Assalamu Alaikum

1. Assalamu Alaikum • Peace be with you

2. Islam : Brief Introduction Mahmoud Haddara

3. Outline • Introduction • Islam a way of life • Islamic Doctrine • Practice of Islam • Islamic Law

4. History • 570 Prophet Muhammad is born • 595 Prophet Marries Khadeeja • 610 First revelation • 622 Hijrah to Yathreb (Medina) • 632 Death of Prophet Muhammad

5. Current Stats • Islam is the second largest religion in the world • Only 20% of the 1.2 billion Muslims live in Arab countries • There is about 600,000 Muslims in Canada

6. Muslims in Newfoundland • 1967 First documented presence in NL • 1982 Decision to build a Mosque in NL • 1990 Mosque/Islamic center opening • There is about 600 Muslims in NL

7. Muslims in Newfoundland • Professionals • Students • Refugees

8. Muslims in Newfoundland • Activities • Internal • External

9. Islam • Islam = Submission • Slam = Peace “When his Lord said to him: Surrender, he said : I surrender to the Lord of the worlds” [2:131]

10. Islam a Way of Life • Philosophy • Oneness of God • Holistic Approach

11. Oneness of God • “Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally Besought of all! He begets not nor was begotten, and there is none comparable unto Him” [112]

12. Allah • Is the Arabic word forGOD

13. Holistic • “I have not created Jinn and Human kind except to serve me”[51:56] • “Say all my worship, my rituals, my life, and my death are for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds”[6:162]

14. Islam a Way of Life • Underpinnings • Enjoin goodness and prohibit evil • Moderation • Justice • Equality • Tolerance

15. Enjoin goodness and forbid evil “Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good and forbidding what is evil, and those are the successful” [3:104]

16. Moderation “And thus We have made you a medium nation (well balanced and just)”[2:143]

17. Justice “O you who believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice, and let not the hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably; that is nearer to piety, and heed God. Surely, God is aware of what you do.”[5:8].

18. Equality O’ Mankind! Surely We have created you of (a single pair) a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may get to know each other, surely the most honorable of you with Allah is that who is most God conscious.” [49:13]

19. Tolerance • Mankind is one family. • It is God’s will that people are different. • Freedom of faith. • Justice should be uphold

20. Who is a Muslim • “ A Muslim is a person who does not assault people verbally or physically.” [Saying of the Prophet]

21. The Doctrine • Belief in • One God • The day of Judgment • The Angels • The Books • The Messengers

22. The Practice of Islam “Faith is what rests deep in one’s heart and is reflected fully on one’s deeds” [saying of the prophet]

23. The Pillars • Shahada (Confession of Faith) • Salat (Prayers) • Zakat (Poor Dues) • Siam (Fasting) • Hajj (Pilgrimage)

24. Objectives of Islamic Law • Protection of • Faith • Life • Wealth • Dignity (Honor) • Intellect

25. Systems • Social • Political • Economic • Legal

26. Jihad or Holy War “We shall guide the ones who strive for Us along Our ways. God stands by the doers of good.” [29:69]

27. Jihad in Islam • Jihad = strive • Strive in God’s path: • Can be spiritual, intellectual, etc. • Many forms of strive • Against temptations • Against ignorance • Against oppression

28. War When ? • The lesser of two evils • Only as a last resort

29. War • Why ? • Self Defense • Against Oppression

30. War – Self Defense “Fight those who fight against you along God’s way, yet do not initiate hostilities; God does not love aggressors.”[2:190]

31. War against Oppression “Those who have been wronged are permitted to fight back.” [22:39]

32. War • How ? • Declaration of war • No aggression against non combatants • No use of Non-Discriminatory weapons

33. Peace “And if they incline to peace, then incline to it too; and put your trust in God: for He is the Hearing and Knowing.” [8:62]

34. Women in Islam • Equity between genders • Accountability • Rights • Honours

35. Equity Between Genders “O’People! Be conscious of your duty to your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same kind, and spread from them two, many men and women; and be conscious of your duty to Allah …”[4:1]

36. Accountability Surely, the men who submit and the women who submit, and the believing men and the believing women, and the obedient men and the obedient women, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the persevering men and the persevering women, and the humble men and the humble women, and the almsgiving men and the almsgiving women, and the fasting men and the fasting women, and the men who guard their chastity and the women who guard, and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember- Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and mighty reward.” [33 : 35] .

37. Rights • Right to education • Political rights • Legal rights • The right to engage in business transactions • The right of employment • The right to choose her spouse

38. Honour • “And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve but Him, and show goodness to your parents.”[17:23] • “A mother is most worthy of one’s companionship” [Prophetic tradition] • “Paradise under the feet of mothers” [Prophetic tradition]