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About Islam and Muslims
Read this
page and you will learn more than you ever thought you could.
Followers of Islam are called
Muslims
Preachers of Islam are
called Imams
Qur'an=Holy Book,
Surah=Chapter, Ayah=Verse
Read some articles that describe
similarities
and
differences
between Christianity and Islam.
Click here to open the
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Christianity - Protestant |
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Christianity -
Catholic |
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Islam - Sunni |
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Islam - Shia |
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Orthodox |
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Buddhism |
Calendar - starting
reference according to historic events:
Jewish: 3670 (Abraham story)
Roman:2003 (Created the calendar)
Christian:2002 A.D. (anno Domini, "in the year of the
Lord") not "After Death."
Muslim:1380 (Hijra-Muhammad
(pbuh) moves to Yathrib)
Muslims do not celebrate:
Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Halloween
(Muslims do not believe that Jesus Christ is son of God, but
that he was a Prophet, and that
Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) was the messenger of God)
Muslim holidays are:
There are only two
Muslim festivals set down in Islamic law:
Eid-ul-Fitr Bajram ("Eid" or
"Id" is a word meaning festival).
Eid-ul-Adha Kurban Bajram
But there are also
several other special days which Muslims celebrate.
Al-Hijra - Hijra. In
622 Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) migrated from Mecca to Medina.
Lailat al Miraj -
Ramadan. Journey and ascent of
the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
Lailat al Qadr - Ramadan
(27 Night). The Night of Power.
The most important characteristics that people gain through
Islam are love, mercy, cooperation, self-sacrifice, tolerance
and forgiveness.
According to the morality of Islam, people are free to choose
the belief that they wish.
Tolerance, compromise, forgiveness,
love, compassion, self-sacrifice and joy will dominate in a
society where Islamic morals are penetrated in every aspect of
life
"Muhammad was not the father of any
man among you. He was a messenger of GOD and the final
prophet. GOD is fully aware of all things." (Qur'an 33/40)
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Basic
Tenets of the Islamic Faith
There are five
fundamental practices that are generally common to Muslims
worldwide.
These are commonly
known as the Five Pillars of Islam. They include:
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Declaration of Faith - This
is what people say to become Muslim, and it is repeated during
prayer, in the call to prayer, and at other times during the
day. This declaration of faith, called the shahada,
states, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his
messenger." (La
ilaha il Allah, Muhammad -ur-Rasool-Allah)
Prayer - Muslims are
supposed to make five daily ritual prayers -- one
at dawn, one at noon, another in the afternoon, at sunset, and
before bed. These prayers may be performed alone or in a group.
Friday is the Muslim Sabbath, so people may gather in a mosque
for the noon prayer. This is called juma'a.
Giving charity - Muslims are
required to give of their bounty to those who have less.
This is called zakat, which literally mean
"purification." It is a tax of 2.5% of one's annual savings.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan-
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims
fast from "dawn until dusk". They abstain from food,
water, sex, cigarettes, other negative behaviors. The fast is
designed to encourage self-discipline and sympathy. Ramadan is
the month when the first revelation was given to the prophet.
Pilgrimage, or hajj -
If they are financially and physically able, Muslims are
required to make a pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca
once during their lives. Mecca is in Saudi Arabia, and
is the site of the Kaaba, the building Muslims believe was the
first house of worship dedicated to the one God. Several rituals
are performed during hajj: circling the Kaaba; running
between the hills of Safa and Marwa (echoing Hagar's search for
water for her son, Ishmael); traveling to the plain of Arafat,
outside of Mecca; and throwing stones at pillars that symbolize
the devil.
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Basic
Beliefs of the Islamic Faith
Muslims share certain
beliefs, including:
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The oneness of God (Allah) -
For Muslims, there is no entity worthy of worship but Allah.
Allah has no partners, no progeny and no gender.
Belief in God's prophets -
Muslims believe that Allah's message was given to numerous
prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, and
other prophets common to Christianity and Judaism, as well as
Muhammad. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet, in
part because he had the most success instituting God's word in
his lifetime.
Belief in angels - Muslims
believe in spiritual beings who do the will of God.
Belief in sacred books -
These include the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel, and the Qur'an.
The day of judgment and resurrection
- Muslims believe that human beings are accountable for their
behavior during their lifetimes. At death, that behavior is part
of what determines how the person will be judged.
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