Islam, a name given by Allah to this religion (Quran 5:4), is an Arabic word which literally means obedience and peace. ISLAM is derived from the Arabic root "SALEMA": peace, purity, submission and obedience. So 'Islam' would mean the path of those who are obedient to Allah and who establish peace with Him and His creatures. Its follower are called Muslims.

Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which Allah revealed to all prophets before Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Allah says in the Qur'Ã¢n:

"Say, `We believe in ALLAH and that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus and other Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to HIM we submit." (Qur'Ã¢n 3-85)

The Five Pillars of Islam (Declaration of the Islamic Faith)

In order to enter into the fold of Islam i.e. to be Muslim, one has to know, believe, accept totally and sincerely apply the five basic principles (Pillars) on which Islam is based: Ibn Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah - Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: Islam is based on the following five pillars (principles).

1.Bearing witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

2.Observance of Prayer

3.Paying Zakat

4.Fasting during Ramadhan

5.Pilgrimage to the house of Allah.

Six main Articles of faith in Islam

To believe in the Oneness of Allah.

To believe in all His Angels.

To believe in all His Books.

To believe in all His Prophets.

To believe in the Day of Resurrection.

To believe in the Decree of Allah

ISLAM

Q What does the word 'Islam' mean?

A Islam is an Arabic word which literally means obedience and peace. So 'Islam' would mean the path of those who are obedient to Allah and who establish peace with Him and His creatures.

Q What is a follower of the religion of Islam called?

A He is called a Muslim.

Q Who gave the name of Islam to our religion?

A Allah gave the name of Islam to our religion.

Q Can you quote the verse of the Holy Quran where the name of Islam has been given to our religion.

A Yes. In chapter 5 verse 4, Allah named our religion as Islam.

Q What are the main qualities of Islam?

A Islam is a perfect religion. Its teachings are simple and can easily be practised by everyone. It gives reason for each of its commandments and teachings. The Holy Quran, which is the religious scripture of the Muslims, is the word of Allah. This book is exactly the same as it was revealed to the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Allah has promised to safeguard it.

FIVE ARTICLES OF FAITH

I believe in Allah, His Books, His Prophets and the Day of Resurrection.

Q What is Iman?

A Iman means belief or faith. One Who believes is, therefore, a Momin.

Q What are the main Articles of Faith (Iman) in Islam?

A The following are the main Articles of faith in Islam:-To believe in the Oneness of Allah.To believe in all His Angels.To believe in all His Books.To believe in all His Prophets.To believe in the Day of Resurrection.

Allah

Q Who is the Creator of all the worlds?

A Allah created everything.

Q Tell me more about Allah.

A Allah is One and Almighty. He alone is worthy of worship. He has no partners. He begets not nor is He begotten. He is Eternal. He listens to our prayers and accepts them. He gives life and causes death. He created us in the best form. He has neither wife nor children. He is Perfect. He loves us all and shows mercy to us. He has knowledge of everything. He sends {is guidance to us through His Prophets. He is Master of the Day of Judgment. No sleep or slumber ever overtakes Him. He has neither beginning nor end. He is All-Knowing, All-Seeing Lnd Just.

Q What are His principal attributes?

A There are four principal attributes of His mentioned in Sura Fatihia, the first chapter of the Holy Quran, namely, Rabbul Aalameen, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, and Malik-i-yaumiddeen.

Q What are the meanings of these phrases?

A Rabbul Aalameen means 'Lord of all the worlds'. Ar-Rahman means 'the Gracious'. Ar-Rahim means 'the Merciful', and Malik-i-yaumiddeen means 'Master of the Day of Judgment'.

Q How can we establish relationship with Him?

A By obeying Him and praying constantly to Him.

Q Does Allah speak to people?

A Yes. He responds to our prayers. Those who obey Him and do good are favored with answer to their prayers.

Q In what language should one pray to Him?

A One can pray to Him in any language one likes. He knows all languages. He is the Creator of all lanugages.

Q Where is Allah?

A Allah is everywhere. He sees us at all times but we cannot see Him with our physical eyes.

The Angels of Allah

Q What are angels?

A Angels have been created by Allah. They are spiritual beings. They obey the commands of Allah. They are numerous in number and have been assigned various duties by Allah. They are also sent by Allah to help His prophets and their followers.

Q Name some of the most important Angels of Allah?

A There are four most important angels of Allah namely Jibraeel, Mikaeel, Israfeel and Izraeel.

Q Do we worship angels?

A No, not at all. We only worship Allah and none else whatsoever.

Q What is the name of the angel who brought Allah's revelation to the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be on him)?

A Hazrat Jibraeel.

The Books of Allah

Q 'What do you mean by Books of Allah'?

A Allah sends His guidance to mankind from time to time. This guidance is conveyed to mankind through Prophets of Allah. It contains laws for our day to day life. These laws and rules are called the Books of Allah. We must believe in all books of Allah.

Q What are the well known books?

A The well known books are the following:-

The Holy Quran which is the last and perfect Book. It was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings Allah be on him). It took nearly 23 years to be revealed. It came in bits and small portions. The Torah was given to Prophet Musa (Moses) (peace be on him). The Psalms or Zaboor given to Prophet Daud (David) (peace be on him).

The New Testament or Injeel given to Prophet Isa (Jesus)(peace be on him). The Mus'haf was given to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (peace be on him).

Q What are the main features of the Holy Quran?

A The Holy Quran is a book of guidance for us all. Every word of the Quran is the word of Allah. The Quran has been preserved in its original form as promised by Allah in the in itself (15:10).

It was preserved by the Holy Prophet Muhammad and his companions (peace be on them all) by committing it memory. There have always been hundreds of people in ages who have learnt the whole of the Holy Quran by heart. This practice still continues. The Quran is in Arabic language. The style and language of the Quran are excellent. The Quran has been translated into many languages including English. It contains many prophecies about the future of mankind and also a complete code of conduct for us. Those who follow the Holy Quran become the most successful people in life. We should read and ponder over the meaning of the Quran more often so that we could achieve success in life. The Quran has 114 chapters and is also divided into 30 equal parts.

Q Will there be other Books after the Quran canceling some or all of its teachings?

A Not at all. Quran is the perfect and most complete Book. There is no need for mankind to look forward to anything else because the Quran gives guidance in all aspects of life. The Quran is a living Book and will remain so for ever.

Q What other Revealed Books exist today in their original forms?

A None. All other books have been changed partly by their followers and are not the original ones. Some of them have not even been preserved in their original languages, such as the New Testament. We only have belief in the fact that these books originally had contained the message of Allah but the present day version of these is open to criticism.

The Prophets of Allah

Q Who is a Prophet?

A In Arabic there are two words used for a Prophet. Rasul means 'one who is sent' or 'messenger', and Nabi means 'one who receives and conveys Divine Commands'. Both these words are used for a person who is chosen by Allah for the reformation and guidance of mankind.

Q Mention some of the qualities of a Prophet.

A The Prophets of Allah are chosen from among human beings. They set the best examples of moral and spiritual conduct. They lead mankind to Allah by conveying to them the Divine revelation and also by their own example of purity and righteousness. They are the most truthful of men. Their hearts are full of love of Allah and His creatures. All of them proclaim the Oneness of Allah and ask people to submit to Him completely.

Q Who is the chief of the Prophets?

A Muhammad (peace be on him) is the chief of the Prophets. He is Khatamun-Nabiyyeen i.e. the Seal of the Prophets. He brought perfect guidance for us from Allah. He came as a blessing for mankind. He is an excellent Exemplar. He showed mercy not only to human beings but also to animals.

Q Name some of the other Prophets of Allah.

A Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Nuh (Noah), Musa (Moses), Daud (David), Suleiman (Solomon), Isa (Jesus), Ahmad (May peace of Allah be on them all.)

Q When was the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) born and when did he die?

A He was born on 20th April, 570 A.D. at Mecca in Arabia, and died at the age of 63 at Medina. He is buried at Medina.

Q Tell me more about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him).

A Muhammad (may peace beon him) was left an orphan, and was brought up by his grandfather Abdul Muttalib, and later, by his uncle Abu Talib. Abdullah is his father's name and Amina is the name of his mother. His mother died when he was only six years of age. Muhammad (peace be on him) was twenty five when he married Khadija, who was forty. She bore him several children. Muhammad (may peace be on him) used to retire for meditation to the cave of Hira which is a few miles from Mecca. At the age of forty he received revelation from Allah that he had been appointed a prophet whose duty it was to reform mankind. He started his divine mission but was opposed by all except a few. They even tortured him and killed some of his followers. They laughed at him and ridiculed him when he spoke to them about his sacred mission. Even his own relatives turned against him. He continued his work under these circumstances until such time as Allah ordered him and his followers to leave Mecca and migrate to Medina. The Meccans were so opposed to him that they would not even let him leave the town. He along with his dear friend and follower, Abu Bakr, decided to leave Mecca. One night they left Mecca in the dark and took refuge in a cave called Thaur for nearly three days. During this time the Meccans left no stone unturned to trace him but to no purpose. After three days he and Abu Bakr started on their journey to Medina. This is called the Hijra or the migration. He was welcomed warmly by the people of Medina. Soon after settling down in Median the news started coming in that the Meccans had started raising an army to attack Medina and to destroy Islam and its founder. The Prophet and his followers were worried when they heard this news but had full faith in Allah about their safety. The first battle that was fought by the Prophet and his ollowers is called the Battle of Badr as it was fought near a well of that name. The Prophet had 313 followers as against he Meccans who were more than 1,000 in number. They vere well equipped whereas the Prophet and his followers had not much weapons and food. The non-believers were defeated at the hands of the Muslims and were routed.

After this battle he had to fight several other battles in self defence till eventually he entered Mecca as a conqueror in 630 A.D. and the hostilities ceased for the time being. The Holy Prophet died at Medina at the age of 63 and was buried there. Muhammad (peace be on him) is an excellent exemplar for us all. Allah wanted to make him a model for us all so He made him pass through various stages of human life. He showed kindness to his wives, mercy to his enemies and laid down standards of equality for men to follow. He commanded armies and was an excellent General. He was obedient to his elders and kind to the young.

Q Has the advent of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) been mentioned in other scriptures?

A Yes. Prophet Moses (may peace be on him) told the Israelites that God had told him of the advent of the Holy Prophet in the following words:

I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deuteronomy 18:18)

This was a prophecy about the Holy Prophet made in about 1451 B.C. by the Prophet Moses.

Q Where can we read the events of the life of the Holy )rophet?

A In the Holy Quran where major events of his life have ~een mentioned by Allah Himself and from the Books of Hadith vhich consist of his sayings and doings. There are six major ~ooks of Hadith. These are Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Ibn Maja, qasaec, and Abu Daud.

The Day of Resurrection and Judgment

Q What do you know about the Day of Resurrection and Judgment?

A On the Day of Resurrection-we will be raised again by Allah and will be given a new life. He will then judge us according to our deeds on earth. Those who have been doing good deeds and have been obedient to Allah and His Prophets would be awarded the everlasting life of happiness and peace in Paradise or Heaven. Others who have been rebellious to Allah and His prophets and had spent their lives in evil would be punished in Hell.

Q How long will a person remain in Heaven or Hell?

A Paradise is ever lasting.

Hell is like a hospital where patients are kept for a limited time to be cured of their spiritual ailments. They would be transferred to Heaven after having been cured of their spiritual diseases. Hell is thus for a limited period of time.

Q What is sin?

A Any action done deliberately against the command of Allah is a sin.

Q Is man sinful by nature?

A No. Every child is born quite sinless in this world. It is only when he consciously and deliberately breaks the law of Allah that he can be called a sinner.

Q Do the Prophets of Allah commit sin?

A No. Never. They are all sinless. They are the most obedient of men to Allah. They are the best examples for mankind and as such they do not break the laws which they bring for mankind.

Q How do we know what is good and what is evil?

A By reading the Holy Quran and the Hadith (traditions) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him).

Q Could you give a list of some of the deeds that are good.

A Yes. In the Holy Quran, Allah commands us to be regular in our daily prayers, show obedience to our parents and elders, tell the truth, extend hospitality to guests, love our Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), and his Companions and pray for them, ask others to do good and refrain from loose talk and from wasting our time in useless pursuits.

Q Can you name some of the deeds that are major sins?

A The following are major sins:To believe in anyone as partner of Allah.To show disrespect to parents.To steal.To bear false witness.To backbite.To abuse anybody.To be dishonest.To break one's promise.To commit adultery or fornication

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAMThe foundation of Islam are five:Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,

observance of Prayer,

paying Zakat,

fasting during Ramadhan,

and Pilgrimage to the house of Allah. The Foundations of Islam Q What are the fundamental principles of Islam?A There are five principles of Islam:Affirmation of the creed:There is none worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle.Observance of Salat (obligatory Prayers).

Paying of Zakat (poor rate).

Observance of Saum (Past) during Ramadhan.

Performance of Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca.Q What is the first principle of Islam?A The first principle of Islam is to declare that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle. Prayer (Salat) Q What is the second principle of Islam?A The second principle of Islam is to offer the Obligatory Prayers.Q How many Obligatory prayers are there in Islam?A There are five obligatory prayers. These are called: Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha.Q What are the timings of these prayers?A Fajror morning prayer is said an hour before sunrise. Zuhr or noon prayer is said at the decline of the sun.Asr or afternoon prayer is said two hours before sunset.Maghrib or sunset prayer is said immediately after sunset.Isha or evening prayer is offered affer dark.The timings are approximate.

Q What do you mean by Nafl prayers?

A These are optional prayers which could be offered whenever one likes except at forbidden times which are as follows:During the rising of the sun.When the sun is at its zenith.During the setting of the sun.After Asr prayer till the Azan of Maghribprayer and after Fajr prayer till after the rising of the sun.

Q What is the person who leads the prayer in congregation called?

A He is called Imam which literally means leader.

Q How many kinds of prayers are there in Islam?

A There are three kinds of prayers:

Farz. This has been enjoined by Allah.

Sunnat. These were offered in addition to the Farzprayer regularly by the Holy Prophet.

Nafl. These are optional prayers such as Tahajjudetc.

Q What benefits could we derive from offering Prayer regularly?

A The Holy Quran says that regular Prayer wards off evil and indecency. It is the best means of self purification. It brings us nearer to our Creator and makes us obedient to Him. Prayer brings peace of mind and removes worries from our minds. It makes us punctual and regular in life.

Zakat (Poor Rate)

Q What is Zakat (poor rate)?

A It is a cess paid in cash or kind by Muslims of means who posses for one complete year, money, gold, silver, or cattle beyond a minimum. The proceeds of Zakat are distributed among the poorer sections of the community.

Q What is the annual rate of Zakat on money, gold, and silver?

A The annual rate is two and a half percent

Saum-I-Ramadhan (Fasting)

Q What is a fast?

A Fast means abstention from food, and drink from dawn to sunset for the pleasure of God.

Q Should everybody observe the fast?

A Yes, except invalids, insane, infants or those on a journey. But those who do not observe the fast due to illness or incapacity of any sort or because of being on a journey should observe the fast on an equal number of other days. Those who cannot observe the fast at all should arrange to feed a poor and needy person during the period of the fast.

Q What is the month of obligatory fasting called?

A It is called the month of Ramadhan.

Q Should we fast during this month only?

A We can fast whenever we like during the year. The month of Ramadhan is the month of obligatory fasting.

Q What are the benefits of fasting?

A Pasting is good both for our physical as well as spiritual health. It promotes self discipline, physical, and moral strength. It reinforces the bonds of human sympathy. It is a great virtue to endure hunger and thirst for winning the pleasure of Allah.

Q What was the practice of the Holy Prophet in respect of voluntary fasts?

A The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) used to observe voluntary fast as follows:Six in the beginning of the month of Shawwal (the lunar month after Ramadhan).

Three in the middle of every lunar month.

On the ninth of Zul-Hajj.

On the ninth or/and tenth of Muharram.

Q What is the congregational voluntary Prayer offered during the month of Ramadhan called?

A It is called Taraweeh. It consists of eight Raka'ats. It is offered immediately after the Ishaprayers, but can also be offered in the latter part of the night.

Q What is Itikaf?

A One who can afford to spend the last ten days and nights of the month of Ramadhan in the mosque is called Mu'takif. To remain in the mosque for this period and to devote one's time wholly to the worship and remembrance of 'Allah is called Itikaf.

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Q What is Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca.

A It is obligatory upon all Muslims who can afford the journey to perform Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life time.

Q What is Umra?

A Umra is a visit to Mecca at any time during the year in the state of Ihram to perform the Tawaf (circuits) of K'abah and the Saee (Running between the hillocks Safa & Marwa).

Q What are the ceremonies of Hajj?

A To be in the state of Ihram and to recite Talbiyyah. The stay at Arafat from the afternoon of 9th Zulhajj to sunset. To perform Tawaf(circuits) from 10th to the 12th Zulhajj. To offer sacrifice of an animal on 10th Zulhajj.

Q What is Ihram?

A The state of Ihram means to be clothed only in two seamless sheets. Hajj or Umra can only be performed in the state of Ihram.

Women are not required to be in Ihram.

Q What is Talbiyyah?

A The frequent repetition of the response:Here am I, O Allah, here am I;

Here am I, Thou hast no associate, here am I;

All praise and bounty are Thine, and Thine the Kingdom;

Thou hast no associate.

Q What is Tawaf and how is it performed?

A Tawaf means performing seven circuits of the Ka'abah, starting from the position in which the Black Stone is on one's right. At the end of each circuit the Black Stone should be kissed, if possible, and if not, then symbolically.

Q What is the Ka'abah?

A The Ka'abah is the first place set up for the worship of God in the world in pre-historic times. It was restored by Prophets Ibrahim and Ismaeel (may Allah's peace be on them both) some four thousand years ago. Muslims all over the world face towards the Ka'abah when they offer their Prayers.

visit www.alislam.org for more info.

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