Islam

## Overview/ Origin

Islam is one of the largest monotheistic world religions. In Arabic, Islam means "submission," and anyone who practices Islam is Muslim-- "one who submits" to the will of Allah who is god. The Prophet Muhammad (570-632) founded Islam in the early 7th century. When he was 40 years old, Muhammad began to hear voices and see visions of angels. As a spiritual man, Muhammad regularly retreated to mountain caves to meditate. On one of these retreats, the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad for the first time and revealed to him that there is only one god, Allah, and he had chosen Muhammad to be the greatest and final prophet whose divine message was that people needed to turn away from idolatry, worship Allah alone, and live ethical and socially responsible lives (this event is celebrated as The Night of Power on the 27th night of Ramadan every year during which Muslims pray the entire night).

Muhammad continued to have revelations and preach, but in 622 intensifying persecutions prompted him and his followers to flee from Mecca to Yathrib which subsequently became known as Medina (City of the Prophet). This historic flight (hijara) is considered by Muslims to be the beginning of Islam, and thus 622 is year 1 in the Islamic calendar.

While in Medina, Muhammad established a thriving theocracy that would spread from Medina to all of the Arabian Peninsula. In fact, Muhammad was so successful that by his death in 632 he was not only leader of Islam, but also ruler of Southern Arabia.

After Muhammad's death, however, there was a split in the Islamic community over who should be Muhammad's successor. A small group (Shia) believed that only people in Muhammad's family, specifically his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, should succeed him. The majority of the Islamic community (Sunnis), however, wanted Muhammad's close friend Abu Bakr to become the first leader or Caliph of the Islamic community.

### Main Branches of Islam

Today, there are two main branches of Islam: Sunnis (the majority) and Shias (the minority).

#### Sunni

* Way of the prophet, supremacy of the law, decisions of community are infallible, allegiance to community

#### Shia

* Continuous divine guidance from *imams* who are infallible descendants of the Prophet, what they say goes, the twelfth imam disappeared and will return for judgement, salvation = restoration of justice on earth, allegiance to descendants of ‘Ali

## Vision of/for Life

### The Six Pillars of Faith (Iman)

#### Belief in Allah

Mankind was created to worship Allah alone. This means that Allah and his names and attributes belong only to him. This pillar is also concerned with Tawheed (Unity of Allah). Knowledge of Allah comes from Quran and Sunnah.

#### Belief in the Angels

Angels are beings made of light. Unlike humans and jinn, they cannot choose between right and wrong, and therefore will not be held accountable on the day of judgement. They exist solely to worship Allah and enforce his will. Belief in angels includes belief not only in their existence, attributes, and known angels (Jibreel and Mikael etc.), but also in their deeds.

#### Belief in sent Books

Muslim's believe that Allah has sent Books: Zabur, Tawrah (Original Torah), Injeel (Original Bible), and Quran. These were sent to followers of specific Prophets. Overtime, these books were corrupted so Allah sent the Quran as the final Revelation and Guide for humanity.

#### Belief in the Messengers

There are 25 messengers who have been mentioned by name in the Quran: Adam, Idrees, Nooh (Noah), Hood, Salih, Ibrahim (Abraham), Lut (Lot), Ismail, Ishaq (Isaac), Ya’qoob (Jacob), Yusuf (Joseph), Shu’ayb, Ayoob (Job), Dhu’l-Kifl, Moosa (Moses), Haroon (Aaron), Dawood (David), Sulaymaan (Solomon), Ilyaas (Elias), al-Yasa’, Yunus (Jonah), Zakaria, Yahya, ‘Isa (Jesus, who Muslims believe is merely a prophet to the Children of Israel) and Muhammad the final and greatest prophet to whom the Quran was revealed.

Messengers were sent to every nation throughout history to call people to worship only one god, Allah, to warn disbelievers about the punishment of Hell, and to encourage believers of the reward of Paradise.

#### Belief in the Day of Judgement

Muslims believe that humans are going to held accountable for what they have done on earth. Hell is for those that Allah is displeased with and Paradise for those whom Allah is pleased with. On the Day of Judgment, everyone will be resurrected and will have their deeds weighed using the Scale (Al-Mizan). Those whose good deeds outweigh bad deeds are those who may enter paradise.

The Day of Judgment also concerns The Bridge (Al-Sirat) that every Muslim must cross. Thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword, some will cross in the blink of an eye and others will cross at slow crawl; some will cross unscathed, and others will cross with scratches, and in some cases, some will fall into hellfire. While hypocrites fall into hellfire and never get out, other believers will be taken out by believers who have known them in the worldly life.

#### Belief in Divine Decree (Al-Qadar)

All is known by Allah, and anything that happens, good or bad, is in accordance with his divine decree.

### The Five Pillars of Practice

#### Shahada (Testimony)

"There is no god but God and Muhammed is his messenger." It must be recited aloud by a Muslim at least once in their lifetime with a full understanding of its meaning. The first half of this testimony affirms that Allah is the only one worthy of worship and that he is the creator, ruler, and sustainer of all things. The second half affirms that Muhammad is the final messenger of Allah who received the final revelation of the Quran in order that people might be called to Tahweed (belief in the oneness of Allah).

#### Salah (Prayer)

On the day of judgement, Muslim's will be held accountable for their prayers. There are five obligatory prayers that a Muslim must observe each day:

* Fajr (early morning, before dawn)
* Duhr (midday, just after noon)
* 'Asr (mid afternoon)
* Maghrib (just after sunset)
* Isha (at night, after darkness has fallen)

Prayer is not only an intimate link between a person and Allah, but also between Muslims. Muslims often pray together in congregations.

#### Zakat (Almsgiving)

Zakat is a required portion of a Muslim's total wealth (2.5%) that they are required to give to those in need. Zakat means "that which purifies." Similarly to how prayer purifies the soul, Zakat purifies assets and is pleasing to Allah. Zakat is only obligatory for Muslims who are adults, mentally stable, and are financially capable. In fact, a Muslim must reach a certain wealth threshold known as the Nisaab before the Zakat is due upon them.

#### Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan)

Ramadan, determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, is one month of the year that Muslims set aside to strengthen their faith. During the month of Ramadan, from dawn until sunset, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and intercourse. The reward for good deeds and acts of worship are multiplied during this month.

#### Haji (Pilgrimage to Mecca)

Every Adult Muslim is required, at least once in their lifetime if physically and financially able, to go to the Kabba. A person may also perform the haj by having a friend or relative go on their behalf.

## Who is God?

Allah is one--he is singular in being and is solely sovereign over the universe. His principal qualities are mercy and justice. Allah creates ex nihilo. All of existence is sustained by his mercy and ordered by his justice. In fact, Allah's creating and ordering of the universe is viewed as the prime act of mercy for which all things worship him.

According to the Qur'an which is literally the word of god, Allah is the same god who revealed himself to the Jewish and Christian prophets.

## Who am I?

Humans are begins made of clay. Humanity is "bound" in the sense that we owe our existence to Allah and must therefore willingly or unwillingly submit to him. On the day of judgement, we will be held accountable for our deeds.

Jinn are beings made of fire. They can choose between right and wrong, but are more prone to evil. They will be held accountable on the day of judgement.

Angels are beings made of light. They cannot choose between right and wrong, and therefore will not be held accountable on the day of judgement. They exist solely to worship Allah and enforce his will.

## Where am I?

Humanity exists within a universe sustained by Allah's merciful will.

## What is the problem?

Injustice towards the creator to whom all worship is due by worshiping others besides him. In Islam, any failure to submit to Allah is sin.

## How do I fix it?

Believe in the six pillars of faith, and observe the pillars of practice.

## Resources

### Helpful Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P\_qxVCPoOU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpcbfxtdoI8

### Websites for General Info

https://yaqeeninstitute.org/

https://fitrahtawheed.com/six-pillars-of-eman \*Has a chat feature where you can ask questions in real time.

https://www.whyislam.org/what-is-islam/

CLEAN THIS

Allah | Deity, Meaning, & Facts | Britannica

https://www.mymasjid.ca/beginners-guide-understanding-islam/chapter-3/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjO-cTynv3-AhVMEDQIHeliBJwQFnoECAoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdigitalcommons.iwu.edu%2Fcgi%2Fviewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D1011%26context%3Dreligion\_honproj&usg=AOvVaw1vDDMww2Yg-nlN8w6dmIIN

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Islam/Doctrines-of-the-Qur-an

https://www.gettysburg.edu/offices/religious-spiritual-life/world-religions-101/what-is-islam

https://www.studentsofhistory.com/the-origins-of-islam