What is Islam?

Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is both a religion and a way of life. The religion of Islam was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who is the last Messenger of God after whom there will be no more prophets or messengers.

What does Islam Mean

The Arabic word Islam simply means 'submission', and derives from a word meaning 'peace'. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God. 'Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims worship Muhammad (peace be upon him) rather than God. 'Allah' is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike.

What is the relationship between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity?

They go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham (peace be upon him), and their three prophets are directly descended from his sons - Muhammad (peace be upon him) from the eldest, Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus from Isaac (peace be upon all of them). Abraham established the settlement, which today is the city of Mecca, and built the Kabah towards which all Muslims turn when they pray. The Qur?an refers to Jews and Christians as the People of the Book.

Who are Muslims?

Muslim (lit., ?one who submits?) is a follower of the religion of Islam. More than one billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe, from the southern Philippines to Nigeria, are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are also to be found in Russia, China, the Balkans, North and South America, and Europe. Today, Islam is the fastest growing faith in the world.

How many Muslims live in the United States?

There are more than 6 million Muslims in the United States. Almost half of them are African-Americans. The rest is made of Pakistanis, Indians, Arabs, and other ethnicities that come from all over the world. Today, there are probably more Muslims in the United States than Jewish people.

What do Muslims believe?

Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God, in the Angels created by Him, in Revealed Books, in the Prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind, in the Last Day, and in God's complete authority over human destiny. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist and Jesus, (peace be upon them). But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through angel Gabriel.

How Muslims practice their religion?

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has taught that Islam is built on five pillars: witnessing that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, praying five times a day, giving Zakat (charity, alms), fasting the month of Ramadan, and the Pilgrimage (Hajj) to the holy sites in Mecca.

What is the place of ethical teachings in Islam?

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said: ?I have been sent to perfect morality.? The Qur?an summarizes Islamic ethical teachings: ?It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.? (The Qur?an, 2:177)

What Allah means?

Allah means God. It is a personal name, which Allah calls Himself in the Qur?an. It can also be found in an Aramaic copy of the Bible, and even Christian Arabs say Allah.

Who is Muhammad (peace be upon him)?

Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in Mecca in the year 571 C.E., at a time when Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe. Since his father died before his birth and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity so much that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative. Muhammad (peace be upon him) was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society. It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal al-Nur, the Mountain of Light near Makkah.

How did Muhammad (peace be upon him) become a prophet and a messenger of God?

At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad (peace be upon him) received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Qur?an.
As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth that God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622, God gave them the command to emigrate. This event, the Hijrah, 'migration', in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
After several years, the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet (peace be upon him) died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far to the east as China.

What is the Qur?an?

The Qur?an is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It was memorized by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and then dictated to his companions, and written down by scribes, who crosschecked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 Surahs (Chapters) has been changed over the centuries, so that the Qur?an is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) fourteen centuries ago.

What is the Qur?an about?

The Qur?an, the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the same time, it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an equitable economic system.

Are there any other sacred sources?

Yes, the Sunnah, the practice and example of the Prophet (peace be upon him), is the second authority for Muslims. A Hadith is a reliably transmitted report of what the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, did, or approved.

Do Muslims believe in Jesus (peace be upon him)?

Yes. For Muslims, Jesus (peace be upon him) is a true prophet, sent by Allah like Moses, Abraham, Lot, Noah, Jonah, Joseph, etc (peace be upon them). He was born by Mary and he did not have a father. Allah created Jesus in the same way that He created Adam (peace be upon them). Therefore, Muslims do not believe that Jesus was divine, or son of God.

Can Jesus or Muhammad (peace be upon them) be worshipped?

No, Allah does not accept that a prophet, a person, an angel, an animal, a stone, or anything be worshipped in place of Him or even along with Him. Worship must be to Allah alone.

Is Allah the same as what Christians call "the father"?

Allah is the Creator, who Jesus (peace be upon him) worshipped. He is the Creator who spoke to Moses and split the sea for Moses and his followers. Allah tells us: "Say: He, Allah, is One; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him." (The Qur?an, 112:1-4)

Is there a trinity in Islam?

No. Allah is one and perfect.

Do Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment?

Yes. Muslims believe that this world will come to an end, and that Allah will resurrect all human beings and judge them on the Day of Judgment. The righteous will go to Paradise, while the wicked ones will go to Hell.

What is the Kabah?

The Kabah is the place of worship in Mecca, which God commanded Abraham and Ishmael (peace be upon them) to build over four thousand years ago. The building was constructed of stone on what many believe was the original site of a sanctuary established by Adam. God commanded Abraham to summon all mankind to visit this place, and when pilgrims go there today they say 'At Thy service, O Lord', in response to Abraham's summons.

What about food?

Although much simpler than the dietary law followed by Jews and the early Christians, the code which Muslims observe forbids the consumption of pig meat or any kind of intoxicating drink. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that 'your body has rights over you', and the consumption of wholesome food and the leading of a healthy lifestyle are seen as religious obligations.

What does ?Halal? mean?

Halal means ?lawful? in Arabic. More specifically, it refers to things that are lawful according to Islamic Law. It is most frequently mentioned in connection with food. Halal food is the food that is considered lawful according to Islamic Law. Muslims are not allowed to eat pork or consume any intoxicants (alcoholic drinks, drugs etc.). Halal meat is the meat that is slaughtered according to Islamic Law. The easiest way to think about Halal is that it is the Islamic equivalent of Kosher.