Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Welcome to Islam

The Basics
An Introduction to Islamic Beliefs & Practice

Preface: A Message to the Reader

Peaceful greetings and a warm welcome!

·This blog was designed to help you understand the essentials of Islam. Islam is very easy to understand so don’t worry!

·God is All Compassionate and All Merciful, and therefore the way of life He has decreed for humanity is logical and easy to comprehend.

·God assures us that He will help us along this beautiful path.

In the following Passages from The Holy Quran, we can see that God wills an easy journey for those who submit themselves to Him

“…God does not desire to put on you any difficulty, but He wishes to purify you and that He may complete His favor on you, so that you may be grateful.” (The Holy Quran 5:6)

“…God desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty…” (The Holy Quran 2:185)

“…He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any hardship in religion…” (The Holy Quran 22:78)

Let us begin by clearing our minds, renewing our intentions, and proclaiming the following:

“…I submit myself to the Lord of the worlds…”

Islam is an Arabic word which means “Submission”.
Muslim is an Arabic word which means “One who submits”

Our belief as Muslims…

The only acceptable attitude that a person can have with God is one of subservience and submission. Humbling ourselves before God Almighty is the only path that leads to peace and salvation. A life of rebellion and rejection of God and His revelations is detrimental only to our own selves. Therefore as Muslim’s, we voluntarily adopt this way of thinking and living as our relationship with God.

The word “Islam” is unique in that it describes the very belief and lifestyle that a person is engaged in – which is submission to God. The name “Islam” is universal and not limited or restricted to one Prophet or Messenger.

*Islam was not named after a person or a group of people.

*The Religion of all the Prophets and Messengers was that of submission to God (Islam), and those who believed and submitted are called “Muslims” (those who submit).

Islam distinguishes itself as a Religion founded by God Himself. We believe that all those great Prophets and Messengers sent by God, preached the same eternal message of Monotheism and submission to the One God.

“Say: We believe in God and that which is revealed unto us, and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered.” (Quran 2:136)

“The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein…” (Quran 42:13)


Learning about God

There are so many signs and wonders in this universe that allow us to appreciate the miraculous creation of God Almighty. Through observation and critical thinking, we can learn about God and see His mercy and supreme design in action. It is one of our duties to reflect and ponder upon the natural world.

Out of God’s infinite grace upon humanity – He did not leave us without guidance.

From the creation of the first male and female (Adam & Eve), we have been assured that we would come to know God – and that there would be a perpetual fleet of great Prophets and Messengers to teach us, purify us, and guide us along the straight path.

“…And if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from Me, whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Quran 2:38)

The Prophets and Messengers God sends, are authorized by God Himself to speak on His behalf – and relay His Messages. They are human beings that are given Divine inspiration and revelation. Every word they speak is the truth, for it is from God. It is not left to us in choosing which person should be a Prophet or a Messenger, rather – it is up to God entirely. When God sends a Prophet/Messenger – the only proper response from humanity should be “We hear, and we obey”

“The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers; they all believe in God and His angels and His books and His messengers; we make no difference between any of His messengers; and they say: we hear and obey, our Lord! (we seek) Thy forgiveness, and to Thee is the end of all journeys.” (Quran 2:285)

“*We sent not a messenger, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of God.” (Quran 4:64)

**The use of the Royal “We”: The Quran utilizes a literary element that is somewhat unknown to contemporary American English. God refers to Himself as: Me, I, Myself, We, and Us. This is not a “we” or “us” of plurality, rather it refers to Himself singularly. God is One in every sense of the word.

Let us take a look at the Prophets & Messengers mentioned in the Qu’ran

The Prophets mentioned by name in the Qur'an have been listed, although we believe that there were many more in different times and places throughout history.

“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…” (Quran 40:78)

As Muslims, we believe that Muhammad was the last and final Prophet that would be sent to humanity.

The message given to the Prophets and Messengers focuses on three major concepts:
1. Monotheism – (Tawhid)
2. Revelation – (Risala)
3. Life after Death – (Akhirah)

Those are the main themes that one will encounter when reading The Holy Quran, and learning about the great religion of Islam.

We will begin by reviewing each one individually.

Before we Begin:

* It should be noted that throughout the text – most Arabic words have been translated into English. This has been done for the reader’s convenience.

As an introductory text, it is essential to prepare the reader for further studying. Most Islamic books and texts do not translate every word into English. For that reason, we will go through some of the most commonly used Arabic words – and provide a brief explanation on what they mean.

Allah(Arabic) = God(English)

*There exists a misconception that the word “Allah” refers to a specific god amongst many others. For this reason, many people have assumed that there is a god for the Greeks, a god for the Romans, a god for the Hebrews, a god for the Arabs, etc.
In Islam, we reject the very idea that there exists or can exist multiple gods. There is no deity or god other than God Almighty, who created everything we can see and cannot see. God is One in every sense of the word, and is Unique in every way. In every language there is a word that describes the Creator – and in English, this word happens to be “God.”

Spanish - Dios
French – Deu
German – Got
Aramaic - Allaaha
Persian – Khuda
Zulu - Nkos
Swedish - Gud
Arabic - Allah
Cornish – Dyw

In Arabic, which is the language of The Holy Quran – the word used for God is “Allah”. The word “Allah” has been used as God’s name long before Prophet Muhammad was even born. Before the Quran was revealed, and before Prophet Muhammad was born– Christians, Jews, and other nations had used Allah as the name of God. In Churches and Synagogues throughout the middle-east, the name Allah is invoked and praised. As Muslims, we believe that using the word Allah is superior to using the word God. In English, all one would have to do is add an “s” to the end of “God” – and now the word becomes plural ( God + s = Gods). Allah is unique in that it cannot be made plural, feminine, divisible etc.
*When talking to friends and family who are not Muslim or familiar with the Semitic languages, it may be easier to use the word ‘God’ so that they aren’t confused by the literary differences and usages.
Monotheism – “Tawhid"
“…Your God is one God; there is no god but He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"
Quran 2:163

Tawhid (Monotheism) is the foundation and pinnacle of our faith.

--The 112th Surah (Chapter) of the Quran outlines the essentials of Tawhid—

“Say: He, Allah (God), is One.
Allah is He on Whom all depend.
He begets not, nor is He begotten.
And there is none comparable unto Him.”
Quran 112:1-4

The uniqueness of Allah in His exalted names and attributes are exclusively for Him. Allah alone is worthy of all worship and devotion. Every act of worship and prayer is made exclusively to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. It is not enough to merely acknowledge that there exists only one Creator. As Muslims, we affirm that there is only one Creator – and in addition to that, all our worship and prayer is done to and through Him alone. Praying to Prophets, Messengers, Angels, Saints, animals, idols/statues, stars, planets, etc – are all unacceptable forms of worship. There is absolutely no need or justification for anyone to call on other than the Almighty to fulfill their needs – as Allah hears all prayers. We are promised by Allah, that the path to Paradise begins and ends with Tawhid.

“ And if My Servants ask you about Me – Behold – I am near; I respond to the call of them who call, Whenever they call upon Me.” (Quran 2:186)

In the following Ayah (Verse/Passage) from The Quran, we learn about some of the beautiful attributes of Allah,

“Allah is He, other than Whom there is no other Ilah(deity);who knows both what is hidden and what can be witnessed; He is the Most Compassionate and Merciful. Allah is He, other than Whom there is no other Ilah(deity); the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace, the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Security, the Exalted, the Compelling, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah, beyond any associations. He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Form. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever exists in heaven and earth declares His Praise and Glory. And He is Exalted in Power, the Wise.” (Qur'an 59:22-24)
Revelation – “Risala”

Revelation is all that which is Revealed from Allah to humanity. The process in which it reaches us is often referred to as “tanzeel” (sending down). Allah sends down His revelations in many ways. Prophets and Messengers receive revelation(s) from the Almighty through “Mala-ikah” (Angels) and “Wahy” (Divine Inspiration). All of the great Prophets and Messengers came with the eternal message of Tawhid (True Monotheism). Depending on the circumstances, Allah in His infinite wisdom - revealed laws and injunctions for the recipients of His revelations.

“O children of Adam! If there come to you Messengers from among you relating to you My revelations, then whoever shall guard (against evil) and act aright-- they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.” (Quran 7:35)

“We have certainly sent to every nation a Messenger [proclaiming]: “Worship Allah, and shun false deities.” (Quran 16:36)

“And We have not sent before you any Prophet except that We revealed to him that none has the right to be worshipped in truth but Me, so worship Me.”(Quran 21:25)

Throughout history, Allah has sent many Prophets and Messengers – and has blessed a number of them with Scripture. In the Quran itself, we learn about the previous scriptures revealed for the benefit of humanity.

*It is an article of faith for Muslims to believe in all of the Scriptures revealed by Allah(God).

The Messenger -------The Scripture

Abraham -------(Pages)
Moses ----------(Torah)
David -----------(Psalms)
Jesus-------------(Gospel)
Muhammad ---------(Quran)

Life after Death – (Akhirah)

The Prophets, Messengers, and Scriptures themselves – are both a warning, and glad tidings. For those who submit their minds, hearts, souls, and bodies to the Almighty (who by the way, is the rightful Owner of all these anyway)… will be rewarded with an eternal home that is beyond anything imaginable.

"And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous good deeds, that for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow..." Quran 2:25

“No one knows what delights of the eye have been kept hidden for them as a reward for what they used to do.” Quran 32:17

“Allah has promised to the believing men and believing women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of Allah: that is the supreme felicity.” Quran 9:72

*We cannot allow ourselves to become deluded, by thinking that we are not accountable for what we do in the life of this world.

“Did you then think that We had created you in vain, and that you shall not be returned to Us?”
(Quran 23:115)

“Beware of the Day when you are returned to Allah, and every soul is paid for everything it had done without the least injustice.”
(Quran 2:281)

"Allah! There is no Ilah(deity/god) but He: of a surety He will gather you together against the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And whose word can be truer than Allah’s?"
(Quran 4:87)

“Answer the call of your Lord before there cometh unto you from Allah a Day which there is no averting, you shall have no refuge on that day, nor shall it be yours to make a denial.”
(Quran 42:47)

*In the aforementioned Ayat of the Quran, we learn that we will stand before our Creator – and we learn that faith & righteous deeds are essential for salvation. By embracing Tawhid (True monotheism), and following the Risala (Messenger & Scripture) – we can then hope for a blissful Akhirah (Life after death) in Paradise.
I’ve accepted Islam… now what?

The 5 Pillars of Islam

1.Shahada Testimony
2.Salat Prayer
3.Zakat Charity
4.Sauwm Fasting
5.Hajj Pilgrimage

1. Let us begin with the testimony of Faith, also known as the “Shahadatayn” or simply, “Shahada”. This is what brings a person into the fold of Islam. When someone declares the Testimony of Faith (Shahada), they become a Muslim! Let’s start with a word for word translation, then a brief summary. Here’s how it goes:

“Ash – Hadu en La illaha illa Allah”
Translation (I Testify that there is no Ilah/god but Allah/God)
Summary (I bear witness to the fact that there is absolutely no deity or god, and nothing that is worthy of worship or devotion – other than the one True God)

“Wa Ash – Hadu ena Muhammad-ur Rasul Allah”
Translation (And I Testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God)
Summary (And I also bear witness to the fact that Muhammad was the last and final of all the great Prophets and Messengers sent by Allah. Muhammad receives revelation from Allah, and it is the truth.)

When one utters this Shahada, they become Muslim. Welcome to Islam!
There is no baptism, ceremony, rituals, or formalities other than the declaration of what is already in one’s heart. The Shahada makes you an “official Muslim”.

If you just took your Shahada, contact us and let us know!
We will help you in every way we possibly can!
Al Fatihah – The opening Surah of The Holy Quran
A’udhu Billahi min ashaytan arajeem (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan)
Bismi Allāhi Ar-Raĥmāni Ar-Raĥīmi
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Al-Ĥamdu Lillāhi Rabbi Al-`Ālamīna
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
Ar-Raĥmāni Ar-Raĥīmi
The Beneficent, the Merciful
Māliki Yawmi Ad-Dīni
Master of the Day of Judgment
'Īyāka Na`budu Wa 'Īyāka Nasta`īnu
Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help
Ahdinā Aş-Şirāţa Al-Mustaqīma
Guide us to the straight path,
Şirāţa Al-Ladhīna 'An`amta `Alayhim Ghayri Al-Maghđūbi `Alayhim Wa Lā Ađ-Đāllīn
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.
Ameen
Amen
CLOSING COMMENTS

May Allah bless you!

“Limitless in His glory is your Lord, the Lord of almightiness, above all what people attribute to Him. And peace be upon all His messengers. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.” (Quran 37: 171-182)

Would you like to:

Visit a Mosque?
Contact a local brother/sister?
Ask a question about Islam?
Embrace Islam?

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