ESSENTIALS OF ISLAMIC ESSENTIALS OF ISLAMIC FAITHFAITH

“And when you read the Quran, seek refuge in God from Satan the outcast.Verily, there is for him no authority over those who have believed and upon their Lord they rely.His authority is only over those who ally with him and those who through him associate [others with God in worship].” (16:98-100)

“And whenever an insinuation from Satan occurs to you, seek refuge in God. He is the the All-Hearing, the Most Knowing.” (41:36)

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan

• In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

• So we too shall start with it. This blessed phrase So we too shall start with it. This blessed phrase is a sign of Islam, and all creatures constantly is a sign of Islam, and all creatures constantly recite it in their unique way. recite it in their unique way.

BismillahBismillah In the Name of Allah)In the Name of Allah)

BismillahBismillah, In the Name of God, , In the Name of God, is the beginning of all good is the beginning of all good

things. things.

There are 114 Surahs (chapters) in the Qur’an

• All Surahs begin with Bismillah except Surah No. 9 called At-Taubah or the Repentance.

• Letter B is the first letter in all surahs.Letter B is the first letter in all surahs.

• At-Taubah does not start with “Bismillah” starts with letter B (Beratun…)

• All other surahs starts with Bismillah but after that Letter B does not come.

Probability of this incidentProbability of this incident

• (1/2)(1/2)113113 x (27/28) x (27/28)113113 x (1/2) x (1/28) x (1/2) x (1/28)

• Approximately Equals 1 out of 10Approximately Equals 1 out of 103636

• Approximately 1 out of 1 billion Approximately 1 out of 1 billion billionbillion

• One of clear proof that Quran is the One of clear proof that Quran is the protected book.protected book.

Some examples of Besmele in Some examples of Besmele in ARTART

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1568/besmelebismillahirrahmaj.jpg

The word The word "Islam""Islam" is an Arabic word which is an Arabic word which means "submission to the will of God". This word means "submission to the will of God". This word comes from the same root as the Arabic word comes from the same root as the Arabic word "salam”"salam” , which means , which means "peace"."peace". As such, the As such, the religion of Islam teaches that in order to achieve religion of Islam teaches that in order to achieve true peace of mind and surety of heart, one must true peace of mind and surety of heart, one must submit to God and live according to His Divinely submit to God and live according to His Divinely revealed Law.revealed Law.

ISLAMISLAM

The most important truth that God revealed to The most important truth that God revealed to mankind is that there is nothing divine or worthy mankind is that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, of being worshipped except for Almighty God, thus all human beings should submit to thus all human beings should submit to GodGod. The . The word word "Muslim""Muslim" means one who submits to the means one who submits to the will of God, regardless of their race, nationality will of God, regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic background.or ethnic background.

ISLAMISLAM

Islam is not a new religion, but a continuation of the same message and guidance that God revealed to all previous prophets.

According to the Holy Qur’an

God says, “Say, we believe in God and that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to other Prophets, from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit” (2:136) ***

CONTINUITY OF THE MESSAGECONTINUITY OF THE MESSAGE

ALLAH ALLAH • Allah is Arabic word for "God”

• “Allah” is a unique term and it has no plural or gender forms

• There is only One True God. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all have the same root , and all of them are also classified as "monotheistic".

• "Allah" is the same word that Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews use for God.

UNITY OF GODUNITY OF GOD

There is only One Supreme Being who has no partners and is not dependent on anyone or anything. God is the Creator of everything and the whole universe is in the Creator’s control. God is the only One worthy of being worshipped.

***

Muhammed (p.b.u.h.)Muhammed (p.b.u.h.) Born 570 A.D. to the tribe of Quraish

Labeled “Al Ameen” (the honest and trustworthy) even before the revelation

The last messenger from God (as believed by Muslims)

Role model that all Muslims should follow

God says: “We have not sent you except as a mercy to all creation” (21:107)

QUR’ANQUR’AN The main scripture and one of the basic sources of Islamic teachings and laws

It is considered the literal word of God that was revealed to Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel over a period of 23 years

The original and complete text of the Quran is available to everyone in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed

Translations of the meaning into many other languages are widely used

What does The “Qur’an” What does The “Qur’an” cover?cover?

Deals with the foundations of creeds, morality, the history of humanity, worship, knowledge, wisdom, the relationship of people to God and God to people, and all aspects of interpersonal relationships

Teaches humankind the purpose of one’s life and the duties and obligations toward oneself, family, relatives, community, fellow human beings, and The Creator

Pillars of Belief Pillars of Belief

• God (Allah)God (Allah)

• AngelsAngels

• Revealed BooksRevealed Books

• Revealed MessengersRevealed Messengers

• Day of the JudgmentDay of the Judgment

• Pre-destination Pre-destination

Belief in GodBelief in God

• Tawheed (Monotheism)Tawheed (Monotheism)

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

  Say: He is Allah, the One and Only!    Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;   He begetteth not nor is He begotten.   And there is none like unto Him.

Belief in AngelsBelief in Angels

• Gabriel (Archangel)Gabriel (Archangel)

• Isra’il (Angel of Death)Isra’il (Angel of Death)

• Mikhail (Angel of the seasons)Mikhail (Angel of the seasons)

• Israfil (Courier of the day of the Israfil (Courier of the day of the judgment)judgment)

Revealed BooksRevealed Books

• Torah (Moses)Torah (Moses)

• Zaboor (David)Zaboor (David)

• Gospel (Jesus)Gospel (Jesus)

• Qu’ran Qu’ran (Muhammed) (Muhammed)

Revealed ProphetsRevealed Prophets

2:213 Mankind was one single nation, and 2:213 Mankind was one single nation, and God sent Messengers with glad tidings God sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish themselves, except through selfish contumacy. God by His Grace Guided the contumacy. God by His Grace Guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For God guided wherein they differed. For God guided whom He will to a path that is straight.whom He will to a path that is straight.

Revealed ProphetsRevealed ProphetsGod informed us of twenty-God informed us of twenty-five of them in the Qur’an:five of them in the Qur’an:1)1) AdamAdam

2)2) EnochEnoch

3)3) NoahNoah

4)4) Hud Hud

5)5) SalihSalih

6)6) AbrahamAbraham

7)7) IsaacIsaac

8)8) IshmaelIshmael

18)Solomon19)Elijah20) Job21)Elisha 22) Jesus23)Dhul-Kifl 24) Jonah25)Muhammad

9) Jacob10) Joseph 11) Shu‘ayb 12) Lot 13) John the

Baptist14) Zechariah 15) Aaron16) David17) Moses

Day of JudgementDay of Judgement

• Belief in the HereafterBelief in the Hereafter

• Accountability of how you lived Accountability of how you lived your lifeyour life

• Balance of both good and bad Balance of both good and bad deedsdeeds

Kader (Predestination)Kader (Predestination)

• PredestinationPredestination

• FreewillFreewill

Pillars of Islam Pillars of Islam

• Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)

• Salat (Prayer)Salat (Prayer)

• Zakat (Charity)Zakat (Charity)

• Sawm (Fast)Sawm (Fast)

• Hajj (Pilgrimage)Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Shahadah (Declaration of Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)Faith)

Salat (Prayer)Salat (Prayer)

• Worship 5 times a dayWorship 5 times a day

pre-dawn pre-dawn Fajr - 6:00am Fajr - 6:00amNoon Noon Dhuhr - 2:00pmDhuhr - 2:00pmmid-afternoon mid-afternoon Asr - 5:00pmAsr - 5:00pmafter sunset after sunset Maghrib - 5min after Maghrib - 5min after

sunsetsunsetNight Night Isha - 9:30pmIsha - 9:30pm

Zakat (Charity)Zakat (Charity)

• Eligible Muslims pay alms, an Eligible Muslims pay alms, an annual basis that helps to “purify” annual basis that helps to “purify” their wealth.their wealth.

• Zekat can be given to the poor, Zekat can be given to the poor, orphans, and needy in society.orphans, and needy in society.

• Zakat consists of giving 2.5% of Zakat consists of giving 2.5% of one’s accumulated wealthone’s accumulated wealth

FastingFasting

• Fasting is from sunrise to sunsetFasting is from sunrise to sunset

• Muslims fast during the month of Muslims fast during the month of RamadanRamadan

• Fasting helps Muslims:Fasting helps Muslims:– build will-powerbuild will-power– feel compassionfeel compassion– purify bodypurify body– strengthen their community relationsstrengthen their community relations

FastingFasting

O you who believe! Fasting is O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-you, that you may (learn) self-restraint restraint

2:183 2:183

Hajj (Pilgrimage)Hajj (Pilgrimage)• It is obligatory to make the pilgrimage to Mecca It is obligatory to make the pilgrimage to Mecca

for Muslims who can afford it physically and for Muslims who can afford it physically and financially, at least once in a lifetime. financially, at least once in a lifetime.

• Muslims from all walks of life, from every corner Muslims from all walks of life, from every corner of the globe assemble in Mecca in response to of the globe assemble in Mecca in response to the call of God. the call of God.

• It is to commemorate the Divine rituals observed It is to commemorate the Divine rituals observed by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael, by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael, who were the first pilgrims to the Ka'bah. who were the first pilgrims to the Ka'bah.

• It is also to remember the great assembly of the It is also to remember the great assembly of the Day of Judgment when people will stand equal Day of Judgment when people will stand equal before God. before God.