Islam is the second largest religion in the world with over 1.2 billion followers. It was founded over 1400 years ago in Mecca by the prophet Muhammad, who Muslims believe was the final prophet sent by God. The five pillars of Islam are the core tenets and include the shahadah, salah, zakat, sawm, and hajj. Islam teaches that Muslims should pray five times a day, give charity, fast during Ramadan, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
2. The word Islam means submission to the will of god. Islam is a
religion and a civilization. It is a religion that has been
spanning over 14 centuries. It is the second largest religion in
the world.
Muslims believe that Islam was found over 1400 years in
Mecca, Arabia. It is a religion mainly in the Asian and the
African continents and also parts in Europe. 1.2 billion People
from different backgrounds are Muslim.
Islam is a major presence and the knowledge of Islam is very
important. The study of Islam is widespread in the west and
America.
3. The messenger of Allah said „Islam is to testify that there is no
god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, to
perform the prayers, to pay the Zakat, to fast in Ramadan,
and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to
do so.
God sent a number of Prophets to mankind to teach
this Dounya how to live and to spread the message of
Islam. Muhammad (saw) was our final prophet and
always will be. Muslims believe that Islam always existed
as a religion. They base their laws on their holy book the
Quran.
4. The 5 pillars of Islam are:
1. Shahada
2. Salah
3. Zakat
4. Sawm
5. Hajj
5. In Islam we are expected to pray five times
a day. These prayers are:
1. Fajr
2. Duhr
3. Asr
4. Maghrib
5. Isha
6. The study of Islam in the west began in the 10th and 11th
century. Islam and its civilization have a played a great role
and is usually admitted to the genesis and development of
European and American civilization. Islam is known as the
second largest community in Europe.
The Islamic revelation is the third and final revelation. In
Islam, the words lailaha ilallah and Muhammad is the
Messenger of God contain the Alpha and the Omega of the
Islamic message.
The word „Allah‟ is referred to as „God‟. Allah (swt) asked
human beings “am I not lord?” and they all replied at once
“Yes we bear witness". Islam isn‟t based on one historical
even, but on universal truth which has always and always will
be the truth.
7. The word in Arabic meaning religion is „Al- Din‟. „Al Din‟
means repaying of our debt to god and involves the whole of
our life. According to the Islamic verse:
‘God is the rich and we are the poor’ (47:38)
All that we are and all that we have belongs to Allah (swt).
Everything in this word (Dounya) belongs to Allah (swt) the
almighty.
Religion is there to remind all humans of this reality. Islam
involves prayer in all its modes. The Muslims house of worship is
mosques which are located all around the world. Islam also
has events including some of the pillars of Islam: Sawm, Hajj
and Sawm.
Sawm is a month in which you don‟t eat from sunrise till
sunset.
8. Hajj is the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca that takes place in the
last month of the year. This act of worship is expected to be
done at least once by all Muslims.
Zakat is an obligatory payment made by all Muslims. It is used
for charitable and religious purposes.
These are some events that Islam holds. In Islam some things
are forbidden. If they are done and if these rules are broken it
is considered as a great sin. These include:
-Suicide
-Drinking Wine
-Consumption of Pork
-Non Halal products etc...
9. Islam teaches that it is the nature of human beings. The basic
rites of Islam were revealed to the Prophet and these are
usually called the pillar and arkan.
These are:
1. Believe in God
2. Believe in the angels
3. To believe in his messengers
4. To believe in his books
5. To believe in the Day Of Judgement
6. To believe in Devine Destiny
10. In Islam when we say the prophets name It
is followed by a formula („salallah Alai hi
wasalam‟) while the name of the other
Prophets is followed by Peace Be upon Him.
In Islam if anyone harms another, Allah (swt)
will harm him. Islam is a religion of peace.
11. Muslims also wear a hijab when they reach a certain age.
The hijab is obligatory for all Muslim women. The word Hijab
means barrier or partition. The hijab is used for modesty and
includes the dress we must wear for male and female. The
hijab is used to cover the hair and head. When a Muslim puts
on the hijab they also must cover themselves by wearing
loose clothes. The hijab also refers to the complete covering
of everything except for the hands, face and feet. The hijab
isn‟t obligatory in front of
fathers, brothers, grandfathers, uncles or young children.
Hijab doesn‟t need to be worn in front of other Muslim
women.
12. Islam is a religion that has a large
population and it has been spanning for
many years. Allah (swt) is the god of all
Muslims and we should all follow the
religion of Islam.