Did you ever experience any hardship? I never faced any misery, and I never experienced any hardship. They will have a painful punish- Some Benefits of Islam ment, and they will have no helpers.
Then we would not reject the verses of our Lord, but we would be of the believers! Did you ever expe- rience any blessing? After he converted to Islam, he found true happiness and peace, which he had not found in material success. Amr withdrew his hand. If someone intends to do a good deed but does not do it, a good deed will be recorded for him. And if he does do it, a reward of ten to seven hundred or many more times the reward of the good deed , will be recorded for him.
And if someone intends to do a bad deed but does not do it, a good deed will be recorded for him. And if he does do it, a bad deed will be recorded against him or God will wipe it out. For a copy of this book, please visit www.
The religion of Islam is the acceptance of and obedience to the teachings of God which He revealed to His last prophet, Muhammad r. Some Basic Islamic Beliefs 1 Belief in God: 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. God, to Whom the creatures turn for their needs. He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him. He manages all affairs. He stands in need of none of His creatures, and all His creatures depend on Him for all that they need. In a perfect manner, His knowledge encompasses all things, the open and the secret, and the public and the private.
He knows what has happened, what will happen, and how it will happen. No affair occurs in the whole world except by His will. Whatever He wills is, and whatever He does not will is not and will never be. His will is above the will of all the creatures. He has power over all things, and He is able to do everything.
In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muham- mad r, we are told that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child. He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees. If someone wants something from God, he or she can ask God directly without asking anyone else to intercede with God for him or her. God is not Jesus, and Jesus is not God. Whoever associates partners in worship with God, then God has forbidden Paradise for him, and his home is the Fire Hell.
If they desist not from what they say, truly, a painful punishment will befall the disbelievers among them. Would they not rather repent to God and ask His forgiveness?
The Messiah Jesus , son of Mary, was no more than a messenger Islam also rejects the attribution of any human form to God. All of these are considered blasphemous. God is the Exalted. He is far removed from every imperfection. He never becomes weary. He does not become drowsy nor does he sleep. The Arabic word Allah means God the one and only true God who created the whole universe.
This word cannot be used to designate anything other than the one true God. In Aramaic, a language related closely to Arabic and the language that Jesus habitually spoke,2 God is also referred to as Allah. The angels worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command.
Muslims believe that Muhammad r is the last prophet sent by God, as God has said: Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the last of the prophets Rather, Muslims believe that God has given human beings freewill.
This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they are responsible for their choices. Chapter 3 The belief in Divine Predestination includes belief in four things: 1 God knows everything. Examples of the Prophet Muhammad s Sayings 49 and what will happen.
The sunnah what the Prophet Muhammad r said, did, or approved of is the second source in Islam. Belief in the sunnah is a basic Islamic belief. And the best among them are those who are best to their wives.
Show mercy to those on earth, and God will show mercy to you. Reaching a well, he descended into it, drank his fill, and came up. Then he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. So, God thanked him and forgave his sins. Like Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial preparation for the next realm of existence.
This life is a test for each individual for the life after death. A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed and the dead will be resur- rected for judgment by God.
This day will be the beginning of a life that will never end. This day is the Day of Judgment. On that day, all people will be rewarded by God according to their beliefs and deeds. They will have a painful pun- ishment, and they will have no helpers. God is our Creator and Sustainer. He created for us whatever is in the earth. All the blessings and good things we have Chapter 3 are from Him. So after all this, when someone rejects belief in God, His Prophet Muhammad r, or His religion of Islam, it is just that he or she be punished in the Hereafter.
This life we live today is a very short life. So, God is exalted, the True King. None has the right to be worshipped but Him It is not only spiritual, but physical as well. We will live there with our souls and bodies. How Does Someone Become a Muslim? For more details on the word Allah, see the next to last paragraph of page He comes to a tree and lies down in its shade awaiting death , for he has lost all hope of finding his camel.
Then, while he is in that state of desperation , suddenly it is there before him! Who Is the Prophet Muhammad? It deals with all the sub- jects which concern human be- ings: wisdom, doctrine, wor- ship, transactions, law, etc. At the same time, it provides guidelines and detailed teachings for a just society, proper human conduct, and an equitable economic system. Who Is the Prophet Muhammad r? Muhammad r was born in Makkah in the year Since his father died before his birth and his mother died shortly thereafter, he was raised by his uncle who was from the respected tribe of Quraysh.
He was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained so till his death. His people, before his mission as a prophet, were ignorant of science and most of them were illiterate.
As he grew up, he became known to be truthful, honest, trustwor- thy, generous, and sincere. He was so trustworthy that they called him the Trustworthy. The persecution grew so fierce that in the year God gave them the command to emigrate. This emigration from Makkah to the city of Madinah, some miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
After several years, Muhammad r and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies. Before Muhammad r died, at the age of sixty-three, the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula had become Muslim, and within a century of his death, Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China.
Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the truth and clarity of its doctrine. Islam calls for faith in only one God, Who is the only one worthy of worship. The Prophet Muhammad r was a perfect example of an honest, just, merciful, compassionate, truthful, and brave human being. Though he was a man, he was far removed from all evil General Information on Islam characteristics and strove solely for the sake of God and His reward in the Hereafter.
Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was Chapter 3 ever mindful and fearful of God. Islam instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observa- tion. Within a few years of the spread of Islam, great civilizations and universities were flourishing. The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas, and of new thought with old, brought about great advances in medi- The astrolabe: One of the most cine, mathematics, phys- important scien- ics, astronomy, geogra- tific instruments developed by phy, architecture, art, lit- Muslims which erature, and history.
Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of discovery, such as the astrolabe, the quadrant, and good navigational maps, were also developed by Muslims.
What Do Muslims Believe about Jesus? Muslims respect and revere Jesus peace be upon him. He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the right- eous.
God creates what He wills. God has said: The case of Jesus with God is like the case of Adam. I heal the blind from birth and the leper. And I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses And the likeness of Jesus was put over another man. God has said What Does Islam Say about Terrorism? Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism.
God loves just dealers. Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child. But this does not mean that Muslims believe in the Bible we have today because it is not the original scriptures that were revealed by God. They underwent alterations, additions, and omissions.
This Committee consisted of thirty-two scholars who served as members of the Committee. They secured the review and counsel of an Advisory Board of fifty representatives of the co-operating denominations. Here we can only follow the best judgment of competent scholars as to the most General Information on Islam probable reconstruction of the original text. On account of this, she was doomed to Hell.
While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth. One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal. General Information on Islam 4 This means killing and injuring. Chapter 3 7 This saying of Muhammad r has been mentioned in more detail on page Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims.
If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam. Human Rights and Justice in Islam Islam provides many human rights for the individual. The following are some of these human rights that Islam protects. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether a person is Muslim or not. Islam also protects honor. So, in Islam, insulting others or making fun of them is not allowed.
Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious. God created human General Information on Islam beings as equals who are to be distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and piety. Your God is one and your forefather Adam is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red i.
The developed world can send a man to the moon but cannot stop man from hating and fighting his fellow man. Ever since the days of the Prophet Mu- hammad r, Islam has provided a vivid example of how racism can be ended. The annual pil- grimage Hajj to Makkah shows the real Islamic brotherhood of all races and nations, when about two million Muslims from all over the world come to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.
Islam is a religion of justice. God has said: Truly God commands you to give back trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice And act justly.
Truly, God loves those who are just. The meaning is that in Islam no one is better than another because of his color, whether it is white, black, red, or any other color. And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice.
Be just: that is nearer to pi- ety Islam sees a woman, whether single or mar- ried, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings without any guardianship over her whether that be her father, husband, or anyone else. She has the right to buy and sell, give gifts and charity, and may spend her money as she pleases.
Mothers in Islam are highly honored. Islam recommends treating them in the best way. Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Family in Islam The family, which is the basic unit of civilization, is now disintegrating.
It nourishes unselfish behavior, generosity, and love in the frame- work of a well-organized family system. The peace and security offered by a stable family unit is greatly valued, and it is seen as essential for the spiritual growth of its members.
A harmonious social order is created by the existence of extended families and by treasuring children. How Do Muslims Treat the Elderly? In Islam, it is not enough that we only pray for our parents, but we should act with limitless compassion, General Information on Islam remembering that when we were helpless children, they preferred us to themselves.
Mothers are particularly honored. When Mus- Chapter 3 lim parents reach old age, they are treated mercifully, with kind- ness and selflessness. It is considered despicable to express any irritation when, through no fault of their own, the old become difficult. God has said: Your Lord has commanded that you wor- ship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. If one of them or both of them reach old age with you, do not say to them a word of disrespect, or scold them, but say a generous word to them.
They are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving zakat support of the needy , fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrim- age to Makkah once in a lifetime for those who are able.
This testi- General Information on Islam mony of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which should be said with conviction in order to convert to Islam as explained above on pages The testimony of faith is the most impor- Chapter 3 tant pillar of Islam. Each prayer does not take more than a few minutes to perform. Prayer in Islam is a direct link between the worshipper and God.
There are no intermediaries between God and the worshipper. In prayer, a person feels inner happiness, peace, and comfort, and that God is pleased with him or her. Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night. A Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories, or universities. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a small portion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages General Information on Islam new growth.
A person may also give as much as he or she pleases as voluntary alms or charity. For a copy, please visit the web page mentioned above. Although the fast is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally as a method of spiri- tual self-purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry, as well as growth in his or her spiritual life.
In this mosque is the Kaaba the black building in the picture which Muslims turn toward when praying. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj is performed in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.
Male pilgrims wear special simple clothes which strip away distinctions of class and culture so that all stand equal before God. The rites of the Hajj include circling the Kaaba seven times and going seven times between the hillocks of Safa and Marwa, as Hagar did during her search for water. Then the pilgrims stand together in Arafa1 and ask God for what they wish and for His forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of the Day of Judgment. The end of the Hajj is marked by a festival, Eid Al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers.
This, and Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the two annual festivals of the Muslim calendar. They are converts, immigrants, factory work- ers, and doctors. This varied commu- nity is unified by a common faith, underpinned by a nationwide network of a large number of mosques. Muslims arrived early in North America.
By the eighteenth century, there were many Muslims in North America. Great numbers of Americans have entered the fold of Islam. They are from different classes: the rich, the poor, the educated, General Information on Islam and the illiterate. Today, there are about five and a half million Muslims in the United States. Ibrahim at: E-mail: ib i-g. This is the Truth, published by Alharamain Islamic Foundation.
Maurice Bucaille, edited by Dr. Maneh al-Johani. Muhammad Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Khan. For a copy of any of these books or pamphlets, please visit www. Meteorology Today. Paul: West Publishing Company. Anderson, Ralph K. Geneva: Secretar- ial of the World Meteorological Organization. Anthes, Richard A. Cahir; Alistair B. Fraser; and Hans A. The Atmosphere. Columbus: Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company.
Barker, Kenneth; and others. Bodin, Svante. Weather and Climate. Poole, Dorest: Bland- ford Press Ltd. Anatomy of the Earth. London: World University Library. Couper, Heather; and Nigel Henbest.
The Space Atlas. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited. Davis, Richard A. Principles of Oceanography. Douglas, J. Elder, Danny; and John Pernetta. London: Mitchell Beazley Publishers. Famighetti, Robert. The World Almanac and Book of Facts Gross, M. Oceanography, a View of Earth.
Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Hickman, Cleveland P. Integrated Principles of Zoology. Louis: The C. Mosby Company. Al-Hilali, Muhammad T. Riyadh: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam. Ibn Hesham, Abdul-Malek. Al-Serah Al-Nabaweyyah. Beirut: Dar El-Marefah. Understanding Islam and the Mus- lims. Kuenen, H. Marine Geology. Leeson, C. Phila- delphia: W. Saunders Company. Ludlam, F. Clouds and Storms. Makky, Ahmad A. Miller, Albert; and Jack C.
Elements of Meteor- ology. Merrill Publishing Com- pany. Moore, Keith L. Marshall Johnson; T. Persaud; Gerald C. Goeringer; Abdul-Majeed A. Zindani; and Mustafa A. Zindani; and others. Jeddah: Dar Al-Qiblah. Philadel- phia: W. Herndon: International Institute of Islamic Thought. Neufeldt, V. Third Col- lege Edition. New York: Prentice Hall. The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Noback, Charles R. Strominger; and R. Ostrogorsky, George. History of the Byzantine State.
Trans- lated from the German by Joan Hussey. Revised ed. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. Press, Frank; and Raymond Siever. San Francisco: W. Freeman and Company. How Does Someone Become a Muslim? Who Is the Prophet Muhammad? What Do Muslims Believe about Jesus? What Does Islam Say about Terrorism?
Human Rights and Justice in Islam. What Is the Status of Women in Islam? How Do Muslims Treat the Elderly? What Are the Five Pillars of Islam? Islam in the United States. For More Information on Islam not included in the book. For Suggestions and Comments. For Further Reading on Islam. Note: It is more beneficial to go through this web site in the order presented by clicking on the Next link at the bottom of each page. Next: Preface An important note to our old visitors:. If you have finished reading the articles in this web site, then it is highly recommended that you visit our partner web site for more information on Islam:.
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