-Muslims believe that the creation of everything in the universe was brought into being by Allah ’s sheer command “‘Be’ and so it is.” and that the purpose of existence is to worship Allah. He is viewed as a personal god who responds whenever a person in need or distress calls him. There are no intermediaries, such as clergy, to contact Allah who states, “I am nearer to him than (his) jugular vein”. The reciprocal nature is mentioned in the hadith Qudsi, “I am as My servant thinks (expects) I am”.
-According to the Quran the Universe and the Earth were created by Allah. Everything was at first joined together and then separated. The Earth formed from gases and smoke. The earth was created for the creatures . And they were made into communities . Creatures were created from water . A balance was set and people should not disturb the balance.
-Allah is the term with no plural or gender used by Muslims and Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews to reference Allah while ʾilāh (Arabic: إله) is the term used for a deity or an Allah in general. Other non-Arab Muslims might use different names as much as Allah, for instance “Tanrı” in Turkish or “Khodā” in Persian.
-Muslims believe that the verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad ( S.A.W) by Allah through the archangel Gabriel (Jibrīl Alaihi Salam) on many occasions between 610 CE until his death on June 8, 632 CE. While Muhammad (S.A.W) was alive, all of these revelations were written down by his companions (sahabah), although the prime method of transmission was orally through memorization.
THE HOLY QURAN:
-The Quran is divided into 114 suras, or chapters, which combined, contain 6,236 āyāt, or verses. The chronologically earlier suras, revealed at Mecca, are primarily concerned with ethical and spiritual topics. The later Medinan suras mostly discuss social and moral issues relevant to the Muslim community. The Qur’an is more concerned with moral guidance than legal instruction, and is considered the “source book of Islamic principles and values”. Muslim jurists consult the hadith, or the written record of Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W) life, to both supplement the Qur’an and assist with its interpretation. The science of Qur’anic commentary and exegesis is known as Tafsir. Rules governing proper pronunciation are called tajwid.
Muslims usually view “the Quran” as the original scripture as revealed in Arabic and that any translations are necessarily deficient, which are regarded only as commentaries on the Quran.
PILLARS OF ISLAM:
The Pillars of Islam (Arkan al-Islam; also Arkan ad-din, (“pillars of religion”) are five basic acts in Islam, considered obligatory for all believers. The Quran presents them as a framework for worship and a sign of commitment to the faith. They are (1) the shahadah (creed), (2) daily prayers (Salat), (3) alms-giving (Zakah), (4) fasting during Ramadan and (5) the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) at least once in a lifetime.
Testimony Shahadah
The Shahadah, which is the basic creed of Islam that must be recited under oath with the specific statement: “‘ašhadu ‘al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu WA ‘ašhadu ‘Anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh”, or “I testify there are no deities other than Allah alone and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” This testament is a foundation for all other beliefs and practices in Islam. Muslims must repeat the shahadah in prayer, and non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam are required to recite the creed.
Prayer Salat:
See also: Mosque:
Muslim men prostrating during prayer in a mosque.
Ritual prayers, called Ṣalāh or Ṣalāt (Arabic: صلاة), must be performed five times a day. Salah is intended to focus the mind on God, and is seen as a personal communication with him that expresses gratitude and worship. Salah is compulsory but flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on circumstances. The prayers are recited in the Arabic language, and consist of verses from the Qur’an.
A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims, who often refer to it by its Arabic name, masjid. The word mosque in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated to Islamic worship, although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller, privately owned mosque and the larger, “collective” mosque (masjid jāmi`). Although the primary purpose of the mosque is to serve as a place of prayer, it is also important to the Muslim community as a place to meet and study. Modern mosques have evolved greatly from the early designs of the 7 nth century, and contain a variety of architectural elements such as minarets.
Alms-giving
Zakat and Sadaqah:
-”Zakāt” (Arabic: زكاة zakāh “alms”) is giving a fixed portion of accumulated wealth by those who can afford it to help the poor or needy and for those employed to collect Zakat and for bringing hearts together and for freeing captives and for those in debt (or bonded labour) and for the (stranded) traveller It is considered a religious obligation (as opposed to voluntary charity) that the well-off owe to the needy because their wealth is seen as a “trust from Allah’s bounty”. Conservative estimates of annual zakat are estimated to be 15 times global humanitarian aid contributions. The amount of zakat to be paid on capital assets (e.g. Money) is 2.5% (1/40), for people who are not poor. The Qur’an and the hadith also urge a Muslim give even more as an act of voluntary alms-giving called ṣadaqah.
Fasting
Sawm of Ramadan:
Fasting, (Arabic: صوم ṣawm), from food and drink (among other things) must be performed from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan. The fast is to encourage a feeling of nearness to Allah and during it Muslims should express their gratitude for and dependence on him, atone for their past sins, and think of the needy. Sawm is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would constitute an undue burden. For others, flexibility is allowed depending on circumstances, but missed fasts usually must be made up quickly.
Pilgrimage Hajj:
-The pilgrimage, called the ḥajj (Arabic: حج ḥaǧǧ) during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the city of Mecca. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it, must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime. Rituals of the Hajj include, walking seven times around the Kaaba, walking or running seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah recounting the steps of Ibrahim [Alaihi Salam]‘s wife. Spending a day in the desert at Mina and then a day in the desert in Arafat praying and worshiping in the desert, following the footsteps of Ibrarahim [Alaihi Salam]‘. Symbolically stoning the Devil in Mina recounting Ibrarahim [Alaihi Salam]‘s action.
QAYAMAT:
-Belief in the “Day of Resurrection”, Yawm al-Qiyāmah (Arabic: يوم القيامة) is also crucial for Muslims. They believe the time of Qiyāmah is preordained by Allah, but unknown to man. The trials and tribulations preceding and during the Qiyāmah are described in the Qur’an and the hadith, and also in the commentaries of scholars. The Qur’an emphasizes bodily resurrection, a break from the pre-Islamic Arabian understanding of death.
On Yawm al-Qiyāmah, Muslims believe all mankind will be judged on their good and bad deeds. The Quran in Surat AZ-Zalzalah describes this as “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it (99:7) And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it (99:8)”. The Qur’an lists several sins that can condemn a person to hell, such as disbelief in Allah (Arabic: كفر Kufr), and dishonesty; however, the Qur’an makes it clear Allah will forgive the sins of those who repent if he so wills. Good deeds, such as charity, prayer and compassion towards animals, will be rewarded with entry to heaven. Muslims view heaven as a place of joy and bliss, with Qur’anic references describing its features and the physical pleasures to come. Mystical traditions in Islam place these heavenly delights in the context of an ecstatic awareness of Allah.
Note : Info taken from Wikipedia.
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