What is Islam
Islam calls humanity to the service of the One, Omnipotent Creator. It instructs people how they should live together in peace and harmony regardless of race, class, or believes. The unity of purpose brought by all previous religious guides is highlighted as well as traditional morality, the equality of the sexes before God and the virtues of patience and humbleness.
“Mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God’s sight is the greatest of you in piety. Surely Allah is Knowing and Aware.
The translation is from the” Qur'an 49:13
An individual that is Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have superiority over an Arab. A white man has no superiority over a black man and the black man does not have any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay. Prophetic narration.
Over a billion people of different races, nationalities and cultures are Muslims. They believe in the One, Unique, Incomparable, Merciful God, the Sole Creator and Sustainer of the Universe; in Prophets through whom his revelations were brought to humankind; in the Day of Judgment and in individual accountability for actions; in God’s complete authority over destiny; and in life after death. Muslims believe that God sent his messengers and prophets to all humans and that God’s final message to humanity, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and all that had came before, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the Archangel Gabriel.
MSA is one of the most active, diverse and dynamic community right here on campus.
The Five Pillars
Shahada: Faith
It reads off: "La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah",which means that there are not no gods but God alone and Muhammad is his prophet. It underscores the monotheistic nature of Islam. It is an extremely popular phrase in Arabic calligraphy and appears in numerous manuscripts and on religious buildings.
Muslims are expected to pray five times a day. It does not mean that one has to attend a Masjid, as known as a mosque (a place of worship). Prayers can be done almost anywhere: parks, offices, factories, or universities, as long as the environment is clean. The prayers are : Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), ʿAṣr (afternoon), Maghrib (evening), and ʿIshāʾ (night). All prayers are recited while facing in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. Muslims must make a wudu (washing) of their face, ears, legs, arms, etc. The prayer is accompanied by a series of positions including; bowing with hands on knees, standing, and prostrating on a prayer mat. The postures are a symbol of their reverence and submission to Allah.
Zakāt or alms-giving is the practice of charitable giving based on wealth. It is the personal responsibility of each Muslim to ease the economic hardship of others and to strive towards eliminating inequality. The word zakāt can be defined as purification and growth because it allows an individual to achieve balance and encourages new growth.
Sawm literally means any ritual fasting but is generally refers to ritual fasting during the month of Ramadan. From dawn to dusk for the entire month, Muslims must refrain from eating, drinking and engaging in sexual relations. Through this physical abstinence, Muslims are able to focus intently on their spiritual selves, atoning for their sins and recommitting to serving Allah.
The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially stabled. 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 mostly performed in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Male pilgrims wear special yet simple white clothing, which strips away distinctions of class and culture so that all of them stand as equal before God.
Six Major Beliefs
- Belief in God
- Belief in the Angels
- Belief in the Messenger
- Belief in the Books
- Belief in the Last Day
- Belief in Al-Qadar
Belief in God
It is the single most important belief in Islam, and arguably the central theme of the religion. Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes. No one shares His divinity, nor His attributes.The name of God is Allah, which is simply Arabic for "the (al) God (Ilah)."
Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them. These include the Quran (given to Muhammad), the Torah (given to Moses), the Gospel (given to Jesus), the Psalms (given to David), and the Scrolls (given to Abraham). Muslims believe that these earlier scriptures in their original form were divinely revealed, but that only the Quran remains as it was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad.
The life of this world and all that is in it will come to an end on an appointed day. At that time, every person will be raised from the dead. God will judge each person individually, according to his faith and his good and bad actions. God will show mercy and fairness in judgment. According to Islamic teachings, those who believe in God and perform good deeds will be eternally rewarded in Heaven. Those who reject faith in God will be eternally punished in the fire of Hell.
Learn more about Islam
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