Frequently Asked Questions
ON ISLAAM AND THE MUSLIMS
What is Islaam?
Islaam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed
through all His prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world's
population, Islaam is both a religion and a complete way of life.
Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the
majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have
come to be associated with their faith.
Who are Muslims?
One billion people form a vast range of races, nationalities and
cultures across the globe, from the southern Philippines to Nigeria,
are united by their common Islaamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab
world; the world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia;
substantial parts of Asia and most of the Africa are Muslim, while
significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China,
North and South America, and Europe.
What do Muslims Believe?
Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God' in the Angels
created by Him, in the prophets through whom His revelations were
brought to mankind; in God's complete authority over human destiny and
in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting
with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Issac, Jacob, Joseph,
Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist and
Jesus, peace be upon them. But God's final message to man, a
reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has
gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him
through Gabriel.
How does someone become a Muslim?
Simply by saying "there is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is the
Messenger of God." By this declaration the believer announces his or
her faith in all God's messengers, and the scriptures they brought.
What does `Islam" mean? The Arabic word `Islaam' simply means
`submission,' and drives from a word meaning `peace.' In a religious
context it means complete submission to the will of God.
`Mohammedianism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims
worship Muhammad peace be upon him rather than God. `Allaah' is the
Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians
alike. Why does Islaam often seem strange? Islaam my seem exotic or even
extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion does not
dominate everyday life in the West today, whereas Muslims have
religion always uppermost in their minds, and make no division between
secular and sacred. They believe that the Divine Law, the Shari'a,
should be taken very seriously, which is why issues related to
religion are still so important.
Do Islaam and Christianity have different origins?
No. Together with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch
Abraham, and their three prophets are directly descended form his
son--Muhammad `peace be upon him' from the eldest, Ishmael, and Moses
and Jesus `peace be upon them' from the Issac. Abraham established the
settlement which today is the holy city of Makkah, and built the Ka'ba
towards which all Muslims turn when they pray.
What is the Ka'ba?
The Ka'ba is the place of worship which God commanded Abraham and
Ishmael to build cover four thousand years ago. The building was
constructed of stone on what many believe was the original site of a
sanctuary established by Adam. God commanded Abraham to summon all
mankind to visit this place, and when pilgrims go there today they say
` At The service, O Lord', in response to Abraham's summons.
Who is Muhammad?
Muhammad `peace be upon him' was born in Makkah in the year 570, at a
time when Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe. Since
his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards,
he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he
grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and
sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in
disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative.
Muhammad `peace be upon him' was of a deeply religious nature, and had
long detested the decadence of his society. It became his habit to
meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of
Jabal al-Nur, the `Mountain of Light' near Makkah.
How did he become a prophet and a messenger of God?
At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad
`peace be upon him' received his first revelation from God through the
Angel Gabriel, this revelation, which continued for twenty-three
years, is known as the Qur'aan.
As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to
preach the truth, which God had revealed to him, he and his small
group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce
that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This
event, the Hijra, `migration', in which they left Makkah for the city
of Madinah some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the
Muslim calendar.
After several years, the prophet `peace be upon him' and his followers
were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies and
established Islaam definitively. Before the Prophet `peace be upon him'
died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and
within a century of his death Islaam had spread to Spain the West and
as far East as China.
What is the Qur'aan?
The Qur'aan is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the
Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad `peace be upon him.' It was
memorized by Muhammad `peace be upon him' and then dictated to his
Companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during
his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters, Suras, has been
changed over the centuries, so that the Quran is in every detail the
unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad `peace be
upon him' fourteen centuries ago.
What is Qur'aan about?
The Qur'aan, the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every
Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which
concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship and law, but its
basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the
same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human
conduct and an equitable economic system.
Are there any other sacred sources?
Yes, the `sunna,' the practice and example of the Prophet `peace be
upon him,' is the second authority for Muslim. A hadith is a reliably
transmitted report of what the prophet `peace be upon him' said, did,
or approved. Belief in the `sunna' is part of the Islaamic faith.
Examples of the Prophet sayings:
The Prophet `peace be upon him' said:
`God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.'
`None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he
wishes for himself."
`He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a
believer.'
`The truthful and trusty businessman is associated with the prophets,
the saints, and the martyrs.'
`Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he
who controls himself in a fit of anger.'
`God does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He
scans your hearts and looks into your deeds.'
`A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well he
descended into it, drank his fill and came up. Then he saw a dog with
its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst.
The man saw that the dog was feeling the same thirst as he had felt so
he went down into the well again and filled his shoe with water and
gave the dog a drink. God forgave his sins for this action.' The
Prophet `peace be upon him,' was asked: `Messenger of God, are we
rewarded for kindness towards animals?' He said, `There is a reward
for kindness to every living thing.'
(From the hadith collections of Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and Bayhaqi)
What are the `Five Pillars' of Islaam?
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They are the framework of the Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for
the needy, self-purification, and the pilgrimage to Makkah for those
who are able.
Does Islaam tolerate other beliefs?
The Qur'aan says: "God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight
you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing
kindly and justly with them; for God loves those who are just."
(Qur'aan, 60:8)
It is one function of Islaamic law to protect the privileged status of
minorities, and this is why non-Muslim places of worship have
flourished all over the Islaamic world. History provides many examples
of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when the caliph Omar entered
Jerusalem in the year 634, Islaam granted freedom of worship to all
religious communities in he city.
Islaamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own
courts, which implement family laws drawn up by the minorities
themselves.
What do Muslims think about Jesus?
Muslims respect and revere Jesus `peace be upon him,' and await his
Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God's
messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as `Jesus',
but always adds the phrase ``peace be upon him.' The Qur'aan confirms
his virgin birth (a chapter of the Qur'aan is entitled `Mary'), and Mary
is considered the purest woman in all creation. The Quran describes
the Annunciation as follows:
"`Be hold!' the Angel said, `God has chosen you, and purified you, and
chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good
news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of
Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one shall speak to
the people from his cardle and in maturity, and shall be of the
righteous.'
She said: `O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched
me?' He said: `Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a
thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is.' (Qur'aan, 3:42-7)
Jesus `peace be upon him,' was born miraculously through the same
power which had brought Adam `peace be upon him,' into being without
father:
"Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He
created him of dust, and then said to him, `Be!' and he was. (3:59)
During his prophetic mission Jesus `peace be upon him,' performed many
miracles. The Qur'aan tells us that he said:
I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of
the clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it
becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind and the lepers,
and I raise the dead by God's leave. (3:49)
Neither Muhammad `peace be upon him,' nor Jesus `peace be upon him,'
cam to change the basic doctrine of the belief in on God, brought by
earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it. In the Qur'aan Jesus
`peace be upon him,' is reported as saying that he came: " To attest
the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what
was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign form your Lord, so
fear God and obey Me." (3:50)
The prophet Muhammad `peace be upon him,' said: "Whoever believes
there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad `peace
be upon him,' is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and
messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating
form Him, and that ~Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by
God into Heaven. (Hadith from Bukhari)
What about Muslim women?
Islaam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her
own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and
earnings. A marriage dowry is given by the groom to the bride for her
own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking
her husband's. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way which
is modest and dignified; the traditions of female dress found in some
Muslim countries are often the expression of local customs.
The Messenger of God `peace be upon him,' said: "The most perfect in
faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his
wife."
Can a Muslim have more than one wife?
The religion of Islaam was revealed for all societies and all time and
so accommodates widely differing social requirements. Circumstances
may warrant the taking of another wife but the right is granted,
according to the Qur'aan, only on condition that the husband is
scrupulously fair.
Is Islaamic marriage like Christian marriage?
A Muslim marriage is not a `sacrament', but a simple, legal agreement
include conditions. Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to
country. As a result, divorce is not common., although it is not
forbidden as a last resort. According to Islaam, no Muslim girl can be
forced to marry against her will: her parents will simply suggest
young men they think may be suitable.
