ISLAM - Islamic Beliefs

Slide 2: Definition of Islamic terms

Slide 3: Belief & Action

Slide 4: Seven Fundamental Beliefs in Islam

Slide 6: Who is Allah?

Slide 10: The names Allah and God

Slide 11: How to benefit from Allah’s Attributes?  Attributes of Allah are not just for us to know them or understand them. But for us to ponder on them and connect with  them. Example:  Allah is All-Seeing  What does this attributes of Allah mean to us?  How should we live our life knowing this sublime  attribute of Allah?

Slide 13: Allah is the sole Creator (Al – Khaliq)

Slide 14: Allah doesn’t rest nor need to get refreshed  “Allah! There is no God but He. the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth.  Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter . And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills.  His throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (Quran 2:255)

Slide 15: Allah alone is worthy of worship

Slide 16: Allah Begets not, nor is begotten

Slide 17: None is equal to Allah

Slide 18: Allah is All-Knowing (Al- Khabir)

Slide 19: Allah is the Sustainer (Ar- Razzaq)

Slide 20: Allah is the giver and taker of life

Slide 21: Allah – The Judge on the Day of Judgment

Slide 22: Allah is The First & The Last

Slide 23: Allah is The Most Loving

Slide 24: Names of Allah 1-10 Allah The Greatest Name Ar-Rahman 1 The All-Compassionate Ar-Rahim 2 The All-Merciful Al-Malik 3 The Absolute Ruler Al-Quddus 4 The Pure One As-Salam 5 The Source of Peace Al-Mu'min 6 The Inspirer of Faith Al-Muhaymin 7 The Guardian Al-'Aziz 8 The Victorious Al-Jabbar 9 The Compeller Al-Mutakabbir 10 The Greatest

Slide 25: Names of Allah 11-20 Al-Khaliq 11 The Creator Al-Bari' 12 The Maker of Order Al-Musawwir 13 The Shaper of Beauty Al-Ghaffar 14 The Forgiving Al-Qahhar 15 The Subduer Al-Wahhab 16 The Giver of All Ar-Razzaq 17 The Sustainer Al-Fattah 18 The Opener Al-'Alim 19 The Knower of All Al-Qabid 20 The Constrictor

Slide 26: Names of Allah 21-30 Al-Basit 21 The Reliever Al-Khafid 22 The Abaser Ar-Rafi' 23 The Exalter The Bestower of Al-Mu'izz 24 Honors Al-Mudhill 25 The Humiliator As-Sami 26 The Hearer of All Al-Basir 27 The Seer of All Al-Hakam 28 The Judge Al-'Adl 29 The Just Al-Latif 30 The Subtle One

Slide 27: Names of Allah 31-40 Al-Khabir 31 The All-Aware Al-Halim 32 The Forebearing Al-'Azim 33 The Magnificent The Forgiver and Al-Ghafur 34 Hider of Faults The Rewarder of Ash-Shakur 35 Thankfulness Al-'Ali 36 The Highest Al-Kabir 37 The Greatest Al-Hafiz 38 The Preserver Al-Muqit 39 The Nourisher Al-Hasib 40 The Accounter

Slide 28: Names of Allah 41-50 Al-Jalil 41 The Mighty Al-Karim 42 The Generous Ar-Raqib 43 The Watchful One The Responder to Al-Mujib 44 Prayer The All- Al-Wasi' 45 Comprehending Al-Hakim 46 The Perfectly Wise Al-Wadud 47 The Loving One Al-Majíd 48 The Majestic One Al-Ba'ith 49 The Resurrector Ash-Shahid 50 The Witness

Slide 29: Names of Allah 51-60 Al- Haqq 51 The Truth Al-Wakil 52 The Trustee The Possessor of All Al-Qawi 53 Strength Al-Matin 54 The Forceful One Al-Wáli 55 The Governor Al-Hamid 56 The Praised One Al-Muhsi 57 The Appraiser Al-Mubdi 58 The Originator Al-Mu'id 59 The Restorer Al-Muhyi 60 The Giver of Life

Slide 30: Names of Allah 61-70 Al-Mumit 61 The Taker of Life The Ever Living Al-Hayy 62 One The Self-Existing Al-Qayyum 63 One Al-Wajid 64 The Finder Al-Májid 65 The Glorious Al-Wahid 66 The Only One Al-Ahad 67 The One The Satisfier of All As-Samad 68 Needs Al-Qadir 69 The All Powerful The Creator of All Al-Muqtadir 70 Power

Slide 31: Names of Allah 71-80 Al-Muqaddim 71 The Expediter Al-Mu'akhkhir 72 The Delayer Al-Awwal 73 The First Al-Akhir 74 The Last Az-Zahir 75 The Manifest One Al-Batin 76 The Hidden One Al-Walí 77 The Protecting Friend Al-Muta'ali 78 The Supreme One Al-Barr 79 The Doer of Good The Guide to At-Tawwib 80 Repentance

Slide 32: Names of Allah 81-90 Al-Muntaqim 81 The Avenger Al-Afu 82 The Forgiver Ar-Ra'uf 83 The Clement Malik al-Mulk 84 The Owner of All The Lord of Majesty Dhul-JalaliWal-Ikram 85 and Bounty Al-Muqsit 86 The Equitable One Al-Jami 87 The Gatherer Al-Ghani 88 The Rich One Al-Mughni 89 The Enricher The Preventer of Al-Mani' 90 Harm

Slide 33: Names of Allah 91-99 The Creator of The Ad-Darr 91 Harmful An-Nafi 92 The Creator of Good An-Nur 93 The Light Al-Hadi 94 The Guide Al-Badi 95 The Originator Al-Baqi 96 The Everlasting One Al-Warith 97 The Inheritor of All The Righteous Ar-Rashid 98 Teacher As-Sabur 99 The Patient One

Slide 34: The World of

Slide 35: What are Angels created from?

Slide 36: Who are Jinns?

Slide 37: Angels are always obedient to Allah

Slide 38: World of angels

Slide 39: Angels bowed down to Adam

Slide 40: Was satan a fallen angel?

Slide 41: Why did Allah make angels to worship Adam?  Allah commanded angels (and satan) to prostrate to Adam. Allah wanted to honor Adam (humans) as  the best of HIS creation. The arabic word used is ‘Sujood’ = Prostrate  Allah did not used the word ‘Abudoo’ =  worship In many cultures, people bow down to each  other for respect. Are they worshipping each other?

Slide 42: Some prominent Angels

Slide 44: Allah – The Best Guide  Human beings, by nature are fallible, short- sighted and frail.  Human beings needs guidance.  Allah is the Creator, Infallible, All-Knowing, All-Wise & Perfect.

Slide 45: Why need revelation when we have human reasoning?  Fact of life: Human knowledge is limited and fallible.  Thus, infallible guidance is needed.  Human reasoning sometimes cannot figure out the far reaching negative consequence of their actions (tobacco smoking, ozone layer depletions due to pollution, global warming)  Thus need guidance from an All-knowing entity to provide perfect guidance.  Revelation provides objective common moral values (objective).  Without objective moral values each group will claim they are right and will try to impose it as correct thus causing chaos. Gays will say homosexuality is Ok, and non-gays will say it is forbidden…who is to decide etc. Likewise there will always be a dividing line between people regarding abortion….who is to decide….leads to chaos on the society.  Herein comes is necessary for the objective guidance from our creator to prevent the chaos in the society.

Slide 46: Science cannot provide all answers  Science cannot predicts the long term consequences of an action.  Science can change when new data is discovered  Science cannot satisfy spiritual and emotional hunger.  Science cannot provide answer to the purpose of our existence.

Slide 47: Muslims are required to believe in all the Books And who believe in that which has been revealed to you (Muhammed) and that which was revealed before you and they are sure of the hereafter. (Quran 2.4) The Messenger (Muhammad ) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, \"We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers\" - and they say, \"We hear, and we obey. (Quran 2.285)

Slide 48: Some Books sent by Allah  Tawrat – To Prophet Moses (Musa)  Zabur – To Prophet David (Dawud)  Injil – To Prophet Jesus (Isa)  Quran – To Prophet Muhammed (s)  Quran also mentions the Sahifa (scrolls) of Ibrahim (Abraham)

Slide 49: Status of Books besides the Quran

Slide 50: What about the Bible?  Injeel, Taurat, Zabur etc. given to Prophets Jesus, Moses and David were pure words of Allah.  Bible (Old Testament and New Testaments) contains words of historians, words of Prophets, words of eyewitnesses and may contain words of God. Taurat given to Moses, as mentioned in the Quran, is NOT synonymous with the first five books of the Old Testament or the Old Testament. Injeel given to Jesus is NOT synonymous with the New Testament or the four Gospels. The word ‘Bible’ and the word ‘Gospels’ never occur in the Quran

Slide 52: Allah appoints Prophets  According to Islam, Allah appointed 124,000 Prophets for nations of the past.  Names of 25 Prophets are mentioned in the Quran (Peace and blessings of Allah on them)  First Prophet – Adam (s)  Last Prophet – Muhammed (s)

Slide 54: What was the religion of all the Prophets? Ibrahim (Abraham) was not a Jew nor a Christian but he was (an) upright (man), a Muslim, and he was not one of the polytheists. (Quran 3:67)

Slide 55: Do Prophets commit sins?  ‘No Prophet could (ever) be false to his trust…’(Quran 3.161)  Prophets are infallible in the sense that they don’t commit any sin deliberately But as humans they can make innocent errors of judgment.  Prophet Adam ‘forgot’ Allah’s warning against shaitan (20:115) and  so slipped into disobedience (2:36). Prophet Muhammad (s) made an error of judgment concerning the  blind man (80:1-10). If our role models are angels, then our complain will be, ‘well they  are angels, they don’t commit sin…we can never be like them’. If our role models are human beings committing major sins, then our  excuse will be…’why follow another human being who is as bad as we are’. Thus, a prophet in Islam is a human being who refrains from any  major or deliberate sins, and also is a human being prone to errors of judgment and then asking for Allah’s forgiveness. Therefore prophets in Islam retain credibility and we can trust in their conveying of Allah’s message to us.

Slide 56: Role of the Prophets

Slide 57: Last Prophet = Prophet Muhammed (s)

Slide 58: Important to follow the ‘Sunnah’ of Prophet Muhammed (s)  ‘Sunnah’ = Example of Prophet Muhammed (s), his actions, his words, how he lived, his approvals etc.  Life history of none of the previous prophets were preserved except that of Prophet Muhammed.  Every detail of his life is preserved  Explanation of the Quran and how to implement it in our life and society is preserved.

Slide 60: Life is not fair!

Slide 61: Why believe in the Afterlife?  Credible Book (Quran) mentioned it  All the prophecies of the Quran came true as mentioned:  Victory of Romans over Persians – Prophesied in 614 CE, fulfilled in 623 cE (Quran 30: 2-4)  Body of Pharaoh will be preserved (10.92)  Muslims will enter Makkah (Mecca) victoriously (48.28- 28)  Humans will travel to space (55.33)

Slide 62: Logical Belief in the Hereafter - 1

Slide 63: Logical Belief in the Hereafter - 2

Slide 64: Why believe in the Afterlife?  Credible Person - Prophet Muhammed -mentioned it  He never lied in his life  He was the most honest, just, sincere, best person in the society  Prophecies mentioned by him all came true  Martyrdom of Caliph Umar and Caliph Uthman (Bukhari)  Victory over Byzantine, Persia, Syria, Yemen, Egypt (Muslims)  Muslims will conquer Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey)  Growth of Islam (Bukhari)

Slide 65: Why believe in the Afterlife?

Slide 66: Quranic Verses on the Hereafter More than One third of the Quran deals with life in the Hereafter!  What! did you then think that We(Allah – Plural of Authority) had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned to Us? (Quran 23.115)  \"And march forth in the way (to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who have Taqwa (God-Consciousness).\" (3:133)  \"And fear the fire, which is prepared for the disbelievers\" (3:131)

Slide 67: Journey of a soul - Believer Angle of death, Izraeel, extracts the soul 1. Pleasant Angels wraps up the soul, ascends with it to 2. seventh heaven. 3. Soul deeds will be registered in the book of registry 4. Soul brought back to earth and returned to body 5. Two angels will visit the grave and ask the dead 1. Who is your Lord, What is your religion, Who is this man sent among you (Muhammed)? 6. Grave will widen and window to paradise open in the grave 7. Time of Barzak – state between death and resurrection 8. Day of Resurrection 9. Day of accountably 10. Placement into paradise – Eternal.

Slide 68: Journey of a soul - disbeliever Angle of death, Izraeel, extracts the soul – Painful 1. extraction Fierce Angels wraps up the soul, ascends with it to seventh 2. heaven. Soul deeds will be registered in the book of registry 3. Soul thrown back to earth and returned to body 4. Two angels will visit the grave and ask the dead 5. Who is your Lord, What is your religion, Who is this man sent among you (Muhammed)? Grave will shrink and window to hell open in the grave 6. Time of Barzak – state between death and resurrection 7. Day of Resurrection 8. Day of accountably 9. Placement into Hell – Eternal. 10.

Slide 69: Without a Hereafter & Accountability…

Slide 71: Firm belief in Hereafter & Accountability will bring…

Slide 73: Definition: Qadar = Due Measure

Slide 74: Belief in Qadar

Slide 75: Free choice  “And shown him (humans) the two ways (good and evil)?” (Quran 90.10)  “And say: “The truth is from your Lord.” Then whosoever wills, let him believe; and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve” (18.29)  Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah Hears and Knows all things. (2.256)

Slide 76: Things in which we DON’T have a choice Our place of birth born  Who we are born to  Our time of birth  Our gender  Our skin color  Allah is All-Just (Al-‘Adl) and the Best Judge (Al-Hakam)

Slide 77: Things where we DO have a choice  Acceptance or rejection of monotheism Acceptance or rejection of all  Prophets including Prophet Muhammed (s) Acceptance or rejection of the  guidance, the Dos and Don’ts Our Actions  Our Intentions 

Slide 78: Quran – Guidance for Humanity

Slide 79: Contact Info. for Islam