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Basic Facts of Islam

Basic Facts of Islam. Islam is the third in succession of the three great monotheistic faiths born in the Middle East (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) Islam is the second largest religion in world (1.2 billion adherents) There are an estimated 650 000 Muslims living in Canada

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Basic Facts of Islam

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  1. Basic Facts of Islam • Islam is the third in successionof the three great monotheisticfaiths born in the Middle East (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) • Islam is the second largest religion in world (1.2 billion adherents) • There are an estimated 650 000 Muslims living in Canada • Islam is the fastestgrowing religion in the world

  2. Islam Terms • Islam: an Arabic word that means “submitting to God” and “peace” • Muslim: a person who follows the teachings of Islam and “submits to God and finds peace in Him”. All creation is Muslim. • Shahadah: “There is no god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God”. • Allah: Arabic name for God. It is preferred over other names because it has no gender affiliation and does not have plurality

  3. Understanding Islam • Islam is a rational religion: “The vilest of creatures are those who choose to be deaf and dumb and do not use their reason.” (Qur’an 8:2) • Muhammad reminded his followers that “The first thing God created was reason”. Therefore, believers must take personal responsibility for one’s actions and faith.

  4. Freedom of Conscience • “There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clearly from falsehood; whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the strongest rope that never breaks. And God is All Hearing and All Knowing” Qur’an 2:256

  5. Beliefs • 1. Belief in only One God. He is defined as Eternal, Absolute, Infinite, Compassionate and Merciful, the sole Creator and Provider. • 2. Engage only in Righteous Actionsin all areas: spiritual, intellectual and physical activity. • 3. All God’s creation is “Muslim”.Only humans are given CHOICE to submit (be Muslim) or reject submission to God’s will. • 4. All children are born without sin and are Muslim. As they grow older, they make their religious CHOICE. • 5. God created human beings with a body and soul.The body is a temporal host for this life, whereas the soul is eternal. It is the soul that will survive beyond death. • 6.Universality of the call.All Muslims are brothers and equals without any distinction of class, race or tongue. Superiority is only based on the greater fear of God and greater piety.

  6. Practices • Prayer • worshippers line up in rows and enact ritual in unison (prostration) • Friday midday prayers at mosque Fasting • month of Ramadan (ninth month of lunar year) to test the spirit, discipline the will and remind of the hungry and poor • Numerous important events took place during Ramadan (first revelation in 610 CE, flight to Mecca in 622 CE, victory in 624 CE) • Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr (period of spiritual and moral renewal)

  7. Mosque • Muslim place of worship Muslims come together in a mosque for prayers at midday on Friday (Muslim Holy Day) • MIHRAB= small arch or hole in wall indicates the direction of the Ka’bah in Mecca • MINARET= high tower or dome from which a muezzin calls the faithful to prayer • WUDU= cleansing process before prayer (water) • IMAM= chief officer in the mosque who leads prayers

  8. PROPHET’S MOSQUE in Madinah: the first mosque in Islam

  9. Qur’an • Holy book of Islam which means “recitation” • Records the revealed word of God that came through Angel Gabriel to Muhammad over 23 years • Muhammad dictated revelations to scribes and companions who memorized passages • It is the only revealed book that has remained intact and unchanged since its revelation (oral tradition) • Principle source of Muslim faith and practice • Children learn to memorize the Qur’an as a child • Divided into 114 suras (chapters); longest chapter has 286 verses, the shortest has 3 verses; approximately 78 000 words in length

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