Introduction of islam

Introduction of islam

• 1.
  Introductionto Islam What isIslam?: The name of the religion is Islam, which comes from an Arabic root word meaning "peace" and "submission." Islam teaches that one can only find peace in one's life by submitting to Almighty God (Allah) in heart, soul and deed. The same Arabic root word gives us "Salaam alaykum," ("Peace be with you"), the universal Muslim greeting. Who is a Muslim?: A person who believes in and consciously follows Islam is called a Muslim, also from the same root word. So, the religion is called "Islam," and a person who believes in and follows it is a "Muslim." What is the difference between Muslim, Moslem and Islamic? How Many and Where?: Islam is a major world religion, with over 1 billion followers worldwide (1/5 of the world population). It is considered one of the Abrahamic, monotheistic faiths, along with Judaism and Christianity. Although usually associated with the Arabs of the Middle East, less than 10% of Muslims are in fact Arab. Muslims are found all over the world, of every nation, color and race. Muslim population of the world Who is Allah?: Allah is the proper name for Almighty God, and is often translated merely as "God." Allah has other names that are used to describe His characteristics: the Creator, the Sustainer, the Merciful, the Compassionate, etc. Muslims believe that since Allah alone is the Creator, it is He alone that deserves our devout love and worship. Islam holds to a strict monotheism. Any worship and prayers directed at saints, prophets, other human beings or nature is considered idolatry. More about the nature of God"Names" of Allah What do Muslims believe about God, prophets, the afterlife, etc.?: The basic beliefs of Muslims fall into six main categories, which are known as the "Articles of Faith":  Faith in the unity of God  Faith in angels  Faith in prophets  Faith in books of revelation  Faith in an afterlife  Faith in destiny/divine decree
• 2.
  The "five pillars"of Islam: In Islam, faith and good works go hand-in-hand. A mere verbal declaration of faith is not enough, for belief in Allah makes obedience to Him a duty. The Muslim concept of worship is very broad. Muslims consider everything they do in life to be an act of worship, if it is done according to Allah's guidance. There are also five formal acts of worship which help strengthen a Muslim's faith and obedience. They are often called the "Five Pillars of Islam." Daily life as a Muslim: While often seen as a radical or extreme religion, Muslims consider Islam to be the middle road. Muslims do not live life with complete disregard for God or religious matters, but nor do they neglect the world to devote themselves solely to worship and prayer. Muslims strike a balance by fulfilling the obligations of and enjoying this life, while always mindful of their duties to Allah and to others.  Morals and manners  Business ethics  Modesty in dress and behavior  Dietary rules  Marriage  Care of children and elderly  Racism and prejudice  Relations with non-Muslims Islamic Living Islam is often called a "way of life." The faith offers guidance and structure in all aspects of daily life, from birth and death rites, to courtship and marriage relationships, and in education and business dealings. Birth Rites Muslim parents and medical practitioners should understand Islamic customs surrounding the birth of a child. Here you can find information about birth rites, circumcision, breastfeeding, etc. Courtship The choice of a marriage partner is one of the most important decisions a person will make in his or her lifetime. Muslims approach this decision with prayer, careful investigation, and family involvement.
• 3.
  Marriage Muslims view marriageas the foundation of society and family life. In a practical aspect, Islamic marriage is thus structured through legally-enforceable rights and duties of both parties. In an atmosphere of love and respect, these rights and duties provide a framework for the balance of family life and the fulfillment of both partners. Conversion Islam is recognized as the fastest-growing world religion, particularly among western women. Those who embrace Islam are known as either "converts" or "reverts" to the faith, recognizing that each person is born with a natural faith in Allah and merely returns to it as an adult. Education The Prophet Muhammad once said that Muslims should "seek knowledge, from the cradle to the grave." Education is a life-long endeavor, and Muslim parents have many choices with regards to their children's education. In addition, most Muslims try to learn at least the basics of the Arabic language, although only 15% of Muslims speak Arabic as a native tongue. Eating and Drinking Muslims follow a set of dietary laws which are outlined in the Qur'an. Everything is permitted (halal), except what God specifically prohibited (haram). Muslims do not consume pork or alcohol, and follow a humane process for the slaughter of animals for meat. Within these rules, there is wide variation among the eating habits of Muslims around the world. Modest Dress Islam gives guidance about all aspects of life, including matters of public decency. Islam has set minimum standards for personal modesty, which are reflected in the various styles of clothing worn among Muslims. While such standards may seem out -dated or conservative to some people, Muslims view these values of public decency as timeless. Business Islam has given detailed regulations for our economic life, which is balanced and fair. Muslims are to recognize that wealth, earnings, and material goods are the property of God, and we are merely His trustees. Health How do Muslims feel about such issues as euthenasia, organ donation, life support, cloning, infertility treatments, and abortion? What does Islam teach about these issues? How do Muslims face health issues in their daily lives?
• 4.
  My brothers inIslam, Let us together strengthen our faith in Allah s.w.t. Let us carry out His commands. Let us leave behind what He has forbidden. Let us increase of feelings of gratefulness that we feel towards Allah s.w.t for all that he has given to us. My brothers in Islam, Gratefulness is a trait praised in Islam. Every individual Muslim should feel grateful to Allah s.w.t. By being grateful, we learn to be more obedient and have stronger faith in Allah s.w.t. Let us look at all the blessings that we have enjoyed. We should feel grateful and touched by the countless blessings Allah s.w.t the Most Compassionate has showered upon us. We have health, wealth, live in a peaceful and prosperous country. We have many other blessings - too many to count. Even those among us who experience some difficulties can find something that they can appreciate. Among the bigger blessings that we should be grateful for is being born a Muslim. Each human being that is born as a Muslim should be grateful to Allah s.w.t since Islam is the religion chosen by Allah for us to follow. Whoever choses Islam and believes in its truth will be safe in this World and the Hereafter. Allah says in surah Ali-Imran, ayat 18: Which means: Verily, Islam is the religion chosen by Allah. My dear brothers in Islam, Imagine. Ask yourselves what if you did not believe? If we did not know Islam, what would we believe in? Perhaps we would worship rocks, other human beings, or maybe even the soul of a dead person. And without belief in any religion, perhaps we would be free to do satisfy all our desires and behave just like animals. Hence, we should be grateful to Allah and the many blessings of Islam. Be grateful to Allah for giving us the gift of Iman to us. Nevertheless, it is not enough to say that we are grateful. We must show it through our actions. We and our families need to practise Islamic values. Every moment should be spent to strengthen our faith, so that Islam will be deep in our hearts, and the hearts of our family members.How do we strengthen our Islamic faith? What is the minimum that we can do?
• 5.
  The basic stepwe can take is to learn fardhu ain. This is the knowledge that we need to carry out our basic religious duties as Muslims such as praying and fasting. All Muslims, without exceptions, must have knowledge of fardhu ain. Each Muslim individual must have fardhu ain knowledge. They must also make sure that their dependants learn fardhu ain. A father must ensure that his children know fardhu ain. A husband too must ensure that his wife knows fardhu ain. If any of his family members who are his dependants, such as his wife and children, do not know fardhu ain, he must teach them. If he does not have the knowledge himself, he must, together with his dependants, learn fardhu ain. It is not enough for him to send his children or his wife to learn fardu ain while he sits at home. In the Al-Quran, Allah s.w.t reminds us to not to do things that would lead us to the Hellfire. He calls upon us to lead our family members away from the Hellfire. This means that everyone should have knowledge of Islam. It is not enough to send our children to madrasahs - whether full-time or part-time. We too must deepen our knowledge in fardhu ain. Allah s.w.t says in surah At-Tahrim, ayat 6: Which means: O Believers, protect yourselves and your family members from the Hellfire which will use as fuel, humans and stones. It will be presided over by fierce and unyielding angels. They will not disobey what Allah has commanded and will do what they have been ordered. Fardhu ain is the knowledge of tauhid, fiqih dan tasawuf. A person that learns tauhid knows that he should have faith in Allah s.w.t because there is evidence that proves beyond doubt the existence of Allah s.w.t. Knowledge of Fiqih such as Taharah cleanse our body. Knolwedge of Tasawuf teaches us to cleanse our hearts. All this we need to learn and practise. With good knowledge, we able to practise Islam the correct way. We must believe that we can do can help to cut down social problems faced in families and society through the knowledge that we gain from Fardhu ‘Ain. This is because any knowledge that we have of
• 6.
  fardu ain contributestowards us becoming a good Muslim. Knowledge is an important factor in perfecting our religion. Without knowledge, there is no perfection in religion. There is no path for us to receive guidance from Allah s.w.t. Later, when we are more capable, we can make the effort to deepen our knowledge in fardhu kifayah matters. Rasulullah s.a.w said: Which means: Those whom Allah wants to bless will be given knowledge of religious matters.