Perform Prayer or refer to the book entitled A Guide to Salat (Prayer) by M. A. K. Saqib.3)

3) Giving Zakat (Support of the Needy):

All things belong to God, and wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The original meaning of the word zakat is both ‘purification’ and ‘growth.’ Giving zakat means ‘giving a specified percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people.’ The percentage which is due on gold, silver, and cash funds that have reached the amount of about 85 grams of gold and held in possession for one lunar year is two and a half percent. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a small portion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

A person may also give as much as he or she pleases as voluntary alms or charity.

4) Fasting the Month of Ramadan:

Every year in the month of Ramadan,4 all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations.

Although the fast is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally as a method of spiritual self-purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry, as well as growth in his or her spiritual life.

5) The Pilgrimage to Makkah:

The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. About two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj is performed in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Male pilgrims wear special simple clothes which strip away distinctions of class and culture so that all stand equal before God.

Pilgrims praying at the Haram mosque in Makkah. In this mosque is the Kaaba (the black building in the picture) which Muslims turn toward when praying. The Kaaba is the place of worship which God commanded the Prophets Abraham and his son, Ishmael, to build.

The rites of the Hajj include circling the Kaaba seven times and going seven times between the hillocks of Safa and Marwa, as Hagar did during her search for water. Then the pilgrims stand together in Arafa5 and ask God for what they wish and for His forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of the Day of Judgment.

The end of the Hajj is marked by a festival, Eid Al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers. This, and Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the two annual festivals of the Muslim calendar.

The Qur'an identifies a number of men as prophets of Islam (Arabic: nabee نبي ; pl. anbiyaa أنبياء ). Such individuals are believed by Muslims to have been assigned a special mission by God (Arabic: Allah) to guide mankind. Besides Muhammad, this includes other Abrahamic prophets such as Moses and Jesus.
Each of these prophets is believed to have been instructed by Allah to warn his community against evil and urge his people to obey Allah. Although only 25 prophets are mentioned by name in the Qur'an, a Hadith (no. 21257 in Musnad Ibn Hanbal) mentions that there were 124,000 of them in total throughout history, and the Qur'an says that Allah has sent a prophet to every group of people throughout time, and that Mohammed is the last of the Prophets. In general, Muslims regard the stories of the Qur'an as historical. The message of all the prophets is believed to be the same. Many of these prophets are also found in the holy texts of Judaism (The Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings; collectively known as the Old Testament to Christians) and Christianity (The Bible; containing both the Old and New Testaments) (see Similarities between the Bible and the Qur'an.)
Only a tiny minority are believed to have been sent holy books (such as the Tawrat, Zabur, Injil and the Qur'an), and those prophets are considered "messengers" or rasūl. Muhammad is regarded in Islamic belief as having undertaken a prophetic mission addressed to all of humanity rather than a specific populace, although both Adam and Nuh did indeed address all of humanity during their prophethood. Muslims believe in all the prophets (nabi) and in all messengers (rasul) sent by Allah. Some are held to be of high esteem (ulul azmi) and are mentioned by name in the Qur'an. The difference between prophets and messengers is that although all received revelation (wahi) from Allah, the messengers received a divine code of life or "Shariah" in the form of a holy book. It is believed that there were 313 messengers.
The first prophet is Adam, while the last prophet is Muhammad, thus his title Seal of the Prophets. Jesus is the result of a virgin birth in Islam as in Christianity, and is regarded as a prophet like the others, and as the Messiah (see Qur'an 3:45). In the Bahá'í Faith, which arose from Islam, it is believed that with the mystic unity of the Prophets (as reference has been made in Islam to Muhammad being the same in spirit with earlier Prophets as well), the term "seal of the prophets" could apply to all of the prophets and as such does not restrict Allah from sending further revelations to humanity through subsequent prophets, any of whom could be considered the "seal of the prophets." Muslims, however, regard this as heresy.
Traditionally, five prophets are regarded as especially important in Islam: Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) and Muhammad. Although it offers many incidents from the lives of many prophets, the Qur'an focuses with special narrative and rhetorical emphasis on the careers of the first four of these five major prophets. Of all the figures before Muhammad, Moses is referred to most frequently in the Qur'an. (As for the fifth, the Qur'an is frequently addressed directly to Muhammad, and it often discusses situations encountered by him. Direct use of his name in the text, however, is rare.)
Contents
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1 Prophets in the Qur'an
1.1 Adam آدم
1.2 Idris (Enoch) ادريس
1.3 Nuh (Noah) نوح
1.4 Hud (Heber) هود
1.5 Saleh (Shelah) صالح
1.6 Ibrahim (Abraham) ابراهيم
1.7 Lut (Lot) لوط
1.8 Ismail (Ishmael) اسماعيل
1.9 Ishaq (Isaac) اسحاق
1.10 Yaqub (Jacob) يعقوب
1.11 Yusuf (Joseph) يوسف
1.12 Ayub (Job) أيوب
1.13 Shoaib (Jethro) شعيب
1.14 Musa (Moses) موسى
1.15 Harun (Aaron) هارون
1.16 Dhul-Kifl (possibly Ezekiel) ذو الكفل
1.17 Daud (David) داود
1.18 Sulayman (Solomon) سليمان
1.19 Ilyas (Elijah) إلياس
1.20 Al-Yasa (Elisha) اليسع
1.21 Yunus (Jonah) يونس
1.22 Zakariya (Zacharias) زكريا
1.23 Yahya (John the Baptist) يحيى
1.24 Isa (Jesus) عيسى
1.25 Muhammad محمد
2 Other possible prophets
3 See also
4 External links
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Prophets in the Qur'an

The following are named as prophets in the Qur'an; their biblical names are given in parentheses.
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Adam آدم
Adam is the first prophet of Islam and, according to Islamic tradition, the first human being. He was created by Allah but brought to life forty days after being kept as a dry body. He is an important figure in Judaism and Christianity as well and he is most well-known for the story of Adam and Eve.
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Idris (Enoch) ادريس
In Islam, Idris lived during a period of drought inflicted by Allah to punish the people of the world who had forgotten him. Idris prayed to Allah for salvation and an end to the suffering and so the world received rain. Idris is also credited in Islam with introducing writing, astronomy, and mathematics.
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Nuh (Noah) نوح
Although best known for the Deluge, Nuh was a primary preacher of monotheism at his time. According to Islamic tradition, it was this faithfulness to Allah that led to his selection for building the Ark that would continue life on Earth. In contrast with Christian and Jewish traditions which say the Deluge was a global event, there is some difference in opinion in Islam over whether the flood associated with Nuh was localized or global.
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Hud (Heber) هود
According to Islam, Hud, for who the eleventh sura of the Qur'an is named, was one of few people to survive a great storm inflicted by Allah to, like with the Deluge five generations earlier, punish the people of the world had forgotten about Allah.
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Saleh (Shelah) صالح
According to the Qur'an, Saleh was ordered by Allah to leave behind his people after they disobeyed Allah's order to care for a camel and instead killed it. In Saleh's absence, Allah punished the people with a large earthquake.
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Ibrahim (Abraham) ابراهيم
Ibrahim is regarded by Muslims today as one of the significant prophets as he is credited with building the Kaaba in Makkah. His family, including his son Ismail, is also credited with helping create the civilization around Makkah that would later give birth to the final prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Ibrahim is also noted for almost sacrificing his son Ismail for Allah in an event now commemorated annually by Eid ul-Adha.
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Lut (Lot) لوط
Lut is most notable in Islam for attempting to preach against homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorra, only to be mocked and ignored by the people who lived there.
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Ismail (Ishmael) اسماعيل
Ismail, first-born son of Ibrahim, is a notable prophet in Islam for his near-sacrifice. However, as an adult, according to Islamic tradition his and his mother Hagar's search for water in the region around Makkah led Allah to reveal the Zamzam Well.
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Ishaq (Isaac) اسحاق
According to Islamic tradition, Ishaq, second-born son of Ibrahim, became a prophet in Canaan. He, along with his brother Ismail, carried on the legacy of Ibrahim as prophets of Islam.
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Yaqub (Jacob) يعقوب
Yaqub, according to the Qur'an was "of the company of the Elect and the Good" (Yusuf Ali 38:47) and he continued the legacy of both his father, Ishaq, and his grandfather, Ibrahim. Like his ancestors, he was committed to worshipping and bowing to one Allah.
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Yusuf (Joseph) يوسف
Yusuf, son of Yaqub and great-grandson of Ibrahim, became a prominent advisor to the pharaoh of Egypt since he was believed to have been able to predict the future. He spent a large part of his life away from his eleven brothers, who, jealous of Yusuf's success, told their father Yaqub that Yusuf had died.
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Ayub (Job) أيوب
According to Islamic tradition, Ayub was rewarded by a fountain of youth, which removed all illnesses except death, for his service to Allah in his hometown outside Al Majdal.
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Shoaib (Jethro) شعيب
Shoaib was a direct descendent of Ibrahim. According to Islam, he was appointed by Allah to guide the people of Midyan and Aykah, who lived near Mount Sinai. When the people of the region failed to listen to his warnings, their villages were destroyed by Allah.
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Musa (Moses) موسى
Musa, referred to in the Qur'an more than any other prophet, is significant for revealing the Tawrat to the Egyptians. The Qur'an says Musa realized his connection with Allah after receiving commands from him during a stop at Mount Sinai. He later went on to free the enslaved Egyptians after failing to convince the Egyptian pharaoh of Allah's power. Musa subsequently led the freed Egyptians for forty years through the desert on a long attempt to capture Canaan, the promised land. During this long journey, Musa received the Tawrat and the Ten Commandments during another trip to Mount Sinai. At the end of his life, according to Islamic tradition, Musa chose to die to be closer to Allah instead of taking an offer that would have extended his life.
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Harun (Aaron) هارون
Harun served as an assistant to his elder brother Musa. In Islam, he, like Musa, was given the task of saving the Isrealites from the Egyptian pharaoh. He would often speak for Musa when his speech impediment preventing him from doing so himself.
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Dhul-Kifl (possibly Ezekiel) ذو الكفل
The status of Dhul-Kifl as a prophet is debatable within Islam, although both sides can agree that he was indeed a righteous man who strived in the way of Allah. Some Muslims believe that Dhul-Kifl is in fact Gautama Buddha.
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Daud (David) داود
In Islam, the Zabur (equated by some with the Psalms) were revealed to Daud by Allah. He is also significant as he is the one who conquered Goliath.
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Sulayman (Solomon) سليمان
Sulayman learned a significant amount from his father Daud before being made a prophet by Allah. According to Islamic tradition, Sulayman was given power over all things, including the jinns. Known for his honesty and fairness, he also led a kingdom that extended into southern Arabia.
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Ilyas (Elijah) إلياس
Sulayman, descendent of Harun, took over control of the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula after Sulayman's kingdom collapsed. Islamic tradition says he attempted to convince the people of the Peninsula of the existance of only one god, but when the people refused to listen they were smitten with a drought and famine.
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Al-Yasa (Elisha) اليسع
Al-Yasa took over the job of leading the Isrealites after Ilyas' death. He attempted to show the king and queen of Isreal the powers of Allah, but was dismissed as a magician. Subsequently, the Assyrians were able to conquer the Isrealites and inflict signficant damage on them.
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Yunus (Jonah) يونس
Islam says that Yunus was commanded by Allah to help the people of Nineveh towards righteousness. However, after Nineveh's people refused to listen to him, he became disgruntled and started to ignore him. After an incident where Yunus was spared death, he decided to re-commit himself to striving for Allah, attempting to lead the people of Nineveh to righteousness. But after returning to evil, illicit ways, the Scythians conquered them.[1]
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Zakariya (Zacharias) زكريا
A descendent of Sulayman, Zakariya was a patron of Maryam, mother of Isa. According to Islamic tradition, he prayed to Allah asking for a son, since his sterile wife al-Yashbi could not provide one. Allah granted his wishes, temporarily lifting his wife's sterility and allowing her to give birth to Yahya. His death was considered tragic as several Isrealites severed his body in half.[2]
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Yahya (John the Baptist) يحيى
Islam says that, like his father Zakariya, Yahya prayed to Allah to bless him with a son who could continue his legacy of guiding people towards Islam. His prayers were answered as Isa was born. Throughout his lifetime, Yahya captivated audiences with his powerful sermons that preached monotheism.
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Isa (Jesus) عيسى
One of the highest ranked prophets in Islam, Isa was sent to guide the Children of Israel. The Qur'an makes it very clear that in Islam Isa is not the son of Allah, as Christianity teaches, but rather a prophet of Allah. He was able to perform many miracles but only by the will of Allah. Islamic traditions states that he committed his life to nonviolence and abstained from eating meat and drinking alcohol. It also states that he received the New Testament although the version seen today is different from the one revealed at the time. Muslims believe that Isa was not crucified on the cross but instead is in heaven, waiting to return to Imam Mahdi to defeat the dajjal.
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Muhammad محمد
Muhammad is the revered prophet in Islam and the only one to not exist in neither Judaism nor Christianity. Born in Makkah in 570 CE, Muhammad spent the first part of his life as a well-travelled merchant. He would often spend his time in the mountains surrounding Makkah in prayer contemplating the situation with the city. According to Islamic beliefs, at the age of forty during one of those trips to the mountain, Muhammad began to, despite his illiteracy, receive and recite verses from Allah which today make up the Qur'an. He quickly began to spread the message he was receiving, convincing a few others in the city, including his wife, to convert a form of Islam similar to one practiced today. He became the leader of those who had submitted to Allah (Muslims), setting up a new city (present-day Medina) away from the oppressers in Makkah. Muhammad served not just as a prophet, but as a military leader who helped defeat the Makkans in 624 during the Battle of Badr. He continued to lead the Muslims spreading Islam across the Arabian Peninsula. He performed the first hajj in 629 and established the form of Islam, with its five pillars still practiced by Muslims today. Others continued Muhammad's legacy after his death in 629 proclamating themselves as caliphs (or successors) to Muhammad.
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Other possible prophets

The following verses open up possibilities for prophets other than those mentioned in the Quran:
"And certainly We sent messengers before you: there are some of them that We have mentioned to you and there are others whom We have not mentioned to you..." [40:78]
"For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger..."[16:36]
The verses open up debate, and there is no strong consensus as to the other authentic Prophets.
Al-Khidr is not mentioned by name, but is traditionally assumed to be referred to in Qur'an 18:66.
Biblical prophets Danyal and Ishaia are not mentioned in Qur'an but often revered as prophets.
Luqman is mentioned in the sura named after him but it is unclear whether he is a prophet or a wali.
Additional numerous historical figures may have been prophets, but this is a source of debate and contention, among them: Zoroaster, Gautama Buddha and Krishna. However, Muslims will state that there is no way of knowing for sure since they are not mentioned by name in the Qur'an. An argument often used in support of the prophethood of such men is that they came with the word of Allah, but it was later corrupted, this accounting for the differences between Islam, and the respective religions with which each man is associated. The hadith and qur'an support such claims which say that a messenger was sent to every people.
Mary the mother of Jesus is not normally regarded as a prophetess, but is regarded as having been sent a message from Allah via an angel. A few scholars (eg Ibn Hazm) have argued that she was a prophetess, but she is not mentioned in the Qur'an as one, and thus it cannot be definitely established if she is or isn't. The majority position among Islamic scholars is that no woman has received a prophetic mission from Allah.

Islam :Quranic words

Islam is a "Deen" not a religion. Thou we have discussed earlier about the root meaning of Islam in the light of Quran on numerous places of this website.But it is a healthy approach to revise it at this point. Islam provide us a solid foundation that helps mankind to grow and develop all the hidden potentialities which Allah Almighty has endowed human beings. By developing them one can lead a successful life in this world and hereafter, and this can only be excavate with the help of Divine guidance.For that matter God Almighty (Allah) has sent chain of messengers with his code of laws which are unchangeable and unreplaceable and asked mankind to abide these sent code of life. They were all muslim and stood on Islam as their "Deen". The last messenger of this chain was Muhammad peace be upon on whom Quran has been revealed and declared as a code of living for entire mankind.

Now at this point of time Quran is with us in its very original form. Allah Almighty has said in Quran that He will take care of Quran's orginality. Quran has revealed in Arabic dialect and in order to understand its message one must know the language with its grammatical influence. There were people who have spent time inorder to compile the root meanings and concept of all Quranic words in the light of arabic grammer and also keeping this important factor in view that in which sense these words have been communicated among the arabs of that era when Quran has been revealed. This important element could'nt be overlooked by these savant linguistics and researchers beacaue they knew the time factor does bring changes in languages. We have strived to gather the work of these people which they have done inorder to reflect the true understanding with Quranic words. In this regard we are showing the findings and understanding of Lane form his Arabic to English lexicon published in 1827 by the name "Lane Lexicon". For our urdu readers we are also showing the work of Mr.Ghulam Ahmed Parvez who have worked intensively to bring forward the Quranic defintions in the light of same perspective as described above. As a start we have selected 63 words from Quran but we will add on more and more words for our readers "InshAllah".

In the end we are requesting to all of our respectful readers that this is a research work of these two gentlemen, in case of any difference in opinion we will not welcome any kind of arguments, instead of that the person itself ponder in Quran and find the truth.

There are seven (7) essentials to basic Islamic faith not believing in one of these essentials a person remained outside the fold of Islam.

IMAN MUFASSAL:

"I believe in Allah, in His Angels, His Scriptures, His Prophets, the Day of Judgement, and in the fact that every thing good or bad (in the world) is pre-destined by Allah the Exalted, and in the resurrection after death."

In summary the Muslims believe in Allah, in His Angels, Holy Scriptures (Quran, true bible and Torah etc.), the Prophets, believe in the life after death, including interrogation in the grave, punishment in the grave, Distraction of this Universe one day (doom day) resurrection, the Day of Judgement, rendering account of ones deeds, and passing over the Siraat Bridge, believe in the existence of Paradise, and the believers will live in it for ever, believe in the existence of Hell, with its severest punishments, and that it will last for ever. All the seven things stated in Iman Mufassal are quite evident from the sacred text of the Holy Qur'an, as well as, from the holy words of The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be on him).

FIVE (5) PILLARS OF ISLAM:

The Prophet (Peace be on him) has described five fundamentals article (pillars) of Islam.
Which are (1) Believe in oneness of Allah (2) Five time daily Salaat (3) Payment of Zakat poor due (4) Fasting in month of Ramadhan (5) Hajj ( pilgrimage to Mecca).

The five (5) fundamental pillar of Islam do not include: belief in angels; the Divine Scriptures; the Day of Judgement and Fate (Taqdir) etc. The simple explanation is that the five pillars of Islam are supported by the Holy Quran and saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be on him). Therefore believing in them (7 essential Iman Mufassal) a muslim is obliged to believing in their saying i.e. Holy Prophet and Holy Quran.

Believes in the seven (7) essentials of Iman Mufassal from the core of his heart, and also affirms these to be true with his tongue but fails in performing the prayers; giving the Alms (Zakaat); observing the Fasts; not going for the holy pilgrimage (Hajj) remain a Muslim, but a big sinner, and disobedient to Allah. A person of this description is called Faasiq (transgressor). Such a person will be taken into task and might get salvation after undergoing punishment for the sins.

THE BELIEFS OF MUSLIMS REGARDING ALLAH:

Muslims should have the belief about Allah:

Allah the Most Exalted is One.

None is worthy of worship and devotion except Allah.

There is no partner of Allah.

He Knows everything; nothing is hidden from Him

He is All Powerful and Mighty.

It is He who created the earth, the sky, the moon, the sun, the stars, the angels, human beings, genies and the entire universe.

He gives life and death. In other words, life and death of all creatures take place by His command.

He feeds all His creation.

He does not eat, drink, or sleep.

He is Self-existent from eternity and will last till eternity.

No one has created Him.

He has no father, no son, no daughter, no wife, or other relations. He is above all such relationships.

All depend on Him. He does not depend on anyone, and He has no needs.

He is Peerless. There is nothing like Him. Nothing resembles Him.

He is free from all imperfections.

Unlike His creatures, He does not have hands, legs, nose, ears, face and shape.

After creating the angels He has appointed them to carry out specific tasks, and to manage the affairs of the universe.

He sent messengers for the guidance of His creatures; to teach people how to follow the true religion, do good deeds, and forbid them from the evil things.

THE ANGELS (MALAAIKAH):

Angels are a creation of Allah, the Almighty, created from light (NUR). They are invisible to us. They are neither male nor female. They do not disobey Allah and do not commit acts of sin. They are always busy in doing their task, assigned to them by Allah. The angels are many . No one except Allah know their exact number. We, however, know that there are many angels. Four of them are very famous and close to Allah. The first one of them is Angle Jibra'il (Gabriel) who brought Allah's Scriptures, Messages, and Commands to the prophets. The second is Angle Israfil who will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgement. The third is Angle Mika'il who is appointed to manage the rains and to deliver livelihood to Allah's creatures. The fourth is Angle Izra'il, responsible for ending the life of Allah's creatures.

THE BOOKS OF ALLAH (The Divine Scriptures):

The Divine Scriptures (Books of Allah) are big and small. They were revealed to the Prophets. The big ones are called the Books, and the small ones are known as the Scrolls (Sahifas). The four famous Divine Books, and who are the Prophets upon whom these were revealed?

The Holy Taurat (Torah) was revealed to Prophet Musa (Moses) (Peace be upon him).

The Holy Zabur (Psalms) was revealed to Prophet Da'ud (David) (Peace be upon him).

The Holy Injil (The New Testament) was revealed to Prophet Isa (Jesus) (Peace be upon him), and the;

The Holy Qur'an, was revealed to our Holy Prophet Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

The exact number of the Divine Scrolls (Sahifas) is not known. Nevertheless, some of them were revealed to Prophet Adam (Peace be on him), some to Prophet Sheeth (Peace be on him) and some to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be on him. Apart from theses there are other Scrolls that were revealed to some other prophets.

THE MESSENGERS OF ALLAH (peace be on them):

The Allah's Messengers (Rasuls) are human beings, and Allah's servants. Allah appointed them to convey His messages to the other human beings. They were truthful; never lie, and did not commit sin. They showed miracles on Allah's commands; convey His messages in full, without adding, or leaving out anything from the orders of Allah. Nor did they withhold any of His messages. The Prophets (Nabi) were also human beings, and Allah's servants, They convey the commands of Allah to His beings; were truthful and never told a lie, nor committed any sins. They did not subtract or add anything in the commands of Allah, nor did they hide any Divine orders.

There is a minor difference between a Messenger (Rasul), and a Prophet (Nabi). A Rasul is that Messenger, who is given a new Shariat (Divine Law) and a new Book. All Messengers are also known as Prophets, whether or not they are given a new Shariat (Divine Law). Thus, a Nabi may followed the previous Shariat and the Book. The prophet were appointed only by Allah's choice; meaning that there were no role for human effort, or intentions in this regard. This bestow, solely, depends on Allah's will. Many Messengers and Prophets came to this world only Allah knows their exact number. A Muslim should believe and testify that all of them were true and right Messengers of Allah. The first Prophet was Prophet Adam (Peace be on him)., The last Prophet was The Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (Peace be on him). The Muslims believe that the appointment of the Prophets and Messengers ended with The Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (Peace be on him). No new Prophet will come until the Day of Judgement. After Prophet Muhammad (Peace be on him), whosoever claims to be a prophet, is a liar. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be on him) is the most exalted and glorious of all the Messengers and Prophets. He, too, is Allah's servant and obedient to Him. He is the most exalted after Allah, the Almighty.

The Day of Judgement:

The most single certain and uncertain event in this world is related to the death, everyone certain that he or she will die one day but they are not certain when they will die. It is a fundamental belief of a Muslim that one day this universe will perish on the day of Qiyamma (Doomed day) when Angel Isra'fil (Peace be on him) will blow the trumpet. Its sound will be so frightening and intense that it's shock will kill every living thing and every material will be shattered and destroyed. That day all human beings and living souls Shall die; the entire universe will perish. Mountains will fly like cotton flakes, and the planets and stars etc. will disintegrate and fall down. The Day of Judgement (Qiyamat) is about to come. But no one known its exact time. except Allah. All that is we known is that it will be on (a) Friday, the 10th of Muharram. Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be on him) has foretold some signs of Qiyamat. By observing those signs, nearness of the Day of Judgement can be determined. they are:

Sins begin to increase in the world.

People begin to disobey their parents, and become harsh towards them.

There is breach of trust.

Singing, dancing, and revelry is in abundance

The new generation begins to find fault in their forefathers.

Uneducated, and the ill-educated become the leaders.

Shepherds etc. and lowly placed people begin to build lofty buildings.

Incompetent and unworthy persons are appointed to high positions.

When the above things happen, take that the Qiyamat is near.

THE FATE (TAQDIR):

Allah knows the good and bad of every thing, and He has full knowledge of His creation even before He brings them into existence. This prior knowledge of Allah is known as Fate or Destiny. Nothing good or bad is beyond Allah's knowledge.

Resurrection after death:

The On the Day of Judgement Angel Israfil (Peace be on him) will blow the trumpet for the second time when all things would re-emerge. The human beings, too, will come to life and presented before Allah, the Almighty, in the Plain of Resurrection (Maidan-e-Hashr). All shall be called to account, and good and bad deeds Will be paid for. The day when all this takes place is called 'Day of Reckoning' (You-mul-Hashr) i.e. when all are gathered; 'Yau-mul-Jaza' i.e. the Day to repay and 'Yau-mul-Hissab' i.e. the Day of Reckoning.

Central Belief

Monotheism is the central theme of Islam—a belief in only one God, Allah, who is omnipotent. According to Islam, God has four fundamental functions: creation, sustenance, guidance, and judgment. The overall purpose of humanity is to serve Allah, to worship him alone and to construct a moral lifestyle.

The Koran declares that making the earth a better place is every human’s job in this world. The Koran criticizes humans for their selfishness, which causes them to lose sight of their Creator. Because of this, individuals must go beyond their selfishness and develop an inner moral quality of taqwa (meaning, "to guard against danger"). Each individual goal is for the good of human kind, not themselves.

Islam teaches that, because of humanity's moral weakness, God sent prophets to teach both individuals and nations correct moral and spiritual behaviors. Since the messages of all prophets emanate from the same divine source, religions are basically one. All prophets are human, but they are the most perfect examples of what humans should be. Muslims believe that Muhammad was the final prophet and that the Koran is the final and most perfect revelation of God. The Koran is supposed to be superior to all earlier revelations from God. Muslims also believe in a final judgment when individuals will be judged according to their deeds.

The Masjid or Mosque is the base and the foundation stone for Muslim society. It is the place where believers congregate to get to know each other and share their pleasures and their problems. It is the center from where the voice of the Oneness of Allah is raised and devotion to His Oneness is practiced. It is the place where the remembrance of Allah takes place continuously. It is the center from where the light of knowledge and wisdom emanate and enlighten the surroundings.

A MOSQUE is a place dedicated to the worship of God. Muslims are enjoined to observe Salat in congregation. If one is unable to reach a Mosque conveniently, or the journey to the mosque is unsafe, the Salat may be observed wherever convenient. The Holy prophet, (Peace be on him) has said that the whole earth has been sanctified and made a Mosque for Muslims.

The Mosque plays an extremely important role in a Muslim's life. Islam emphasizes that congregational prayers should be said in the Mosque. In the early state of Islam, when the Muslims were still unable to build a Mosque of their own, the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) chose Arqam's house who was a companion of the Holy Prophet as the gathering place for the believers to say their congregational prayers. This house was also used by the Holy Prophet as the center for the preaching and propagating of Islam.

When the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) migrated to Madina, the first action he took was to build a Mosque there, which is now known as the Prophet's Mosque or (Masjid-e-Nabwi). This Mosque became the center of all Muslim activities. Deputations coming from other countries were received there and were generally put up in this Mosque such as the group of Christians from Naijran. This Mosque also served as the center for education, learning, and training.

Muslim Mosques or houses of worship are therefore, not only for the purpose of worship alone but, also serve as the center for all social, cultural, political and various activities. There is no special design or structure for a Mosque. Any building erected or used for congregational prayers is a Mosque.

Mosques in Islam are not only centers for worship but are also the reflection of the characteristics of Muslim society and its civilization. Due to this fact, the Muslims have been asked to follow certain rules which can be considered to be the earliest state for the development of Muslim character and to form true Muslim social structure.

The Mosques are centers of Islamic social development, therefore, there are quite a few instructions for a Muslim to follow when he comes to the Mosque. From the very beginning of his development, it starts according to the Islamic teachings.

These are some of them:
When a Muslim enters a Mosque he/she should say:
"I begin in the name of Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O my Lord forgive my sins and open for me the doors of your mercy."

When he/she leaves the Mosque, he/she should say:
"I begin in the name of Allah. Peace and blessing upon the messenger of Allah. O my Lord forgive my sins and open for me the doors of your bounty."

When a Muslim goes to the Mosque, he/she should wear clean, modest, and dignified cloths. There is no special dress prescribed for the Muslims when the prayer is being offered, do not run to join, but come at a dignified pace.

A Muslim should not eat any odorous foods such as onions, garlic or raw radish before coming to the Mosque.
Worshippers should not enter the Mosque with their shoes on.
Making noise is also disapproved of the Mosque.
Punishments are not allowed to be carried out in the Mosque.
Mosques, being the places of worship, are expected to be kept absolutely clean.
As prayer demands concentration and full attention, it is therefore forbidden to jump over the shoulders or pass in front of the worshippers.

Mosques are centers for the worship of Allah, therefore, no body should be forbidden access to the Mosque. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an; "All Mosques belong to Allah, so call not on anyone besides Allah." (72:19) This verse of the Holy Quran clearly dictates that Mosques are the property of Allah and Allah Alone. Therefore, no one is allowed to prevent anybody from entering the Mosques for the purpose of worship. The Holy Prophet (PBOH) himself set the best example in this regard.

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