Introduction to Islam

Topics Covered
Three Spiritual Motivations
Six Pillars of Faith
Five Pillars of Worship

Part I: Spiritual Motivations in Islam
Why do we need spiritual Motivations?
To fight evil temptations
To fight evil inclinations

Some of the Evil Temptations
The characteristics of the Evil Soul, such as excessive selfishness and greed

Ego and Arrogance Hatred and Grudges

Anger and Revenge

Envy and Jealousy Cowardness

Stinginess and excessive Love of Money Laziness

Evil Desire of Racism

Excessive Self Admiring sexual desires outside of Marriage

Three Spiritual Motivations
Love of God and Strong Desire to Please him
Strong desire to Earn Paradise
Fear of God’s Punishment and Strong Desire to Protect Oneself Against
Analogy:
What Motivates an Individual to Go To Work?
Love of His job
Desire to Earn the Salary
Fear of Being Fired, or Fear of Poverty

To Fight Evil Inclinations
Do and support what is right even if
It causes pain
It requires sacrifice
You hate it
Against your materialistic benefits
Stop yourself from doing what is wrong and condemn it even if
It causes pleasure
You love it
Brings materialistic benefits to you

Part II: Six Pillars of Faith
1. To believe in God:
One God, the one Worshiped by Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Noah, Josef, Jesus …etc
Perfect God, i.e. does not need to rest, does not make mistakes, all knowing, in full control, and has all the attributes of beauty and greatness. FLAWLESS.
Did not beget nor was he begotten
The Big Boss
Not being able to see him ≠ does not exist, signs of his existence are every where

Signs of God Existence

2. To Believe in the Angels of God
The Almighty Powerful King should have servants to carry on his orders and commands
Created from Light
Do not have a free will to obey or disobey
No reward or punishment to them
Satan was not an angel, he was from the Jinn created from fire
They are neither male or female and they do not look like that

3. To Believe in the Messengers of God
They are teachers sent by God to teach the guidance of God and answer the questions:
What is good, what is evil, what is right, what is wrong, what is moral and what is immoral?
What is the purpose of our creation?
Is there a God? Who is God?
What is God expecting from us?
What should we expect from God?
Is there a life after death? Where do we go?

Purpose of Life
All creation of God worship him without a choice. They can not choose not to worship him with the exception of human and Jinn kinds
God created us and gave us free will to worship him with our choice. Worship even though we have the choice not to worship, obey even though we have the choice not to obey, sacrifice for his sake even though we have the choice not to, fight our evil desires and inclinations, even though we have the choice not to fight them, actually it is easier not to, but no pain, no gain
This is why we were inspired with both good will and evil desires, so we have a free will
Angels are inspired only with good will, so they do not have a free will and they always choose good. Consequently, they do not get rewards or punishments
Satan kind is inspired only with evil desires, so they do not have a free will and they always choose evil. Satan has lost the free will after failing the test of submission by refusing to bow down to Adam

Meaning of the Word Muslim
“ Muslim” means “submissive”, which means submissive to the guidance of God, not submissive to evil desires and evil inclinations
This life is a test of submission. Those who pass the test are those who are submissive to the guidance of God, sacrifice time, money and effort for his sake, and fight their evil desires and inclinations
By doing so, they have fulfilled the purpose of their creation and worshiped God by free will
God created us because he wanted to be worshiped by a creation that has a free will

Chain of the Prophets Adam Idris Noah Lot Hud Abraham Jacob Joseph Moses David Solomon Isra John Jesus Mohamed All Prophets came with same message and taught the same guidance Muslims believe in all the Prophets without making any discrimination among them. They are all equally loved and respected Prophets are sent as mercy to human kind to take them out of darkness and to bring them to light

4. To Believe in the Scriptures (Books) of God
Teachers (Prophets) were teaching from a text book called “Holly Scripture”
Prophets leave scripture to guide people and inspire them after their death
Scriptures are the word of God
Muslims believe in all original scriptures including; Bible, Torah (Old Testament), The books of Moses, David and Abraham

Quran: The Holy Book
Original intact as given by the Prophet in Arabic
23 Years of Revelations (610 - 632 C.E.)
114 Chapters; One Chapter, Multiple Revelations
Chapter (Surah) names
Historic Context matters
Verses Explain Verses
Commentary needed in the light of Arabic, History, and Sunnah

Islam and Christianity
Islam is the only non Christian based religion in the whole world that requires believers to believe in Jesus and the Bible
Believing in Jesus and the Bible is among the pillars of faith. Thus, (s)he is not a Muslim if (s)he does not believe in either Jesus or the Bible
Muslims do not believe the Bible is 100% accurate because of translation issues and existence of different versions of the bible, e.g. Catholic Bible is seven more books than King James Version, however, Muslims believe in the portion of the Bible confirmed by the Holly Quran

Dictionary Game
Because each translation is an interpretation, you start the game with one sentence in language A and end up with a totally different sentence
Language A Translator 1 Language B Language C Translator 3 Translator 2

5. To Believe in the Day of Judgment
People will be resurrected and judged for their deeds by God
If there is no day of judgment, then Hitler is having the same fate like Abraham, both are equally peacefully sleeping in their graves
Criminals got away with their crimes
People with Good will are losers because they have sacrificed for nothing
Why should I sacrifice precious things if I am not expecting any reward back

6. To Submit Yourself in Full Acceptance of God’s Decisions
Many decisions are made by God, such as sex, color, race, birth place, choice of parents, family, …etc
Must trust and respect God’s choices for you
Can not question or look down to God’s decisions
Can not look down to a person because of his color or race, it is the choice of God. Islam is COLOR BLIND religion

Trust God’s Decisions Even if you Can’t Understand them or Look Harmful to You
God’s ways are above our ways, his thoughts are way above ours and his wisdom is way above ours
Why did I get this cancer?
Why did I loose my family in a car accident?
It is okay to feel sad, but never think that God has been mean to you
I am sad, but I still love you and respect your will and wisdom, and I will continue to worship you

Part III: Five Pillars of Worship
Worship is the practice of faith
Faith without practice is not accepted
It is hypocrisy to believe in a certain way and to act in an opposite manner
God in the Koran never talks about those who believe, but always those who believe and act accordingly

1. To declare that there is no Deity but God and Mohamed is his Messenger
It is a quick way to renew the faith and remove the forgetness of God
As we engage in materialistic life, we forget God
Islam requires the frequent remembrance and consciousness of God
Remembrance of God keeps the spiritual motivations up

Shahadah faith/testimony
La Elaha Ella Allah,
La = no
Elaha= god
Ella = except
Allah=God
No god but God
Mohammed Rasool Allah.
Mohammed=Arabic man , died~1400years ago
Rasool=prophet
Allah=God
Mohammed is the prophet of God

Allah
Holy Quran chapter 114
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[1] Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
[2] Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
[3] He baguettes not, nor is He begotten;
[4] And there is none like unto Him.

Allah: name in the Bible
"ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI? which is, being interpreted, My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34).
ALLELUYA = YA ALLA HU = OH! Allah
Elohim =Eloh +im (plural), translated to Allah in the Arabic Bible.

It doesn’t matter He has many names, they all mean the same.
[Holy Quran 17:110] Say: "Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman: by whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. “

Allah
[22] Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god; Who knows (all things) both secret and open; He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[23] Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god; the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.
[24] He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory; and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

Story of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)
He was born to Arab parents from the tribe of Quraish, in Makkah.
Quraish worshiped ~360 gods they had in Makkah. They believed these gods will get them closer to the God of gods (Allah, Ibrahim’s Lord).
His parents died very early.
He never worshiped Idols, drank Alcohol or lied.
He worked as a shepherd and then as a trader.
Known to people in Makkah as “the Honest”.

Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)
Mohammed searched for the truth but couldn’t find it in the polytheistic religion of Quraish.
He started worshipping Allah following what he had of the teachings of Ibrahim. Being an illiterate man, he had no real access about Ibrahim’s monotheistic faith.

At the age of 40, Gabriel appeared to him, the first revelation of Quran was given to him.
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[1] Proclaim! (or Read!) In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created,
[2] Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:
[3] Proclaim! and thy Lord is Most Bountiful,
[4] He Who taught (the use of) the Pen,
[5] Taught man that which he knew not.
[6] Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,
[7] In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.
[8] Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all).
Correct translation: Alak=leach

Mohammed started teaching people.
His close family members, friends and those who knew him well, believed him immediately , knowing he doesn’t lie.
Many slaves and poor people believed in Islam, being attracted to its revolutionary social system and to the true monotheistic religion.

Mohammed (PBUH) and his followers suffer a lot so they started finding a safe place.
The Christian king of Abyssinia , gave Mohammed followers a safe place to hide.
Later, Arab tribes in Medina heard about the prophet. Being informed about the soon coming of a prophet by their Jewish neighbors, they listened to him and then believed him.

Arab tribes had multiple wars with the prophet and Muslims.
Finally, victory was for Islam and Makkah fall in hands of the prophet.
He forgave all his enemies and soon, his followers became in hundreds of thousands.
He died at the age of 63.

Mohammed PBUH GEORGE BERNARD SHAW said about him:
"He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much needed peace and happiness."
"I have studied him — the wonderful man — and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ he must be called the savior of humanity."
(The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936)

2. Pray Five Times a Day
1) Dawn Prayer before Sunrise
2) Noon prayer 4) Sunset Prayer
3) Afternoon prayer 5) Night Prayer

Why do we pray
Phone call to God to thank him for all the blessings that he is providing to us, i.e. perform the worship of gratitude
Maintain God’s remembrances
Keep up the spiritual motivations
Prevent sins

Opening of the book= Fatiha
[1] In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[2] Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
[3] Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
[4] Master of the Day of Judgment.
[5] Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek,
[6] Show us the straight way,
[7] The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

Wuduu=Ablution
"O you who believe! When you rise up to prayer, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads, and wash your feet to the ankles."-(HOLY QURAN 5:7)
"And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat; when they went into tent of the congregation they washed as the Lord commanded Moses."-(EXODUS 40:31-32).

Salaat=prayer
"So turn thy face toward the Sacred Mosque, and (O Muslims), wheresoever ye may be, turn your faces toward it."- (HOLY QURAN 2:144).
"Now when Daniel...went into his house; and his window being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."-(DANIEL 6:10).

Sojood= prostration
"O you who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord, and do good that you may prosper." -(HOLY QURAN 22:77).
"And he (Jesus) went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed..."-(MATTHEW 26:39).
"And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship..."-(JOSHUA 5:14).
"And he (Elijah) cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees."-(1 KINGS 18:42).
"And they (Moses and Aaron) fell upon their faces..."-(NUMBERS 20:6).
"And Abraham fell on his face..."-(GENESIS 17:3).

3. Fasting Ramadan
Spiritual exercise to train the spiritual muscle of self control
Submission to God, we are in control of our evil desires, not they are in control of us
Test of submission, do what God order even if it causes pain to us
What if I sneak to the kitchen and eat?
Remember those who have 24 hours a day seven days a week Ramadan
IF I can fast from lawful things, can’t I fast from unlawful things

Fasting
[Holy Quran 2:183] O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.

Fasting
According to Islamic resources; Prophet David used to fast every other day. Prophet Noah fasted for his whole life .
Prophet Mohammed used to fast 2 days every week; Monday and Thursday.
Jesus "fasted forty days and forty nights“ (Matthew 4:2).
Disciples were fasting: "they fasted and prayed" (Acts 14:23).

Fasting
Means abstinence from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset time on the day of fasting
Obligatory only in Ramadan(9 th month of Islamic lunar calendar) : healthy individuals able to fast.
No fasting: Pregnant, nursing, ill, old, child and traveler.
Fasting in days other than Ramadan: breaking oath, single unable to get married, optional.

Fasting Benefits
Piety: Help believers to reach piety.
Learn self-control: especially helpful to control bad habits like smoking, excessive eating and in the case of single unmarried persons; control sexual desire.
Feel the pain of poor starving people.
Feel the weakness of one’s body and the continuous need for God’s support.
Bring Muslim families, and Muslims allover the world together, when they fast then brake the fasting at the same time.

4. Alms Giving. Pay the Obligatory Charity
2.5% of wealth in excess to your needs must go to the poor and needy, not to the hungry administrators
20% of mines and oil
10% if crops irrigated by natural rain, or 5% irrigated by artificial ways. Must be paid on the day of harvest
Watch for Charitable organization overhead
Can go to the funds of the Islamic Centers
Can be used to free slaves, if any
Example: You make 60,000$ per year. You spend most of this money but saved 5,000 over the last year and added them to your 100,000 savings you had since last year. Zakaah=2.5% X 100,000= 2,500$ paid in full. Notice that your income and your savings over the past year were not used to calculate Zakaah.

Zakaah
[Quran 2:177] It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity, to fulfill the contracts which you have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.

Zakaah What is the solution?
3 billion people are poor.
1.1 billion are extremely poor <$1/day.
World donations: $30 per person annually.
Solution: rich nations should give to the poor ones.

5. Pilgrimage to Makkah at Least Once in Life Time
Only to those who can afford it and healthy enough to make the journey
Annual conference to all Muslims
People travel for pleasure and business. This trip is travel for the sake of God

Story of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim)
Ibrahim’s (PBUH) 2 nd wife , Hajar delivers Ismael, Ibrahim’s 1 st son.
God orders Ibrahim to leave his wife and her baby in a valley that had no water or food, known as Bakkah (later known as Makkah).
Ibrahim obeys the order and leave his family there.
Hajar and her baby had no water. She starts looking for water going back and forth between two plains, Safa and Marwa. She walks 7 times between them with no success.

Continue-story of Ibrahim
God sends the angel, Gabriel, to dig a well of water under the feet of Ismael.
Hajar comes to the water and start holding the water between her hands saying zam-zam, meaning stop stop.
Arab tribes come to Bakkah and ask Hajar to use her water and since she liked to have people around her, she agrees.

Ibrahim comes back to visit his family many times. One time, he is ordered in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismael.
Satan try to convince Ibrahim not to kill his son, so Ibrahim starts throwing stones on Satan.
Ibrahim obeys but God saves Ismael through a miracle and orders Ibrahim to sacrifice a lamb instead.

Ibrahim and Ismael are ordered to build the house of God in Bakkah, called Kaabah.
Ibrahim is ordered to make a call for Hajj. Ibrahim makes the call and every human being hears the call and those who are destined to respond will keep coming until the last hour.

Kaabah

[3;96] The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka; full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings:
[3;97] In it are Signs manifest; (for example), the Station of Ibrahim; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage there to is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.

Makkah in the Bible.
Psalm 84-NIV
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD ; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young- a place near your altar , O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage .
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca , they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

Numerical Facts About Muslims

World Muslims
1.2 billion, Muslims represent between 19.2% and 22% of the world's population.
One of every five humans in the world is a Muslim
Second largest religion in the world
Fastest growing including Europe and America

World Distribution of Muslims Source: Britannica Yearbook, 1997 Africa 308,660,000 27.4% Asia 778,362,000 69.1% Europe 32,032,000 2.8% Latin America 1,356,000 0.1% North America 5,530,000 0.5% World 1,126,325,000 100%

American Muslims
5.8 million Muslims in the USA (World Almanac 2001)
About 40% African Americans.
Not all Muslims are Arabs, Not all Arabs are Muslims.

No Compulsion
Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from Error. Whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And God hears and knows all things.
(The Holy Quran, 2.256)

Forbidden in Islam
Shirk: worshiping anybody/anything other than God.
Treating parents badly: not obeying their orders, speaking to them in loud voice even if they have a different faith.
murder, suicide.
Stealing.
Adultery, homosexuality.
Usury: Mortgage, credit card with interest, bank interest.
Gambling.
Treating neighbors badly even if they have a different faith.
Backbiting.
Drinking Alcohol.
Eating pork.

Behavioral aspects  Muslims should:
Love Allah, his messengers and the believers.
Be honest.
Be generous.
Visit the ill.
Help the weak.
Smile to others.
Be clean.
Remove dirt from the road.
Dress conservatively.

MOTHERS
The Qur'an elevates kindness to parents (especially mothers) to a status second only to the worship of Allah.
Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of contempt nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. (Qur'an 17:23)
And We have enjoined on every human being (to be good) to his/her parents: in travail upon travail did his/her mother bear him/her and in years twain was his/her weaning: (hear the command) "Show gratitude to me and to your parents: to Me is (your final) destiny." (Qur'an 31:14)

DAUGHTERS
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be on him) said, Whosoever has a daughter and does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favor his son over her, Allah will enter him into Paradise.

Human Equality in Islam
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab. Nor does a white man have any superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay"

Justice in Islam
"Do not let your hatred of a people incite you to aggression." (Quran 5:2)
"And do not let ill-will towards any folk incite you so that you swerve from dealing justly. Be just; that is nearest to heedfulness." (Quran 5:8)
‘ Oh you who believe, stand up firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even if it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor; for God can best protect both. Do not follow any passion, lest you not be just. And if you distort or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that you do.’ ” (Quran 4:135)

Suicide is a Grave Sin
O ye who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: But let there be amongst you Traffic and trade by mutual good-will: Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God has been to you Most Merciful! (Quran, 4:29)

Introduction to Islam

by DialogueInternational on Dec 15, 2007

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Introduction to Islam — Presentation Transcript

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