Islam 101 Overview n The Muslim Creed

Islam 101

Overview n The Muslim Creed n Scene from the movie “The Message” n The Five Pillars of Islam n The First call to prayer “The Message”

The Dictionary Definitions of Islamic Terms n n Allah Name of the one and only God. Islam Submission to the will of God. Muslim One who submits to the will of God. The Koran (Quran) Sacred scripture of Islam. Surah: chapter Ayah: verse (16; 36) n The Kaa’ba First house of worship of the One God, built by Prophet Abraham and cleansed of idols by Prophet Muhammad; Muslims turn towards the Kaa’ba during prayer. n Sunnah Records of what the Prophet did or said (hadith traditions).

Muslim Creed To believe in: n God (Allah), n His Angels, n His Books, n His Messengers, n The Day of Judgment, n Fate whether good or bad.

Allah “Say: He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. ” (Surah 112) n Monotheism “La ilahe illallah” There is no god but God n Anthropomorphism and depiction forbidden

Names of God n The Gracious, The Merciful, The Beneficent, The Creator, The All. Knowing, The All-Wise, The Lord of the Universe, The First, The Last, and others… n “In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. ”

Angels n Spiritual beings, do not require food, drink or sleep n Obedient to God by nature n Duties Jibriil (Gabriel) - brings revelations Azrail - angel of death Mikail (Michael) - controls natural phenomena Israfil - day of resurrection

The Message: Holy Books Reference to books of: Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus n n n Koran, complete and authentic, By God, to Prophet Muhammad, 23 years; memorized then written, 114 chapters in Arabic, Theme based. Interpretations by A. Yusuf Ali, M. Pickthall and Mawdudi.

The Messengers: Prophets • “For We assuredly sent amongst every people a prophet (with the command), worship me and avoid false gods”(16; 36). • 25 mentioned • Pure Monotheism • Image: multicolored light bulbs

“We believe in God, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes; and that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and that which was given to all prophets from their Lord. We make no discrimination between one and another of them, and we bow to God” (2: 136).

Prophet Muhammad n n Born in Arabia in the year 570, Direct descendant of Prophet Ishmael, the first son of Prophet Abraham, Received divine revelations (The Holy Quran) over a period of 23 years, Last Messenger sent by God for the guidance of mankind until the Day of Judgment. “Muhammad is no more than a Messenger. Many were the Messengers who passed away before him. . . "(3: 144)

The Day of Judgment n Final and fair trial; absolute justice n Compensation and reward for good deeds n Punishment, except for the Grace of God n Just like the first creation, even easier

Fate: Good or Bad n Accept with good Faith all that He does n Good motive and meaningful purpose n Our thinking is based on individual or personal considerations, His knowledge is limitless and He plans on a universal basis. n Fatalism? “Every man’s fate We have fastened on his own neck. . ” (17; 13) n Insha’Allah: God willing

The Message A History of Islam n n Produced and directed by Moustapha Akkad; Starring Anthony Quinn; 1998 Anchor Bay Ent. First Muslim emigrants take refuge from the Pagan Makkans in Abyssinia (today’s Ethiopia) where a righteous Christian king rules. A debate take place in the court of the King of Abyssinia… the Makkans want the Muslims returned to them in order to punish them for rebelling against their forefather’s religion…

The Five Pillars of Islam n Testimony of Faith n Prayers n Fasting n Purifying Alms and Charity n Pilgrimage

The Testimony of Faith ü The first pillar of Islam; believe and declare the faith by Shahadah (“witness”): “La ilaha ila Allah; Muhammadur-rasul Allah. ” (I bear witness that) there is no god but Allah; (I bear witness that) Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. ”

Prayer (Salat) ü Fiver times a day: dawn, noon, mid- afternoon, sunset, and nightfall. üBeliever washes according to a particular ritual and prostrates on the ground in the direction of Mecca while reciting certain phrases. üTakes only a few minutes and can be done anywhere.

The Message A History of Islam n First Muslims get together to build the first place of prayer. They need to decide how to call people to prayer. Bilal an Ethiopian Muslim reads the first call to prayer (Adhan).

Fasting (sawm) üAbstain from food and drink, smoking and bodily desires, between sunrise and sunset. ü 30 consecutive days in the month of Ramadanthe ninth month in the Muslim ; calendar which is lunar. üIndividual and community dimensions.

Individual dimension üBeneficial to health. üLeaving worldly pleasures, one gains true empathy for those in need. üA method of self-purification and discipline. Spiritual growth (patience, flexibility, self-restraint).

Community dimension üIftar(fast breaking dinner), sharing the food with others. üReflection of blessings we tend to overlook. Company of fellow human beings is a also blessing. Great awareness of God’s presence. üKatrina and Rita have left thousands without home. The value of a hot meal and a caring community are better understood.

Almsgiving (Zakat) üIf financially eligible, required to donate a fixed amount (min 1/40) of charity every year. üAct of purification through sharing what one has with others. The rationale: everything belongs to God, and wealth is held by man as a trust. Allah says: “Of their wealth, take alms so you may purify and sanctify them. ”[ 9: 103].

Pilgrimage üObligatory for physically and financially capable, travel to Mecca at least once in one’s lifetime. üCeremonies of the pilgrimage are associated with the prophet Abraham and centered around the Kaaba which , Muslims believe to be the house that Abraham erected for God.

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Universal message Nearly two million Muslims from all over the globe gather. Pilgrims wear a simple two-piece garment (Ihram) which strips away all distinctions of wealth, race, status, class, and culture; all stand together and equal before Allah.

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