INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM

by

THE ISLAMIC CENTRE OF TORONTO

Islam and Muslim
Islam is an Arabic word which means peace, purity, acceptance and commitment. As a religion, Islam calls for complete acceptance of the teachings and guidance of God.

A Muslim is one who freely and willingly accepts the supreme power of God and strives to organize his life in total accord with the teachings of God. He also works for building social institutions which reflect the guidance of God. "Muhammadanism" is a misnomer for Islam and offends its very spirit since the Prophet Muhammad was a messenger of God, and not a divine being worshipped by Muslims.

Muslims use the word "Allah" for the English word "God". The understanding of Deity in Islam differs from some of the connotations in the English word, God. For the convenience of English speaking readers, the word God is used in this brochure except when the word "Allah" is in the quotations from the Qur'an.

Continuity of The Message

Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which God revealed to all His previous messengers. "Say: We believe in Allah and that which was revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to the Prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit".Qur'an 3:83.

The message which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) is Islam in its comprehensive, complete and final form.

The Five Pillars of Islam
Every action done with the awareness that it fulfills the Will of God is considered an act of worship in Islam. But it is the specific acts of worship termed the Pillars of Islam which provide the framework of Muslim spiritual life. These are given below:

• The declaration of faith. "I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except God (Allah), and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger." The Prophethood of Muhammad obliges Muslims to follow his exemplary life in every respect.

• Prayers are prescribed five times a day as a duty towards God. Prayer strengthens and enlivens belief in God and inspires man to higher morality. It purifies the heart and controls temptation, wrong-doing, and evil.

• Fasting during the month of Ramadan. This means abstention from food, beverages, and sex from dawn to sunset, and curbing evil intentions and desires. It teaches love, sincerity, and devotion. It develops patientce, unselfishness, social conscience, and willpower to bear hardship.

• Zakah is a proportionately fixed contribution collected from the wealth and earnings of the well to do and rich. It is spent on the poor and needy in particular, and the welfare of the society in general. The payment of Zakah purifies ones income and wealth and helps to establish economic balance and social justice in the society.

• Hajj, or pilgrimage to the Ka'bah in Makkah, once in a lifetime, provided one has the means to undertake the journey.

Oneness of God
Islam enjoins faith in the oneness and sovereignty of God, which creates an awareness of the unity and meaningfulness of the universe and of man's place in it. This belief frees him from all fears and superstitions by making him conscious of the presence of the Almighty God and of man's obligations to Him. But this realization must be expressed and tested in action. Faith alone is not enough. Belief in one God requires that we look upon all humanity as one family under the universal omnipotence of God - the Creator and Nourisher of all. Islam rejects the idea that there is a "chosen people" making pure intention, faith in God, and good deeds the only way to heaven. Thus a direct relationship is established with God, open to all alike, without any discrimination or intercession.

The Qur'an and Hadith
The Qur'an is the last revealed word of God and the basic source of Islamic teachings and laws. It deals with a variety of subjects including the basic beliefs of Islam, morality, worship, knowledge, wisdom, God-and-man relationship, and relations among human beings. Comprehensive teachings on which sound systems of social justice, politics, economics, legislation, jurisprudence, law and international relations can be built form an important part of the Holy Qur'an. Though Prophet Muhammad did not receive a formal education, the Qur'an, as soon as it was revealed to him in the spoken word, was committed to writing by his secretaries. In this way every word was written down and preserved during his lifetime by his companions. The original and complete text of the Qur'an is in Arabic and translations of its meaning in most known languages are available in major libraries and bookstores. Hadith, the teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad, accurately reported and collected by his devoted companions, explain and elaborate the Qur'anic verses.

Concept of Worship
Islam does not teach ritualism. It places great emphasis on intention and action. To worship God is to love Him and to act upon His commands in every aspect of life, to enjoin goodness and forbid wrong-doing and oppression, to practice charity and justice and to serve Him by serving mankind. The Qur'an presents this sublime concept in the following manner: " It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East or the West, but righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Prophets; and gives his wealth for love of Him to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and sets slaves free; and observes proper worship and pays the Zakah. And those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress; such are those who are sincere. Such are the God-fearing". Qur'an 2:177.

Man, A Free Agent
Man is the highest creation of God and he has a free will to make his own decisions. God has shown him the right path, and the life of Prophet Muhammad provides a perfect example for achieving success and salvation. Islam stands for the sanctity of human personality and conferens equalrights on all without distinction of race, nationality or sex. The law of God set down in the Qur'an and exemplified in the life of the Prophet is supreme in all cases. It applies equally to the prince and the pauper, the ruler and the ruled, the saint and the sinner.

Man's Accountability to God
Man's life is not limited to the short span of earthly existence. On the day of judgement the entire human race will be resurrected; everyone will appear before the Almighty God and face the consequences of his deeds in this life. Thus, life in the Hereafter is a continuation of the earthly life. Belief in man's accountability to God gives a sense and meaning to life and differentiates human beings from animals and inanimate objects. It serves as a reminder against crime, corruption, immorality, and injustice.

Human Rights
Islam protects all noble values and human rights. Freedom, equality, justice, and the right to life, liberty, and security of person are of prime concern in Islamic law. " Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind..." Qur'an 5:32. "There is no compulsion in religion." Qur'an 2:256. Islam places great emphasis on social justice. It opposes all those who exploit, oppress and deal unjustly with people. "O you who believe:Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity and let not hatred of any people seduce you that you deal not justly. Be just; that is nearer to piety". Qur'an 5:8.

Science and Technology
Islam encourages the use of science and the scientific method. Acquisition of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female. In Islam, science and technology should be used for moral ends and serve all legitimate needs of mankind. Moreover, both are viewed as yet another means to understand and see the power and glory of God. " He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth. Qur'an 2:29. "It is your Lord, the Most Bounteous, Who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not..." Qur'an 96:2-5. "We shall show them Our Signs on the horizons and within themselves until it will be manifest unto them that it is the Truth... " Qur'an 41:53.

Islam:The Cure for Modern ills
Racism is a major problem in many materially advanced countries. Prejudice and discrimination against racial groups is a common phenomenon even today. For 1400 years Islam has shown in practice how racism can be ended. The Islamic social scene, particularly during the Hajj, is a unique example of the brotherhood of men of all races and nations under One God. Similarly, the family, the basic unit of civilization has also become something of a problem in the West. It is in visible decay. The family system of Islam brings the rights of husband, wife, children, and relatives into a fine equilibrium. Islam nourishes generosity in the family and holds it together under the clear Qur'anic laws and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Some Misconceptions About Islam
It is unfortunate that some teachings of Islam have been distorted and misrepresented in the West and the communist world. The main distortions relate to the status of women, marriage and divorce, Jihad or the so-called "holy war", the authenticity of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the distinction between the Qur'an and Hadith. The accurate teachings of Islam on these matters can be obtained only from authentic Islamic writings. Some of these are listed below:

Some Useful Books on Islam
Islam and Universal Peace by Syed Qutb. Towards Understanding Islam by Syed Abdul Ala Maududi. Family Structure in Islam by Hamudah Abdul Ati. On the Political System of Islamic State by Mohammed S. El-Awa. Jesus, A Prophet of Islam by Sulaiman Mufassir. Islam: Its Meaning and Message, ed. Khurshid Ahmad.

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