A Simple Guide to Islam

Introduction to Islam

• Islam is an Arabic word that means "submission, surrender, and obedience to God"
• In Islamic terms, it means putting one's trust in Allah, His Prophet, and His message
• A Muslim must put Allah first and foremost in their life, bowing to His wishes in all matters

Iman – Belief

• Iman is the Arabic word for "belief"
• It means putting one's trust in Allah, His Prophet, and His message
• A Muslim must believe in seven essential things:
  • Allah
  • Angels
  • Revealed Book
  • Messengers
  • The Last Day (Day of Judgement)
  • Taqdir (doctrine of predestination)
  • Life After Death

The Shahaadah – The Article of Faith

• Shahaadah is the "article of faith" and means "testimony" or "witness"
• It is the first of the five pillars of Islam
• The words of the Shahaadah are: "La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad ur-rasul Allah" (There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)
• Requirements for the Shahaadah:
  • It must be repeated aloud at least once in a lifetime
  • Its meaning must be fully understood
  • It must be believed in "with the heart"
  • It must be professed until death

Tawheed – The Oneness of God

• Tawheed means "oneness" and "unity" in Arabic
• It is the fundamental doctrine of Islam, referring to the oneness of Allah
• Allah has no partner or rival, and is the sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe
• Tawheed means that God alone is the possessor of all powers, and is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent
• Monotheism is the belief that all power lies in the hand of one God alone

Risalah – Prophethood

• Risalah means "prophethood" in Arabic
• Prophethood is the guiding principle for humanity, given by God through His chosen messengers
• Prophets are human beings selected by God to communicate His message to humanity
• All prophets brought the same basic truth: that there is only one God, and that all human beings are accountable to God for their actions
• According to the hadith, 1,24,000 messengers were sent to guide humanity
• The five major prophets mentioned in the Quran are: Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa### Revelations and Scriptures
• Previous revelations and scriptures were not properly preserved, resulting in loss or alteration of their original content.
• These scriptures can be described as edited versions of divine revelations, altered by human intervention over time.

Malaika - Angels

• Angels (malak) serve as intermediaries between God and humans, transmitting messages to His envoys, the prophets.
• Angels are celestial messengers, with specific qualities and powers to perform their functions.
• They have no free will, always obeying Allah and never displeasing Him.
• Notable angels include Jibrail (Gabriel), Mikail, Izrail, and Israfil, each with distinct roles.
• Jibrail is the "holy spirit" who brings revelations from Allah to His prophets.
• Izrail is the angel of death, responsible for taking away the souls of the dying.
• Israfil will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgement.

Ma'ad - Life after Death

• According to Islam, the present world is not eternal, and man's existence is temporary, with a testing period that will end with death.
• The life hereafter, or Akhirat, is the eternal world, where the soul will return to its creator.
• Death is not the end of life, but rather a change of abode, where the soul will wait for Judgement Day.
• The belief in the Hereafter gives meaning and purpose to life, encouraging believers to lead a responsible life and avoid worldly desires.

Taqdir - Predestination

• Taqdir, or predestination, is the belief that Allah has predetermined and decreed all things, good and bad.
• Nothing can happen without Allah's decree, and everything is governed by natural laws set by Him.
• The belief in taqdir does not mean that man is totally helpless, as humans have been granted wisdom, freedom, and willpower.
• Man has the power to choose between good and bad, and is responsible for his actions.

Salat - Prayer

• Salat, or prayer, is the second pillar of Islam, and is obligatory for every adult Muslim.
• There are five daily prayers, each with a specific time and format.
• The five daily prayers are: Fajr (early morning), Zuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (evening).
• Prayer is a means of inculcating virtues, such as self-prostration, discipline, and unity, and helps to keep believers away from indecency and evil.

Zakat - Almsgiving

• Zakat, or alms-tax, is the third pillar of Islam, and is obligatory for those who possess a certain amount of wealth.
• Zakat means to purify one's wealth, and is a way of showing gratitude to Allah for His blessings.
• There are two forms of charity in Islam: zakat, which is obligatory, and sadaqa, which is voluntary.
• Zakat funds are to be spent on specific categories, including the poor, the destitute, wayfarers, and those who are employed in collecting alms.

Sawm - Fasting of Ramadan

• Sawm, or fasting, is the third pillar of Islam, and is obligatory for one month, Ramadan, every year.
• Fasting means to refrain from food and drink, and certain other things, from dawn till sunset.
• The fast teaches discipline to the soul, and helps to attain taqwa, or God-consciousness.
• Ramadan is a blessed month, in which the Quran was revealed, and is also known as the month of the Quran.Here are the study notes for the text:

Muslims and Good Deeds

• Muslims learn to appreciate all the good things they have each day and thank Allah for them, instead of taking them for granted.
• Fasting in Ramadan brings Muslims closer to the path of goodness and God-consciousness (taqwa).

Additional Fasting

• Fasting is undertaken more often than just during Ramadan.
• Fasting is seen as making amends for one's moral or ritual errors.
• Additional fasting is practised on certain days, such as:
  • 9th and 10th of Muharram
  • 2nd to 7th of Shawwal
  • 9th of Dhu al Hijja (for those not on pilgrimage)
  • 27th of Rajab
  • 15th of Sha‘aban
  • 3 days of every month of the lunar calendar

Hajj - The Pilgrimage

• Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam.
• The root meaning of the word "Hajj" is "to set out" or to make a pilgrimage.
• Canonically, it has come to refer to a Muslim act of worship, performed annually in the month of Zul Hijjah.
• To perform Hajj is incumbent at least once in a lifetime, upon every Muslim who is:
  • An adult
  • Free
  • In good health
  • Has sufficient money for the expenses of the journey
• Women must be accompanied by a close relative (maharam) like a husband, father, son, or brother.
• There are two types of pilgrimage: Umrah and Hajj.
• Umrah is called the lesser pilgrimage, and can be performed at any time of the year other than Hajj time.
• The performance of Hajj has to be made during the dates fixed for it.

Rites of Hajj

• The pilgrims begin their journey in Shawwal, but the rituals of Hajj are performed only from the 8th to the 12th of Dhu al Hijjah.
• Important rites of Hajj include:
  • Niyyah: expressing the intention of performing Hajj
  • Ihram: wearing the special dress called Ihram, a white seamless garment
  • Talbiya: reciting the talbiya
  • Tawaf: going round the Ka'bah seven times
  • Saee: undertaking a fast walk between Safa and Marwah
  • Standing on Arafat: gathering on the plain of Arafat and praying to God throughout the day
  • Casting of the stones: symbolizing the devil
  • Shaving the head or shortening the hair after the pilgrimage is over
  • Animal sacrifice: sacrificing an animal and returning to perform the farewell tawaf of the Ka'bah

Muhammad - The Prophet of Islam

• Muhammad, may peace be upon him, was born in 571 in Makkah.
• His family belonged to the clan of Banu Hashim.
• He grew up as an orphan, and was known as the trustworthy (Al-Ameen).
• At 25, he married Khadija, a wealthy and noble widow.
• He received his divine call in 610 A.D. in a cave called Hira.
• Khadija was the first to recognize him as the Apostle of Allah and to convert to Islam.
• The Prophet's career as a prophet lasted for about 23 years.
• He united all Arabia under the banner of Islam and completed his message to mankind.

The Ethical Aspect of the Life of the Prophet

• The Prophet always practised what he preached.
• He was kind, compassionate, and merciful.
• He was never harsh to anybody, and never hit any maid or slave or servant, or even a dumb creature.
• He never turned down a seemly request whosoever made it.
• According to the French philosopher, Voltaire, no one is a hero to his valet, but this does not hold true for the Prophet of Islam.

Pious Caliphate

• The first four caliphs are known as the rightly guided caliphs.
• They were successors of the Prophet in the real sense of the word.
• They were all senior companions of the Prophet.
• They were chosen by the Muslims for their closeness to the Prophet and for their outstanding character.
• During the 30 years of their rule, Islam made great progress.
• This period of Islamic rule is the golden period of justice and fair play.

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq - The First Caliph

• Abu Bakr was a rich merchant of Makkah, belonging to the Quraysh tribe.
• He was a close friend of the Prophet since boyhood.
• He was the first to believe in the Prophet's message.
• He was elected as the first caliph of Islam after the Prophet's death.