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Islam and Muslims
Islam is an Arabic word which means total submission to God, 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 Ailments
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

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