[quote]
Originally posted by Mr Xtreme:
** Gupshup isn't like real life. Somebody posting under a Shia name might be something else altogether in reality. Faceup/Logical is a prime example. Nobody knows if he/she considers himself a Shia, Ahmadi, Ismaili, Hindu or something else. He/she is only happy to bash Wahabbis while hiding his/her own face in a paper bag.
He/she is a sh*t-stirrer plain and simple. Best advice is to steer clear of these sect arguments because it is pointless squabbling over details which aren't really relevant to today's problems.
Another interesting fact is that Shia/Sunni posts started appearing after the Hinduism v Islam thread appeared. Use your brains people.**
[/quote]
We all know that not all of us have the capacity to comprehend
everything all the time and in view of the fact that Islam is being
dicussed by some of the participants on this forum ( mostly in
ignorance) , I am posting "Islam for dummies" ( not that you are a
dummy) but to get a clearer idea of what Islam is and what Islam is not
(according to how you may have perceived it). READ!
The Meaning of Islam
ISLAM is derived from the Arabic root "SALEMA": peace, purity,
submission and obedience. In the religious sense, Islam means submission
to the will of God and obedience to His law.
Everything and every phenomenon in the world, other than man is
administered TOTALLY by God-made laws i.e. they are obedient to God and
submissive to His laws i.e. they are in the STATE OF ISLAM. Man
possesses the quality of intelligence and choice, thus he is invited to
submit to the good will of God and obey His law ie. become a Muslim.
Submission to the good will of God, together with obedience to His
beneficial law, i.e. becoming a Muslim is the best safeguard for man's
peace and harmony.
Islam dates back to the edge of Adam and its message has been conveyed
to man by God's Prophets and Messengers including Ibrahim( Brahma in
Hinduism), Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Islam's message has been restored
and enforced in the last stage of the religious evolution by God's last
Prophet and Messenger Muhammad.
The word Allah ( is translated to mean God in the English language) , or
more accurately The One and Only Eternal God, Creator of the Universe,
Lord of all lords, King of all kings, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
The word Allah to mean God is also used by Arabic speaking Jews and
Christians.
Articles of Faith
Allah, the One and Only God
A Muslim believes in ONE GOD, Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty,
Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider. God has no father nor
mother, no sons nor was He fathered. None equal to Him. He is God of all
mankind, not of a special tribe or race.
God is High and Supreme but He is very near to the pious thoughtful
believers; He answers their prayers and help them. He loves the people
who love Him and forgives their sins. He gives them peace, happiness,
knowledge and success. God is the Loving and the Provider, the Generous,
and the Benevolent, the Rich and the Independent the Forgiving and the
Clement, the Patient and the Appreciative, the Unique and the Protector,
the Judge and the Peace. God's attributes are mentioned in the Qur'an.
God creates in man the mind to understand, the soul and conscience to be
good and righteous, the feelings and sentiments to be kind and humane.
If we try to count His favors upon us, we cannot, because they are
countless. In return for all the great favors and mercy, God does not
need anything from us, because He is Needless and Independent. God asks
us to know Him, to love Him and to enforce His law for our benefit and
our own benefit and our own good.
Messengers and Prophets of God
A Muslim believes in all the Messengers and Prophets of God without any
discrimination. All messengers were mortals, human beings, endowed with
Divine revelations and appointed by God to teach mankind. The Holy
Qur'an mentions the names of 25 messengers and prophets and states that
there are others. These include Noah ( manu) , Ibrahim (Brahma),
Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Their message is the same and
it is Islam and it came from One and the Same Source; God, and it is to
submit to His will and to obey His law; i.e., to become a Muslim.
Revelations and the Qur'an
A Muslim believes in all scriptures and revelations of God, as they were
complete and in their original versions. Allah, the Creator, has not
left man without guidance for the conduct of his life. Revelations were
given to guide the people to the right path of Allah and sent down to
selected people, the prophet and messengers, to convey it to their
fellow men.
The message of all the prophet and messengers is the same. They all
asked the people of their time to obey and worship Allah and none other.
Ibrahim, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad who were revealed their own
book of Allah, were sent at different times to bring back straying human
being from deviation to Right Course.
The Quran is the sacred book of the Muslims. It is the last book of
guidance from Allah, sent down to Muhammad, peace be upon him, through
the angel Jibraeel (Gabriel). Every word of it is the word of Allah. It
was revealed over a period of 23 years in the Arabic language. It
contains 114 Surahs (chapters) and over 6000 verses.
The Qur'an deals with man and his ultimate goal in life. Its teachings
cover all areas of this life and the life after death. It contains
principles, doctrines and directions for every sphere of human life. The
theme of the Qur'an broadly consists of three fundamental ideas: Oneness
of Allah, Prophet hood and life after death. The success of human beings
on this earth and in the life hereafter depends on obedience to the
Quranic teaching.
The Qur'an is unrivalled in its recording and preservation. The
astonishing fact about this book of Allah is that it has remained
unchanged even to a dot over the past fourteen hundred years. No scholar
has questioned the fact that the Qur'an today is the same as it was
revealed. Muslims till today memorize the Qur'an word by word as a whole
or in part. Today, the Qur'an is the only authentic and complete book of
Allah. Allah is protecting it from being lost, corrupted or concealed.
The Angels of Allah
There are purely spiritual and splendid beings created by Allah. They
require no food or drink or sleep. They have no physical desires nor
material needs. Angels spend their time in the service of Allah. Each
charged with a certain duty. Angle cannot be seen by the naked eyes.
Knowledge and the truth are not entirely confined to sensory knowledge
or sensory perception alone.
The Day of Judgment
A Muslim believe in the Day of the Judgment. This world as we know it
will come to an end and the dead will rise to stand for their final and
fair trial. On that day, all men and women from Adam to the last person
will be resurrected from the state of death for judgment. Everything we
do, say, make, intend and think are accounted for and kept in accurate
records. They are brought up on the Day of Judgment.
One who believe in life after death is not expected to behave against
the Will of Allah. He will always bear in mind that Allah is watching
all his actions and the angles are recording them.
People with good records will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed
to Allah's Heaven. People with bad records will be fairly punished and
cast into Hell. The real nature of Heaven and Hell are known to Allah
only, but they are described by Allah in man's familiar terms in the
Qur'an.
If some good deeds are seen not to get full appreciation and credit in
this life, they will receive full compensation and be widely
acknowledged on the Day of Judgement. If some people who commit sins,
neglect Allah and indulge in immoral activities, seem SUPERFICIALLY
successful and prosperous in this life, absolute justice will be done to
them on the Day of Judgement. The time of the Day of Judgement is only
known to Allah and Allah alone.
Qadaa and Qadar
A Muslim believes in Qadaa and Qadar which related to the ultimate power
of Allah. Qadaa and Qadar means the Timeless Knowledge of Allah and His
power to plan and execute His plans. Allah is not indifferent to this
world nor is He neutral to it. It implies that everything on this earth
originates from the one and only creator who is also the Sustainer and
the sole source of guidance.
Allah is Wise, Just and Loving and whatever He does must have a good
motive, although we may fail sometimes to understand it fully. We should
have strong faith in Allah and accept whatever He does because our
knowledge is limited and our thinking is based on individual
consideration, whereas His knowledge is limitless and He plans on a
universal basis. Man should think, plan and make sound choice, but if
things do not happen the way he wants, he should not lose faith and
surrender himself to mental strains or shattering worries.
The Purpose of Life
A Muslim believe that the purpose of life is to worship Allah.
Worshipping Allah does not mean we spend our entire lives in constant
seclusion and absolute meditation. To worship Allah is to live life
according to His commands, not to run away from it. To worship Allah is
to know Him, to love Him, to obey His commands, to enforce His laws in
every aspect of life, to serve His cause by doing right and shunning
evil and to be just to Him, to ourselves and to our fellow human beings.
Status of Human Being
A Muslim believes that human being enjoys an especially high ranking
status in the hierarchy of all known creatures. Man occupies this
distinguished position because he alone is gifted with rational
faculties and spiritual aspirations as well as powers of action. Man is
not a condemned race from birth to death, but a dignified being
potentially capable of good and noble achievements.
A Muslim also believes that every person is born Muslim. Every person is
endowed by Allah with spiritual potential and intellectual inclination
that can make him a good Muslim. Every person's birth takes place
according to the will of Allah in realization of His plans and in
submission to His commands. Every person is born FREE FROM SIN. When the
person reaches the age of maturity and if he is sane, he become
accountable for all his deeds and intentions. Man is free from sin until
he commits sin. There is no inherited sin, no original sin. Adam
committed the first sin, he prayed to Allah for pardon and Allah granted
Adam pardon.
Salvation
A Muslim believes that man must work out his salvation through the
guidance of Allah. No one can act on behalf of another or intercede
between him and Allah. In order to obtain salvation, a person must
combine faith and action, belief and practice. Faith without doing good
deeds is as insufficient as doing good deeds without faith.
Also, a Muslim believes that Allah does not hold any person responsible
until he has shown him the Right Way. If people do not know and have no
way of knowing about Islam, they will not be responsible for failing to
be Muslim. Every Muslim must preach Islam in words and action.
Acceptance of Faith
A Muslim believes that faith is not complete when it is followed blindly
or accepted unquestioningly. Man must build his faith on well-grounded
convictions beyond any reasonable doubt and above uncertainty. Islam
insures freedom to believe and forbids compulsion in religion (one of
the oldest synagogues and one of the oldest churches in the worlds is in
Muslim countries).
A Muslim believes that the Qur'an is the word of Allah revealed to
prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. The Qur'an was revealed from
Allah on various occasions to answer questions, solve problems, settle
disputes and to be man's best guide to the truth. The Quran was revealed
in Arabic and it is still in its original and complete Arabic version
until today. It is memorized by millions.
A Muslim also believes in a clear distinction between the Qur'an and the
Traditions (called Hadiths) of the Prophet Muhammad. Whereas, the Qur'an
is the word of Allah, the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (hadiths i.e.:
his teachings, sayings, and actions) are the practical interpretations
of the Qur'an. Both the Qur'an and the Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad are
the primary sources of knowledge in Islam.
Application of Faith
God has laid down for a Muslim four major exercises of faith, some are
daily, some weekly, some monthly, some annually and some are required as
a minimum of once in a lifetime. These exercises of faith are to serve
man's spiritual purposes, satisfy his human needs and to mark his whole
life with a Divine touch. These major exercises of faith are:
Prayer (Salah)
Praying, to the Creator on a daily basis, is the best way to cultivate
in a man a sound personality and to actualize his aspiration. Allah does
not need man's prayer because He is free of all needs. Salah is for our
benefit which are immeasurable and the blessings are beyond imagination.
In salah, every muscle of the body joins the soul and the mind in the
worship and glory of Allah. Salah is an act of worship. It is a
matchless and unprecedented formula of intellectual meditation and
spiritual devotion, of moral elevation and physical exercise, all
combined.
Offering of salah is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who is
sane, mature and in case of women free from menstruation and confinement
due to child birth. Requirements of salah: performing of ablution
(Wudu), purity of the whole body, clothes and ground used for prayer,
dressing properly and having (or declaring) the intention and facing the
Qiblah; the direction of the Ka'bah at Mecca.
Obligatory Salah: Five daily salahs, the Friday's noon congregation
salah and the funeral salah.
Highly recommended salah: Those accompanying the obligatory salah and
the two great festival salahs.
Optional salah: Voluntary salah during the day and night.
Times of Obligatory Salah:
1. Early Morning - after dawn and before sunrise.
2. Noon - after the sun begins to decline from its zenith until it is
about midway on its course to set.
3. Mid-afternoon - after the expiration of the noon salah time until
sunset.
4. Sunset - immediately after sunset until the red glow in the western
horizon disappears.
5. Evening - after the expiration of the sunset salah until dawn.
Salah should be offered in its due time, unless there is a reasonable
excuse. Delayed obligatory salah must be made up. In addition to the
prescribed salah, a Muslim expressed gratitude to God and appreciation
of His favours and asks for His mercy all the time. Especially at times
of, for example: childbirth, marriage, going to or rising from bed,
leaving and returning to his home, starting a journey or entering a
city, riding or driving, before or after eating or drinking, harvesting,
visiting graveyards and at time of distress and sickness.
Fasting
Fasting is abstaining completely from eating, drinking, intimate sexual
contacts and smoking from the break of dawn till sunset. It is a
matchless Islamic institution which teaches man the principle of sincere
love to God. Fasting teaches man a creative sense of hope, devotion,
patience, unselfishness, moderation, willpower, wise saving, sound
budgeting, mature adaptability, healthy survival, discipline, spirit of
social belonging, unity and brotherhood.
Obligatory fasting is done once a year for the period of the month of
Ramadan; the ninth month of the Islamic year. Recommended fasting every
Monday and Thursday of every week, three days in the middle of each
Islamic month, six days after Ramadan following the Feast Day and a few
days of the two months before Ramadan. Fasting of Ramadan is a worship
act which is obligatory on every adult Muslim, male or female if he/she
mentally and physically fit and not on a journey. Exception: women
during their period of menstruation and while nursing their child and
also in case of travel and sickness.
Charity Giving (Zakah)
Charity giving is an act of worship and spiritual investment. The
lateral meaning of Zakah is purity and it refers to the annual amount in
kind or coin which a Muslim with means must distribute among the
rightful beneficiaries. Zakah does not only purifies the property of the
contributor but also purifies his heart from selfishness and greed. It
also purifies the heart of the recipient from envy and jealousy, from
hatred and uneasiness and it fosters instead good-will and warm wishes
for the contributors.
Zakah has a deep humanitarian and social-political value; for example,
it frees society from class welfare, from ill feelings and distrust and
from corruption. Although Islam does not hinder private enterprise or
condemn private possession, it does not tolerate selfish and greedy
capitalism. Islam adopts a moderate but positive and effective course
between individual and society, between the citizen and the state,
between capitalism and socialism, between materialism and spiritualism.
Zakah is paid on the net balance after paying personal expenses, family
expenses, due credits, taxes, etc. Every Muslim, male or female who at
the end of the year is in possession of the equivalent of 85 g of gold
(approx. $1400 in 1990) or more in cash or articles of trade, must give
Zakah at minimum rate of 2.5%. Taxes paid to government do not
substitute for this religious duty. Contributor should not seek pride or
fame but if disclosing his name and his contribution is likely to
encourage others, it is acceptable to do so.
The recipient of Zakah are: the poor, the needy, the new Muslim
converts, the Muslim prisoners of war (to liberate them), Muslim in
debt. Also employees appointed to collect Zakah, Muslim in service of
research or study or propagation of Islam, wayfarers who are foreigners
in need of help.
The Pilgrimmage (Hajj)
It is a pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in a lifetime and it is
obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who is mentally, physically
and financially fit. It is the largest annual convention of faith on
earth (in 1989: 2.5 million). Peace is the dominant theme. Peace with
Allah, with one's soul, with one another, with all living creatures. To
disturb the peace of anyone or any creature in any shape or form is
strictly prohibited.
Muslim from all walks of life, from every corner of the globe assemble
in Mecca in response to the call of Allah. There is no royalty but
loyalty of all to Allah, the Creator. It is to commemorate the Divine
rituals observed by the Prophet Abrahim and his son Ishmael, who are the
first pilgrim to the house of Allah on earth; the Ka'bah. It is also to
remember the grad assembly of the Day of Judgement when people will
stand equal before Allah.
Muslims go to Mecca in glory of Allah, not to worship a man. The visit
to the tomb of Prophet Muhammad at Madena is highly recommended but not
essential in making the Hajj valid and complete.
Islam is a Code of Life
It is a Muslim belief that Muhammad's mission was for the whole world
and for all the time; because:
Its universality has been clearly confirmed by the Qur'an (Surah 7:
verse 158, 6:19, 34:28, 81:27).
It is a logical consequences of the finality of his prophet hood. He had
to be the guide and the leader for all men and for all ages.
Allah has provided, through him, a complete code which is to be
followed, and this in itself supports the concept of finality, because
without completeness, the need for other prophets would remain.
It is a fact that during the last 1400 years no man has arisen whose
life and works bear even the slightest resemblance to that of a prophet.
Nor has anyone presented a book which could be remotely considered a
divine communication. Still less has there been a man to claim
legitimate authority as a law-giver for mankind.
The mission of Muhammad, as well as of other prophets who brought the
universal message of Islam, does not end with the announcement of the
message. He has to guide the people by explaining to them the
implications of the Islamic creed, the morale code, the divine
injunctions and commandment, and the form of worship that sustains the
whole system. He has to exemplify the faith so others can pattern their
participation in the evolution of Islamic culture and civilization. The
believers must grow under his guidance into an organized community so
that Allah's word will prevail over all other words.
Spiritual Life: prayer (salah), fasting, charity giving (zakah),
pilgrimage (hajj), love for Allah and His Messenger, love for truth and
humanity for the sake of Allah, hope and trust in Allah at all times and
doing good for the sake of Allah.
Intellectual Life: True knowledge based on clear proof and
indisputable evidence acquired by experience or experiment or by both.
The Qur'an points to the rich sources of knowledge in the whole
universe. Islam demands faith in Allah on the basis of knowledge and
research and leaves wide open all field of thought before the intellect
to penetrate as far it can reach.
Personal Life: purity and cleanliness, a healthy diet, proper
clothing, proper behavior, and good healthy sexual relations within
marriage.
Family Life: A family is a human social group whose members are bound
together by the bond of blood ties and/or marital relationship and
nothing else (adoption, mutual alliance, common law, trial
marriage...etc.). Marriage is a religious duty on all who are capable of
meeting its responsibilities. Each member of the family has rights and
obligations.
Social Life: Man is ordained by Allah to extend his utmost help and
kindness to other family members, relations, servants and neighbors. No
superiority on account of class, color, origin or wealth. Humanity
represents one family springing from the one and the same father and
mother. The unity of the humanity is not only in its origin but also in
its ultimate aims.
Economical Life: Earning one's living through decent labor is not
only a duty but a great virtue as well. Earning is man's private
possession. The individual is responsible for the prosperity of the
state and the state is responsible for the security of the individual.
The Islamic economic system is not based on arithmetical calculations
alone but also on moral and principles. Man comes to this world
empty-handed and departs empty-handed. The real owner of things is Allah
alone. Man is simply a trustee.
Political Life: The sovereignty in the Islamic State belongs to
Allah; the people exercise it by trust from Him to enforce His laws. The
ruler is only an acting executive chosen by the people to serve them
according to Allah's law. The State is to administer justice and provide
security for all citizens. Rulers and administrators must be chosen from
the best qualified citizens. If an administration betrays the trust of
Allah and the people, it has to be replaced. Non-Muslim can administer
their personal life of marriage, divorce, foods and inheritance
according to the Islamic law or to their own religious teachings. They
may pay Zakah or a different tax tributes "Jizyah". They are entitled to
full protection and security of the State including freedom of religion.
International Life: Man has a common origin, human status and aim.
Other people's interests and right to life, honor and property are
respected as long as the right of Muslim are in tact. Transgression is
forbidden. War is only justified if the state security is endangered.
During war, destruction of crops, animals and homes, killing
non-fighting women, children and aged people are forbidden.
Source
Sayyid Abu Al-'Ala Maududi, Islam: Its Meaning and Message, in M.
Tariq Quraishi (ed.), American Trust Publications, Indianapolis,
Indiana, 1984, 12-14.
Islam, An Introduction. Undated. Compiled by Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim
Elmasry c/o KW Islamic Association, P.O. Box 823, Waterloo, Ontario,
CANADA N2J 4C2, (519) 885-2225.