Frequently_Asked_Questions

In The Name Of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and
made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one
another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest
of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware 49:13)
WHAT IS ISLAM?
Islam 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, Islam 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 THE MUSLIMS?
One billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the
globe -- from the southern Philippines to Nigeria -- are united by their common Islamic
faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world's largest Muslim community is in
Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of 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 the Day of
Judgment and individual accountability for actions; 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, Isaac, 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
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 'Islam' simply means 'submission', and derives from a word meaning
'peace'. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God.
Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims worship
Muhammad rather than God. 'Allah' is the Arabic name for God, which is used by
Arab Muslims and Christians alike.


WHY DOES ISLAM OFTEN SEEM STRANGE?


Islam may 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 ISLAM 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 from his sons Muhammad from the eldest,
Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus from Isaac. Abraham established the settlement which
today is the city of Makkah, and built the Ka'abah towards which all Muslims turn
when they pray.


WHAT IS THE KA'ABAH?


The Ka'abah is the place of worship which God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to
build over 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 Thy service, O Lord', in response to Abraham's summons.



WHO IS MUHAMMAD?



Muhammad 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 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 Jaba 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 received his first
revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for
twenty-three years, is known as the Qur'an. As soon as be 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
and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies
and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet died at the age of 63, the
greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread
to Spain in the West and as far East as China.


HOW DID THE SPREAD OF ISLAM AFFECT THE WORLD?


Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its
doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly
instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation.
Within a few years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according
to the Prophet, 'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and
woman'. The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old,
brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy
geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as
algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to the
advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam.
Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of
discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good
navigational maps.

WHAT IS THE QUR'AN?


The Qur'an is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel
to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad 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 Qur'an is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to
Muhammad fourteen centuries ago.
WHAT IS THE QUR'AN ABOUT?
The Qur'an, 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, is the second authority for
Muslims. A Hadith is a reliably transmitted report of what the Prophet said, did, or
approved. Belief in the Sunna is part of the Islamic faith.


EXAMPLES OF THE PROPHET'S SAYINGS
The Prophet 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 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 ISLAM?


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.
1. FAITH
There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger.
This declaration of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which all the faithful
pronounce. In Arabic, the first part is la ilaha illa'Llah - 'there is no god except God';
ilaha (god) can refer to anything which we may be tempted to put in place of God --
wealth, power, and the like. Then comes illa'Llah:' except God, the source of all
Creation. The second part of the Shahada is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is
the messenger of God'. A message of guidance has come through a man like ourselves.
A translation of the Call to Prayer is:


God is most great. God is most great.
God is most great. God is most great.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)! Come to success!
God is most great. God is most great.
There is no god except God.


2. PRAYER
Salah is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and
are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in
Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person who knows the
Qur'an, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the
Qur'an, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal
supplication can be offered in one's own language.
Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus
determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to worship together in
a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories
and universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in
daily life.
3. THE 'ZAKAT'
One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that
wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakat means both
'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion
for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and
encourages new growth.
Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakat individually. For most purposes this
involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's capital. A pious
person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa, and does so preferably
in secret. Although this word can be translated as 'voluntary charity' it has a wider
meaning. The Prophet said 'even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity'.
The Prophet said:
'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim'. He was asked: 'What if
a person has nothing?' The Prophet replied: 'He should work with
his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such
earnings in charity'. The Companions asked: 'What if he is not
able to work?' The Prophet said: 'He should help poor and needy
persons.' The Companions further asked 'What is he cannot do even
that?' The Prophet said 'He should urge others to do good'. The
Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet said 'He
should check himself from doing evil. That is also charity.'
4. THE FAST
Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown,
abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a
journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and
make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do
this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to fast (and
to observe the prayer) from puberty, although many start earlier.
Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally as a method
of self-purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short
time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth
in one's spiritual life.
5. PILGRIMAGE (Hajj)
The annual pilgrimage to Makkah -- the Hajj -- is an obligation only for those who are
physically and financially able to perform it. Nevertheless, about two million people
go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity
for those of different nations to meet one another. Although Makkah is always filled
with visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year (which is
lunar, not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadan fall sometimes in summer, sometimes in
winter). Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments which strip away distinctions
of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God.
The rites of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include circling the Ka'abah
seven times, and going seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa as did
Hagar during her search for water. Then the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain
of Arafa and join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a
preview of the Last Judgment.
In previous centuries the Hajj was an arduous undertaking. Today, however, Saudi
Arabia provides millions of people with water, modern transport, and the most up-todate
health facilities.
The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated
with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. This, and
the Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the main festivals
of the Muslim calendar.

DOES ISLAM TOLERATE OTHER BELIEFS?
The Qur'an 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 loveth those who are just
(Qur'an, 60:8)
It is one function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this
is why non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world.
History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when the
caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to
all religious communities in the city.
Islamic 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, 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 'upon him be peace'. The Qur'an confirms
his virgin birth (a chapter of the Qur'an is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the
purest woman in all creation. The Qur'an describes the Annunciation as follows:
Behold!' 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 of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people
from his cradle 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 3:42-7)
Jesus was born miraculously through the same power which had
brought Adam into being without a father:
Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam.
(3:59)
During his prophetic mission Jesus performed many miracles. The
Qur'an tells us that he said:
I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out
of 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 (3:49)
Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the basic doctrine of
the belief in One God, brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm
and renew it. In the Qur'an Jesus 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 from
your Lord, so fear God and obey me 3:50)
The Prophet Muhammad said:
that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and
messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit
emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be
received Hadith from Bukhari)
WHY IS THE FAMILY SO IMPORTANT TO MUSLIMS?
The family is the foundation of Islamic society. The peace and security offered by a
stable family unit is greatly valued, and seen as essential for the spiritual growth of its
members. A harmonious social order is created by the existence of extended families;
children are treasured, and rarely leave home until the time they marry.


WHAT ABOUT MUSLIM WOMEN?



Islam 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 bridge 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 said:
faith amongst believers is he who is best in
manner
CAN A MUSLIM HAVE MORE THAN ONE WIFE?
The religion of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so accommodates
widely differing social requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another
wife but the right is granted, according to the Qur'an, only on condition that the
husband is scrupulously fair.


IS ISLAMIC MARRIAGE LIKE CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE?


A Muslim marriage is not a 'sacrament', but a simple, legal agreement in which either
partner is free to 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 Islam, no Muslim girl can be forced to marry against her will: her
parents will simply suggest young men they think may be suitable.

HOW DO MUSLIMS TREAT THE ELDERLY?


In the Islamic world there are no old people's homes. The strain of caring for one's
parents in this most difficult time of their lives is considered an honor and blessing,
and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. God asks that we not only pray for our
parents, but act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless
children they preferred us to themselves. Mothers are particularly honored: the
Prophet taught that 'Paradise lies at the feet of mothers'. When they reach old age,
Muslim parents are treated mercifully, with the same kindness and selflessness.
In Islam, serving one's parents is a duty second only to prayer, and it is their right to
expect it. It is considered despicable to express any irritation when, through no fault of
their own, the old become difficult.
The Qur'an says:
Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and be kind
to parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, do
not say 'uff' to them or chide them, but speak to them in terms of
honor and kindness. Treat them with humility, and say, 'My Lord!
Have mercy on them, for they did care for me when I was little
(17:23-4)
HOW DO MUSLIMS VIEW DEATH?
Like Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial
preparation for the next realm of existence. Basic articles of faith include: the Day of
Judgement, resurrection, Heaven and Hell. When a Muslim dies, he or she is washed,
usually by a family member, wrapped in a clean white cloth, and buried with a simple
prayer preferably the same day. Muslims consider this one of the final services they
can do for their relatives, and an opportunity to remember their own brief existence
here on earth. The Prophet taught that three things can continue to help a person even
after death; charity which he had given, knowledge which he had taught and prayers
on their behalf by a righteous child.
WHAT DOES ISLAM SAY ABOUT WAR?
Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on
the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict
rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against
destroying crops, trees and livestock. As Muslims see it, injustice would be
triumphant in the world if good men were not prepared to risk their lives in a righteous
cause.
The Qur'an says:
Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not
transgress limits. God does not love transgressors 2:190)
If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He
is the One that heareth and knoweth all things 8:61)
War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by
the sacred law. The term Jihad literally means 'struggle', and Muslims believe that
there are two kinds of Jihad. The other 'Jihad' is the inner struggle which everyone
wages against egotistic desires, for the sake of attaining inner peace.
WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
Although much simpler than the dietary law followed by Jews and the early
Christians, the code which Muslims observe forbids the consumption of pig meat or
any kind of intoxicating drink. The Prophet taught that 'your body has rights over you',
and the consumption of wholesome food and the leading of a healthy lifestyle are seen
as religious obligations. The Prophet said:
'Ask God for certainty (of faith) and well-being; for after
certainty, no one is given any gift better than health!'
ISLAM IN THE UNITED STATES
It is almost impossible to generalize about American Muslims: converts, immigrants,
factory workers, doctors; all are making their own contribution to America's future.
This complex community is unified by a common faith, underpinned by a countrywide
network of a thousand mosques.
Muslims were early arrivals in North America. By the eighteenth century there were
many thousands of them, working as slaves on plantations. These early communities,
cut off from their heritage and families, inevitably lost their Islamic identity as time
went by. Today many Afro-American Muslims play an important role in the Islamic
community.
The nineteenth century, however, saw the beginnings of an influx of Arab Muslims,
most of whom settled in the major industrial centers where they worshipped in hired
rooms. The early twentieth century witnessed the arrival of several hundred thousand
Muslims from Eastern Europe: the first Albanian mosque was opened in Maine in
1915; others soon followed, and a group of Polish Muslims opened a mosque in
Brooklyn in 1928.
In 1947 the Washington Islamic Center was founded during the term of President
Truman, and several nationwide organizations were set up in the fifties. The same
period saw the establishment of other communities whose lives were in many ways
modeled after Islam. More recently, numerous members of these groups have entered
the fold of Muslim orthodoxy. Today there are about five million Muslims in America.
HOW DOES ISLAM GUARANTEE HUMAN RIGHTS?
Freedom of conscience is laid down by the Qur'an itself:
There is no compulsion in religion 2:256)
The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether a
person is Muslim or not. Racism is incomprehensible to Muslims, for the Qur'an
speaks of human equality in the following terms:
made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one
another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the
greatest 49:13