Islam BAsic Beliefs Part 1

[ahmedhelmy]

The Arabic word Islam means voluntary surrender


​

to the will of Allah and obedience to His commands.​

Allah is an Arabic word, the proper name of God.​

Muslims prefer to use the word Allah rather than​

God. A person who freely and consciously accepts​

the Islamic way of life and sincerely practices it is​

called a Muslim.​

BASIC BELIEFS


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TAWHID​

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is the most important Islamic belief. It​

implies that everything in existence originates from​

the one and only Creator, who is also the Sustainer​

and the sole Source of Guidance. This belief should​

govern all aspects of human life. Recognition of​

this fundamental truth results in a unified view of​

existence that rejects any divisions of life into the​

religious and the secular. Allah is the sole source​

of Power and Authority and therefore entitled to​

worship and obedience from mankind. There is no​

scope for any partnership with the Creator. Tawhid​

teaches man that Allah is not born, nor is anyone​

born of Him. He has no son or daughter. Human​

beings, like the rest of creation, are His subjects.​

RISALAH ​

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means Prophethood and


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Messengership. Allah has not left humanity without​

guidance for the conduct of our affairs. Since​

the creation of the first human, Allah has revealed​

His guidance to mankind through His prophets. The​

prophets who received books from Allah are called​

messengers. The message of all the prophets and​

messengers is one and the same. They urged the​

people of their time to obey and worship Allah alone​

and none other. Whenever the teachings of a prophet​

were distorted by people Allah sent another prophet​

to bring human beings back to the Straight Path.​

The chain of Risalah began with Adam, included​

Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Lot, Jacob, Joseph,​

Moses and Jesus, and ended with​

Muhammad (peace be upon them all), as the final​

messenger of Allah to mankind.​

The revealed books from Allah are: the Torah​

(Tawrah), the Psalms (Zabur), the Gospel (Injeel)​

and the Qur’an. The Qur’an was revealed to Prophet​

Muhammad (p)​

​

1, as the final book of Guidance.​

Among all these books, it is only the Qur’an that​

remains unchanged, in its original revealed form.​

AKHIRAH​

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means life after death. Belief in Akhirah


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has a profound impact on the life of a believer. We​

are all accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgment​

when we will be judged according to how we​

lived our lives. One who obeys and worships Allah​

will be rewarded with a permanent place of happiness​

and bliss in Paradise (​

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Jannah); One who does​

not do so will be sent to Hell (​

​

Jahannam), a place​

of punishment and suffering.​

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM


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Islam has five pillars or basic foundations of action.


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Acting correctly and sincerely on these foundations​

transforms a Muslim’s life into one that is in harmony​

with nature and thus in conformity with the​

will of the Creator. Faithful practice of these duties​

inspires her to work towards the establishment of​

justice, equality and righteousness in society, and​

the eradication of injustice, falsehood and evil.​

1. SHAHADAH​

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, the first of the five basic foundations,


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is the declaration, knowingly and voluntarily,​

of:​

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La ilaha illal lahu Muhammadur rasulul lah. “There​

is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger​

of Allah”​

This declaration is the basis of all actions in Islam,​

and the other basic duties follow this affirmation.​

2. SALAH​

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(compulsory prayer) is offered five times


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a day. It is a practical demonstration of faith, and​

keeps a believer in touch with her Creator. The benefits​

of Salah are far-reaching, long lasting and immeasurable.​

It develops in a believer the qualities of​

self-discipline, steadfastness and obedience to the​

Truth, leading her to be patient, honest and truthful​

in the affairs of her life.​

3. ZAKAH​

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(welfare contribution) is a compulsory


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payment from a Muslim’s annual savings. It can​

only be spent on helping the poor, the needy, and​

the oppressed, and for the general upliftment of​

society. Zakah is one of the fundamental principles​

of Islamic economy, which insures an equitable​

society where everyone has a right to contribute​

and share.​

4. SAWM​

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is the annual obligatory fasting during


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the month of Ramadan - the ninth month of the​

Islamic calendar. A Muslim, every day of this​

month, refrains from eating, drinking, smoking, and​

sex, from dawn to sunset. Sawm develops a​

believer’s moral and spiritual standard and keeps​

him away from selfishness, greed, extravagance​

and other vices. Sawm is an annual training program​

that increases a Muslim’s determination to fulfill​

his obligation to the Almighty Lord.​

5. HAJJ​

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(pilgrimage to the House of Allah) is an


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annual event, obligatory on those Muslims who can​

afford to undertake it, at least once in their lifetime.​

It is a journey to the “House of Allah” (Al-Ka’bah) in​

Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the twelfth month of the​

Islamic calendar. Hajj symbolizes the unity of humankind;​

Muslims from every race and nationality​

assemble together in equality and fraternity to worship​

their Lord.​

THE QUR’AN


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The Qur’an is the final Book of guidance from Allah,


​

sent down to Prophet Muhammad (p) through​

the angel Gabriel (Jibra’il). Every word of the Qur’an​

is the word of Allah. The Qur’an is unrivaled in its​

recording and preservation. Unlike other scriptures​

that were corrupted with human interpolations and​

omissions, the Qur’an has remained unchanged​

even to a letter for over fourteen hundred years. The​

Qur’an is the last and final revelation to mankind​

and covers all aspects of human life, and its relation​

to the life after death.​

 

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THE HADITH
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The Hadith is the collection of sayings, actions and
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silent approvals of Prophet Muhammad (p). It explains
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the Qur’an, and how to practice it. The Hadith
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were recorded meticulously by the Prophet’s companions.​

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PROPHET MUHAMMAD
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Muhammad (peace be upon him), the final messenger
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of Allah, was born in Mecca, Arabia, in the
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year 571 CE. His father died before his birth and
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his mother died when he was only six. He received
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first revelation from Allah at the age of forty.
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The people of Mecca at that time used to worship
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idols. The prophet (p) invited them to Islam. Some
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of them accepted and became Muslims, while others
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rebuked him and turned against him. In the
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13th year of his prophethood, Muhammad (p) migrated
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from Mecca to Madinah.
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The Prophet (p) organized the early Muslims and
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preached the message of Allah with patience and
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profound wisdom. Eventually Islam was established
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in the whole of Arabia and was set to make a tremendous
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contribution to the history and civilization
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of the world. Prophet Muhammad (p) died in
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632 CE at the age of 63. He left behind the Qur’an
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and his​

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Sunnah (way) as the source of guidance
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for all generations to come.
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MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE
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Marriage is the basis of family life in Islam. It is a
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solemn yet simple contract between a man and a
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woman. Marriages are arranged with the consent
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of the couple, as required by Islamic law. Islam
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does not allow the free mixing of men and women;
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nor does it allow sex before marriage. Extra-marital
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sex is severely punishable. No discrimination
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is made on the basis of sex. Husband and wife are
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equal partners of the family and play their part in
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their respective fields.
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DIET
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Muslims are encouraged to eat what is good for
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them. Islamic law requires an animal to be slaughtered
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while invoking the name of Allah. All varieties
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of alcoholic drinks are prohibited. Pork and blood
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are also forbidden.
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DRESS
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Muslims must cover their bodies properly and decently.
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When it comes to dressing-up, simplicity
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and modesty are encouraged. No particular dress
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is recommended, however, men must cover their
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body from navel to the knees. Women must cover
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their whole body except the face and hands. Any
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dress that is suggestive, transparent, skin-tight or
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half-naked may send wrong signals to others; signals
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that are contrary to Islam’s teachings. Pure
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silk and gold are not allowed for men.
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SOCIAL MANNERS
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Islam teaches decency, humility and good manners.
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Muslims greet each other by saying:​

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As-salamu
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‘Alaikum​

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(peace be upon you) and the reply is:
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Wa‘alaikumus salam​

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(peace be upon you too).
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Keeping promises, truthfulness, justice, fair play,
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helping the poor and needy, respect for parents,
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teachers and elders, love for children and good relations
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with neighbors and relatives are the most
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valued virtues of a Muslim. Islam condemns enmity,
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back-biting, slander, blasphemy, ridicule, use of offensive
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names, suspicion and arrogance.
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CONCLUSION
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Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’ meaning
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peace. When our individual and collective lives are
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in harmony with nature and with the will of the Creator,
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peace is inevitable. Islam, as a way of life, is
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the solution to all problems of the human race, and
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is the only hope for the present as well as the future.
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The need is to practice it faithfully.
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