From: d89-gsk@nada.kth.se (Gani Skepi)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Islam at a Glance
Date: 7 Jan 93 20:57:22 GMT
Organization: Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

Whatever you think, whatever you believe in, there is no harm 
in searching for the Truth and studying Islam.

***********************************************************
***********          ISLAM AT A GLANCE          ***********
***********************************************************


Islam and Muslim
----------------
Islam is an Arabic word which means peace, purity, acceptance and
commitment. As a religion, Islam calls for complete acceptance of
the teachings and guidance of God.

A  Muslim is  one who  freely and  willingly accepts  the supreme
power  of God  and strives to  organize his life  in total accord
with  the teachings  of God.  He also  works for  building social
institutions  which reflect the  guidance of God. "Muhammadanism"
is  a misnomer  for Islam and  offends its very  spirit since the
Prophet  Muhammad was a messenger of  God, and not a divine being
worshipped by Muslims.

Muslims  use the  word "Allah"  for the  English word  "God". The
understanding  of  Deity  in  Islam  differs  from  some  of  the
connotations  in the  English word,  God. For  the convenience of
English  speaking readers, the word God  is used in this brochure
except  when  the  word "Allah"  is  in the  quotations  from the
Qur'an.



Continuity of The Message
-------------------------
Islam  is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message
and guidance which God revealed to all His previous messengers.

     "Say:  We believe in Allah  and that which was revealed
     to  us,  and that  which  was revealed  to  Abraham and
     Ishmael  and Isaac  and Jacob  and the  tribes and that
     which  was given to Moses and Jesus and to the Prophets
     from  their Lord; We make no distinction between any of
     them, and to Him we submit". Qur'an 3:83.

The  message which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him) is Islam in its comprehensive, complete and final form.



The Five Pillars of Islam
-------------------------
Every action done with the awareness that it fulfills the Will of
God  is considered  an act  of worship  in Islam.  But it  is the
specific  acts  of  worship  termed the  Pillars  of  Islam which
provide  the framework of Muslim  spiritual life. These are given
below:

1. The DECLARATION OF FAITH. "I bear witness that there is no one
worthy  of worship except  God (Allah), and  that Muhammad is His
servant  and  messenger."  The  Prophethood  of  Muhammad obliges
Muslims to follow his exemplary life in every respect.

2. PRAYERS are prescribed five times a day as a duty towards God.
Prayer strengthens and enlivens belief in God and inspires man to
higher  morality. It purifies the  heart and controls temptation,
wrong-doing, and evil.

3.  FASTING during  the month  of Ramadan.  This means abstention
from  food, beverages, and  sex from dawn  to sunset, and curbing
evil  intentions  and desires.  It  teaches love,  sincerity, and
devotion. It develops patients, unselfishness, social conscience,
and willpower to bear hardship.

4.  ZAKAH is a proportionately  fixed contribution collected from
the wealth and earning of the well to do and rich. It is spent on
the  poor and needy in particular, and the welfare of the society
in  general. The payment of Zakah purifies ones income and wealth
and helps to establish economic balance and social justice in the
society.

5.  HAJJ,  or  pilgrimage to  the  Ka'bah  in Makkah,  once  in a
lifetime, provided one has the means to undertake the journey.



Oneness of God
--------------
Islam  enjoins faith in the oneness and sovereignty of God, which
creates  an  awareness of  the  unity and  meaningfulness  of the
universe and of man's place in it. This belief frees him from all
fears  and superstitions by making  him conscious of the presence
of  the Almighty  God and of  man's obligations to  Him. But this
realization  must be expressed and  tested in action. Faith alone
is  not enough. Belief in one God  requires that we look upon all
humanity  as one family under the  universal omnipotence of God -
the  Creator and  Nourisher of all.  Islam rejects  the idea that
there  is a "chosen people" making  pure intention, faith in God,
and good deeds the only way to heaven. Thus a direct relationship
is   established  with  God,  open  to  all  alike,  without  any
discrimination or intercession.



The Qur'an and Hadith
---------------------
The  Qur'an is the last revealed word of God and the basic source
of  Islamic  teachings  and  laws. It  deals  with  a  variety of
subjects including the basic beliefs of Islam, morality, worship,
knowledge, wisdom, God-and-man relationships, and relations among
human  beings. Comprehensive teachings on  which sound systems of
social  justice, politics, economics, legislation, jurisprudence,
law  and international relations  can be built  from an important
part of the Holy Qur'an.

Though  Prophet Muhammad did not  receive a formal education, the
Qur'an, as soon as it was revealed to him in the spoken word, was
committed  to writing by his secretaries.  In this way every word
was  written  down  and  preserved  during  his  lifetime  by his
companions.  The original and  complete text of  the Qur'an is in
Arabic  and translations of  its meaning in  most known languages
are available in major libraries and bookstores.

Hadith,  the teachings, sayings and  actions of Prophet Muhammad,
accurately  reported  and  collected by  his  devoted companions,
explain and elaborate the Qur'anic verses.



Concept of Worship
------------------
Islam  does  not teach  ritualism.  It places  great  emphasis on
intention  and action. To worship  God is to love  him and to act
upon His commands in every aspect of life, to enjoin goodness and
forbid  wrong-doing  and  oppression,  to  practice  charity  and
justice  and to serve Him by serving mankind. The Qur'an presents
this sublime concept in the following manner:

     "It  is not righteousness  that you turn  your faces to
     the  East or West, but righteous  is he who believes in
     Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Scripture
     and  the Prophets; and gives his wealth for love of Him
     to  kinsfolk  and  to  orphans and  the  needy  and the
     wayfarer  and to those  who ask, and  sets slaves free;
     and  observes proper  worship and  pays the  Zakah. And
     those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the
     patient  in  tribulation  and  adversity  and  time  of
     stress;  such are those  who are sincere.  Such are the
     Godfearing". Qur'an 2:177.



Man, A Free Agent
-----------------
Man is the highest creation of God and he has a free will to make
his own decisions. God has shown him the right path, and the life
of  Prophet  Muhammad provides  a  perfect example  for achieving
success  and salvation.  Islam stands  for the  sanctity of human
personality  and confers equal rights  on all without distinction
of race, nationality or sex.

The law of God set down in the Qur'an and exemplified in the life
of the Prophet is supreme in all cases. It applies equally to the
prince and the pauper, the ruler and the ruled, the saint and the
sinner.



Man's Accountability to God
---------------------------
Man's life is not limited to the short span of earthly existence.
On   the  day  of  judgement  the   entire  human  race  will  be
resurrected;  everyone will  appear before  the Almighty  God and
face  the consequences of  his deeds in this  life. Thus, life in
the Hereafter is a continuation of the earthly life.

Belief  in man's accountability to God  gives a sense and meaning
to   life  and  differentiates  human  beings  from  animals  and
inanimate  objects.  It  serves  as  a  reminder  against  crime,
corruption, immorality, and injustice.



Human Rights
------------
Islam  protects  all  noble  values  and  human  rights. Freedom,
equality,  justice, and the right  to life, liberty, and security
of person are of prime concern in Islamic law.

     "Whosoever   kills  a   human  being   for  other  than
     manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as
     if  he had killed all  mankind, and whosoever saves the
     life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of
     all mankind..." Qur'an 5:32.

Islam  places great  emphasis on  social justice.  It opposes all
those who exploit, oppress and deal unjustly with people.

     " O ye who believe: Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in
     equity and let not hatred of any people seduce you that
     you deal not justly. Be just; that is nearer to piety".
     Qur'an 5:8.



Science and Technology
----------------------
Islam  encourages the use  of science and  the scientific method.
Acquisition  of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim, male and
female. In Islam, science and technology should be used for moral
ends  and serve all  legitimate needs of  mankind. Moreover, both
are  viewed as yet another means  to understand and see the power
and glory of God.

     "He  it  is Who  created  for you  all  that is  in the
     earth." Qur'an 2:29.

     "It is your Lord, the Most Bounteous, Who taught by the
     pen, taught man that which he knew not..." Qur'an 96:2-
     5.

     "We  shell  show them  our  Signs on  the  horizons and
     within  themselves until it will  be manifest unto them
     that it is the Truth..." Qur'an 41:53.



Islam: The Cure for Modern Ills
-------------------------------
Racism  is a major problem in many materially advanced countries.
Prejudice  and  discrimination  against racial  groups  is common
phenomenon even today. For 1400 years Islam has shown in practice
how  racism can be ended.  The Islamic social scene, particularly
during the Hajj, is a unique example of the brotherhood of men of
all races and nations under One God.

Similarly,  the family, the  basic unit of  civilization has also
become  something  of a  problem in  the West.  It is  in visible
decay.  The family system of Islam  brings the rights of husband,
wife,  children,  and relatives  into  a fine  equilibrium. Islam
nourishes  generosity in the  family and holds  it together under
the  clear Qur'anic laws  and teachings of  the Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him.



Some Misconceptions About Islam
-------------------------------
It  is  unfortunate  that  some  teachings  of  Islam  have  been
distorted and misrepresented in the West and the communist world.
The  main distortions relate to the status of women, marriage and
divorce,  jihad or so-called "holy  war", the authenticity of the
prophethood  of Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the distinction
between  the  Qur'an and  the Hadith.  The accurate  teachings of
Islam  on  these  matters  can be  obtained  only  from authentic
Islamic writings. Some of these are listed below:



Some Useful Books on Islam
--------------------------
"Islam and Universal Peace" by Syed Qutb.
"Towards Understanding Islam" by Syed Abul Ala Maududi.
"Family Structure in Islam" by Hamudah Abdul Ati.
"On the Political System of Islamic State" by Mohammed S. El-Awa.
"Jesus, A Prophet of Islam" by Sulaiman Mufassir.
"Islam: Its Meaning and Message" ed. Khurshid Ahmad.

These and other books may be ordered from Islamic Book Service,
10900 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46231. Telephone
(317) 839-8150

For more information you may write also to ISNA Headquarters;

Islamic Society of North America
Post Office Box 38
Plainfield, IN 46168
(317) 839-8157